Those words weren't false, for although Qi Yu's mother wasn't the daughter of a major household, her family had been in business for three generations and was very wealthy, which was precisely why Qi Wei had married her.
Madam Wang had not expected this fool to actually be able to speak such logical words, but she knew in her heart that Qi Yu was merely talking nonsense.
The only thing in the box besides a jade pendant was all her own possessions.
But she could not prove that the items inside were hers.
For the first time in her life, Madam Wang felt such suffocation, wishing she could flay Qi Yu alive.
In the end, she could only watch helplessly as Qi Yu took away the treasures she had hidden for over a decade.
As soon as the person left, the previously quiet Prime Minister Residence immediately erupted into an argument.
"You foolish woman!" Qi Wei pointed at Madam Wang and scolded.
The contents of that box were worth more than a hundred thousand taels of silver, he thought, and it caused him great pain.
Madam Wang let out a cold laugh; having just lost her treasures, she found Qi Wei more intolerable by the look, and she was no longer the gentle and submissive woman she usually was.
"You old fox, if you hadn't insisted on agreeing to let that fool rummage through my things, could she have taken them?"
"You dare to secretly hoard behind my back!"
"So what if I hoarded, if you have the ability, provide more dowry for Anran!"
"..."
Qi Anran felt as though her heart was bleeding, and she became numb to their arguing.
She closed her door, blocking out the noise of the quarrel, and looking at her room, ruined beyond recognition, she cursed Qi Yu deeply.
This wretched woman, I must make her pay back double!
She changed her clothes, deliberately maintaining her woeful appearance, and went to the Imperial Palace to find Li Huaixi.
On the other side, after boarding the carriage, Qi Yu opened the box and took a careful look.
She wasn't really an expert in valuables, she only knew that these things were expensive.
She took out the jade pendant from the box and threw it to Li Mingjue, "The Princess rewards you with this!"
"Reward?" Li Mingjue was receiving something from Qi Yu for the first time, but the term sounded strange no matter how he heard it.
Qi Yu nodded, propped her chin up, and spoke earnestly, "I owe you a debt of gratitude for today's affairs."
Li Mingjue, holding the jade pendant, had a somewhat dark look in his eyes, "Isn't this the pendant your mother left you? Why give it to me?"
Qi Yu paused for a moment.
"This pendant is the cleanest." After some thought, that was the only reason she could offer.
Her explanation might have been vague, but Li Mingjue understood.
Everything else in the box, besides this jade pendant, he didn't know where Madam Wang and Qi Anran had scavenged them from; she was worried he might find them dirty.
His heart softened suddenly, throughout these years, he had received various rewards and exotic treasures.
Those were merely given by others trying to please him, but this jade pendant was the only treasure he had received that was free of any ulterior motives.
Although his reason told him this pendant was important to Qi Yu and he should not accept it,
It was the most valuable thing she could offer him, and he was reluctant to give it back.
After a prolonged silence, Li Mingjue ultimately accepted the jade pendant.
Upon arriving at the Prince Residence, Qi Yu instantly felt revived.
Heaven knows how depressed she had been at the Prime Minister Residence.
Even though both were in the same capital city, she felt that the air in the Prince Residence was better than that of the Prime Minister's, and even better than the Imperial Palace's.
"Prince and Princess have returned!" announced the servant at the entrance.
Li Bo immediately ordered the prepared items to be set up.
By the time Qi Yu walked in, the Prince Residence was already adorned with festive lanterns.
"What day is it today?" she asked, somewhat confused.
Li Mingjue chuckled and reminded her, "Today is your birthday, have you forgotten?"
"Oh." Qi Yu finally remembered.
But what's with these lanterns?
One would think she was celebrating the Lantern Festival if they didn't know any better.
Uncle Li smiled and said, "These were all prepared by the Prince at this old servant's hands. Princess, take a closer look, what is special about these lanterns?"
Qi Yu looked curiously and noticed that these were not ordinary lanterns, but were of various rabbit shapes, all looking quite exquisite.
Li Mingjue cleared his throat and asked seemingly casually, "Do you like them?"
Qi Yu glanced at him and gave him an immediate smile, "If they were prepared by the Prince, of course, I like them!"
Although she wasn't born in the year of the rabbit, it was indeed rare to receive such a thoughtful gesture.
However, compared to these fancy things, she was more concerned about what delicious food there was.
Uncle Li, seeing Qi Yu looking around, laughed and said, "A banquet is already set up in the Tinglan Pavilion, please follow me, Princess."
Qi Yu had never heard of such a place and followed along excitedly.
In the back courtyard of the Prince Residence, there was a pavilion by the riverside, lined with colorful lanterns.
The more Qi Yu looked around, the more she liked it, feeling like all the grievances she had suffered in the Prime Minister Residence were being ironed out.
"At night, the Princess can release sky lanterns with the Prince," Uncle Li said with a smile.
Qi Yu nodded, already looking forward to it.
In her previous life, she had been busy studying medicine and saving people and had little time for entertainment, with her biggest pastime being to lounge on the sofa and binge-watch shows.
She never expected that after transmigrating, she would have the chance to try out so many new things.
Li Mingjue saw the sparkle in her eyes, and his gaze softened a few degrees.
He too was arranging these things for the first time and was somewhat worried they were too simple and Qi Yu wouldn't like them.
But her reaction provided excellent feedback.
Upon arriving at the Tinglan Pavilion, Qi Yu saw a full table of dishes and could hardly restrain herself from pouncing on them.
This is what proper food looks like!
In comparison, the fare at the Prime Minister Residence was nothing but pig food.
As she faced the full table, not knowing where to begin, she suddenly remembered Shen Nanxing, who had been hanging in a tree in the separate courtyard.
"Prince..." Qi Yu started somewhat sheepishly.
Though she herself didn't observe much distinction between high and low, in the strict hierarchy of ancient times, her request was a bit audacious.
"Hmm?" Li Mingjue raised an eyebrow, it was rare for Qi Yu to hesitate.
He was a bit curious now.
"Could we give the maids and guards in the residence a day off, let them join us for a meal, and then accompany me to release sky lanterns tonight?" Qi Yu asked.
In her mind, celebrating a birthday was about having everyone together to make it joyous, what fun was there in eating quietly just the two of them?
"Let it be as the Princess wishes," Li Mingjue called Uncle Li over and instructed him to carry out Qi Yu's request.
Uncle Li was stunned for a moment upon hearing this and took some time before offering his thanks, "Many thanks, Princess."
Qi Yu waved her hand, "It is I who should thank you all, you have been working hard."
Uncle Li and the others in the residence had always been kind to her, while certainly due to her status, the natural and genuine care they showed could not be faked.
After Uncle Li passed on the message, there was a moment of shock throughout the staff of the residence, before they turned toward Tinglan Pavilion with grateful expressions on their faces.
Whoever called their Princess a fool? She was clearly a Bodhisattva descended from the heavens!
The entire Prince Qiu Residence gathered together in a rare harmonious occasion, smiles of happiness beaming on everyone's faces.
That is until a piercing female voice shattered everything.
"Where is that hideous creature, let her roll out here for me!" Li Huaixi charged into the Prince Qiu Residence, scanning around. Not spotting Qi Yu, she bellowed aggressively at a group of servants.