No one knew that this kind of unthinkable incident had occurred in this alley just now.

  After walking out of the alley, Yi’an once again put on that mask of modesty, courtesy, gentleness, and kindness that characterized her commandery princess identity. She boarded her carriage and returned to the palace in an excellent mood.

  “I haven’t returned to the Marquis of Su’an’s Estate in a long time to see my paraplegic little sister.” Commandery Princess Yi’an said with a smile, “Xu’er, let’s find a day to return to the estate to see her.”


  Xu’er immediately responded while nodding her head in comprehension.

  The carriage arrived at the palace gates while following the broad road paved with greenish-black tiles. When they saw that it was Commandery Princess Yi’an’s carriage, the guards immediately granted passage.

  Commandery Princess Yi’an lifted up the curtain with her hand and smiled at the guards with a nod.

  When the carriage drove onto the palace road and slowly made its way to the queen dowager’s Longevity Palace, Commandery Princess Yi’an cast her gaze in the direction of the Eastern Palace. She secretly vowed:

  Meanwhile, after Qiao Mu’s coming-of-age hairpin ceremony, the Qiao Estate started to get busy with the preparations for Second Uncle’s wedding.

  During this period of time, Wei Ziqin was as busy as a spinning top. In order to make Second Uncle abandon his bachelor life as soon as possible, the entire family put in all their effort.

  In addition, after Second Uncle’s wedding, the crown prince’s wedding would be just upon them, so the entire Qiao Estate was raring to go.

  All the boy and maid servants were hyped up as they busily readied things here and there all day.

  This caused Qiao Mu, this idler, to be a real eyesore……

  After noontime, Darling Qiao was sitting inside her own little courtyard, drinking tea and eating dried fruit while also flipping through medical books and taking a nap.

  Subsequently, she heard the announcement from outside that Madam Ren had come.

  Madam Ren had naturally come to find her mother. It had nothing to do with her.

  After flipping through the medical book some more, Qiao Mu then threw it to the side, planning to take an afternoon nap in the sun.

  Everyone inside the house were busy people. Only she was so bored that she was counting ants.

  Qiao Mu laid back on the chair, but she had only just closed her eyes when she heard approaching footsteps. A maidservant came over hastily and curtsied, informing, “Crown Prince Consort, the miss of the Count of Jian’an’s Estate has come to pay a visit.”


  Qiao Mu flipped up and said with a nod, “It’s Miss Pei. Invite her in.”


  Soon, the miss of the Count of Jian’an’s Estate, Pei Jia, was led in along with her personal maidservant. She was around 17 years old and was shy by nature.

  When she saw Qiao Mu, she smiled timidly. “Greetings to the crown prince consort. After getting entertained by the crown prince consort last time on Fu Mountain, Mother in-instructed me to c-come return the courtesy……”


  At this, the maidservant behind her quickly tugged at her sleeve in exasperation:

  Pei Jia also felt that what she said was amiss as she was speaking.

  Subsequently, she gazed at Qiao Mu apologetically. “S-Sorry Crown Prince Consort, Pei Jia is awkward in speech and c-cannot speak too well.”


  Qiao Mu glanced at her before reaching out to pat the chair beside her. “Sit.”


  That day during the gathering at Fu Mountain, Qiao Mu had already discovered this.

  As Miss Pei was a bit shy, she was like an invisible nobody when sitting in a group. If it weren’t for Mo You and Liang Qingqing occasionally teasing several words out of her, she could probably not talk to other people for an entire day.

  Her elder brother Pei Yidao was also someone of few words, but from the looks of it, he was attentive and cared for Miss Li.

  Qiao Mu nodded her head. When she saw Miss Pei staring at the medical book next to her, she asked, “Want to take a look?”