Just like that.
The three pregnant women, along with a few children and their respective servants and various supplies, set off in a grand procession from the capital.
The carriage moved slowly, treating the journey as a leisurely scenic tour.
Zhao Junyao ensured their safety.
He specifically had Xia Tingfeng protect them personally and assigned five hundred members of the Imperial Forest Army to accompany them.
Additionally, there were the Imperial Censor, couriers, and so on.
They brought along almost everything imaginable, fearing to leave anything out that might lead her to suffer grievances in the wild countryside.
Yang Chenyi was also worried.
He took a few days’ leave from the Ministry of War to escort them along the way.
There wasn’t the slightest concern about safety.
In Duanning Palace.
By Xia Ruqing’s side, only Zi Yue and Zi Su stayed, along with two rough-serving palace maids.
Xiao Xizi and Xiao Zhu Zi were not brought along, since Chenchen still stayed in the palace.
It wouldn’t be good to take them all away, and she couldn’t bear to either.
By Henger and Yeye’s side, wetnurse nannies accompanied them.
Chenchen, being older, needed to study and practice martial arts daily, barely staying in the palace, so he couldn’t go this time either.
So Sister Huang and the others remained behind.
In the small kitchen.
Xia Ruqing only brought Chef Jiang and two eunuchs she trained, leaving the rest behind.
Overall, she didn’t bring many people.
Ni Manxue didn’t bring many people either.
Apart from a few personal maids, there were only Zeze’s two wetnurses.
But Xia Caiying.
Apart from eight maids, she had two experienced sisters by her side.
Along the way, whether serving tea or going to the bathroom, everything was attended to meticulously.
It was basically having everything done for her.
Lady Ni couldn’t help but tease when she saw it.
"Indeed the Young Lady of the Minister’s Mansion! Such grandeur when traveling, makes even I, her sister-in-law, a bit envious!"
Xia Caiying blushed and lowered her head.
"Sister-in-law!"
"I didn’t want to bring so many. It was Mother who insisted they come... said she was worried!"
Xia Ruqing couldn’t help but laugh.
"Listen, she calls her Mother and not Mother-in-law, proving how open and understanding Madam Yang is, winning our Sister Caiying’s heart!"
Manxue couldn’t help but intervene too.
She pointed outside at a handsome young man in a dark robe riding a tall horse, covering her mouth and said.
"Not just Madam Yang, I’d say this gentleman has won her over even more!"
Xia Ruqing squinted her eyes and nodded with a smile.
"That’s true!"
"The Yang family, generation after generation of generals, open-minded family style, Madam Yang humorous and witty, Young Master Yang a young talent, it’s understandable Sister Caiying likes him!"
The two sisters-in-law exchanged words, making Xia Caiying’s face turn bright red.
She covered her face.
"Elder sister, sister-in-law! You guys..."
"Look, our family’s Second Young Lady is shy!" Ni Manxue laughed, covering her lips.
Xia Ruqing laughed too.
"Sister Caiying is married, what is there to be shy about? Stop covering your face!"
Xia Caiying had no choice but to take away the handkerchief.
However, she stubbornly said with her head down.
"Sister, sister-in-law, if you tease me again, I’ll really get mad!"
People knew Xia Caiying’s gentle yet firm character.
So Xia Ruqing and Ni Manxue quickly changed the subject instead of dwelling on it.
The three pregnant women gathered together, had limited topics.
Mostly about children, trivial household matters, and so on.
After a while, the conversation shifted to Xia Ruyi and her brother.
Xia Ruqing hadn’t met them after all.
So she asked.
"Sister-in-law, they’ve been here for a while, what’s the situation?"
Bringing it up was fine, but.
Lady Ni’s face filled with disdain.
"Humph!"
"What situation?"
"Simply put, they’re trying to climb up by stepping on us!"
"You wouldn’t know, Your Highness, that Xia Ruyi is quite ambitious!"
"She dresses up flamboyantly every day, going out with this person to admire flowers, that person for tea!"
"All under the name of being a Hou Mansion’s lady!"
Honestly, can she even be considered a Hou Mansion’s lady?
Ni Manxue further added.
"If she sincerely wants to get along well with us, say some nice things, I wouldn’t care!"
"But she secretly calls us illegitimate, showing disdain on her face, while pretending otherwise openly, it’s just nauseating!"
Lady Ni, born into a generals family, was straightforward.
She particularly despised such two-faced tricks, which are why her words were harsh.
Xia Caiying frowned too.
"Sister-in-law, you didn’t know, she came to see me a few times!"
"But I was having morning sickness, feeling unwell, so I didn’t see her!"
Xia Ruqing watched them criticize sentence after sentence and couldn’t help but sigh.
"So that’s their tactic too, huh?"
To climb up, they’ll do anything!
"Has Xia Ruyi had any contact with Prince Zhe’s Mansion?"