Su Xian did not tell Duoduo the purpose of her family's visit to the capital.
Therefore, when Duoduo saw Yunxi, her first reaction was one of great joy.
Her second reaction was intense curiosity.
The journey from Xianyang to the capital was long and arduous.
Coupled with the summer heat, travel was even more difficult.
If not for the Emperor's birthday celebration, Xiao Yi would not have brought his family all the way to the capital.
Yunxi's face flushed crimson as she shyly lowered her head.
Grandmother had said it was to find her a better husband.
However, her mother told her to consult her aunt more and not agree easily.
Grandmother and mother gave conflicting advice. Yunxi, still a young girl, had no idea what to do.
The only thing that saddened her was that if her future husband's home was in the capital, she would be far from her own family.
If anything happened to her, she would have no family to support her.
But when it came to marriage, it had always been a matter of parental arrangement and matchmaker's words.
Her own parents dared not defy Grandmother, so how could she?
Yunxi's heart was filled with both fear and anticipation.
Changle was too young; even if Yunxi told her these things, Changle wouldn't understand.
And besides, family disgrace should not be aired publicly.
Thinking this, Yunxi bit her lip and gently shook her head.
"I don't really know. Grandmother just said we were visiting relatives in the capital."
Duoduo nodded in understanding.
"Just like us, right? We came back to celebrate Grandfather Emperor's birthday."
Yunxi pressed her lips together and smiled, looking serene.
Just then, Qingliu entered and bowed.
"Your Highness, the young lady has returned to Old Lady Su's side."
Duoduo nodded, and Yunxi took her leave.
"I should go back too. I won't disturb the princess in her studies."
Duoduo thought that her cousin must be tired after the long journey, so she didn't insist on keeping her.
"Third cousin, when I come back from school tomorrow, I'll bring you some treats."
Yunxi showed a grateful smile. "Thank you, Your Highness."
Once Yunxi had left, Duoduo motioned for Lüdou to come closer.
"Go quietly and find out what my grandmother is doing here in the capital. Which family are they planning to visit?"
"Yes, I'll go now."
Lüdou acknowledged and hurried out.
"Qingliu, when you went, was my mother still talking with Grandmother?"
Duoduo looked at Qingliu.
Qingliu stepped forward and bowed.
"Yes, Your Highness, she was."
A strange look flashed in Duoduo's eyes.
She knew that her mother and grandmother were not close, so why were they talking together for so long?
"Did you hear what they were saying?"
Qingliu shook her head.
"I didn't catch it clearly. They stopped talking when they saw the young lady entering the room."
Duoduo pondered for a moment, then waved her hand, and Qingliu withdrew.
Meanwhile, in the flower hall, Su Xian was struggling to control her anger.
"Mother, now that you've brought your niece all the way to the capital, you should feel free to stay and enjoy yourselves for a while."
"In a few days, I'll have someone escort you back."
"As for the idea of having Yunxi serve as Duoduo's study companion and accompany her into the palace, forget it."
"Those admitted to the Imperial Academy do not have study companions."
"Even maidservants must wait outside and cannot enter."
"Yunxi is a legitimate daughter, a lady of refinement, fit to be a proper wife someday. Mother, don't trade a watermelon for a sesame seed!"
Earlier, Su had suggested that Yunxi become Duoduo's study companion to accompany Duoduo into the palace.
Su Xian knew exactly what her mother was scheming.
What kind of family was the Su family? How could they possibly attach themselves to a prince?
Was producing one princess not enough for the Su family? They wanted even more!
As Yunxi's elder, Su Xian wished for her niece to marry well.
But not by overreaching.
That would be no different from selling off a daughter.
Hearing her daughter speak this way, Su was very displeased.
But she dared not offend her daughter.
After all, she relied on her daughter for many things.
"I was just making a suggestion. If you don't agree, that's fine. Do you have to scold your mother about it?"
"Forget it, I'm tired. Have someone take us to our rooms to rest!"
Su Xian secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Lianxin, take my mother to rest," she instructed.
Lianxin stepped forward and bowed. Su took Yunmeng's hand and followed Lianxin out.
Su Xian rubbed her temples.
She must keep a close watch on her mother, at all costs avoid causing trouble for the Prince of Pingyang's Mansion.
The next day, just as Duoduo returned from school, she ran into Yunxi and Yunmeng.
"Third cousin, were you waiting for me on purpose?"
Duoduo walked over happily.
Before, Duoduo had Yingniang as company, so she wasn't alone.
But ever since Yingniang went to work in the shop with Xu Jinxin, Duoduo was left by herself.
Yunxi had a gentle, kind, and generous nature, and Duoduo liked her very much.
Of course, if Yunmeng, that troublemaker, weren't around, it would be even better.
Yunxi beamed and took Duoduo's hand.
"Grandmother asked us to come and keep you company, to help you relax after your studies."
Grandmother? So kind?
Duoduo had her doubts.
She saw that when Yunxi finished speaking, a mocking expression crossed Yunmeng's face.
Duoduo recalled the details that Lüdou had reported on the way to school that morning.
"Old Lady Su wants to find a young lady a husband from a high-ranking family."
"She intends for Miss Yunxi to marry a prince, hoping the Su family will produce another princess."
"The princess refused, and they parted on bad terms."
Duoduo had gone over the list of princes in her mind at school today.
The only prince close to Yunxi's age was Xiao Che.
But Xiao Che had an exceptionally bad temper.
What was more, Xiao Che was a short-lived prince.
Duoduo certainly didn't want Yunxi to marry him only to be widowed early.
Besides the princes, there were a few heirs and the children of some ministers.
But since the position of Crown Prince was vacant, not only was there intense rivalry among the princes, but there was also covert strife among the minister families.
This was not a good time for marriage alliances.
Thinking it over, Duoduo decided to find a chance to remind her mother, lest her mother, being soft-hearted, buckle under Grandmother's pressure.
With this thought, Duoduo took Yunxi's hand and pulled an oil-paper package from her bosom.
"I thought cousin was here for this!"
Yunmeng immediately rushed over. "What is it? It smells so good!"
Duoduo pulled her hand back. "One piece each, no fighting!"
Yunmeng pouted but didn't argue.
Duoduo opened the package, revealing several glistening osmanthus cakes.
"Is this osmanthus cake? How beautiful!" Yunmeng exclaimed first.
The summer osmanthus cakes were transparent, with golden osmanthus flowers set clearly in the jelly on top, irresistible at first glance.
Yunxi was also curious. This was different from the osmanthus cakes she had seen.
"One piece each. Have a taste!"
Duoduo generously held the cake out for both to see.
"This is a cake from an old brand shop in the capital. Lüdou, have a piece too."
"Her? She's just a servant girl. What right does she have to eat?"
