Zi Yue was somewhat dumbfounded.
"This..."
"Princess, your daily routines are governed by strict rules. How can you stay at the Prince He Mansion? If His Majesty finds out..."
"What would Father do if he knew?"
Zi Yue was stunned.
Oh, indeed, what would happen if the Emperor knew?
The answer is nothing much.
Nowadays the Emperor has aged; his energy doesn’t match what it once was. With the state’s affairs already overwhelming him, who would bother him with such trivial matters?
Even matters of the harem, the Empress refrains from discussing them, much less the affairs of the princes and princesses? Moreover, such minor things?
After thinking it over, Zi Yue shook her head.
"Forget it!"
She walked towards the inner room.
"As a palace maid, I can’t make decisions. You have to discuss this with the Empress in person!"
Yue Er felt somewhat helpless but couldn’t continue to obstruct.
She just had to bow her head and cautiously follow inside.
In her heart, she only prayed that Mother Empress wouldn’t make things difficult for her; she truly just wanted to visit Yilan for a few days!
Xia Ruqing was finally awakened by Zi Yue.
She opened her sleepy eyes, struggled to get up, and was a bit surprised to see Yue Er at the bedside.
"What brings you here at this time?"
Yue Er giggled as she leaned in, sat by the bedside, and sweetly called out.
"Mother Empress!"
Xia Ruqing’s heart sank.
Uh-oh, this girl likely has something to tell her again.
Dismissing the two little palace maids with a wave, she casually picked up an exquisite round fan, slowly fanning herself while yawning and asking.
"Speak, what’s the matter?"
Yue Er felt a jolt in her heart.
"Mother Empress understands me best!"
She didn’t hesitate and directly repeated her request.
At the end, she added.
"Mother Empress, I heard Cousin Yilan is speaking about marriage; I want to see what her fiancé looks like!"
Zi Yue broke into a cold sweat.
"Ah, look, the key is here. Fortunately, she woke the Empress; otherwise..."
Xia Ruqing also wiped her brow, asking helplessly.
"What does your Cousin Yilan’s marriage proposal have to do with you?!"
"Why are you getting involved?"
Yue Er said confidently.
"Of course, it has something to do with me!"
"I grew up with Sister Yilan, and I don’t want her to end up with a bad man like Eldest Sister!"
Although the Eldest Princess is her biological sister, emotionally, she is closer to Cousin Yilan.
"Mother Empress! Please let me go!"
Xia Ruqing felt even more helpless and indecisive.
"This..."
She herself was indifferent.
After all, helping her friend vet a boyfriend is quite normal, nothing much to discuss.
But this is ancient times!
If it gets out that a young girl is poking into another family’s marriage proposal, it would sound unpleasant.
She might not consider herself, but she mustn’t disregard her daughter.
She isn’t afraid of gossip, but she fears it might affect her daughter.
She’s not even twelve yet; she can’t handle these things.
After thinking for a long time, she finally spoke slowly.
"Yue Er, do you really have to go?"
Yue Er felt a bit saddened.
"If Mother Empress truly doesn’t like it, I won’t go!"
Her voice was small, her head lowered, twisting her fingers, appearing small and pitiful.
Xia Ruqing felt immense compassion, wishing she could pour her entire heart out for her little daughter, and wished she could immediately agree.
But she restrained herself.
"Yue Er!" she said sternly.
Yue Er raised her eyes.
"Mother Empress, do you agree?"
Xia Ruqing neither confirmed nor denied, merely said calmly.
"You can go, but this matter mustn’t be known to others!"
"Really? Can I go?" Yue Er’s eyes brightened.
As for why it mustn’t be known, she didn’t care, as long as she could go!
Xia Ruqing looked helpless.
"Yes, but you must fulfill your promise to me."
"Understood, Mother Empress, I will secretly go and secretly return! Absolutely no one will know!"
"Alright!"
Xia Ruqing took a breath and nodded.
Afterwards.
Yue Er chatted with her for a while before hastily returning to pack her things.
...
A day later, the Fourth Princess claimed illness at Fengyu Pavilion, recuperating behind closed doors while seeing no one.
That evening, a carriage quietly drove out of the imperial palace, crossing through the deep darkness of night, stopping at the back entrance of Prince He Mansion.
Prince He Mansion was brightly lit.
The Princely Heir, Imperial Concubine, and other household branches as well as the younger generation were all gathered in the courtyard of Princess Consort He, awaiting the grand arrival of the Fourth Princess.
Although in the royal clan, they were considered elders to the Fourth Princess.
Nonetheless, a royal princess was descending; there must be distinctions between rulers and subjects, etiquette must be observed.
However, Yue Er wouldn’t really make them salute.
As the whole room prepared to kneel, she quickly stepped forward to support everyone.
"Aunt and Uncle, you’re embarrassing me!"
The Imperial Concubine smiled and said.
"What are you saying, Princess!"
"Sit quickly, that girl Yilan has longed for you!"
Yue Er nodded before turning toward Old Princess Consort He seated in a high position.