The Crown Princess is busy fishing

Upon seeing this, everyone gathered around.

Lady Cao, the first to offer her praise:

"The Prince Yun is so filial, and this gift is incredibly precious. He has put a lot of thought into it. The Princess is truly blessed!"

Everyone echoed his sentiments, and for a time, flattery poured in.

Many of the ladies and wives present lit up when they saw Xiao Yunqing.

Some lowered their heads shyly, while others deliberately struck poses in front of him, hoping to attract his attention.

Xiao Yunqing stood up, her gaze sweeping across the crowd before quickly landing on Lin Yuge.

A barely perceptible hint of concern and joy flashed in his eyes, and he nodded slightly to her.

Then he looked away and politely responded to everyone's greetings and pleasantries.

However, his actions did not escape the notice of some people with ulterior motives.

Especially the girls who harbored feelings for him, their eyes instantly filled with jealousy and resentment when they looked at Lin Yuge.

As the pleasantries subsided, people began to step forward one by one to present their gifts.

A graceful young woman stepped forward with light, delicate steps.

Lin Yuge heard someone introduce her as Zhao Wanqing, the daughter of the Vice Minister of Rites.

She held a beautifully crafted brocade box in her hands, but did not rush to present it as a gift.

Instead, he first turned his gaze to Lin Yuge, a hint of cunning in his eyes.

"Miss Lin, I heard you just returned from Lingnan. I imagine the gift you prepared must be quite unique."

We're all very curious, why don't you show it to us first?

Zhao Wanqing appeared to be all smiles, but her words concealed a hostile intent.

Her mother stood to the side, seemingly trying to stop her, and said:

"Wan'er, don't be so rude. Miss Lin will present her gifts in order. How can you let her show them first?"

But that look seemed to be encouraging her daughter to continue.

Lin Yuge remained calm and simply gave a slight curtsy.

"It's alright. I've only prepared some small items from Lingnan, which I dare not compare with your precious gifts."

It simply contains my respect and gratitude for the Princess; it's a small gift but carries great meaning.

Zhao Wanqing gave a soft snort, about to speak again.

Hua Ruoyan spoke softly:

"Today is a joyous day. Regardless of the value of the gift, it is the thought that counts. Let's not cause any trouble."

Zhao Wanqing then restrained herself somewhat, but still occasionally glanced at Lin Yuge.

Lin Yuge took an exquisite brocade box from Qianxia behind her. The box was embroidered with delicate patterns.

She gently opened the brocade box, and a string of South Sea pearls appeared before everyone's eyes.

Each round South Sea pearl exudes a soft luster.

The golden pearl in the center is particularly eye-catching, shining like a small sun.

Lin Yuge bowed slightly and explained:

"Your Highness, these are all South Sea pearls that I personally harvested."

When I first arrived in Lingnan, I was fortunate enough to find this golden pearl among the first batch of pearl oysters I harvested, and it holds great significance for me.

I made it into a necklace, hoping that the Princess will always be as radiant as these South Sea pearls.

Everyone who heard this was amazed.

I admire the beauty of the necklace, and I admire Lin Yuge's dedication and courage.

Hua Ruoyan gently picked up the necklace, the golden pearls swirling between her fingertips.

Her face was full of smiles:

"Miss Lin, I truly love this gift. I will remember your kindness."

Xiao Yunqing looked at Lin Yuge with a slight smile on her lips, knowing that these things were no challenge for her.

Zhao Wanqing's expression grew increasingly grim.

She had thought Lin Yuge would only bring out some ordinary things, but she never expected it to be such a precious and thoughtful gift.

Jealousy grew wildly in his heart like weeds, but he could only grit his teeth in silence and dare not speak out against her again.

Xiao Yunqing stayed there for a while before going to the front yard to greet the male guests.

Lin Yuge continued to be kept by Hua Ruoyan's side, chatting with a group of women.

Hua Ruoyan grew to like Lin Yuge more and more the more she looked at him.

She handles everything with ease, whether it's being flattered, challenged, or subtly tested by others.

A satisfied smile crept across his face.

The eldest princess, who was standing to the side, finally couldn't help but ask in a low voice:

"Has Sister Wang taken a liking to this girl?"

Hua Ruoyan smiled knowingly and replied softly:

"It's said that I took a liking to her, but it was Yun Qing who had her eye on her long ago."

I just thought this girl was really nice; she was pretty and had a gentle and generous personality.

She's very intelligent and quick-witted; she and Yun Qing are quite a good match.

The eldest princess raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of curiosity flashing in her eyes:

"Oh? Yun Qing, with his aloof nature, actually cares about this girl?"

Hua Ruoyan looked up at Lin Yuge, her eyes filled with loving kindness:

"Fate is always unpredictable."

Observe the young lady's performance in front of everyone today. She is calm and composed in dealing with the various moods of the women. Such composure is rare.

I only hope that if I truly enter the household in the future, I can support Yunqing and live a harmonious and happy life together.

Lin Yuge was sharing the local customs and culture of Lingnan with Ye Lingxuan and several other girls.

Her laughter was crisp and melodious, and she was completely unaware of the conversation about her.

After the banquet ended and the lanterns were lit, Xiao Yunqing personally escorted Lin Yuge and the others back home.

Lin Qingzhou, slightly drunk, was resting on a soft couch nearby.

Xiao Yunqing sat opposite Lin Yuge, noticing her tired expression, and said softly:

"You must have had a hard day. It must have been exhausting to deal with the women."

Lin Yuge gently shook her head, a faint smile playing on her lips:

"It's alright. I've gained a lot from talking with all the ladies today, so I don't feel tired at all."

She looked up at Xiao Yunqing, her starry eyes reflecting the lights in the courtyard, shining brightly.

Xiao Yunqing nodded slightly.

For a moment, the atmosphere between the two became somewhat subtle, as if strands of affection were quietly intertwining.

A gentle evening breeze blew by, lifting a strand of Lin Yuge's hair.

Xiao Yunqing subconsciously reached out, wanting to brush away her hair.

At this moment, Lin Qingzhou suddenly groaned and swayed, breaking the momentary silence and subtlety.

Xiao Yunqing's hand paused briefly in mid-air.

He slowly withdrew his grip, coughing lightly to cover his slight embarrassment.

Lin Yuge blushed slightly and turned her gaze to the outside of the car window.

Looking at the night view along the way helped calm my anxiety.

After a moment, Xiao Yunqing asked:

"I heard from Mo Dong that your shipment is almost finished. When are you planning to return?"

Lin Yuge quickly calmed down and replied:

"We'll start preparing for the return voyage in the next few days, and we also need to prepare the cargo. It's estimated that we won't be able to leave Beijing for another half a month."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yunqing frowned slightly and fell into deep thought.

He was rapidly considering several things in his mind, and his eyes held a subtle surge of thoughts.

He didn't say anything more until Lin Yuge and the others got off the bus.

He instructed Mo Nan to help escort Lin Qingzhou back to his courtyard.

He turned to Lin Yuge and said:

"Go back now, it's chilly at night, don't catch a cold."

"I will have Mo Dong continue to follow you; just let him know if you need anything."

Lin Yuge nodded gently, "I understand. You should go back and rest early too."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards his own courtyard.

Xiao Yunqing watched her retreating figure until she disappeared from sight before turning back to his residence.