activa-t Chapter 1424 Harmony
Chapter 1424 Harmony
The old woman smiled and replied, "Madam has considered everything carefully. This sandalwood and carving knife may not look expensive, but they suit her tastes better and are more touching than gold and silver jewelry."
Once Li made up her mind, she immediately ordered her servants to fetch the items.
Before long, several exquisite brocade boxes were placed on the table.
The Duan inkstone was set against a red velvet cloth. The inkstone's texture was clear, and its color was warm and lustrous, making it a treasure at first glance.
The pearls in the bracelet are all lustrous white, gleaming softly in the candlelight; the silks and satins are all of the finest Suzhou embroidery, with elegant patterns.
The sandalwood lay quietly in the brocade box, carrying a faint woody fragrance.
The carving knife is made of fine iron, and the handle is inlaid with small agates, making it both exquisite and practical.
Looking at the gifts, Li felt a little more at ease.
She then carefully instructed her servants to package the gift box with exceptional care, ensuring it reflected the sincerity of the Prince of Dongping's residence.
Everything was ready, and it was already time to light the lamps.
When the Prince of Dongping sent someone to inquire, Lady Li personally led Princess Huian Xiao Rongrong and the gifts, boarded a carriage, and headed towards the Marquis of Zhanyi's residence.
The carriage journey was smooth, but Li Shi, sitting inside, was still filled with anxiety.
She knew that today's trip was not just about delivering an apology gift, but also about extending an olive branch from the Dongping Prince's Mansion to the Zhanyi Marquis's Mansion on behalf of the Dongping Prince's Mansion.
Lin Yiwan is shrewd and will surely understand her intentions.
Before long, the carriage stopped in front of the Marquis of Zhanyi's residence.
Li took a deep breath, straightened her clothes, and then, accompanied by Princess Hui'an and her maids and nannies, walked downstairs carrying the gift box.
The steward of the Marquis of Zhanyi's residence had already received the news and hurriedly came forward, bowing and saying, "This humble servant greets the Crown Princess of Dongping. The Lady of the Marquis and Her Highness the Princess are waiting in the front hall. Please come in quickly."
Madam Li nodded slightly, forcing a polite smile on her face, and followed the butler inside.
After passing through several courtyards, we arrived at the front hall.
Lin Yiwan was sitting upright in the main seat, dressed in a plain dress, with an elegant demeanor. When she saw Li enter, she stood up to greet her, speaking in a gentle tone: "Your Highness, the Crown Princess, have graced my humble abode with your presence."
Madam Li quickly stepped forward and curtsied, saying, "Madam, you are too kind. Today's events were all due to my daughter's ignorance, which disturbed the princess and young master. I feel truly sorry for her, so I specially prepared some small gifts. I hope Madam will not find them offensive."
As she spoke, she gestured for the maid to present the gift box.
Lin Yiwan glanced at the gift boxes, a faint smile playing on her lips: "Your Highness is too kind. Princess Youyi told me when she returned that it was just children playing around. Why make such a fuss?"
Madam Li quickly replied, "While that is true, Rongrong did throw a tantrum, which spoiled everyone's mood. Furthermore, the Lady of the Marquis saved the Prince's life, a debt of gratitude that the Dongping Prince's Mansion will never forget. This small gift is merely a token of our appreciation."
Lin Yiwan chuckled and, without further ado, gestured for the housekeeper to accept the gift.
She spoke gently, "Since the Crown Princess is so kind, then I shall accept. Ziyu felt somewhat guilty after returning from the Prince's residence today, so why not have him come over and reconcile with Rongrong?"
Upon hearing this, Li felt relieved.
Lin Yiwan's willingness to let Mo Ziyu come out and meet her meant that today's matter was considered closed.
She quickly replied, "Yes, I was just about to apologize to Rongrong and the young master."
Before long, the wet nurse brought Mo Ziyu in.
When Mo Ziyu saw Li Shi, he did not speak. He first bowed and then walked to his mother's side and stood obediently.
Madam Li quickly stepped forward, took Mo Ziyu's hand, and said softly, "Young master, Rongrong was in the wrong today, and your aunt apologizes to you. This is a gift that your aunt specially prepared for you. Do you like it?"
As she spoke, she handed over the brocade box containing sandalwood and a carving knife.
Mo Ziyu looked up at her, then at Lin Yiwan. Seeing Lin Yiwan nod slightly, he reached out and took the brocade box, opening it for a glance. When he saw the piece of sandalwood and the exquisite carving knife, a glimmer of light finally flashed in his clear eyes.
"Thank you, Auntie." Mo Ziyu's voice was still childish, but it carried a hint of sincerity.
Seeing that he had accepted the gift, Lady Li finally felt relieved. She then looked at Princess Youyi and said apologetically, "Princess, I'm sorry you had to go through this today."
Princess Youyi quickly replied, "Sister-in-law, you flatter me. It's just children playing around."
As everyone took their seats, maids served tea and snacks, and the atmosphere in the hall gradually became more harmonious.
Lin Yiwan and Madam Li chatted about trivial matters in the capital, with Princess Youyi occasionally interjecting. Mo Ziyu sat to the side, carefully stroking the piece of sandalwood, a slight smile playing on his lips.
As night deepened, Li Shi, seeing that it was getting late, got up to take her leave.
Lin Yiwan personally escorted her to the gate of the mansion. The two smiled at each other, everything understood without words.
Once seated in the carriage, Madam Li let out a long sigh of relief. Today's trip had finally come to a successful conclusion.
She knew that after today's events, the relationship between the Prince of Dongping's Mansion and the Marquis of Zhanyi's Mansion would surely improve considerably.
The carriage slowly drove away from the Marquis of Zhanyi's residence. Li lifted a corner of the curtain, watching the twilight gradually descend outside the window, a relieved smile appearing on her lips. This turmoil was finally over.
Little did she know that this seemingly peaceful night was merely a brief respite before the storm. The situation in the capital was turbulent and unpredictable, with various forces vying for power. Her apology today was just another pebble thrown into this muddy water.
In the front hall of the Marquis of Zhanyi's residence, Lin Yiwan looked at the gifts on the table, a deep meaning flashing in her eyes.
She picked up the Duan inkstone, gently stroking it, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.
She naturally understood the Dongping Prince's Mansion's overtures.
Princess Youyi looked at Lin Yiwan's expression and said softly, "Aunt, the Prince of Dongping must have a deeper meaning in sending my sister-in-law and Rongrong on this trip himself, right?"
Lin Yiwan nodded: "Yes, the intention to seek peace is quite obvious. It seems that the Prince of Dongping's sudden illness has made him think things through!"
Princess Youyi paused for a moment before pondering, "Aunt, will the Prince of Dongping's gesture of goodwill towards the Marquis of Zhanyi's residence have any impact on the court?"
A single sentence reminded Lin Yiwan, making her suddenly think of the Liu family.
Without further hesitation, she immediately ordered Zi'er to lead some guards to escort Princess Li and her daughter, the heir apparent of the Prince of Dongping.
Zi'er received Lin Yiwan's order and dared not delay for a moment, selecting twenty elite guards from the manor.
All of them were skilled fighters trained by the Marquis of Zhanyi's mansion. With long swords at their waists and riding fast horses, they chased after the direction in which the Princess Consort of Dongping, Lady Li, and her daughter were returning to the mansion.
Lin Yiwan was certain that the Prince of Dongping's overtures would cause resentment among some, who would try to sabotage the situation. However, she did not expect the other party to act so quickly and ruthlessly, daring to make a move on the official road in the capital.