Chapter 29
The dessert melted in his mouth with a milky sweetness, far more delicious than Xu Heming had imagined.
He had never tasted anything like it before.
No one knew, but Xu Heming had a secret fondness for sweets. This little treat suited his palate perfectly.
Beside him, Qingsong was equally astonished.
Who would have guessed that the prince actually had a sweet tooth?
Before he realized it, Xu Heming had already finished the entire small bowl of double-layer steamed milk.
Staring at the empty bowl, he suddenly became aware of his unusual behavior today.
"Has Wu San sent any word? Did everything go smoothly?" Xu Heming quickly asked, trying to mask his embarrassment.
"Your Highness, Wu San reported that all went well. If the journey proceeds without delay, he should arrive in the capital tomorrow with Master Li," Qingsong promptly replied.
"Good. Have Liu Ming prepare the West Courtyard for my father-in-law to stay," Xu Heming said, thinking that since he had married Li Zhiwei, Li Tianyou was now his father-in-law.
With the man coming to the capital, it would be improper to make him stay outside the prince's residence.
"In the manor?" Qingsong was surprised. He had assumed his master would at most arrange accommodations at an inn.
---
Qiwu Courtyard
"Miss, we’ve received a letter from Master Li. He’ll arrive in the capital tomorrow!" Cuiguo exclaimed excitedly, her joy doubled because her elder brother was accompanying him.
Having been away from home for so long, she missed her family dearly.
"Has the West Willow Lane residence been cleaned?" Li Zhiwei asked, her heart swelling with happiness. In this life, after her father’s audience with the emperor, everything would surely change.
Without the schemes of the Ruan Marquis Residence, her family could finally live in peace.
Next, she hoped her parents would move from Li'an County to the capital.
Even after donating a portion of their wealth, the Li family’s remaining fortune was more than enough to live comfortably. If possible, Li Zhiwei didn’t want her father to exhaust himself anymore.
After all, a tall tree attracts the wind.
Hadn’t the Ruan Marquis Residence targeted the Li family precisely because of their wealth?
If given the choice, she wouldn’t mind relocating with her parents to a place where no one knew them.
"Don’t worry, Miss. I’ve already sent Aunt Liu to clean the place thoroughly. Master Li will have a comfortable rest as soon as he arrives," Cuiguo assured her confidently.
"I wonder if Mother came with him this time," Li Zhiwei murmured, then remembered that Lady Yao’s health had always been frail. She likely hadn’t made the trip.
"Miss, Madam’s condition isn’t good. She probably couldn’t come this time," Cuiguo said gently, worried her mistress might be disappointed.
"Hmm." Li Zhiwei responded softly, though her heart still felt heavy.
All she wished for was that, in this lifetime, her parents would live long and well.
---
Zhou Residence
"What did you say?" Zhou Yuying stared in disbelief at the servant before her.
She had only been away for a few days—how could her brother-in-law have already remarried?
"Third Miss, His Highness married the Li girl—the one originally betrothed to the Ruan Marquis heir—as his new princess consort," the trembling maid repeated.
After all, her mistress had long dreamed of marrying into the An Prince’s household.
Whenever she was in the capital, Zhou Yuying would visit the prince’s residence, hoping to bond with Xu Heming under the pretense of seeing her nephew, Xu Qingshi.
But the prince was often occupied, and her efforts had never borne fruit.
The Zhou family’s status paled in comparison to the An Prince’s. Back then, it was only because of Madam Zhou’s impeccable reputation that she had been chosen as the prince’s first wife.
Yet, fate had been cruel—Madam Zhou had died in childbirth.
Over the years, the Zhou family had repeatedly tried to arrange for Zhou Yuying to take her sister’s place, but both the prince and the dowager princess had refused.
That hadn’t stopped Zhou Yuying from setting her heart on it.
She was determined to become the next princess consort.
"Impossible!" Zhou Yuying refused to believe that Xu Heming would choose an outsider over her.
Wasn’t she Qingshi’s own aunt? Who could be more suitable than her?
"If you don’t believe me, you can visit the prince’s residence and see for yourself," the maid whispered.
Better to let the new princess consort face her mistress’s wrath than endure it herself.
"Then I’ll go!" Zhou Yuying was resolved to confront the woman who had stolen her place.
Nothing she desired had ever slipped through her fingers. She refused to accept defeat this time.
---
When Zhou Yuying arrived at the An Prince’s residence, she happened to encounter Xu Heming just as he was leaving.
"Brother-in-law!" she called out eagerly.
"Third Miss Zhou," Xu Heming acknowledged with a nod before stepping into his carriage without another glance.
In the past, Zhou Yuying had visited primarily to see Xu Qingshi. As the sister of his late wife, Xu Heming had no objections to her visits.
But he always maintained a measured distance—neither too close nor too cold.
After all, she was Madam Zhou’s family. Though his wife was gone, he wasn’t heartless.
Now that he had married Li Zhiwei, however, Xu Heming deliberately kept even more space between himself and the Zhou women.
"Brother-in-law!" Zhou Yuying called again, frustration creeping into her voice.
Was he leaving the moment she arrived?
Her eyes reddened, as if she had been deeply wronged.
"Qingshi is inside. You may go see him," Xu Heming said with a frown, disliking the way she looked at him.
Without another word, he departed.
"Third Miss Zhou, this old servant will escort you to see the young master," steward Liu Ming offered politely.
His Highness was currently on his way to the city gates to welcome Li Zhiwei’s father.
Liu Ming was well aware of Zhou Yuying’s intentions, but the prince had no interest in her.
Her hopes were doomed from the start.
"Steward Liu, I heard there’s a new princess consort in the residence," Zhou Yuying said, forcing a pleasant tone as she suppressed her emotions.
"Third Miss is quite well-informed. In fact, it was the young master who chose her for His Highness," Liu Ming replied, knowing exactly what she didn’t want to hear.
But he deliberately emphasized it.
"What? Qingshi chose her?" Zhou Yuying was stunned.
Hadn’t she spent years currying favor with that brat? If he was going to pick someone, shouldn’t it have been her?
Why would he give the position to an outsider?
