The princess regretted it.

The next morning, the inner courtyard of the Jinwuhou Mansion was exceptionally busy. Maids carried copper basins, towels, and other toiletries, moving hurriedly yet deliberately through the corridors. The kitchen was steaming, the aroma of food filling the air as several cooks skillfully prepared a variety of exquisite breakfasts. Servants in charge of sweeping, brooms and other tools, meticulously sweeping every corner of the courtyard. The dust they kicked up sparkled in the sunlight.

In the dining hall, Fan elegantly ate the shredded chicken porridge and pickled cucumbers sent from the kitchen while listening to the servants' reports on household affairs. The housekeeper stood respectfully by her side, reporting the various expenses of the mansion and the list of items that needed to be purchased in a clear and organized manner. Several maids were waiting by her side, ready to add tea for Fan or hand her the items she needed. After finishing her breakfast, she gently wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and then a maid came forward and cleaned the table. Nanny Chen, who was serving by the side, came forward to help Fan out of the dining hall. Fan whispered, "It's almost time. Hasn't the doorman come to inform me yet?"

Nanny Chen replied respectfully, "Not yet. Don't worry, Madam. Everything is ready. Don't worry. My cousin should be here soon."

Mrs. Fan slowly walked out of Cheng Garden and headed for the front yard, her face beaming with joy as she whispered to Nanny Chen, "It's been two years since I last saw Qianyi. This time, I'm not the only one anxious to see you; Changfeng must be eager to see you too. He's always been so protective of Qianyi. Even though we haven't seen each other for two years, I didn't know they were... well, I already knew what he was thinking."

Nanny Chen pretended not to notice what Fan had nearly said, and smiled as she agreed, "Our cousin is already intelligent and charming, with a beautiful face and a gentle and kind personality, just like Madam in her youth. She and the Crown Prince have a childhood friendship, and I think they are a perfect match."

After hearing this, Fan felt extremely relieved. She gently patted Nanny Chen's hand and couldn't help laughing out loud.

At this moment, a maid came hurriedly over, bowed to Fan, and said, "Madam, my cousin's carriage has arrived at the door."

When Mrs. Fan heard this, she became so excited that she quickened her pace. Nanny Chen was so frightened that she quickly took bigger steps, held Mrs. Fan tightly with both hands, and hurried towards the door.

Two carriages sat quietly at the gates of the Jinwu Marquis's mansion. The main carriage, crafted from black nanmu wood, featured carved beams and painted rafters, a truly exquisite spectacle. It was swathed in silk, its windows inlaid with gold and gemstones softly veiled by curtains of pale blue crepe. The rear carriage was stacked with several large boxes and crates, accompanied by around twenty servants. The Jinwu Marquis's mansion was located in a bustling area on the capital's main street, so such a grand spectacle naturally caused quite a stir, and many gathered to observe the excitement.

At that moment, a maidservant was standing in front of the carriage ahead, having placed a footstool securely beside the rut. Then, with one hand, she gently lifted the curtain and slowly reached inside with her other hand. A delicate, white hand emerged from the carriage and gently rested on the maidservant's. Curious to see the owner of that hand, the onlookers craned their heads toward the carriage door.

A slender woman emerged from the carriage. She was dressed in a light lotus-colored dress and a gauze hat. With the help of a maid, she slowly stepped down from the carriage and walked towards the main gate of the mansion with light, graceful steps. The gate was already wide open, and the woman was about to ascend the steps when a joyful, urgent voice rang out from within: "Yi'er!" Then, several figures hurried towards the main gate.

Walking in front was the hurried Fan, and Nanny Chen, who was holding her tightly. Just by looking at the swing of her skirt, one could clearly sense the urgency with which they were moving. The pearl hairpin in Fan's hair also swayed slightly with her body, revealing a hint of restlessness.

At the bottom of the stairs, the woman spotted Fan and the others, and hurried up the steps, also supported by a maid. They met at the gate. The young woman quickly withdrew her hand from the maid's support and bowed gracefully. The trembling of excitement in her voice was particularly noticeable: "Qianyi greets Auntie. Auntie is well!"

Mrs. Fan quickly stretched out her hands, gently helped the woman up, and gently patted the back of her hand. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she said softly, "Okay! Okay! Okay! Auntie, everything is fine! Yi'er has worked so hard on this journey."

At this time, Nanny Chen came forward and said to Mrs. Fan, "Madam, my cousin must have been exhausted from the long journey. It would be best if she could come into the mansion and sit down to rest."

"Yes, yes, yes! Look at me, I was so excited that I lost my composure for a moment. Come, come, come back with your aunt." Fan also instantly came to her senses. She took Qianyi's hand tightly, turned and walked through the gate of the Marquisate, and slowly walked towards the inner courtyard. The Marquisate's servants and the servants brought by Liu Qianyi unloaded the boxes and crates from the carriage and followed closely behind, carrying all the boxes and crates into the Marquisate.

Along the way, Fan held Liu Qianyi's hand, as if she had endless things to say, and kept asking various questions.

"Yier, I haven't seen you for a few years. You have become more and more beautiful. Is your mother okay?" Mrs. Fan asked with concern.

Qianyi lowered her head slightly and replied softly, "Aunt, Mother is doing fine, but she's always worried about you. She asked me to come here because she repeatedly told me to say hello to you on her behalf."

"Child, you must be exhausted after traveling all the way. When we get to the inner courtyard, wash up, eat something, and have a good rest." Mrs. Fan said gently.

"Thank you for your concern, auntie. I'm not tired. I'm very happy to see you, auntie." Qianyi showed a bright smile on her face.

"You kid, you are still so sweet. By the way, what are your plans for coming this time? How long do you plan to stay at your aunt's place?" Fan asked with a smile.

Qianyi's eyes flickered slightly, and she said shyly, "Aunt, my parents hope that I can see more of the capital city when I come here this time. As for how long I stay, it's entirely up to you, Aunt."

"Okay, then you can stay here with peace of mind. If you need anything, just tell your aunt." Fan looked at Qianyi lovingly.

The corridors are winding and the flowers and trees are lush and verdant.