According to old customs, marriage matters were not to be discussed during the first month of the lunar year. After the second day of the second month, Qi Xiao personally took Bairen to the Princess Manor to discuss the marriage with Princess Dunsu and He Zichen's mother.

When Qi Xiao and Bairen arrived, Princess Dunsu and Madam He were sitting on the kang in the inner room playing mahjong. Seeing Qi Xiao come, Princess Dunsu hurriedly called him over with a smile and said, "This is Zichen's mother, you've met her when you were young, do you still remember?"

Qi Xiao smiled and nodded, "Greetings, Madam He."

Madam He quickly put down her tiles, bowed her head and said, "Greetings, Crown Prince."

Bairen also greeted Madam He the same way as Qi Xiao. After the two sides met, they took their seats in order. Princess Dunsu instructed the maids to tidy up the kang table while having people serve tea and prepare snacks.

She smiled and said, "In the future, we will all be one family, no need to be so formal. Today, we won't discuss anything important, just set a date. Give me the birth dates and times of the two families, I'll have someone keep them well and send them to the great master to match them. If there are no issues, we can discuss the details later."

In front of these people, Madam He naturally had nothing much to say. Everything was decided by Princess Dunsu. Seeing that Madam He also had no opinions, Princess Dunsu smiled and said, "Then I'll take the liberty... According to my thoughts, April or May would be suitable. Firstly, the residence on that side is almost finished with renovations, once the furniture is moved in, it will be livable. Secondly, Zichen is not young anymore, you may not be in a hurry, but we elders are very eager to hold a grandson."

Madam He hurriedly smiled and said, "Exactly, exactly..."

Everyone looked at Bairen. Bairen pursed his lips, thought for a moment and smiled, "I'm afraid it can't be rushed... Roujia's dowry is not fully prepared yet, collecting these things takes some time and may delay matters."

Bairen looked at Qi Xiao. Qi Xiao instantly understood and put down his teacup with a smile, "What's the matter, just tell me what is lacking, if it's not convenient for your manor to arrange it, I will help take care of it."

As the bride's family, Bairen naturally had to decline a few times to show nobility. But to be honest, Bairen and Qi Xiao still hoped that this marriage could be settled sooner rather than later.

After all, there were still two wolves eyeing them in the Lingnan Prince's Manor. Only by having Roujia properly married off could Bairen truly put his heart at ease and quickly send those two away.

Princess Dunsu nodded with a smile, "That's right, in my opinion, April is most suitable, any later... the weather will turn hot, and Roujia will suffer more during the grand wedding. It's better to do it in the spring when the weather is neither cold nor hot, the auspices are also good. I know, you are probably reluctant to part with your sister..."

Princess Dunsu turned to look at Madam He, shaking her head with a smile, "If I may say so in front of the young prince... Roujia is indeed a good girl. She stayed with me for a few days, and there is no one from top to bottom who doesn't like her. She is so gentle and noble, yet without any airs of a princess. She treats everyone kindly. My two girls like her very much. The other day when the young prince came to pick her up, they refused to let Roujia leave no matter what..."

Taking advantage of Roujia staying at the Princess Manor, Madam He had already met Roujia several times. Before meeting, both were secretly apprehensive. Madam He always feared that she would not be able to please this princess daughter-in-law, while Roujia, having heard much about her future mother-in-law's strictness, was afraid that she would not be able to win her favor.

It was only after meeting once that they had no more worries. Both had gentle temperaments and got along very well. Roujia put her heart at ease, while Madam He was ten thousand times satisfied.

"For a rare girl like the Princess, it's only human nature for the young prince to be reluctant to part." Speaking of Roujia, the smile on Madam He's face deepened a few more degrees as she looked at Bairen, "After the wedding, whenever the young prince misses the Princess, just come over anytime. My boy also greatly admires the young prince's character and conduct. Besides, the residence on that side is not far from the Lingnan Prince's Manor. If the young prince doesn't mind, you can occasionally come stay for a while."

Seeing Madam He so kind, Bairen felt much more at ease and hurriedly smiled, "I dare not, since the Princess, Crown Prince and Madam have all said so... Bairen has no choice but to obey."

Princess Dunsu smiled and nodded, "My cousin-in-law is a most kind person, she will treat your sister like her own daughter, you can rest assured. Since everyone agrees, let's first set a date for the engagement, I had someone go to the Imperial Observatory yesterday to ask and got two dates, take a look..."

Princess Dunsu's trusted maid brought over two large red double-happiness patterned papers and first presented them to Bairen. Qi Xiao tilted his head to take a look and said, "February 16th, this one is very good."

Madam He had already looked at it earlier and also smiled, "Yes, although March 6th is also a good date, it's a bit late. There are still many things to do after the engagement, if it's too rushed it won't be good."

Bairen listened to Qi Xiao and nodded. Princess Dunsu picked up that piece of paper with a smile, "Then it's settled."

When they left the Princess Manor, it was already the second watch. Qi Xiao lifted the carriage curtain to look at the sun and said, "It's getting late, let's go to my place."

With Roujia still at the Princess Manor and only Wenyu and Kangtai at the Lingnan Prince's Manor, Bairen naturally did not want to return and nodded with a smile, "Mm."

Qi Xiao chuckled lightly and embraced Bairen, letting him lie down with his head on his lap. He said, "Should I thank them? Before, you would only come over after much urging and inviting. Now that they are here, my place has become a haven."

Bairen gave a bitter laugh, "You really want to thank them? Wenyu would probably be overjoyed. He has wanted to strike up a conversation with you for more than just a day or two. Now... he is trying to curry favor with everyone. With our status, how can we freely associate with the capital's powerful officials? His Majesty has never said anything, so Wenyu has lost his restraint, thinking it's fine, not knowing when he will be taught a lesson."

Qi Xiao asked, "What about Kangtai?"

Bairen shook her head, "She hasn't done much. After receiving your rebuke last time, she has actually been much more well-behaved, doing needlework in her own courtyard every day. When Roujia went back to stay for those few days, she did go to Roujia's courtyard frequently. I was uneasy and kept an eye on her, but she didn't do anything, just asking about this and that family in the capital.

"She is a sheltered girl, coming here with no one to lead or introduce her, she can't go to any family. I really don't know what she wants to do by following us here from thousands of miles away."

Qi Xiao scoffed, "What else could she want to do? She's not young anymore, I'm afraid she has grown ambitious and wants to plan for her own future."

Bairen frowned, "This... is unlikely. She never leaves the house, where could she go? Even if she has the intention, what can she do?"

Qi Xiao smiled faintly, "Then let's wait and see... Enough, let's not talk about these vexing people. What do you want to eat for dinner?"

Bairen bit her lip: "Eight Treasure Duck, White Jade Tofu, what does the Prince want to eat?"

Qi Xiao chuckled lightly: "I want to eat you..."

"You mean... the young prince and the second son of their manor are not on good terms?" Something flashed through Empress Feng's mind, and she gripped the silk handkerchief in her hand, hesitating, "What did the Emperor say? Wenyu is so willfully associating with ministers... and the Emperor didn't say anything?"

Empress Feng's trusted palace maid shook her head and said in a low voice, "This servant is certain that the Emperor knows, but from beginning to end, the Emperor hasn't said a single word. Every time the second son enters the palace to pay his respects, the Emperor still rewards him with things as usual, laughing and talking with him, looking... not the slightest bit dissatisfied."

Empress Feng's heart stirred, and after a moment's hesitation, she said, "What about Princess Kangtai? These days, Roujia is preparing for marriage, how is she doing?"

The trusted palace maid was puzzled: "What else can she do? She just stays in the manor, occasionally when the wife of some family invites the princess of the Lingnan Prince's Manor to admire flowers or taste tea, she goes along, that's all."

Empress Feng's mind started to work. After the incident on the 30th of the year, she had completely lost the Emperor's favor and still hadn't turned things around. If it were before, with Old Master Feng doting on her and putting in a good word for her in front of the Emperor, even if the Emperor was somewhat dissatisfied, he would have let it go for the sake of the Feng family.

But now, because she had implicated her maiden family, causing the Emperor to also suspect the Feng family, and with her father making more mistakes the more he spoke, a single misstep had caused her to lose support in both the inner palace and the court.

With her out of favor and her maiden family out of power, Qi Xiao had no hope at all. Empress Feng had schemed for her son for many years, how could she be willing to give up? During this month, she was so anxious she could hardly wait to come up with a plan immediately, but she was not good at scheming in the first place. After pondering for many days, only today did she have some ideas.

"You say..." Empress Feng unconsciously lowered her voice and said slowly, "Could it be... that the Emperor has long been dissatisfied with Bairen being too close to the Crown Prince, and that's why he especially favors Wenyu? Among the adult sons in the Lingnan Prince's Manor, there are only these two. If one side's power is too strong, it's not something the Emperor would be happy to see, so... he deliberately indulges Wenyu."

The trusted palace maid frowned and said in a low voice, "But... this doesn't make sense. The young prince was already in a weak position, not to mention being sent as a hostage, and the Lingnan King has never liked him, so... there's really no need for the Emperor to go to the trouble of suppressing him further."

Empress Feng had finally encountered an opportunity to turn things around, how could she listen to such words? She shook her head impatiently and said, "You don't understand... Roujia has latched onto the He family, this big tree, and the one who benefits is also Bairen. This must be the Emperor's intention... No, this time I guessed correctly. As long as we follow the Emperor's wishes and borrow their strength, naturally my son and I can also turn things around..."

The trusted palace maid wanted to persuade her further, but Empress Feng waved her hand and said, "No need to say more, I have my own plans. Go... send an invitation to the Lingnan Prince's Manor, saying that the spring flowers in my palace have all bloomed, inviting the two princesses to come admire the flowers. If Roujia is inconvenienced by her wedding preparations... then inviting Princess Kangtai alone is also acceptable."

After the incident, Empress Feng's temper had worsened a lot, and she would often fly into a rage. The palace maids by her side had been scolded and beaten into fear, and now they no longer dared to say what should be said or advise what should be advised.