Chapter 210 I'm too cold, I want to go back (Part 2)

The sudden raid on Marquis Xiayang's mansion became a hot topic of discussion throughout the capital. Even Princess Wujing, who seldom went out, heard about it.

She hadn't seen Shen Yi in a while since he left. She knew that Shen Yi was busy with the Jiang family's affairs and that Jiang Baohe was imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice. Shen Yi often visited Jiang Baohe and even used his power to get a clean cell for Jiang Baohe and her mother.

His actions were not hidden from the public, and rumors gradually spread. Some said he was secretly in cahoots with Marquis Xiayang, while others said he had feelings for Miss Jiang. In short, Shen Yi's openness led to many speculations. The latter even caused trouble for Princess Wu Jing.

Wu Jing felt so confused that she was too lazy to go out.

In this way, it was the eighth day of February before we knew it.

At lunchtime, the maid served her the dishes. Seeing the princess's low spirits, she tried to hold back her anger but couldn't help asking, "Princess, today is your birthday. Are you really not planning to have a banquet?"

Princess Wu Jing loved the hustle and bustle, so her birthday must be celebrated with great fanfare.

But Wu Jing shook her head: "With so much going on right now, who has the energy to throw a banquet?"

The maidservant was puzzled. Why couldn't they hold a banquet? What happened to the Jiang family was the Jiang family's fault. What did it have to do with the Princess's Mansion? To be frank, many families in the capital were friends with the Jiang family, and they would still hold a grand celebration when they had a happy event.

But thinking of their brother-in-law Chen Yi, the maid sighed again.

What does the Jiang family's misfortune have to do with the princess? It has something to do with Shen Yi. Because Shen Yi cares about it, the princess also cares about it.

"But today is the princess' birthday, we can't just let it go like this, right?" said the maid.

Wu Jing exhaled: "Of course I can't live like this. I've made up my mind. Let's go shopping today."

"Huh?"

But Wu Jing did not go shopping to wander around. After going out, she ordered the carriage to go directly to Fengyang Street.

"Zhuang's Seafood Snack Shop." After getting off the carriage, she looked at the banner in front of the shop and muttered to herself.

The waiter did not recognize Princess Wu Jing, but when he saw her coming, he welcomed her warmly.

"Would you like to buy some snacks? We've recently added a lot of new products to our Zhuangji store, and there are discounts for larger quantities." He led Wu Jing to the sample tasting area: "You can try them first. If you like them, you can buy them."

Wu Jing didn't want to taste it, so she asked directly, "Is your boss here?"

Just at this moment, Zhuang Wan came out from inside, heard this, and turned around to look.

Surprised, he asked, "Why is the princess here?"

Seeing Zhuang Wan, Wu Jing's spirit waned. "Zhuang Wan, are you free today?"

"Today is my birthday," she said dejectedly, "Come drink with me."

.

Today's wine shop is built next to the moat.

The room is spacious on all sides with a wide view. You can lean on the railing to look out at the river, or lean on the table to watch the people coming and going on the pier.

It was only afternoon and there were not many people in the tavern. The elegant seats on the south side were separated by a screen, behind which the figures of two women were reflected.

Princess Wu Jing sat with her face in her hands, looking dully at the dock where a busy crowd was unloading cargo.

“There’s a dock like this in my hometown,” she said. “I saw it when I was traveling south by boat.”

"In Lu, does the princess often go out for fun?" Zhuang Wan asked.

"Yeah." Princess Wu Jing exhaled the smell of alcohol. "I love playing the most. If my brother is free, he will take me out to play. If he is not free, Hu Yanling will take me out."

"Who is Hu Yanling?"

"He's my bodyguard and also my friend. He's a skilled martial artist, but he refuses to come to Dazhao. Otherwise, I'd introduce him to you. He's an interesting person."

Zhuang Wan smiled and saw that the pot of wine in front of her was empty, so she calmly replaced it with another one.

"Don't!" Princess Wu Jing realized her motive. "Just leave me alone. Today is my birthday and I want to drink to my heart's content."

Zhuang Wan said helplessly, "This is Fu Yuchun. It's gentle at first, but the aftertaste is strong. I think you'll have a headache tonight."

"It's just a headache, I'm not afraid of anything!"

She looked childish, but her face was filled with worry.

Zhuang Wan knew why she was worried, but she didn't know how to comfort her. After a moment's thought, she asked, "Princess, do you want to find something to do?"

"What's the matter?" Wu Jing looked at him blankly with big eyes.

"Like... opening a shop."

Having something to do will distract your attention and you won’t have to think so much.

"But what can I do?" Princess Wu Jing frowned and said sadly, "I've lived in vain. I don't know how to do anything. I can't use an abacus, I can't read accounts, and I can't remember prices. If someone asks me to bargain, I will definitely sell it to him at a loss."

She looked really annoyed, and her appearance was so cute and naive that it made Zhuang Wan laugh.

"Princess, why don't you open a martial arts school?" Zhuang Wan suggested. "You know martial arts, so you could teach children how to strengthen their bodies. You're also good at riding and archery, so you could teach the ladies. There are so many noble ladies in the capital, maybe some would like to learn."

"Do you want to learn?" Wu Jing asked.

Zhuang Wan nodded and said, "If you open a martial arts school, I will sign up."

Wu Jing was happy: "Hearing you say that, I don't think I'm that useless, but..."

Thinking of something, she frowned again: "I can't stay in the capital for much longer, and the martial arts school will probably not be open for much longer."

Zhuang Wan was puzzled: "Why can't you stay longer?"

"Because..." Wu Jing opened her mouth to speak, but then she suppressed her words: "This is a secret between Chen Yi and me. I promised him not to tell him."

Before they got married, they had agreed to divorce three years later, at which point she would return to her home in Lu. She didn't want to open a martial arts school, nor did she want to do anything else. She was just a visitor in the capital, and after these three years, she would leave.

Or maybe it wouldn't take three years at all? After all, she missed home so much now, she wanted to go back to her country of Lu. She missed her mother, her brother, her strong colt, and her carefree life riding across the grasslands.

"I want to go back to Lu. I miss home," she said. "During my time in the capital, I often felt like I was standing in the cold wind. I looked around, but there was no road that belonged to me. I was so cold. I wanted to go back."

"But I really can't bear to leave you. You are the first friend I made in the capital. Come to think of it, you seem to be my only friend. I wish you could go back to Lu with me."

Princess Wu Jing drank another glass of wine: "But I know it's impossible. You were born in the capital, and Lord Pei is also in the capital. You are so lucky to have someone you love and a hometown."

Zhuang Wan vaguely guessed the situation, and looking at Princess Wu Jing's innocent face, she felt inexplicably heavy-hearted.

After thinking for a moment, she reassured him, "It's okay to go back to Lu. Don't worry about it or get hung up on it. Life is a series of encounters. When someone meets someone, someone forgets them. Everyone will become the scenery in your life. The most profound one may not be the most beautiful one. You should wait for the most beautiful one."

"Which one is the most beautiful?" Wu Jing paused, looking a little dazed. "Which one is it?"

After a moment, she smiled again: "You are right, the most profound is not necessarily the most beautiful, no matter which one it is, but it is definitely not Chen Yi."

She raised her glass and said, "Come, drink this glass to wait for the most beautiful scenery in life."

The two drank and talked, and before they knew it, it was sunset.

Over here, Shen Yi had just finished his work at the office and was about to leave. When he reached the door, he ran into Uncle Weng who was sweeping the floor.

Uncle Weng asked, "Master Shen, why are you leaving work so early today and going home?"

Chen Yi was originally going to Pei Xingju's residence, but upon hearing this, he suddenly paused: "Uncle Weng, what day is it today?"

"Eh?" Uncle Weng laughed. "Lord Shen was so busy that he forgot the date? Today is the eighth day of the first lunar month, and the Flower Festival is just a few days away."

Upon hearing the eighth day of the first lunar month, Shen Yi hissed in regret.

A passing colleague saw his expression and jokingly asked, "Master Shen, have you forgotten something?"

"I really forgot," he nodded, and said to Uncle Weng, "Thank you, Uncle Weng."

He hurried out and told the coachman to drive the horses back to the princess's mansion.

However, when he returned to the princess's mansion, he found it deserted. He asked the servant, "Didn't the princess hold a banquet? Or has the banquet already ended?"

The servant was puzzled: "No, I haven't heard that the princess is holding a banquet."

"What about the princess?"

"The princess went out at noon, and I don't know where she went."

Shen Yi circled around the door twice and ordered, "Go and ask where the princess is."

Today was her birthday, and he had promised to celebrate her birthday, but he had been so busy for so many days that he had completely forgotten about it. For a moment, he felt guilty.

Upon learning that Princess Wu Jing was drinking in a tavern and was drunk, he was stunned for a moment, then immediately drove his carriage over.