Quick Transmigration: Survive to the End

They said they would go straight back, but the two still went to pay their respects to the Prince of Xunyang and his wife before heading to their own seats.

The banquet that followed was a scene of singing and dancing. Apart from the emperor and his family at the head of the table, everyone else was a supporting character. Little girls like Yinyin were even more like background figures among background figures.

Just as they were about to leave, the Zhan family happened to run into the Wang family, who were also getting into their carriages.

After exchanging brief pleasantries with Old Master Zhan, Wang Si turned his gaze to Yin Yin: "Back in Yingzhou last year, my niece Yin Yin was just a child. In the blink of an eye, she's grown up so much."

Yin Yin found it strange. In the year or so since her elder brother got married, Wang Si had never mentioned this matter. Why did he bring it up today?

Zhan Zheng also felt something was off and said, "Four or five years will pass in the blink of an eye; it's time to grow up."

Wang Si smiled and nodded, looking at Yin Yin with a gentle expression.

The more friendly he was, the more uncomfortable Yin Yin felt, as if she were being watched by something.

After that, Wang Si paid no more attention to Yin Yin, only exchanging a few words with Old Master Zhan and Zhan Zheng before getting into his carriage and leaving first. The Zhan family's carriage followed behind them, and as they left the palace gates, they returned to their respective residences.

After attending the palace banquet, it was already very late, but Yu Miaoqi still hadn't rested.

Seeing her two children come in, the tired Yu Miaoqi immediately perked up: "You're finally back! The kitchen has prepared chicken soup and bone broth, as well as some porridge and snacks. What would you like to eat?"

Zhan Zheng thought for a moment and instructed Hong Fu: "Tell them to cut half a pickled radish and boil it in bone broth, then add a spoonful of chili oil. On such a cold day, it's perfect to eat something warm and appetizing. What about Yin Yin?"

"Chicken noodle soup is fine, not too much," Yinyin said, subtly touching her stomach. She had spent most of her life at home and rarely went out, and she was afraid that if she ate a little too much at night, the extra weight would stick to her body.

Hongfu went down to deliver a message, and Yinyin sat down next to Yu Miaoqi. "Mother is the best. Knowing that my brother and I would not be able to eat well in the palace, she specially asked the kitchen to simmer soup for us."

Zhan Zheng also said, "We'll be done eating in a while. If Mom is sleepy, she should rest first."

“We’ve been waiting until this late, a little longer won’t make a difference,” Yu Miaoqi said, already awake and not in a hurry to go back to sleep. “You didn’t encounter anything in the palace today, did you?”

Upon hearing this, Zhan Zheng immediately thought of the Sixth Prince, and his expression darkened. Yin Yin, on the other hand, was quite alright. She specially asked someone to fetch Zhan Zheng's paperweight and acted as a storyteller, recounting the conversation between Old Madam Zhan and Old Madam Yang in a very engaging way.

Yu Miaoqi found it amusing, but her attention inevitably fell on Zhan Zheng: "Zheng'er?"

Zhan Zheng didn't hide anything from her and told her about the Sixth Prince's wrongdoings towards Yin Yin.

Unlike Zhan Zheng, Yu Miaoqi's reaction was not so intense, and she even had a bit of pride: "It is only natural that a good daughter is sought after by many families. Now the Sixth Prince is willing to help, because Yin Yin is a good girl."

"However, Zheng'er, you should also pay more attention to your daily life. If there are suitable candidates, you can slowly look for someone for Yin Yin."

Upon hearing this, Zhan Zheng's face darkened further: "Mother, Yin Yin is still young."

“It’s precisely because they’re still young that we need to start preparing now,” Yu Miaoqi said. “The sooner we choose, the better you can teach them and give them pointers. It’s always better than choosing at the last minute and having many complaints later.”

"Furthermore, although the Sixth Prince has this intention, we have no intention of using Yinyin to climb the social ladder. If you don't have a legitimate reason, how can you refuse?"

Zhan Zheng listened to what was said, and his opposition was not as strong as before.

Although they were talking about something important for Yin Yin, she didn't want to interrupt at that moment. After they finished speaking, Yin Yin said, "Even if I've chosen someone, I don't want to leave Mother so soon. Mother, please don't rush to marry me off!"

"I won't be willing to let you go until you're eighteen or nineteen," Yu Miaoqi said, looking at Yin Yin's pretty face with a touch of melancholy. "How come you're already at the age for your coming-of-age ceremony?"

"It's still early," Yin Yin said, clinging to her arm. "We haven't even gotten engaged yet, so how can it be time for the coming-of-age ceremony? Didn't Mother say she wanted to keep me here a little longer?"

In this dynasty, the coming-of-age ceremony was generally held after a girl turned fifteen and was engaged, but before her marriage. If she had reached the age of fifteen but was not engaged or married, the ceremony would be held when she turned twenty.

Although Yin Yin is already fifteen years old, she is not yet engaged, so she is not considering the coming-of-age ceremony at all.

However, when this was mentioned, Yin Yin suddenly thought of Yu Xi and Xun Wan, who were far away in Yingzhou.

"Sister Xi's coming-of-age ceremony was officiated by Sister Wan. Now Sister Wan's coming-of-age ceremony is approaching, but I can't be there. She mentioned it in her last letter."

Seeing that she really missed her friend, Yu Miaoqi said, "If it were nearby, it would be fine, but Yingzhou is far away, and it wouldn't be good to ask you to go back alone. Prepare a gift in advance and ask Dongxin to go for you."

Dongxin had served Yinyin since childhood and was her trusted confidante. Since Yinyin couldn't come in person, sending Dongxin instead showed her sincerity.

Yinyin felt a little regretful, but she knew that this was the only way. As an unmarried girl, it was not appropriate for her to travel far without her elders by her side.

After all, in this life, she had never had a Golden Crow Guard she could trust, nor had she ever had a smooth road that would allow her to travel freely without fear.

Seeing that the two were in low spirits, Zhan Zheng quickly said something else to cheer them up. Just then, Hong Fu returned with a food box, and Yin Yin felt warm and cozy in her stomach, which improved her mood considerably.

After eating, Yu Miaoqi couldn't help but yawn several times. She decided not to keep Zhan Zheng any longer and had someone help Yin Yin wash up. The mother and daughter then went to sleep side by side.

Zhan Zheng said he was going back to rest, but he had barely touched his pillow when he was woken up. As the eldest grandson, Old Master Zhan would never leave out the task of presiding over the sacrificial rites.

In comparison, Yin Yin had it much easier. She didn't have to go to the Zhan family's ancestral hall, so she could sleep a little longer before getting up.

Fortunately, these few days are the busiest part of the Lunar New Year. Apart from the days when we have to entertain guests, we can just stay at home and relax.

Yinyin had been idle for a few days and felt she had nothing to do, so she found some spices to blend incense to pass the time.

Fortunately, she remembered many incense recipes, some of which existed in this world, and some of which did not. On the seventh day of the first lunar month, she carefully selected the recipe for "Princess Shouyang Plum Blossom Incense".

Take spices such as spikenard, angelica, and peony bark, add precious sandalwood and agarwood, and finally pick some white plums to process them together, then put them in a porcelain jar and seal it.

This incense has been stored in the cellar for half a month, and it will be ready to use shortly after the Lantern Festival. Yin Yin had also prepared a promise to invite the Fourth Princess and the Tenth Princess to visit the estate again to enjoy the snow.

When the time comes, light this incense, brew plum blossom tea, and then apply plum blossom makeup to your forehead.

This way of appreciating plum blossoms is quite fitting for the occasion.