But it was precisely because he had such a good older brother that a younger brother with no ambition was created, willing to leave Beijing and return to his fief.
In movies and television dramas, Xiao Yu had become accustomed to seeing cases of conflict over the throne leading to estrangement between spouses and murderous strife among siblings, so the situation in Yan Country was quite rare. She felt admiration for Yan Mo’s ability to single-handedly control power within his grasp.
Of course, what she admired most was Yan Qing himself, who could both take and let go—such broad-mindedness was not something ordinary people could manage.
Their brotherly relationship was so harmonious, and the Crown Princess Consort was also more amiable to her than she had imagined, showing not the slightest disdain. Moreover, it was clear that she was sincere, which was extremely rare, so Xiao Yu couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief in her heart.
The family banquet at noon was exceptionally harmonious, and afterwards, everyone needed to rest for a while, because the evening banquet would last until very late, since tonight was New Year’s Eve.
Xiao Yu was also arranged to rest in Changchun Palace.
However, she took this opportunity to enter her "space" and first slept for a couple of hours, then dressed in her work clothes to harvest the ripe strawberries and apples. After that, she planted walnuts and pumpkins and finally, remembering to wash off the sweat odor with "space water." By this time, her hair had lost its initial shape, but fortunately, after waking from sleep, she would get dressed and made up all over again.
Attending a banquet in ancient times usually required preparing two to three sets of clothes, so Xiao Yu felt that this wasn’t the life for her. She could manage in the short term, but if she had to do this daily, she would surely suffocate.
Yet, fate was so miraculous; the more she disliked something, the more the "System" assigned her such tasks because, in the not-so-distant future, she would become a pitiable woman confined within the harem... (System Preview 2, not this life)
Around three o’clock in the afternoon, Xiao Ya woke her to dress and make up. Of course, she was still wearing the clothes she arrived in; she had brought two sets of backups, but since that outfit was still in fine condition, she didn’t bother changing.
Once she was dressed, the sun had set, and then the horse carriages from outside the palace gradually entered to greet the Empress.
She sat to the side of the Crown Princess Consort, a seat she truly could not have taken, but when the Empress signaled for her to sit, she dared not refuse. Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn NoveIＦire.net
Thus, as those royal relatives and wives of high officials and nobles entered one by one, their gazes upon seeing her seated next to the Crown Princess Consort were really all kinds of expressions. According to her status, she had to greet everyone, but the Crown Princess Consort had instructed her in advance that she needn’t greet anyone, just to sit and only stand up if she encountered a guest whom she (the Crown Princess Consort) stood up to greet.
Being new and unknowledgeable, the Empress and Crown Princess Consort were now treating her as family, so she felt assured that they wouldn’t steer her wrong. Without Yan Qing by her side, she naturally listened to the Empress and the Crown Princess Consort. Furthermore, Xiao Ya and Nanny Liang didn’t say otherwise, which certainly meant it was correct.
In this way, even before the evening banquet had begun, everyone was already aware of Shen Xiaoyu’s fact as the future Princess Qing. Those still hopeful noble daughters, though resentful at losing to a woman like her, could only watch as she sat next to the Crown Princess Consort while they had to greet her, and with that, any lingering hope in their hearts was shattered.