# Chapter 51
Qi Xiao gave a mocking laugh: "What are they here for?"
Jiang Deqing bowed and said: "I heard that the King of Lingnan was worried about Princess Rou Jia, so he ordered the Second Young Master to accompany her. Princess Kang Tai also hadn't been to the capital before, so she came along as well."
Bai Ren frowned, instinctively glancing at Qi Xiao, who waved his hand to dismiss the servants. The two entered the inner room.
For the past six months, Bai Ren had sent a report to the King of Lingnan every half month. Apart from matters concerning Qi Xiao, he had reported everything in meticulous detail. He had also accomplished everything the King of Lingnan had assigned him. Since arriving in the capital, although he had caused some trouble, he had never made things difficult for Lingnan. He believed he had satisfied the King of Lingnan. Bai Ren frowned tightly: "Then what's the meaning of sending Wen Yu now? If they were truly willing to part with him, why did they send me here in the first place?!"
Qi Xiao patted Bai Ren's hand reassuringly and spoke in a low voice: "Sending your half-brother here at this time can only mean two things. First, your father is dissatisfied with how you've been acting in the capital and has thought about replacing you... But naturally, that shouldn't be the case. Setting aside that you've handled matters properly these past six months, with your favored stepmother around, she wouldn't let Wen Yu take your place. That leaves only one possibility... Your father didn't expect you to adapt so well in the capital. Not only have you survived peacefully, you've quietly arranged a marriage for your sister. Your father—or your stepmother—is eager to send your brother here to claim a share of the benefits. Rou Jia's wedding is a major alliance between the imperial court and Lingnan. Taking this opportunity, they can make connections with many important people in the court. Your brother isn't foolish—would he let such a perfect opportunity pass him by?"
Qi Xiao smiled faintly: "And there's probably also the intention to monitor you... When the King of Lingnan originally sent you here as a hostage, he had already considered replacing you. Now you've actually gained a foothold in the imperial court, befriended me, and even formed an alliance with the He family. The Emperor has also been good to you. With the imperial court's support, trying to strip you, the legitimate son, of your heir apparent position has become a fantasy. After all... whether you become the future King of Lingnan is ultimately the Emperor's decision. Your father and stepmother have realized this too, so naturally they can't sit still anymore."
Bai Ren had thought of all this too, which was why he couldn't help but fly into a rage. If it were just a matter of annoying him, he could bear it. But with Rou Jia's wedding approaching, he didn't know what trouble those two would cause.
Unlike Bai Ren, Qi Xiao wasn't angry at the news at all. If anything, he was faintly pleased. The more unstable Bai Ren's position, the more he would need to rely on himself—this was exactly what Qi Xiao wanted. Setting that aside, Bai Ren had suffered much bullying from the illegitimate branch since childhood. Before, they were too far away for Qi Xiao to reach. Now they had delivered themselves to his doorstep for him to act upon. It would be a waste if Qi Xiao didn't take advantage of this.
It wouldn't do to say all this to Bai Ren directly, so Qi Xiao smiled and said: "What's there to worry about? Let me tell you a way so neither you nor Rou Jia has to face them every day. How about that?"
Bai Ren's eyes lit up: "What method?"
Qi Xiao smiled faintly: "I was already planning to have Princess Rou Jia stay at the Princess's residence for a while after she arrives in the capital. First, it would let my aunt teach her some matters of the inner household. Second, before the wedding, I could take her to meet the people here. They'll be frequently interacting from now on, so it's better to get acquainted early. As for matters of the inner household and women, even if we want to help, we can't insert ourselves. He Zichen's mother is a widow who stays at home and isn't useful for this. We still need to rely on my aunt—she's most skilled at handling these things. You can rest assured."
The territorial lords couldn't enter the capital without an imperial summons. The King and Princess of Lingnan probably wouldn't be able to come for Rou Jia's wedding. Bai Ren had been worried about not having anyone of suitable age to guide his sister. Upon hearing this, he quickly said joyfully: "Really?"
Qi Xiao flicked Bai Ren's cheek with his finger: "Would I tease you? Is this arrangement acceptable?"
Bai Ren nodded eagerly. Qi Xiao took his hand and squeezed it, smiling: "As for you... I've already spoken with the Imperial Household Department. Any arrangements concerning Princess Rou Jia's wedding must first go through the Crown Prince's residence. They can only proceed after I've approved them. That way, your future brother-in-law will naturally need to come to my residence frequently to discuss the wedding arrangements. Since your half-brother and half-sister want to come to the capital, you and your sister should vacate the manor and let those two live there by themselves."
Bai Ren couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this. His earlier frustration was completely gone. Qi Xiao leaned in and kissed Bai Ren's forehead, then softly laughed: "I've arranged everything so perfectly for the Heir apparent. How should the Heir apparent repay me?"
Bai Ren's face flushed slightly. Qi Xiao smiled, took his hand, and led him toward the inner room.
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Three days later, the grand escort procession from Lingnan arrived in the capital. The Emperor ordered the Minister of Rites to personally welcome them outside the city and received them directly at the palace.
"Come, let me have a look..." Princess Dun Su had also entered the palace early. She waited in Qianqing Palace alongside the Emperor, Empress, and several high-ranking consorts. Because of his relationship with the He family, Qi Xiao was considered allied with the Lingnan Wangfu through marriage, so he didn't need to avoid the occasion and came together with Bai Ren. After a lengthy round of ceremonies, everyone finally met.
Princess Dun Su first called Princess Rou Jia to her side, taking her hand and examining her closely. Rou Jia was just sixteen, in the bloom of youth. She was a beauty in her own right. Although the long journey had left fatigue showing on her face, her beauty remained undiminished despite the minor flaws. Princess Dun Su shook her head with joy: "My nephew is truly getting a bargain! This appearance, this bearing... Empress, look—she's just like the Princess of Lingnan in her youth."
Rou Jia hastily lowered her head: "Your Highness flatters me..."
Although Rou Jia was modest and gentle, her every movement was dignified and proper. She showed no timidity, only graceful warmth. The more Princess Dun Su looked, the more she liked her. She turned to Empress Feng with a smile: "Do you remember the Princess of Lingnan, Empress? When she got married, she was just this age..."
Empress Feng dryly smiled and nodded. The King and Princess of Lingnan had indeed gotten married in the capital, which was why Princess Dun Su remembered. But at that time, Empress Feng hadn't yet married the current Emperor. As a commoner's daughter, how could she have met the Heir apparent's wife back then? Whether Princess Dun Su had forgotten or not, she continued praising effusively: "Back then when I saw Bai Ren, I thought this Rou Jia couldn't be much worse. I didn't expect... she's even better than I imagined. Emperor, what do you say? This marriage, we've gotten the better deal?"
The Emperor laughed heartily: "Of course... Wen Yu, how are your father and mother?"
When the Emperor addressed him, Dongling Wen Yu quickly stepped forward and bowed: "Thank you for Your Majesty's concern. Father and mother are both well. Before I left, Father repeatedly instructed me to bring his greetings and best wishes to Your Majesty."
Since the crowd entered the great hall, Qi Xiao had been watching Dongling Wen Yu. He was fifteen this year, only three months younger than Bai Ren. Although he was Bai Ren's brother, he didn't resemble Bai Ren in the slightest. His looks were far inferior to Bai Ren's, and worse still, everything about his demeanor radiated a greasy, cunning air—petty and unrefined. Compared to Bai Ren's composed self-restraint, it was like the difference between heaven and earth. Of course, Bai Ren was never as cold and distant with Wen Yu as he was with others. Like last night, for instance...
Qi Xiao's thoughts wandered, and he couldn't help but turn his head to look at Bai Ren. Bai Ren had been watching Rou Jia the whole time. Although his expression showed nothing, his eyes were full of concern. Rou Jia, for her part, kept glancing at Bai Ren as well, seemingly wishing he would look at her through and through. Qi Xiao felt a slight displeasure in his heart, but then he thought that Rou Jia was about to get married soon and felt relieved. Once she had a husband and children, how would she still have time to bother Bai Ren? Bai Ren would still belong to him alone...
The Emperor was still sighing emotionally: "Your father and I haven't seen each other in nearly ten years. Time flies..." Wen Yu hastily chimed in. He had done his homework well too. He talked about the imperial- gifted inkstone that had always sat on his father's desk, then moved on to the hunting grounds where the King of Lingnan and the Emperor had ridden and shot together in the capital. The Emperor would say one thing and Wen Yu would immediately follow up, never letting the conversation lag. Everyone was chatting enthusiastically, leaving Princess Kang Tai standing alone with no one paying her any attention. Empress Feng was afraid she would feel slighted, so she smiled and said: "This is the Second Young Miss, right? Come, let me take a look..."
Kang Tai quickly stepped forward to bow. Kang Tai was only fourteen this year. Although childish immaturity still lingered on her face, there was a calculating gleam in her eyes. When Empress Feng asked if she was tired from the journey, Kang Tai laughed: "Not at all, I'm naturally sturdier than my sister. On the way here, I sent all my personal maidservants to my sister's carriage to take care of her. I also gave all the fox fur blankets to my sister's carriage. It's just that... my sister still got tired. It worried me so much, but there was nothing I could do."
Empress Feng smiled and sighed gently: "Good child, you're truly sensible... You worry about Rou Jia, but you must also take care of yourself. At such a young age, if you truly overtax yourself, that wouldn't be good."
Kang Tai glanced at Rou Jia and blinked at Empress Feng, then lowered her voice with a smile: "But... my sister is here to get married. What happens to me doesn't matter. If I let my sister get tired or cold, delaying this important occasion, wouldn't that be my fault?"
At these words, everyone in the hall laughed. Rou Jia's face flushed red. She lowered her head without speaking, merely smiling faintly. But the smile didn't reach her eyes.
Qi Xiao looked at Kang Tai's innocent, lively smile and inwardly mocked. So she was another one who wouldn't make things easy.
After the laughter, Princess Dun Su also chatted with Kang Tai for a few moments, then took Rou Jia's hand again and asked her in detail what she liked to eat, what she liked to play, what beautiful mountains and waters she'd seen on the journey, and whether the cold in the capital was bearable, and so on. Rou Jia answered everything carefully. As Princess Dun Su quietly observed her manner of speaking, she became more and more satisfied. Her gaze toward Rou Jia grew increasingly affectionate.
Everyone talked for quite a while. The Emperor then bestowed a family banquet. It wasn't until the hour of Xu (evening) that it finally dispersed. On such an occasion, Qi Xiao naturally couldn't ask Bai Ren to come to his residence again. He simply had Jiang Deqing send a message to Bai Ren: not to worry about anything, and to wait for Qi Xiao to get revenge for him.
Bai Ren had been puzzled in his heart after hearing this, and it wasn't until the next day that he understood Qi Xiao's meaning...
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The next morning, the Crown Prince's residence's chief steward Jiang Deqing personally delivered a carriage full of things to the Lingnan Wangfu. He said the Crown Prince had prepared some small trinkets for the two young ladies and young master arriving in the capital, for their enjoyment.
When Wen Yu heard this, he was overjoyed and quickly came out to receive them. He had a long exchange of pleasantries with Jiang Deqing. Jiang Deqing smiled indifferently and presented the gift list with both hands. Wen Yu took it, and the more he looked, the more pleased he became. The first page of the list was filled with items for him—writing supplies, antique curios, rare books, everything complete. Wen Yu was delighted to receive these things and proud that such attention was being paid to him. Even upon arriving in the capital, the Crown Prince was showing him such respect!
Wen Yu flipped to the next page and continued reading, but the more he read, the wronger things seemed. He had thought what was given to him was already quite generous. Unexpectedly, the following pages were densely filled with items for Rou Jia, and each one was a treasure...
Jiang Deqing's face remained impassive as he stood at the entrance, announcing loudly: "A pair of white jade ruyi, eight eastern pearls, four strings of old agate bracelets, two brocade gold jeweled necklaces, four pairs of jadeite bracelets, four bolts of cloud brocade, eight bolts of python gold, twelve bolts of large dazzling gold, twelve bolts of small dazzling gold, sixteen bolts of various silks and satins..."
The servants hurried back and forth, constantly transporting things to Rou Jia's courtyard. After Jiang Deqing had announced half of it, he paused and softly said to the servants: "The rest is for Princess Kang Tai. Don't send them to the wrong place."
The servants hastily agreed. Jiang Deqing cleared his throat: "Two strings of pearls, four coral-patterned rings. Second Young Master, everything is here. This old servant will take his leave now." Jiang Deqing respectfully bowed to Wen Yu, then turned and left.
Wen Yu stood there stupidly, staring at the last few items listed for Kang Tai on the gift list. He was speechless for a long time. He hastily turned and went to find his sister. Before he even reached the courtyard, he heard Kang Tai smashing things. Wen Yu groaned inwardly and rushed to console her.
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In the Crown Prince's residence, Qi Xiao listened to Jiang Deqing's report and smiled with satisfaction. Kang Tai had dared to step on Bai Ren's sister's face right in front of him. So he would let her know what it truly meant to lose face.