Chapter 695: Returning to the Capital
Editor: Atlas Studios

Mu Yangling and the rest traveled slowly along the way, prioritizing comfort. Thus, by the time they arrived outside the capital, it was already 32 days later. Qi Haoran and the others caught up on the last day and the two teams entered the capital together.

Among all the convoys entering the city, this team could be the most eye-catching. As soon as Qi Haoran and the others arrived at the city gate, the gatekeeper hurriedly ran down from the city tower and welcomed them respectfully. He instructed, “Hurry up and inform the palace that Prince Rong has arrived.”

“There’s no need to inform them. I’ve come here personally.” A sharp voice rang from behind. Eunuch Wan stood there with a fawning smile, and behind him was Eunuch Wei, who was also full of smiles.

“Your Highnesses, His Majesty knows that the two of you will be arriving in the capital today, so he asked me to wait at the city gate early in the morning.” Eunuch Wan glanced at Eunuch Wei. In response, Eunuch Wei quickly went forward and said, “Her Majesty is worried that Her Highness and the Duke’s wife will be tired from the journey, so she specially asked me to wait here and let the two madams rest for a day before entering the palace tomorrow.”

Eunuch Wan was the eunuch who served beside Qi Xiuyuan, while Eunuch Wei was in charge of the affairs of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. For the two eunuchs of these two palaces to be waiting for their families here, it was an unprecedented honor, and it was unknown if anyone else would receive such honors in the future.

Many onlookers at the city gate sighed at how much the Emperor doted on Prince Rong and the Duke of Peaceful State.

Fan Zijin rode back and glanced at Little Madam Xia. Seeing that her face was a little pale, he turned to Mu Yangling and said, “Ah Ling, I’ll have to trouble you to send Little Madam Xia to the Duke’s Residence and sort out the matters in my residence.”

Qi Haoran waved his hand generously. “That’s nothing. Ah Ling will take care of Cousin-in-law. Don’t worry.”

Mu Yangling also nodded and said with a smile, “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Cousin-in-law. I’ll go back after you leave the palace.”

Qi Haoran nodded repeatedly. “At most, our family will stay in your Duke’s Estate.”

Little Madam Xia, however, was startled. Ignoring the dizziness in her head, she lifted the curtain and said, “Master, are we staying in the Duke’s Mansion? Aren’t we going back to the Fan Residence?”

Fan Zijin nodded. “I’ve already gotten someone to return to the capital in advance to clean up the Duke’s residence. You just have to move in.”

“B-but we haven’t paid our respects to Father and Mother yet.” It wouldn’t occur to Mu Yangling to do these things, and Qi Haoran wouldn’t think of them either. While Fan Zijin could pretend not to know, she couldn’t remain silent.

Fan Zijin said, “I’ll talk to Father and Mother. Just focus on our baby.”

Little Madam Xia still wanted to say something, but Nanny Xia patted her hand gently. Little Madam Xia swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue and nodded gently.

Fan Zijin nodded slightly at Mu Yangling and waved for them to leave first.

After the convoy left, Fan Zijin ordered a servant and said, “Go back and tell Master and Madam that Madam’s fetal qi is a little unstable, so I asked her to return to the Duke’s Residence to rest first. When I’m free, I’ll bring her back to pay our respects.”

If it was in the past, Fan Zijin would not mind living with his parents and finding trouble for them from time to time. However, his unborn son was of utmost importance at the moment, so his priority was to ensure that Little Madam Xia had a safe pregnancy.

Qi Haoran’s expression darkened slightly when he saw that Fan Zijin’s relationship with his parents had deteriorated to this extent.

Fan Zijin waved his hand to signal for everyone to enter the palace.

Qi Haoran rode his horse silently to his left and said, “If not, let Ah Ling stay at the Duke’s Residence. With her around, Uncle and Aunt will restrain themselves.” He also knew that Ah Ling had used her identity as the Princess Consort to suppress others and forcefully bring Little Madam Xia out of the capital. With his uncle’s character, although he would not like Ah Ling, he did not dare to offend someone of a higher status.

Fan Zijin shook his head slightly. “Don’t worry. In the past, I simply didn’t want to bicker with them. Now that I’m about to have a child, I naturally won’t let them off like before. It’s not good for you to keep interfering in my matters.”

Fan Zijin was very confident in his own combat ability. In the past, he had been able to defeat Fan Siwen even though he was of a lower status. Now that his status was higher, even if Fan Siwen tried to suppress him with filial piety, he was confident that he could defeat him.

Unlike Qi Haoran’s real sabers and spears, he preferred to lay low and set up traps in the dark, obtaining victory before the other party even noticed. Moreover, the most powerful man in the world—the Emperor—had his back.

Fan Zijin and Qi Haoran entered the palace to meet Qi Xiuyuan, while Mu Yangling and Madam Xia went to the residence of the Duke of Peaceful State.

The residence of the Duke of Peaceful State was not far from Prince Rong’s Residence. Located on the adjacent street, it was the residence of the fourth prince of the previous dynasty. Unlike Minister Qin’s residence, which had been dug into ruins, the fourth prince’s residence was well-preserved. Complete with small bridges, flowing water, rockeries, and pavilions, the garden scenery in the residence and the structure of the houses carried the exquisiteness of the gardens of Jiangnan. Although it was not as massive and opulent as Minister Qin’s residence, it had a different charm.

Most importantly, it had one of the best-preserved and most beautiful gardens left behind by the previous dynasty.

As Fan Zijin had written to the steward of the shop in the capital in advance and asked him to bring people to clean up the Duke’s Residence, everything was already prepared. Mu Yangling just had to arrange the personnel.

After sitting in the carriage for more than a month, Little Madam Xia felt that her bones were going to crumble from the bumpy ride. When she returned to the inner room and lay on the bed, she felt that the bed was swaying.

After Mu Yangling arranged for her to stay, she gathered all the servants in the residence and arranged the personnel.

On the other side, Madam Xia waited a long time for Little Madam Xia in the residence. When the latter failed to show up, she sent a servant to go and take a look. Her servant returned with a servant sent by Fan Zijin.

After hearing the servant’s recount, Madam Xia was slightly stunned and asked, “His Majesty bestowed the Duke’s Residence to Zijin? Why didn’t I know?”

The servant lowered his head and whispered, “I don’t know either. I’m only relaying the Duke’s message.”

Madam Xia was silent for a moment before asking, “Did Madam Su follow you guys into the capital this time?”

“Madam Su?” The servant shook his head in confusion. Was there another Madam Su in the residence?

Madam Xia’s heart sank. Madam Su was a concubine that Fan Siwen had sent to Fan Zijin. She was a Virtuous Concubine, yet this servant didn’t even know who Madam Su was. Judging from this, it was obvious what Fan Zijin’s attitude towards her was like.

Speaking of which, it was a surprise. The servant that Fan Zijin had casually chosen happened to be a third-grade servant in the residence, and usually only served in the outer courtyard. Shortly after Madam Su arrived in Ju Prefecture, Fan Zijin directly had her locked up without even bothering to meet her. He told her bluntly that his first child would definitely be the legitimate son born from his first wife. If she knew her place, he would spare her life and ensure that she wouldn’t have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of her life. On the other hand, if she had any crooked thoughts, her survival would depend on her abilities.

Due to Fan Zijin’s attitude towards Madam Su and the fact that there was only Little Madam Xia in the residence, people naturally wouldn’t talk about Madam Su. As a result, some servants in the outer courtyard didn’t even have a clue of Madam Su’s existence.

“Then where is the Duke’s Residence?”

The servant responded with a confused look for he didn’t know either. He was just a lowly servant. Previously, he was happy that the Duke had chosen him, but now, he was only left with trepidation.

Madam Xia’s heart kept sinking. Was her son already slighting her to this extent?

To think he assigned such a lowly servant to deliver the news.