27 I went there myself◇

◎Feng Ran was publicly abandoned◎

Her almond-shaped eyes, which had been blazing with fire just moments before, instantly became clear as glass, filled with a mixture of anticipation and unease. "I didn't cause any trouble just now, did I? I won't be short of my snacks, will I? Oh no, oh no, oh no! If they don't give me any snacks, I'll drag my husband around the training ground twenty times tomorrow and exhaust him to death."

Xiuer couldn't help but laugh. "Princess Consort, please rest assured. You were incredibly brave just now. I was so moved watching you. I'm sure Your Highness won't blame you."

When they came from the Marquis of Dingbei's residence, Feng Ran, Duan Jingyin, and the Marquis's wife, Madam Qin, were in one carriage, while the other three young ladies were in another carriage.

Just as Feng Ran's hand touched the carriage and she was about to get in, Qin's cold voice came from inside the carriage, "The Crown Princess has made quite a scene today. Why don't you go to the carriage in the back to sober up? Hua Hua, come with me. Coachman, drive!"

The coachman also looked bitter and whispered, "Please, Princess Consort, take the carriage in the back."

Feng Ran blinked. Was she being ignored?

She had seen the same scene countless times in the original owner's memories.

She really wanted to say that she didn't necessarily want to ride in this carriage, but that Xiuer had left her usual food in it when she came in the morning, and she was a little reluctant to leave it behind.

"Mother, could we discuss this?" Feng Ran wanted to plead on her behalf and took the pastries down.

"What are you waiting for! Let's go!"

The only response she received was Qin's cold voice urging the driver to leave, completely disregarding the fact that Feng Ran's hand was still gripping the reins. The driver didn't give her another chance to speak and sped away.

The girl, who had been utterly defeated by Feng Ran, seemed to have gotten her revenge. Behind her, a burst of laughter erupted, with some even saying she deserved it.

Feng Ran turned around abruptly, and the laughter stopped abruptly. Everyone slunk away in their own carriages.

Xiuer said stiffly, "Princess Consort, let's go to the carriage in the back!"

Feng Ran didn't move, her expression was somewhat cold, and her usual teasing tone was now tinged with chill, "Was I wrong?"

Xiuer opened her mouth, but didn't know how to start, so she lowered her head and remained silent.

"You haven't eaten much today? Are you hungry?"

Xiuer shook her head, "This servant is not hungry."

The carriages of Duan Yutang and Duan Yuxia had already arrived in front of Feng Ran. The driver, a cousin of Aunt Xu, said sarcastically, "Princess Consort, you'd better get in the carriage quickly, lest people laugh at you."

The Duan sisters, Duan Yutang and Duan Yuxia, couldn't help but laugh.

Feng Ran was in a terrible mood. She didn't know where this terrible mood came from, but she was on the verge of exploding. This servant's words had really offended her. His tone was icy cold: "If I were to slap you to death in the street today, you would be a laughing stock tomorrow. Xiu'er, let's go."

The smiles of the Duan sisters, Duan Yutang and Duan Yuxia, were still on their lips, and the arrogant expression of the coachman was still lingering in the air, when Feng Ran had already turned and left.

That upright figure, like a pillar of steel, led Xiu'er further and further away. Passing a group of carriages, he walked alone into the bustling city.

The servant's face then showed anxiety. "Please, Princess Consort, get into the carriage!"

But Feng Ran had already disappeared from sight, lost among the carriages. The servant was uneasy, but could only follow the carriages' route and leave.

The Duke of Lu's residence and the Marquis of Dingbei's residence are not far apart, only two streets apart, and can usually be walked in 35 minutes.

However, daughters of noble families are pampered and precious, so how could they casually walk around on the street? Normally, they would wear a hat to cover their faces when they went out, so it was rare to see someone like Feng Ran who disregarded everything and plunged headlong into the crowd.

The winter chill did not deter pedestrians from coming and going on the street.

Feng Ran wore a light purple embroidered jacket, three jade hairpins on her head, and a pure white fox fur cloak without a hood. She walked with a brisk pace, completely out of place among the bustling ordinary people around her.

Xiuer was terrified and carefully observed her surroundings for any suspicious people, afraid of offending Feng Ran.

Just as Feng Ran was searching for delicious food, a carriage stopped beside them.

"Greetings, Your Highness. I am Chunyu Lan, the young lady of the Chunyu family. My brother, Chunyu Zhu, is Your Highness's close friend. Would Your Highness like a ride?"

Chunyu Zhu, sitting outside the carriage, nodded to Feng Ran.

Feng Ran had met Chunyu Zhu before, but they had never spoken. In the carriage, Chunyu Lan's fair face was hidden in fluffy rabbit fur, making her look very delicate and cute.

Feng Ran grinned and said cheerfully, "No need. Being surrounded by beautiful women in that mansion all day is not as enjoyable as taking a walk."

Chunyu Lan glanced at Chunyu Zhu with a troubled expression, and Chunyu Zhu secretly gave her a wink.

Chunyu Lan continued with a smile, "Speaking of which, I'd also like to get out of the carriage and take a walk. I wonder if the Crown Princess would be willing to accompany me?"

Chunyu Lan's voice was so sweet and pleasant that it made people feel all tingly. Feng Ran's eyes lit up, and she took the initiative to approach the carriage, wanting to help Chunyu Lan down. But after walking closer, she suddenly stopped, her brows furrowed deeply. She looked Chunyu Lan up and down, and shook her head with great regret, "You can't do it, your health isn't very good."

Chunyu Lan opened her watery eyes slightly, her large eyes filled with doubt, and said in a good-natured manner, "Why do you say that, Princess Consort? I am still well."

Feng Ran looked at Chunyu Lan suspiciously, then darted onto the carriage, buried her head in Chunyu Lan's neck and sniffed, before finally saying with certainty, "You ate something you shouldn't have. You should see a doctor."

She then leaped down, her movements fluid and graceful. Even Chunyu Zhu, who was standing next to the carriage, didn't react in time before Feng Ran stood back in her original spot, pulling Xiu'er along as they prepared to leave.

Chunyu Lan was startled by Feng Ran's actions, but upon hearing Feng Ran's confident words, she began to ponder them carefully.

Chunyu Zhu then realized that Feng Ran might indeed know something. "Princess Consort, please wait!"

"Is there anything else?"

"I wonder what the Crown Princess meant when she said my younger sister ate something she shouldn't have? How did the Crown Princess figure that out?" Chunyu Zhu looked Feng Ran over calmly, but his words carried a hint of urgency.

"I have a good nose, I could smell it. It's true, you're your husband's friend, I'm not lying to you."

Chunyu Lan's face turned pale instantly, her small hands clutching her chest, but her eyes held a hint of understanding.

Chunyu Zhu closed his eyes to calm his anger, and said in a somewhat stiff but gentle tone, "I'd better send the Crown Princess back first!"

Feng Ran was somewhat helpless. "I really wanted to take a walk. I wasn't throwing a tantrum. I'll go back to the Marquis's residence by myself in a little while. If it's convenient for you, could you pass on a message to my husband so he doesn't need to worry?"

Despite all attempts to dissuade her, Feng Ran insisted on wandering around. Chunyu Zhu had no choice but to instruct his servant to send a message to the Marquis of Dingbei's residence.

Back in the carriage, Chunyu Zhu stared at his younger sister, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

Chunyu Lan smiled faintly and said knowingly, "Brother, there's no need to blame yourself. It was my carelessness."

Chunyu Zhu gently hugged Chunyu Lan, his expression somewhat sorrowful, and ruffled her hair. "Lanlan, don't worry, your brother will definitely get justice for you. When we get back to the manor, I'll find you the best doctor to see you. It's my fault for not taking good care of you."

*

Feng Ran was unaware that the fact that she did not ride in the carriage of the Marquis of Dingbei's residence back together had already caused an uproar in the Marquis's mansion.

Lady Qin, the wife of the Marquis, stood there with her neck stiff and her back straight, refusing to admit her mistake.

Lord Duan flew into a rage, "As an elder, how dare you hold a grudge against your junior and even kick the Crown Princess off the carriage! Where is your upbringing?"

Qin's face paled, and she tried her best to argue, "When did I kick her off the carriage? I only asked her to get on the next carriage, but she didn't get on herself. Is it my fault?"

Lord Duan pressed his forehead, which was pounding with rage, and scolded, "Even so, you could have spoken to her politely. Why didn't you wait until she got into the carriage before you left!"

Qin couldn't help but question, "Is the Marquis blaming me for not helping her into the carriage?"

"That's just sophistry! Then let me ask you, why did you lose your temper in public?"

"How did I lose my temper?"

“You didn’t lose your temper, yet you let a cousin ride in your carriage and abandoned your daughter-in-law? That means your manners need to be reworked.”

Qin was speechless for a moment, then retorted, "Does that mean I can't discipline her when she acts like a shrew in public?"

Lord Duan choked. He hadn't expected Feng Ran to get into a fight in the street. He hadn't received any definite news about it yet, but he wouldn't discuss it further. "Even if the Crown Princess really did have a conflict with someone in public, your first thing to do is apologize and then take her back to the manor to discipline her. I would have no objection. What are you thinking by leaving her there now?"

"In broad daylight, how could anything happen to her? If anything does happen, it's because she's not upright." Madam Qin didn't expect Feng Ran to abandon the carriage so easily. She had originally thought that the servant in the carriage behind her had always been at odds with Jinghua Courtyard, and she wanted to take this opportunity to teach him a lesson.

Seeing that Qin was extremely unconvinced and wanted to argue, the old Marquis Duan felt a lump in his throat, turned and left, saying, "Think about it carefully in your chrysanthemum garden, and don't come out unless necessary."

"Someone, is there any news about the people who went out to look for the Crown Princess?"

Steward Li immediately stepped forward and reported, "Your Highness, there is no news of the Princess Consort, but the Prince has gone out."

"What?" Old Marquis Duan's eyelids twitched. "Isn't this ridiculous!"

Qin Shi behind him opened her mouth, but then, as if remembering something, she slammed the door shut, ignoring the chaos outside.

Duan Jingchuan received the news late that Feng Ran had not returned with the carriage from the Marquis of Dingbei's residence. There had already been a commotion in the front courtyard before the news reached Jinghua Courtyard.

Duan Jingchuan felt a surge of panic. "Is Madam angry? It's so dangerous for a woman to be out alone without any servants."

Unable to sit still in the study any longer, he turned around and asked Xiong Qi to prepare a carriage, ready to go out.

Xiong Qi looked horrified. "Young Master, I can arrange for servants to go out and search. You can wait in the manor. There's no need for you to go out yourself."

Duan Jingchuan's jade-like face was tinged with anxiety, his brows and eyes concealing deep worry. He slowly exhaled and said softly, "I'll go myself."