Qiao Jinniang said coldly, “So if there were someone who has a more beautiful face and a nicer voice than me, you would choose her over me?”


  Lu Chen whispered in Qiao Jinniang’s ear. “No, you’re the most beautiful woman in my heart.”


  Qiao Jinniang smiled and said, “Humph, liar.”


  Lu Chen said, “No, I didn’t lie to you. You’re as beautiful as an immortal who descended to Earth.”


  Qiao Jinniang was amused. Seeing that the candlelight was still on, she said to Lu Chen, “Candle, candlelight…” But just when Lu Chen was about to turn off the lights, he suddenly heard Lu Xi knocking on the door. “Daddy, we haven’t set off firecrackers yet. You and Mommy promised me that I could play with firecrackers today last year!”


  Hearing ths, Qiao Jinniang hurriedly put on her clothes, and was about to go out when Lu Chen held her hand.

  Lu Chen whispered to her, “Why don’t we just pretend to be asleep. If we go out now, he will definitely force us to accompany him to play with firecrackers. Do you dare let him play with firecrackers?”


  Qiao Jinniang shook her head. “No, I don’t, but I can hold him in my arms and watch you play!”


  Qiao Jinniang went out, hugged little Lu Xi in her arms, and kissed his little face. “Xi’er!”


  Lu Xi rubbed his eyes, lay on Qiao Jinniang’s shoulder and shouted, “Mommy!”


  Lu Chen took a deep breath, deciding that as soon as Qiao Jinniang married into the East Palace, he would make this kid start copying the Historical Records.

  When Lu Xi saw Qiao Jinniang, he had completely forgotten playing with firecrackers and just kept talking to Qiao Jinniang

  He was telling her the story of the Spring Festival he just heard today.

  The whole palace was filled with Little Lu Xi’s voice. As he talked, he got tired and gradually fell asleep.

  Qiao Jinniang held little Lu Xi in her arms and slowly closed her eyes too.

  Lu Chen had no choice but to take a shower and then go back to his bedroom. He had planned to have another child with Qiao Jinniang, but now it seemed that he didn’t need to be in a hurry.

  He couldn’t even handle Lu Xi!

  Qiao Jinniang returned to her yard from the secret passage early the next morning.

  On the first day of the first lunar month, many people came to pay New Year’s greetings. Because Duke Anyuan and his family were all here, there was an endless stream of nobles, officials and their families coming to pay New Year’s greetings.

  It was also a good time to receive gifts during the Spring Festival.

  According to the Qiao family’s tradition, when they received a gift, they would give a gift of the same value in return. Otherwise, people would say they were greedy.

  Although their ancestors donated a lot of fields and silver taels, the Qiao family was an old distinguished family with a history of thousands of years and still had many properties. They didn’t have to ruin the family’s future merely for some New Year gifts.

  From the first to the third day of the new year, everyone was busy visiting relatives and friends and feasting with guests.

  Dukes and princes whose fiefs were outside Chang’an had also entered Chang’an from all over the country.

  For a time, the business of Jewelry Pavilion was booming, which made Prince Huai coveted it even more.

  The Prince Huai Mansion was not that lively Although Li Lingling was very good at social activities, there were still very few officials coming to visit Prince Huai.

  Mu Qianqian lay in Prince Huai’s arms and said, “Why did you give up on Jewelry Pavilion? Wouldn’t it be good to cooperate with Xie Yun?”


  Prince Huai said, “Xie Yun, who was even willing to sacrifice her own life to save the Crown Prince, will inevitably expose me if I cooperate with her.”


  Mu Qian said, “But now everyone knows that it is Qiao Jinniang who is about to become the crown princess, not Xie Yun.

  “Although Xie Yun almost died in order to save the Crown Prince, don’t underestimate a woman’s jealousy.

  “How could she be willing to watch the man who she risked her own life to save marry another woman?”


  Prince Huai thought about it carefully. If he could get the support of the Xie family, it would be great.

  But would the Xie family support him?

  Mu Qianqian smiled and said, “Your Highness, why don’t you use my idea of spreading the news that the Crown Prince was ungrateful to Xie Yun.

  “No matter how much Xie Yun loves the Crown Prince, she won’t be able to tolerate the ridicule of everyone, and her love for the Crown Prince will inevitably become hatred!”


  “And if the Crown Prince chooses Xie Yun, he will definitely lose the support of Duke Anyuan.

  “At that time, you can persuade Duke Anyuan to support you on the condition that you will support the little imperial grandson. Isn’t this killing two birds with one stone?”


  Since Xie Yun came to Chang’an, she had been reclusive.

  After the news that Qiao Jinniang and the Crown Prince had gotten married in Lin’an and Qiao Jinniang was about to be the crown princess was spread, no one talked about Xie Yun anymore.

  After all, for the nobles and officials who wanted to marry their daughters into the East Palace, it was better to let Qiao Jinniang be the crown princess than Xie Yun.

  Xie Yun, this woman was not simple.

  On the second day of the new year, a maid of Xie Xun’s second cousin told others that Xie Yun became so skinny that she didn’t even celebrate the New Year with her second uncle.

  It was because Xie Yun was so sad when she heard that the Crown Prince was going to marry Qiao Jinniang, and she was currently suffering from the recurrence of her old injury from saving the Crown Prince.

  Everyone began to talk about the old news that Xie Yun was almost killed in order to save the Crown Prince.

  Because of the large number of banquets during the Spring Festival, the whole Chang’an suddenly sympathized with the reclusive girl, Xie Yun, who almost sacrificed her life for love.

  On the second day of the first year, Qiao Ruoyun and Qin Shu went to visit the Qiao family, so the Qiao family was quite lively today.

  Knowing that the Qin family would come to Qiao Mansion today, Fulu, who was living next door, purposely came to give a hard time to Qin Miaomiao.

  Qiao Ruoyun looked at Qiao Jinniang worriedly and said, “Jinniang, Miss Xie seemed to be very nice to you, but I never expected her to come up with this trick during the New Year. Moreover, His Majesty hasn’t issued an imperial decree to make you the crown princess yet. I’m afraid there will be a lot of imperial censors who will want to uphold justice for her!”


  Qiao Jinniang didn’t suspect Xie Yun, but there must be someone behind this matter. She just didn’t know whether the person behind this was targeting her and Lu Chen or Xie Yun.

  Fulu said, “To be fair, Xie Yun is really pitiful! Her life was hanging by a thread… but my imperial cousin still abandoned her. Men have no heart.”


  Qiao Lu, who silently listened to her brother-in-law’s teaching, murmured in a low voice. “I have a heart.”


  Qin Shu frowned. “What are you talking about? The Imperial Examination will be held in mid-March. You should take it seriously.

  “Although some people have already been selected in the last Imperial Examination, there will still be many people who will participate in the Imperial Examination for the first time. And this is your first time participating in the Imperial Examination…”


  “Yes, Brother-in-law.”


  Qiao Lu cupped his hands and said yes, but his eyes were glued to Fulu.

  Qiao Jinniang received an invitation from Xie Yun in the afternoon, inviting her to visit the New Year’s market in Chang’an.

  Qiao Jinniang agreed and didn’t forget to take Fulu with her in case she would quarrel with Qin Miaomiao which would make things difficult for Zheng Xiao.

  “Sister, I’ll go with you.” Qiao Lu walked to Qiao Jinniang and said,

  Qiao Jinniang said, “Alright, the Imperial Examination is coming soon, you need to relax anyway.”


  Fulu asked Qiao Lu, “Where’s the maid next to you last time? She was an interesting and pretty girl.”


  Qiao Lu said, “She went home.”


  Fulu said, “That’s a pity. She didn’t take the jewelry and clothes that I bought for her last time. I still wanted to ask her to go shopping with me!”


  At the New Year’s market, there were all kinds of goods, as well as acrobatics troupes. Many noble ladies came out for shopping or walking to help digestion after lunch.

  There was still unmelted white snow on the roadsides, and the street was crowded with people, making it very lively.

  “Little Jin’er.” Xie Yun got off the carriage and walked to Qiao Jinniang. “The rumors outside were spread by my cousin’s maid. Don’t worry about it. His Royal Highness and I will handle it properly!”


  Qiao Jinniang smiled and said, “I’m not worried.”


  Seeing her smile, Xie Yun felt a little pain in his heart. “I heard from His Royal Highness that after the Lantern Festival, His Royal Highness will decree that you will be the crown princess, so you should cherish these last relaxing days.”


  Qiao Jinniang sighed slightly. “Yeah, I will lose freedom soon.”


  Xie Yun said, “If you want freedom, I can help you. As long as you are willing, I can take you away from Chang’an, conceal our identities and live a peaceful life.”


  Qiao Jinniang said, “I never want to conceal my identity.”