Chapter Ten: The Eldest Princess

  The Empress Dowager said, "All real men are in the army."

  Yao Yan listened to these words, and smiled calmly. No matter where the real good man was, it wasn't something she could think about. She was the daughter of the Yao family, her father was the Governor-General of Liangjiang Yao Yuanzhi, and the daughters of the Yao family would all be used as pawns by Governor-General Yao to consolidate the Yao family's position in the future.

  It's not her father's fault, because in the Great Cloud Dynasty, in the eyes of these royal nobles and aristocratic families, the marriage of their children is first and foremost about interests, whether the union of the two families can maximize benefits. Second is social status matching. Only then comes the wishes of the young couple.

  Is it important to have a matching door and household? However, in the face of the greatest benefit, all considerations of family status must step aside. For example, when princesses and noble ladies are married off to distant lands, doesn't the imperial family feel heartache? Doesn't the emperor and the princes want a matching door and household? In front of the stability of the regime, even if one is as proud as a princess, they must still be married off when it's time.

  As for the wishes of children, they are valid only when both of the above conditions are met.

  For example, when a family's daughter reaches the age of marriage, the family selects several families from their social circle and lets the daughter or son choose one. They ask the young men or women from these few families which one is more suitable? And the children being asked naturally respond with: "It's up to our parents to decide."

  Of course, this is also a parent who dotes on their children extremely.

  Yao Yan knew that all of these were beyond her hopes. Just like when she was first sent to the Ding Hou Mansion by her father with just one sentence, from start to finish, no one had asked her if she was willing.

  The Western Expedition Army returned triumphantly, and the entire capital was immersed in joy from the imperial court to the common people. The Dinghou Mansion was no exception, especially since Su Yuping, the eldest son of the Dinghou Mansion, had made significant military achievements in this expedition and was conferred the title of Dingyuan General by the Emperor.

  Due to the victory, the sorrow of Empress Dowager's passing was somewhat alleviated. Although it was not suitable to hold a grand banquet during the national mourning period, the Dingguo Mansion still closed its doors and held a small family dinner with just a few close relatives, including the eldest princess and Madame Lu. The eldest princess had only one instruction: no wine was allowed, no opera or storytelling was permitted; it was just a simple family reunion dinner.

  Because it was a reunion dinner, Yao Fengge, who was ill and weak, could not attend, so Yao Yanyu was invited to the front.

  She didn't want to go at first, but Yao Fengge said, "Don't think it's awkward because of your identity. Forget about the previous plans and just consider our sisterly relationship. It's reasonable for you to go eat with them in front. I just can't take you there myself, so be careful with your words and actions. The Hou Mansion is not like our home after all, and there are many rules to follow in front of the eldest princess. I'll have Li Nian accompany you, and she'll remind you if anything comes up."

  Yao Yanyu wanted to say something, but Sun had already come over personally. As soon as she entered the door, she pulled Yao Yanyu's hand and said: "Madam thought you might be shy and not willing to go, so she asked me to bring you together. Your sister is still recovering from her illness and the doctor doesn't allow her to go out, otherwise she would also come over with us."

  Yao Fengge leaned on the bed, laughing weakly: "I was just talking about her, my sister was shy and didn't like to go out when she was at home. Now that there's a sister-in-law taking care of her, I can finally feel at ease." She then instructed Cuiwei: "Don't you take your young lady back to the room to change clothes?"

  Yao Yan had no choice but to go back and change into a formal outfit for receiving guests, then got in the carriage with Sun Shi and headed towards the residence of Princess Dachang.

  Although winning the battle is a joyful event, after all, it is still in the national mourning period. The Grand Princess is also a member of the royal family, so no one in the mansion, from men to women, wore red or purple clothes.

  Yao Yan naturally wouldn't choose red or purple, she wore a snow-green embroidered skirt with orchids and grass, thin silk gauze embroidered with a few sparse orchid leaves, two white arrow-shaped flowers, and a fluttering butterfly, lively and light.

  At the end of summer, the weather is still very hot, but there is wind. The wind blows, accompanied by light footsteps, and the shallow purple skirt is slightly lifted, with the orchid grass pattern embroidered on the hem appearing and disappearing, making the whole person elegant and charming, touching and moving.

  The Grand Princess with silver hair all over her head, wearing a dark blue palace dress with a round flower pattern, sat upright in the main hall of Jiaying Hall in the back garden of the princess's mansion. When she saw the woman following behind Mrs. Lu and beside Sun Shi, dressed as an unmarried young lady, her eyes paused for a moment.

  Madam Lu turned around and pulled Yao Yanru's hand forward two steps, saying: "Greetings, Princess Dachang. This is the younger sister of Old Third's wife's natal family that I mentioned earlier. Today, since everyone is here, my wife has taken it upon herself to bring her along for you to meet."

  Yao Yanyu had already knelt down and kowtowed: "Your humble servant Yao Yanyu pays her respects to the Grand Princess, wishing the Grand Princess a thousand years of life, ten thousand years of life."

  "No need for formalities. Today is just a family gathering to have a reunion dinner together, no need for national courtesy." The Grand Princess smiled slightly and waved her hand.

  "Yes, thank you, Princess Zhang." Yao Yan slowly stood up, took two steps back and moved behind Lady Sun.

  "Yao sister!" Su Yuxuan smiled and got up from the side of the eldest princess, walked to Yao Yanyu's side and pulled her hand, "What have you been doing at home for the past two days?"

  Yao Yan smiled and replied: "Nothing, just taking care of my sister's illness."

  "Uncle and the brothers haven't arrived yet, let's go sit over there, I'll show you grandma's phosphorescent fish," Su Yuxuan said, pulling Yao Yanyu along as they walked out.

  Yao Yanyu turned her head to glance at Mrs. Lu, who was talking to the Empress Dowager and didn't notice her at all. It was Sun Shi who saw her and smiled, nodding slightly. Only then did Yao Yanyu feel relieved as she followed Su Yuexuan out of Jiaying Hall.

  Su Yuexiang pulled Yao Yanyu through a willow shade and sat down in front of a stone table, smiling: "Sister, in a few days our chess club is the second lady of the Zhen Guo Gong Fu's host, come with me?"

  Yao Yan shook her head slightly: "But I'm just average in Go, afraid I'll spoil the fun for you guys."

  "What's the big deal? We're just playing around, who still expects to produce a national champion from our group of ladies? Third Aunt is sick and can't accompany you to chat and have fun. Aren't you bored staying at home alone?"

  "It's okay, I'll get used to it."

  "What did you usually do at home? Wouldn't it be boring to stay alone in the house every day? Oh my, wouldn't that make one grow all over with hair? Haha..." Su Yuxuan said, covering her mouth with a fan and laughing.

  "When I'm at home, I also like to stay in the yard alone, reading books, taking care of flowers and plants, and a day's time passes easily. Moreover, I have three cats, five small dogs, two painted eyebrows, one parrot, one pair of cranes, and one pair of pheasants. Every day, I walk around them, play with them when I'm bored, and don't feel suffocated."

  "Ah! So sister likes to raise those cats and dogs! Grandma also likes to raise them, but hers are all big ones. In the garden over there, a Tibetan mastiff is enclosed, several fierce horses, and oh, there's also a snow-white lion!"

  It's really abnormal, raising a Tibetan Mastiff is already enough, but actually raising a lion?

  Yao Yan exclaimed with a surprised smile: "Oh! Indeed, they are the pets raised by the eldest princess, each and every one of them exudes an aura of majesty."

  As they were chatting, another man's voice came from the other side of the grove: "What are you two doing here?"

  Yao Yan got up and looked around, but saw Su Yuxiang wearing a dark green long shirt walking over with two men. Su Yuhuang had already stood up and smiled to greet them, slightly bowing: "Nice to see you, big brother, second brother, third brother."

  Yao Yan glanced quietly at the two men besides Su Yuxiang, guessing that the tall and dark-skinned one was Su Yuping, and the other must be Su Yu'an. She then followed with a bow: "Yan Yu pays respects to Master Shizi, Master Er and Master San."