Chapter 5: The Homecoming Visit

Lin Menghua rubbed her sleepy eyes and sat blankly on the bed for a while.

Nanny Cui, assuming Lin Menghua was unfamiliar with the Prince's estate, arrived early to assist her. Upon entering Shaohua Courtyard and seeing the servants performing their duties in an orderly fashion, she paused for a moment.

Qingzhu, upon seeing her, greeted her with a smile, "Good morning, Nanny."

Nanny Cui knew this was the Princess's personal maid and dared not be negligent. She quickly replied, "Greetings, young lady."

Hearing the commotion, Lin Menghua glanced toward the door, "Who is outside?"

Qingzhu hurried inside to report, "It is Nanny Cui from the estate." As she spoke, she lifted the curtain.

Hearing the stir in the main room, Nanny Cui straightened her back, lowered her head, and stepped inside to pay her respects, "Greetings to the Princess."

"Nanny, please rise."

Nanny Cui looked up to see a figure moving behind the curtain, and a woman slowly emerged. She wore a red, cinched-waist gown, her long hair cascading like a waterfall over her shoulders. Her skin, fair and delicate, was tinged with a soft, rosy hue. With bright eyes and pearly teeth, her every expression was filled with charm. She lifted the curtain with her slender, jade-like arms and looked at the nanny with a smile.

Lüliu quickly stepped forward to hold the curtain back.

"Do you know where the Prince is?"

"The Prince was summoned to the palace early this morning and has not yet returned. The Princess may proceed as she pleases," Nanny Cui replied, keeping her head lowered to conceal the look of astonishment in her eyes.

Lin Menghua smiled. Since the Prince of Ning would not be accompanying her, she would simply have to increase the value of the return gifts!

"The carriage is already waiting outside. The Princess may depart at any time," Nanny Cui added.

"Very well."

...

The homecoming banquet was held in the Shou'an Hall of the main residence.

Lin Zheng sat at the head of the table, looking at the returning Lin Qingwan with a sense of bewilderment. He turned to Lin Zhiyuan and asked, "Isn't Qingwan supposed to return home tomorrow? Why is she back today?"

Lin Zhiyuan’s expression stiffened. He, too, had only just learned from his wife, Madame Su, that his daughter and son-in-law had come specifically to cross paths with Lin Menghua. He prided himself on being a man of refined integrity and despised the sycophantic behavior of social climbers; his daughter and son-in-law had slapped him in the face by acting this way!

Lin Zhiyuan forced a smile and said, "It is because Qingwan thought that since it happens to be Hua'er's homecoming day, it would be more convenient to host the banquet together."

Seeing his forced smile, Lin Zheng stopped asking.

Lin Qingwan, however, was in high spirits. Faced with Madame Su’s concerned inquiries, she covered her lips with her handkerchief and smiled with a coy, shy modesty.

Madame Su beamed from ear to ear and suddenly asked, "I wonder how Hua'er is faring in the Prince's estate?"

The room fell silent instantly.

Lin Zhiyuan scolded, "What kind of talk is that? It is only natural that the Princess is doing well in the Imperial household."

"But... I have heard..." Lin Qingwan said hesitantly, her face filled with worry and inner conflict.

Lin Zheng frowned, "Qingwan, what are you trying to say?"

"I heard that on the wedding night, the Prince did not even share the bridal chamber with my sister!"

"Ah?" Madame Su couldn't help but gasp.

"Qingwan, how do you know this?"

"Did Hua'er tell you this privately?"

Lin Zheng’s expression turned grim, but he remained rational and demanded sharply, "How did you find out about affairs within the Prince's estate?"

Lin Qingwan choked. Of course she knew! That was how she had been treated! The Prince of Ning was cold and ruthless; at the beginning, he hadn't even stepped foot into their bridal chamber, which was a tremendous humiliation for her. After he discovered her true identity, he had been like a demon, even trying to petition the Emperor to have her executed! Consort Zhang was also a hypocritical old shrew who comforted her while simultaneously looking down on her, holding onto the reins of the estate and leaving her with the title but no real power. Add to that the hypocritical little wretch Pei Zhenzhen—the Prince's estate was a place that devoured people! She refused to believe Lin Menghua could be living a good life there!

She had come back today to watch a farce. The more miserable Lin Menghua was, the more it would prove that her own choice had been the right one. She glanced at the handsome Jiang Ping beside her, feeling even more triumphant.

But she couldn't admit to her own experiences. She thought for a moment and said, "It is true! Who in the capital doesn't know that the Prince of Ning only favors his secondary consort? Because of her, there are no other women in his inner chambers!"

Lin Qingwan was speaking with great passion when a maid from outside announced, "Our Princess has returned!"

Everyone turned their gaze toward the entrance.

Lin Qingwan, previously high-spirited, stiffened.

Lin Menghua had changed her hairstyle; she wore an elegant 'startled swan' bun, adorned with ruby and red gold hairpins that shimmered with fine light in the sun. She wore a vermilion phoenix-patterned silk gown. Her complexion was rosy, and her face was wreathed in smiles as she was ushered in by her maids.

She looked nothing like someone who had suffered any grievances.

Lin Zheng let out a sigh of relief.

"Hua'er? Oh, no, the Princess? Her bearing is so magnificent that I almost didn't recognize her," a distant relative remarked in surprise.

"It truly is different when one marries into the Imperial family!"

"Our Hua'er is the Princess now, so naturally, she is noble."

Lin Qingwan, who had been waiting for Lin Menghua to make a miserable entrance, stared with her mouth agape and her eyes wide.

"Hua'er, sit quickly!" Lin Zheng looked at her with satisfaction.

Not only Lin Menghua, but also Lüliu and Qingzhu were dressed in entirely new attire, looking far more opulent than they had back at the estate.

Lin Qingwan stared at the bracelet on Lin Menghua's wrist, "Where did that bracelet come from?"

"It was a gift from the Empress Dowager," Lin Menghua said nonchalantly.

Lin Qingwan was furious! She recognized that bracelet; it was the Empress Dowager's favorite, embedded with Eastern pearls, which she wore often. The Empress Dowager had actually given it to Lin Menghua! How could she! She remembered that when she married, the Empress Dowager had only given her a pair of ordinary white jade bracelets. Why would she give something so precious to Lin Menghua?

"Our Princess is truly blessed. Her mother-in-law values her so highly; surely there will be nothing to be unhappy about in the future!"

"Oh, stop it!" Lin Qingwan scoffed. "Sister, don't force a smile. The Prince didn't even accompany you back today. Everyone knows about that favored secondary consort in the Prince's estate. If you’ve been wronged, just say it! Grandfather will stand up for you!"

Lin Menghua couldn't possibly be hiding it well; in her previous life, she had been deeply harmed by that secondary consort and had even lost her life because of her! Now that the tables had turned, how could she be doing well?

Others in the room were beginning to waver. That was true! This was the day of the homecoming, yet the Prince had not followed her back!

"Hua'er, is someone in the Prince's estate giving you a hard time?"

"Yes! Hua'er, don't be afraid, if there is something wrong, just say it!"

Lin Zheng's anger began to flare. While he worried that Lin Menghua might be living a difficult life, he could not stand anyone repeatedly slighting his granddaughter! "Qingwan, be quiet!"

Lin Menghua smiled and ignored them.

Not complaining easily is the true essence of life. Among those present, very few truly cared for her. Wanting to stand up for her was not necessarily genuine; wanting to gossip and watch a spectacle was far more likely. One should only pour out their heart to family members who truly wish to help, as that brings care and support. Complaining to others is merely a release of anger that only invites mockery and increases one's own desolation.

Just then, an older woman dressed in an apricot-red patterned jacket stepped forward, her face full of smiles, "Marquis, the Prince was summoned to the palace early this morning; it was not his intention to stay away. This is a token of the Prince's sincerity for your enjoyment."

She could hardly bear to listen any longer. She really didn't know what to say about the Princess's sister! She had previously worried that the Princess might have trouble explaining the disappearance of such a precious item to the Prince, but now she felt a sense of relief—thank goodness she had taken it, or the Prince might have been in trouble!