Old Madam Cheng was very satisfied seeing the harmony between Cheng Yujin and her younger brothers. The Old Madam coughed and said: “Well, eldest girl has just returned. She need to rest well. If you still have anything else to say, save it for later.”

Everyone in the room stood up and responded together: “Yes.”

Smiling inwardly, Cheng Yujin gently pushed away Qingfu Junzhu’s hand. Amidst Qingfu Junzhu’s shocked face and Ruan-shi’s joyful eyes, she gave a perfect and graceful curtsy: “Mother, second aunt. I was sick these past few days and lived outside. Asking mother’s forgiveness for being unable to pay respect to you.”

Qingfu Junzhu was a bit disappointed, but she was also proud. She hurriedly responded: “Eldest girl shouldn’t say that. We are mother and daughter. How can I feel angry at you over such a thing?”

Normally, Li Chengjing would like to personally send Cheng Yujin back. But it was difficult for an engaged couple to see each other before marriage. Li Chengjing had to avoid gossips and scandals, so he could only dispatch a lot of guards to escort Cheng Yujin home. After seeing her off, Li Chengjing couldn’t put down his worry. He ordered Liu Yi to go to Yichun Marquis Manor and ‘suggested’ Cheng Yuanxian to pick up Cheng Yujin personally.

Li Chengjing only mentioned Chang Yuanxian in passing. The real topic he wanted to say came after that. Li Chengjing said again: “Today, the imperial edict has been officially announced to the world. Although the six etiquettes¹ have not been carried out, you have been publicly recognized as the Crown Princess. In the past few days, many people heard that you were sick and sent calling cards to Yichun Marquis Manor. But you need to recuperate, so I didn’t let them disturb you, not even Cheng family. Today, Marquis Yichun came to me saying that he wants to take you back to recuperate at home.”

When Cheng Yujin turned around, she was taken aback upon seeing the incoming man. Li Chengjing had seen Cheng Yujin as soon as he walked in. He was surprised at first, but soon frowned: “You are still sick. Why did you come out?”

Cheng Yujin didn’t expect to see Li Chengjing so suddenly. Although she ambitiously accepted her future identity as the crown princess, in her consciousness, the Crown Prince and Cheng Yuanjing were two separated identities, as were the identity of the Crown Princess and a certain man’s wife.

Cheng Yujin stood up: “I never took a stroll in this house. I want to take a look.”

Although Cheng Yujin had been staying in this courtyard for ten days, she almost never went out, let alone wandering around the other parts of the house. This was the Crown Prince’s private residence; what did it have to do with her? She didn’t want to walk outside and accidentally bump into something that she shouldn’t see.

Many people had secretly guessed which family’s daughter would be lucky enough to be second prince’s wife, but some people speculated differently. Yang family had produced one Empress and one Empress Dowager. Would they produce another future Empress?

Cheng Yujin coughed hard. Seeing this, her two servant girls were shocked and hurriedly stepped forward to give her water.

Cheng Yujin never expected to hear her own name out of a sudden while listening to gossip. When she finally calmed down, she no longer cared about other news. Her first sentence was to ask hurriedly: “What did you just say, who is the Emperor bestowing marriage to?”

The Crown Prince whom the imperial court and Emperor had been looking for for many years actually had been living in the capital all this time. Without anyone noticing a thing, he passed the imperial examination and became an official. This twist and turn were even more bizarre than the plot of folk operas. People talked about it with great relish, and in no time, the story had spread wide and far.

Cheng Yujin repeatedly pondered the differences between the two lives and found that all the tracks were the same until the event in Xiangji Temple. In the previous life, she was not led to the garden by Zhai Yanlin and didn’t witness the ‘accidental’ encounter between the emperor and the Crown Prince.

Lian Qiao took the order and left. Cheng Yujin thought that it would take her only the time needed to go back and forth, but unexpectedly, Lian Qiao came back after a long time. When she came back, the expression on her face was…very indescribable. There was obvious surprise, shock, and trance, but also seemed to be mixed with great joy.

What’s happening?