He swept a glance at Jian Lecheng, who resembled a marionette, and Ye Yiheng commanded the hidden guards who had followed Jian Lecheng from outside the gate, "Take him back to the Duke’s Mansion." An Wushiba and the others clasped their fists in agreement and immediately carried Jian Lecheng away from Chun Liu and Dong Yan’s arms. After leaving Leng Yu Yan’s courtyard, Jian Lecheng opened his eyes a crack. An Wushiba snorted, "Young Master’s skill at playing ’dead’ is getting more and more impressive!" With dark circles under his eyes, Jian Lecheng smiled ingratiatingly, "I truly fainted just now. In a daze, I felt the Commandery Princess taking my pulse on my wrist. She pressed suddenly, and I don’t know what acupoint she hit, but it woke me right up." But in that moment, he could only continue to feign unconsciousness. Thankfully, Your Highness was considerate, and the Commandery Princess was magnanimous. He had overheard their conversation just now and was filled with guilt. His previous prejudice and offenses against the Commandery Princess were truly unmerited. At this time, inside the courtyard, Chun Liu respectfully reported, "Commandery Princess, Your Highness, the Young Master seemed to be awake just now." Ye Yiheng spoke coolly, "With his level of poor acting..." "Yanyan, forgive him!" Ye Yiheng’s tone changed, pleading earnestly, "The Duke Mansion has long since lost its power, and the Old Duke only has that one grandson. I had many companions in my studies before, but only he stayed behind." He didn’t directly state the reason why the other companions had left, but Leng Yu Yan knew that it must be because of his increasingly frequent poisoning incidents and blindness, causing those companions to switch their allegiance to other princes. The ancestors of Duke Jiang Mansion had also seen glory, their nobility unbroken to this day; although their titles remained, their real power was long gone. However, the Old Duke had always supported the legitimate succession, hence his support for Ye Yiheng. Even though Ye Yiheng was blinded and frail, Duke Jiang Mansion did not waver and supported him wholeheartedly. Thinking of this, Leng Yu Yan smiled and said, "If I didn’t forgive him, I wouldn’t have woken him up just now." The words she said to Ye Yiheng about the Young Master considering things for him were actually spoken for Jian Lecheng to hear. The Young Master wasn’t foolish; of course, he would understand her implication. Ye Yiheng smiled lightly, "Yanyan is truly magnanimous!" Inwardly, she derided herself for several times when someone had bullied her, and she still came to their aid—wasn’t that being magnanimous? Ye Yiheng chuckled and shook his head. Leng Yu Yan called Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter together, instructing them, "You need to wear human skin masks when you leave the manor." Today Jian Lecheng could recognize them; on another day, someone else who had been to Linqing Pavilion might as well. The four nodded respectfully in agreement. Qiubo said, "We servants are always in the courtyard, seldom go out. Even if we have missions at night, we are masked, don’t worry, Commandery Princess!" Leng Yu Yan nodded, and at that moment, Ye Jiu came over. Her cheerful laughter preceded her into the courtyard. "Ah Yan..." Ye Jiu entered with a laugh, "I have some great news to tell you." Leng Yu Yan set aside the matter of naming the courtyard and stepped out of the study, "What’s so exciting?" Ye Jiu hurried a few steps to Leng Yu Yan’s side and whispered, "Your mother has acknowledged me as your daughter-in-law!" "That’s excellent!" Leng Yu Yan couldn’t help but nod in agreement. "Oh, right, the Princess knew I came to look for you; she wants you to come over." "She had some new clothes made, said they are for you to wear after your marriage. You better go and get them." Leng Yu Yan pointed at herself, "She wants me to go get them?" She was somewhat puzzled. What clothes required Ye Jiu to inform her and even ask her to fetch them herself? Ye Jiu nodded, "Right, let’s go. I’ll accompany you." At that moment, Ye Yiheng suddenly spoke up, "I will accompany Yanyan." Ye Jiu raised her hand to stop him, "Sixth Brother should stay here or take a stroll somewhere else. Just don’t go with us. Our women’s matters are not for Sixth Brother to join in the fun!" As soon as she finished speaking, Ye Jiu took Leng Yu Yan’s hand and headed straight out. Ye Yiheng’s handsome brows moved; he still had to talk to Li Yuyue about the current situation in Tiancheng. It wasn’t long before Leng Yu Yan and Ye Jiu arrived in front of the Yun Family. "What beautiful clothes has mother prepared for her daughter?" Leng Yu Yan walked over and asked with a smile, "So secretive, are you planning to surprise me?" Yun Family opened a wooden box, "These are all newly-made dresses. A woman married must wear new clothes for a month; I have already had them made." She pointed at several wooden boxes of the same dimensions next to her, "Take a look, are you satisfied?" "Satisfied, I’m naturally pleased with mother’s intentions," said Leng Yu Yan with some confusion, "So many boxes, I can’t carry them all by myself." Yun Family smiled mysteriously and led her towards a brocade box, "This one you can take back yourself." Leng Yu Yan opened the brocade box curiously, picked up an article of clothing, and tossed it away like a hot potato, snapping the brocade box shut with a clap. The clothing was so sheer and revealing, it seemed to be a nightgown. Leng Yu Yan’s face burned red in an instant, "I won’t be needing this!" Yun Family and Ye Jiu laughed together. Ye Jiu said, "Commandery Princess sister might as well keep it. Even if you feel it’s unnecessary, it wouldn’t be nice to refuse the Princess’s goodwill." After she marries the Princely Heir, the Clothing Bureau of the palace would also prepare for her. However, she also hoped that her own mother would help her prepare, but it was ultimately impossible. She envied Ah Yan for having such a loving mother. Yun Family smiled and said, "Good daughter, take it with you when you leave, and try it on when you have time. If it doesn’t fit, we’ll alter it." While speaking, she turned to face Ye Jiu, "If the Princess truly marries into the Leng Family, I can’t give you clothing like the ones in the brocade box. But from now on, every year and every season, the Princess’s new clothes will never be lacking!" Ye Jiu nodded happily, "I understand, these are traditionally prepared by the bride’s family." Just like how one’s maternal family would discreetly provide an "album" on the eve before a wedding, usually prepared personally by the bride’s mother. For four years she had fantasized about marrying the Heir Lai and had thoroughly researched the wedding customs of Tiancheng. Leng Yu Yan, her face flushed, picked up the brocade box, secretly mulling over the fact that she honestly would not need these clothes, for reasons she could not discuss with her mother. Aside from her mother, everyone else in the family knew Ye Yiheng had a hidden ailment that made him unable to consummate the marriage. These years, her mother, grieving for Leng Mian, became ill and seldom interacted with outsiders, therefore unaware of the rumors about the Crown Prince. If her mother knew of Ye Yiheng’s impotence, she would definitely not agree to her marrying him. In her mother’s eyes, her own daughter should not endure such an indignity. With this thought, Leng Yu Yan decided to keep the brocade box. "Thank you, mother!" She bowed obediently, "I will try it on when I have time." "Good," Yun Family said with a contented smile, "I’m a bit tired, Mian’er, take the clothes back with you, and show the Princess around our Prince Mansion on the way." Leng Yu Yan nodded, "Yes, mother." So, Leng Yu Yan, holding the brocade box, left the main courtyard with Ye Jiu. Once they were outside the main courtyard, Ye Jiu asked softly, "Ah Yan, does your mother not know about my Sixth Brother’s condition?" Leng Yu Yan lowered her voice, "Right, mother doesn’t interact much with the outside world and has never heard those rumors. The matter with Huahua hit mother hard, causing her to sometimes retreat into her own world." "I understand, I’ll be more careful with my words in the future!" Ye Jiu beamed with a smile, "The Princess is truly a wonderful person!"