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Princess Anle nodded, "Before Mengmeng entered the palace, she often played with us. She cared deeply for your nieces. Ah, speaking of which, I am truly envious of her; she has both a son and a daughter, and Yanny is especially well-behaved and sensible. She has more luck than I had."

Tian Hui nodded and smiled, "Your Highness envies your aunt, yet you do not know that your aunt always tells me how much she envies you."

"Oh?" Princess Anle curiously responded, "Envies me?"

Tian Hui chuckled, looked around to ensure that those present in the General Mansion were trustworthy, and then said somewhat sadly, "Your aunt envies the deep love and affection between the princess and the general, who dotes on her like a star in the heavens."

Despite Xia Yuan’s bravery and skill on the battlefield, back in the General Mansion, in the presence of Princess Anle, he was just another man.

Although he was stern and not adept at uttering sweet nothings, he never refused any request from Princess Anle, as long as it was within his ability to grant.

More importantly, there were no other women in the General Mansion aside from Princess Anle herself, let alone any concubines or secondary partners. This fact alone might be the envy of all women.

Though Tian Hui held the esteemed title of Imperial Concubine, she had to share the emperor with countless other women. No wonder she envied Princess Anle.

Princess Anle was well aware of Tian Hui’s feelings.

She sighed, shook her head with a bitter smile, and said, "How does it help to envy me? This path was Mengmeng’s own choice.

If she hadn’t fallen in love with the Imperial Brother at first sight and resolved to marry none but him, I believe Sir Tian would never have agreed to send his treasured daughter to the palace. "

These were all events from many years ago.

Not to mention Lin Yuan, even Tian Hui knew very little about them.

With a sigh, Princess Anle changed the subject and smiled at Tian Hui, "These days, you can still come out, but in just a few days, you’ll need to stay at home, waiting to be married.

I’m sure your mother won’t want you leaving the house. "

It was customary for a woman not to leave her home for one month before her marriage; some even observed this for three months.

Since Tian Hui often visited the General Mansion to accompany Princess Anle, Madam Tian had not been very strict.

However, now that it was already the sixteenth day of the first month, with barely two months until her wedding day, indeed, it was time to stay at home and prepare.

Tian Hui shyly nodded.

Lin Yuan knew that Tian Hui did not really need to come today. Her visit to the Princess Mansion was likely half for the sake of seeing Xia Zhen and half to keep her company, so she wouldn’t be so nervous. She felt even more grateful to Tian Hui now.

After chatting for a while, Tian Hui got up to return home, just as Princess Anle had said. Madam Tian was uneasy about her daughter going out before her marriage, so even though she had gone out, she could only stay for a little while before returning.

After seeing Tian Hui off, Princess Anle thought about keeping Lin Yuan for a longer conversation, but she couldn’t resist Xia Zheng’s pleading, pitiful puppy eyes.

She laughed to herself, waved her hands, and sent them both away, "Alright, alright, you two go already. I’ve been talking for so long, let me rest a bit. "

"Sure thing!" With Princess Anle’s permission, Xia Zheng sprang from his chair and pulled Lin Yuan towards the exit.

"Your Highness, you rest, we..."

Lin Yuan didn’t finish her sentence before Xia Zheng pulled her out of the hall, and the rest of her words were lost in the moment.

Watching Xia Zheng’s hurried manner, Princess Anle muttered to herself, "Truly, having a wife and forgetting one’s mother, a thankless wretch!"

Qiu Ju replaced the tea for Princess Anle and chuckled, "The Second Master is so anxious, it pleases Your Highness indeed. You should go ahead and settle the Second Master’s marriage soon.

Once he’s married, with a wife to keep him in line, the Second Master will surely stop thinking about running around all the time. "

Xia He echoed the sentiment, "Right, right, Your Highness must hurry. Look at Old Second Master; he’s of such an age yet never stays at home! I feel like it’s been two or three years since we last saw him. I wonder if he will come back for the eldest master’s wedding!"

Speaking of this younger brother, Princess Anle also felt a headache coming on.

She had been close to Xia Zheng’s aunt, Xia Wanrong, from a young age and was naturally familiar with the Xia family’s two sons, Xia Yuan and Xia Hen.

Ever since he was young, Xia Hen had loved wandering about, and had often been scolded by his father.

But even after his father scolded him, the young man continued to do as he pleased, and since his father had passed away, he might stay away from home for three to five years at a time.

Looking at it now, he was very much like Xia Zheng.

Princess Anle clenched her fist and declared firmly, "Yes, we must hurry and set Ah Zheng’s marriage. The Xia family can handle one Xia Hen; we absolutely cannot afford a second one."