After seeing off Wang Muhan, the Weis returned to Old Madam Wei's main hall. Due to the Mid-Autumn Festival, many clan members had come, making it quite lively.

There weren't many Weis in officialdom now. Seeing the grand reception for Wei Ji, a mere palace guard, upon his return, everyone was quite envious. Wei Ji's two aunts supported Old Madam Wei into the room, continuously praising, "Ji'er has really made something of himself now. His duties are important. In the day and a half since he returned, even the prince in the palace has been restless, showing how valued Ji is."

Old Madam Wei was also beaming with joy. The entire household and many old relatives were present. Chu Shaoling not only bestowed gifts but also sent people to give instructions, bringing great honor to Old Madam Wei's face. Old Madam Wei smiled, "He's still young, what value does he have? He merely serves in the palace, staying close to the prince, so it's easy for him to gain some favor."

The third sister-in-law nodded with a smile, "I think it's also due to Zhan'er's reputation. I heard Zhan'er is very valued now and has been in the south for some time, right?"

The third sister-in-law looked at Madam Jiang. Madam Jiang quickly nodded and smiled, "Yes, I suppose he has also returned. It's a major holiday, truly..."

The third sister-in-law understood how to flatter and said with a smile, "Big sister-in-law, you dote on the children too much. Zhan'er has gone to handle important matters. How could he care about the holiday or not?"

Madam Jiang nodded. Looking at her youngest son, Madam Jiang felt both joy and worry in her heart. Thinking of Wei Zhan, Madam Jiang felt a bit more at ease. Even if Wei Ji suffered some grievances, with his older brother there, he shouldn't suffer too much in the future. At worst, Wei Zhan could help take care of him.

As the womenfolk were chatting, news suddenly came from outside that the eldest young master had returned. Everyone was overjoyed again and welcomed him in, exchanging pleasantries for quite a while.

Wei Zhan rarely came home, even less than Wei Ji. Naturally, Old Madam Wei and Madam Jiang nagged him for a good while. Everyone could see that the grandmother and mother missed him dearly. After a lively lunch, they didn't linger and left early.

After everything was tidied up, the mother and four sons sat intimately in Old Madam Wei's inner room to talk. Wei Ji had Chu Shaoling's words about his older brother and the Fourth Princess on his mind. The emperor had not officially decreed the marriage, but from what Chu Shaoling said, it seemed to have been decided. Should he say something or not?

If he didn't say anything, how would he explain that box of silver notes? Wei Ji's mind couldn't contain the matter. He looked at Madam Jiang and then at Wei Zhan. Although his thoughts were simple, he wasn't stupid. How should he explain when taking out the silver notes? Say they were from Chu Shaoling? What would his grandmother, mother and older brother think then? He was just a palace guard under the prince, how could he deserve the prince giving him so much silver?

Wei Ji didn't know that Madam Jiang and Wei Zhan had long known about the matter between him and Chu Shaoling. He secretly felt distressed. Just as he was hesitating, Wei Zhan took the lead and told the family.

After returning to the Ministry of Revenue with Chu Shaoling and handing over the matters from this trip, Chu Shaoling had Wei Zhan stay and chat for a bit. He told him the emperor wanted to promote him to a General's rank and betroth the princess to him. He also explained that he had rewarded a certain amount of silver, all left with Wei Ji.

Chu Shaoling had long communicated this with Wei Zhan. Wei Zhan also knew the family wouldn't have much say in his marriage, but he hadn't expected Chu Shaoling to appoint the princess to him.

Chu Shaoling explained the inside story to Wei Zhan. Although she was a princess, Princess Fuyi's mother concubine had no power or influence in the palace. Consort Ning also had no maternal family to assist her. Marrying such a princess, in the short term, might not help Wei Zhan as much as a young lady from a prestigious family.

Chu Shaoling said, "Fuyi has no one to rely on in the palace, to put it bluntly. But a princess is a princess, with noble status. She won't humiliate you. She has never been favored since childhood, so her temperament is not arrogant and she is very easy to get along with. She definitely won't make things difficult for you."

Wei Zhan was also stunned for a long time at this pie falling from the sky. His ancestors had indeed married princesses, but what was the situation then, and what was the current state of his household?

Chu Shaoling looked at Wei Zhan's young and handsome face with a light smile, "You don't need to worry about anything. First, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will handle it. Second, I will help too. You can just relax and get married. Fuyi has a good temperament and appearance, you'll know in the future."

Old Madam Wei was stunned for a moment after hearing Wei Zhan's words, then her hands trembled with joy as she laughed, "What is this? How can this suddenly... Hurry and send a message to your father. For such a big event, we don't even have anyone to manage it. Is this our ancestors showing their spirit to betroth a princess to us?"

The gloom in Madam Jiang's heart also instantly dissipated as she said with delight, "Is this matter really settled? Why hasn't an edict been issued?"

Wei Zhan smiled, "The Liaoliang matter has not been clarified yet, so how could they attend to this? The prince told me to wait these few days, it will definitely be done." Wei Zhan could see Wei Ji wanted to say something but hesitated, so he spoke on his behalf first, "The prince showed consideration for our family and gave some silver. Put it away for now."

Wei Ji had been worrying about how to take out this silver. Now that Wei Zhan had said it for him, he felt much more at ease and quickly nodded, "It's in my luggage. I'll send it to Mother in a bit."

Madam Jiang smiled, "Even if you bring it to me, I also don't know how to use it. Renovating the courtyard and such, we still need to wait for your father to return to decide."

Since entering the military camp, Wei Zhan had been continuously promoted. Old Madam Wei and Madam Jiang were, after all, ladies of the inner chambers. They only thought Wei Zhan had gained the emperor's favor due to performing his duties well, and didn't think of anything else. At this moment, they were so overjoyed they couldn't contain it. Only Wei Zhan himself knew the inside story.

In the palace at night, there was a family banquet. The emperor had to arrive a bit late due to unfinished political matters. Everyone chatted and laughed while waiting. The empress dowager rarely summoned Fuyi, dressed in splendid attire, to accompany her by her side. The seats beside the empress dowager had always been for Chu Shaoling and Chu Shaoyang. Even the little prince Chu Shaosui rarely got to sit there. Now, Chu Shaoling was on the empress dowager's left while Fuyi was on her right. Quite a few people below turned red with envy.

The empress dowager held Fuyi's hand, chatting and laughing for a few moments. She also asked Chu Shaoyang if he had been well recently. Chu Shaoyang had experienced that incident when entering the city today, his heart rising and falling dramatically. At this moment, his expression was very poor. Seeing the empress dowager ask about him, he could only force himself to perk up and smile, "Very well. Although there were some twists, in the end it didn't delay Father Emperor's important matters."

"Indeed." Chu Shaoling peeled an orange that had been brought up and handed it to the empress dowager, lightly smiling, "Today, Fourth Brother and I went to the Ministry of Revenue to reconcile the accounts. After checking and submitting it, Father Emperor was greatly pleased. The harvest in the south this year is truly not bad, it's all Fourth Brother's merit."

Chu Shaoyang greatly hated him in his heart, but could only play along perfunctorily, enduring his anger and shaking his head, "I dare not claim that. It all relied on Big Brother's arrangements."

The Empress Dowager was unaware of the matter between the two brothers. She was in a good mood today and turned to Fuyi with a smile, rewarding her with one of her own bracelets, saying, "These past few days when they were sorting through things, they found some of my old jewelry. The jade has a lovely color, just right for you to wear."

Fuyi accepted it without any awkwardness or trepidation, lowering her eyes. Seeing this, Consort Li sneered inwardly and turned to Consort Shu, laughing softly, "Now our Fourth Princess is very much in the Empress Dowager's favor. Just look at this grand gesture."

Consort Li lightly stroked the pearls and kingfisher feathers in her hair, casting a subtle glance at Consort Ning as she spoke in a neutral tone, "But one wonders why that is. Consort Ning, do you know the reason?"

The matter of Princess Fuyi's engagement had already spread throughout the palace. Wei Zhan was not very prominent in court affairs at present, so the palace consorts mostly gossiped about Fuyi marrying into the Wei household as a spectacle. Consort Shu had always been tactful and did not respond to Consort Li's words. But with Consort Li directly questioning Consort Ning to her face, Consort Ning did not dare not answer, and could only lower her head and say, "Regarding the Princess's affairs, this consort does not dare to comment rashly."

Consort Li would normally mock and ridicule these out-of-favor consorts even when nothing was happening. Now, seeing Consort Ning's dissatisfaction with marrying off her daughter, she felt smug and wanted to say a few more words. She chuckled lightly, "Don't dare to comment rashly? Why don't you dare? After all, you are Fuyi's birth mother. If Fuyi can marry into a good family in the future, you will also benefit, hehe."

At these words, the nearby consorts all laughed. Who didn't know that the Emperor had already designated Fuyi to the Wei family, who were not of high status or wealth.

Consort Ning was used to enduring humiliation and naturally withstood this insult. Consort Li's words did not enter her heart. Compared to Consort Li's mockery, she was willing to believe Chu Shaoling. Since Chu Shaoling had said that Fuyi would become the foremost among the princesses in the future, it must be true.

Consort Ning had always been good-natured. Seeing that she was neither embarrassed nor angry, Consort Li lost interest and turned to speak with Consort Zhen.

After Madam Xu and Madam Luo visited Yongfu Palace, the relationship between Consort Zhen and Consort Li had eased considerably. Although Consort Zhen harbored overwhelming resentment in her heart, she could not truly turn against Consort Li, after all, she was her aunt. Consort Li acted shamelessly, but Consort Zhen still had to save face. Later, Consort Zhen used the excuse of her poor health to push the Emperor to Linzhi Palace a few times. Consort Li was not stupid and knew that this was Consort Zhen's way of showing goodwill to her. So she also got off her high horse and reconciled with her niece as before.

Of course, only the two of them knew whether they were truly as close as before or not. Now the two women shared one husband, putting on a show of deep affection on the surface while secretly fighting endlessly.

Consort Zhen was favored, and the Emperor cherished her beauty, bestowing endless favor. Seeing the clustered carved gold bracelet on Consort Zhen's wrist, Consort Li laughed and said, "This was sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs last month. I saw it before and wanted it, but unfortunately forgot to mention it. The Emperor cherishes you so much that he gave it to you."

Consort Zhen lowered her hand without any change in expression, the sleeve of her ceremonial robe covering the gold bracelet. Consort Zhen smiled, "It's not worth much. If Elder Sister likes it, I can give it to you, how about that?"

Consort Shu heard this and laughed, "Oh my, Consort Zhen is really too honest. Your elder sister has also been favored before and has these things. How could she really covet yours? She's just teasing you."

It would have been fine if Consort Shu hadn't said anything, but her words made it seem as if Consort Zhen was relying on favor to mock Consort Li. Sure enough, upon hearing this, Consort Li's face darkened, smiling but not quite, "I was just making a joke. Could it be that I've never even seen these things before, with such shallow eyelids?"

Consort Zhen's face alternated between red and white, both angry at Consort Shu for stirring up trouble and ashamed and indignant at Consort Li for being undignified and making them a laughingstock. In her urgency, her heart started pounding. Consort Zhen felt unwell and, leaning on the palace maid beside her, pressed down and said in a low voice, "I'm going to change my clothes."

Consort Zhen's palms were covered in cold sweat. The palace maid was a personal maid who had entered the palace with Consort Zhen and, seeing that Consort Zhen's face was not looking good, quickly supported her and left.

Before long, the Emperor arrived. Everyone stood up to greet him. The Emperor had recently been troubled by the Liaoliang matter, but seeing this lively family banquet, he felt much more at ease. He first sat down and drank the first cup with the Empress Dowager, and the family banquet officially began.

On such occasions, Fuyi rarely sat so far forward. She was dressed exquisitely today, and the Emperor also praised her a few times. The Empress Dowager smiled, "A girl changes drastically when grown up. Fuyi has also reached the right age now. Emperor, don't just be busy with political affairs every day, it's time to worry about the princess."

The Emperor understood the Empress Dowager's meaning and laughed, "How does Mother know that your son hasn't been thinking about Fuyi?" He then took this opportunity to explain Fuyi's marriage.

The people in the hall hurriedly stood up to congratulate them. The Emperor smiled and ordered them to sit down, then swept his gaze downward and said, "Where is Consort Zhen? Why don't I see her?"

Consort Li had not been paying attention. Seeing the Emperor ask, she stood up and said, "In response to Your Majesty, Consort Zhen was just..."

Before Consort Li could finish her sentence, Consort Zhen entered from the side door, supported by a palace maid, followed by an old imperial physician. The old imperial physician stepped forward, bowed deeply and said joyfully, "Congratulations to Your Majesty, congratulations to the Empress Dowager, Consort Zhen is already nearly a month pregnant."