After that day, Fan Zhu Xia was practically left to her own devices. From her three cousins, the only one who has extra time to spare and keep her company is Fan Xian Liang with Fan Yong Rui occasionally dropping by to drink with her, usually after dinner time while she only sees Fan Li Jie occasionally when he has time to spare to join her for breakfast.
All in all, her time was pretty idle. Aside from her two maids, the only new company she kept was the young lady that she met when she just woke up, Ying Xiao Li.
Since she had decided to build her own force, she decided on training Ying Xiao Li first since she already had a background in medicine and so was easier to teach and train.
During this time, she stayed in her grandfather's courtyard despite wanting to go back to her own.
Luckily, from what she's sensing, her grandfather's breakthrough isn't far off so she just told herself to continue to be patient.
Aside from teaching Ying Xiao Li and preparing for the imperial banquet with her aunt, she also managed to convince her father; Fan Hui Zhong to undergo her treatments to finally resolve his long-term illness and as luck was on their side, the treatment went on flawlessly and her father was able to make great strides in coming closer to his peak condition in the past.
While all this was happening, the estate wasn't idle.
From what Fan Hui Zhong told her, as long as the old patriarch; Fan Song Xue agreed then the current estate would be handed over to her to serve as her very own manor since they'll be moving the Fan Estate to a different yet larger area on another side of the Dark Flames Mountain.
With this in mind, she threw her worries to the back of her mind and focused on the things at hand, paying no attention to everything that's been happening outside.
While Fan Zhu Xia passed her days leisurely and without worry, the atmosphere outside estate could be said to be the exact opposite!
Instead, the capital seemed abuzz with hidden whispers as rumors ran amok, bringing a feverish excitement as everyone, especially those from prestigious families, officials and individuals with lofty statuses look forward to the oncoming imperial banquet.
Almost all of them heard of the presence of the visiting imperial princess from Spirit Valor Country and this was inarguably an opportunity to make an impression and foster positive relations with her and indirectly her country.
Just with this, a lot of people are already immersed in planning on how to get close to the Spirit Valor Princess when another piece of information circulated around which threw everyone into a frenzy.
According to the so-called rumors, when the widely renowned Lei Wangye; Fan Hui Zhong returned to the capital, he didn't return alone.
Apparently, he brought back along a young maiden and this particular young lady was supposedly a daughter that he's adopted during his travels!
Heaven's only knew what this means!
A daughter for crying out loud!
And based from various sources, this was young lady who was at the spring of her youth, the perfect age to be betrothed!
Didn't they have countless sons at marriageable ages back at home?!
This was truly a god-given opportunity!
When most heard this, almost immediately, they all rushed home to talk to their sons.
While some agreed with their father's plans and thought that it was a great idea, others vehemently opposed the idea of marrying some unknown woman despite her background while a few others remained neutral in their stance and wanted to see who this young lady was.
Among the young men who was inevitably called to their father's respective study was the young master of the Fu Family; Fu Qing Tian.
"Father, you called for me?" Fu Qing Tian called out respectfully after nodding in greeting the moment he entered the room.
"Tian'er, yes, I did. Come and take a sit." Fu Qing Jue gestured to his son as he sipped a cup of freshly brewed tea.
Pouring himself a cup, Qing Tian shot an inquiring look before he asked, "Did Father need me for something?"
A short moment passed while the two drank their tea before Fu Qing Jue finally opened his mouth and spoke.
"Have you heard of the rumors outside?"
"Rumors? What rumors?"
"The one about Lei Wangye having a daughter..."
"Oh that? What about it?"
Shooting his son a measuring glance, Fu Qing Jue calmly answered and said, "Nothing really, I just wanted to know what you thought about the rumor."
"Oh, it isn't a rumor Father. It's actually true." Fu Qing Tian replied in a nonchalant manner before serenely taking a sip, not paying any heed to how his father almost choked and spat his own tea out.
"Qing Tian! You...!"
Raising a brow at his father, Fu Qing Tian looked at his father cooly, prompting the other to take deep breaths to calm down.
After regaining his composure, Fu Qing Jue asked seriously, "What do you mean it's real?"
Sensing the mood, Fu Qing Tian stopped teasing his father and also got serious.
"Does Father remember the incident that happened more than a week ago in our Jade Herb Medicine Hall involving Venerable Doctor Gu Lang?"
"En. What about it?"
"Do you remember how I told you that a young lady intervened on behalf of the children and even treated the poisoned little girl?"
"Don't tell me-"
"En. That young lady was Lei Wangye's daughter."
Stunned, Fu Qing Jue fell silent as he mulled over this piece of news over and understanding how his father felt at the moment, after all, Fu Qing Tian felt the same way when he first found out so remained quiet.
"Tian'er, are you absolutely sure about this information?" Fu Qing Jue asked in a low voice.
"Positive. That day, not only was Young Miss Fan personally escorted by Captain Min Sheng but even Lei Wangye personally dropped by to come and pick her up from our Jade Herb Medicine Hall."
"If that truly is the case then a lot of things should be happening in the capital soon."
"En."
Meanwhile at the imperial palace, two parties had already heard of this particular piece of very interesting news and their reactions, although both are inevitably surprised, how they felt about it were wholly different.
"Did you manage to gather information on the girl?" a young lady asked haughtily.
"Unfortunately not, Princess... Both the people from the Fan family as well as the Lei Palace are keeping things quiet and under wraps, making it hard for us to gather information without the other party noticing."
"Understandable however do make sure to keep an eye on this one. I want to know any information regarding this so-called daughter of Lei Wangye!"
"This servant understands."
Just thinking about this unknown woman living in the same place as her beloved Brother Li made Ning Yan Mei grit her teeth in anger.
Seeing that the old cultivator her father sent with her to act as her servant hasn't left yet, she shot him an annoyed glance before she spoke.
"Anything else?"
"Yes, Your Highness. It is regarding the young man you previously had me investigate."
With her interest piqued, Ning Yan Mei straightened up and impatiently gestured for him to continue.
"From what this old man found, the young man is apparently the adopted son of the older brother of the empress who is also a highly respected general here. Based on what this servant's sources were able to dig out, his name is Wu Jun Qiao, a young boy who was coincidentally saved by General Wu during one of his travels who was then later adopted by him. Aside from this, the reason why your servant wasn't able to immediately gather information about him was partly due to the fact that this is the first time that Wu Jun Qiao appeared here at the capital."
"And why is that?"
"To answer the Princess, this Wu Jun Qiao was apparently raised in the countryside and when he was eventually adopted, General Wu found him a master to teach him cultivation and then this master of his brought him along in his travels so aside from the rare meetings between General Wu and his adopted son, he didn't have any chances to mingle within their social circles thus resulting in fewer people being able to recognize him."
"That would a lot then as to why he appeared hear in the imperial palace... Very well then, you may leave. Just make sure to keep me updated."
"Of course. If Your Highness would excuse this servant then."
With a dismissive wave of her hand, Ning Yan Mei ignored her servant's exit and instead started to think of the young lady of Lei Palace once more.
Her eyes narrowed with a dangerous glint as she thought of how this unknown woman could possibly be a threat to her plans with getting close to Young Master Fan Li Jie.
Even without meeting her, she already had a feeling of dislike, along with a bad impression of this young lady and so she started on thinking ahead on what she should do should this lady get in her way.
On the other hand, just as morning court just finished for the day, the esteemed emperor was seen walking and conversing harmoniously with the empress in one of the many imperial gardens at the back palace.
"Your Majesty, what do you think of the news spreading around the capital as of late?" Empress Wu Li Hua asked her husband, the emperor playfully.
Seeing his wife act coy, Jin Fa Chung felt all his stress from morning court melt away as he teasingly remarked, "It would seem as though my dear empress is in a great mood today! Even in the mood for some good gossip..."
Seeing his wife's wide eyes, Jin Fa Chung laughed out loud before waving off the various eunuchs and maids following them.
Pouting at her husband, Wu Li Hua scoffed, before she good-naturedly joined in laughing with a few chuckles of her own.
"Fine then! Continue and laugh at me... I won't share what I heard then! Hmph..." Wu Li Hua retorted angrily albeit the amused twinkle in her eyes betraying her true feelings.
With a wave of his arms, the emperor swept the empress into his arms and with an apologetic smile, he hugged her to him while those servants who still had the two within view hastily averted their eyes to give their masters privacy.
"Ahh, my dear Hua Hua, don't be angry anymore... I already heard about the rumors, I believe we'll find out more about it during the coming banquet." Jin Fa Chung coaxingly explained with a smile.
"His Majesty really thinks so?"
"En. I believe there would be quite a lot of surprises during this banquet."
Hearing that, excitement gleamed in Wu Li Hua's eyes.
"Oh, how exciting!"