As evening approached, Xie Heng finally bade farewell.

On the way home, sitting in the carriage, his emotions remained unsettled for a long time.

The bookmarks he made today, along with the cake he ate, all felt too novel.

He found the National Lady to be a very interesting person.

Upon returning, Grand Tutor Xie called Xie Heng into the study, "Did you have fun at the Duke Mansion today?" 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Xie Heng nodded vigorously.

Grand Tutor Xie raised an eyebrow, "Seems quite interesting, tell me, what did you do all day?"

Xie Heng recounted the day’s events, then emphasized, "At the Duke Mansion, they all eat together, it’s lively, unlike at our house, where everyone eats separately in their own courtyard."

Grand Tutor Xie discerned Xie Heng’s envy and laughed, "The National Lady comes from a farming family, in such families, everyone eats together."

"Because food is very precious to them, eating together saves food."

"The National Lady is accustomed to farm life."

Xie Heng shook his head, "No, I think it’s not for that reason. Grandpa, if you spend time with the National Lady, you’ll understand."

"I feel she’s not like an ordinary woman from a farming family; she’s very knowledgeable, yet not just a lady who knows poetry and painting. She doesn’t stress on etiquette, yet she’s very polite to people. I’m not sure if I’m expressing this correctly, but in any case, I feel the National Lady is not an ordinary woman."

Grand Tutor Xie laughed heartily, "Of course she’s not an ordinary woman; can an ordinary woman be bestowed the title of National Lady by His Majesty?"

Xie Heng knew that his grandfather didn’t completely understand his meaning, but he didn’t plan to say more and just said, "Grandpa, can I visit the Duke Mansion often in the future?"

Grand Tutor Xie was silent for a moment, then nodded, "Of course, you can go if you want. You don’t need to inform me each time, but just let your mother know."

Meanwhile, in the Empress’s palace, a discussion related to the Duke Mansion was also taking place.

The Empress was aware of the incident between Ruru and the Fourth Prince on the day it happened.

The Fourth Prince and Consort Rong were reprimanded by His Majesty, and the Fourth Prince’s visit to the Duke Mansion to apologize was known to her the next day as well.

Up till this point, she hadn’t paid much attention.

It wasn’t until last night when the Third Princess’s palace maid informed her that the Fourth Prince and Ruru were holding hands and playing together, did the Empress sense a crisis.

She brought Ruru into the palace hoping she would develop good relations with the Third Princess and the Second Prince, especially the Second Prince.

If the two could gradually develop feelings, it would naturally lead to the desired outcome.

She inquired with the Third Princess’s palace maid, and learned that Ruru and the Third Princess weren’t especially close, and she had barely spoken to the Second Prince.

During the day, the Empress was busy with affairs of state, but at night she had the Second Prince and the Third Princess summoned.

The Empress dismissed the maids, and first asked the Second Prince, "When Ruru and the Fourth Prince had a conflict, why didn’t you stand up? If you protected her, wouldn’t she have been devoted to you wholeheartedly?"

The Second Prince replied indifferently, "I don’t want her to be devoted to me."

The Empress frowned, "Didn’t I tell you before? Ruru is the future bride your mother chose for you."

The Second Prince furrowed his brows slightly, "I don’t like little girls, and I don’t want her as a bride either."

The Empress’s face darkened, "You’re already eleven years old, how many times have I explained this to you, do you still not understand?"

"Ruru’s father holds military power, and her elder brother is the Grand Secretary; as long as you marry her, your position as Crown Prince would be secure."