Grandpa Yun's birthday is just around the corner.

That day, after breakfast, Xie Jingyan accompanied Shen Wan to the Yun family.

Shen Wan was heavily pregnant, and she hesitated about whether to go to the Yun family to celebrate their birthday in person. Her maternal grandparents wouldn't blame her if she didn't go, but before she could make up her mind, Xie Jingyan made the decision for her and accompanied her to the Yun family.

Shen Wan originally wanted to go, and Xie Jingyan agreed, so why hesitate?

Shen Wan never expected that she would run into Xie Jingyin on her way to the Yun family.

At that time, Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan were talking when the carriage suddenly stopped. If Xie Jingyan hadn't been holding Shen Wan, she would have definitely fallen forward.

Shen Wan patted her chest repeatedly, and Xie Jingyan asked, "What happened?"

Chen Feng's voice came, "Prince Jin... Prince Jin'an is blocking the way..."

Xie Jingyan lifted the carriage curtain and his eyes met those of Xie Jingyin, who was sitting on horseback.

Several days later, Xie Jingyin no longer looked as disheveled as he had been on the execution ground, but he also lost his former high spirits.

Although the Empress Dowager saved his life with a pardon, he was no longer eligible to compete for the position of Crown Prince.

However, Shen Wan knew that Xie Jingyin was not the kind of person who would accept his fate, otherwise he wouldn't have blocked their way.

I don't know what he wanted to say to them.

Xie Jingyin spurred his horse and walked towards them.

Xie Jingyan asked, "Does the Prince of Jin'an have something to say to me?"

The words "Prince of Jin'an" made Xie Jingyin's already cold expression turn even colder.

He gripped the reins tightly and said, "I never imagined that I would ultimately fall into the hands of Prince Ling."

If Xie Jingyan hadn't saved them, the eldest prince would have lost several lives that day.

Xie Jingyan said, "The Prince of Jin'an didn't block my way just to say this, did he?"

Xie Jingyin's lips curled into a smile as he said, "I'm just a little curious. Since Prince Ling saved the First Prince's life, did the First Prince tell you what was written in the letter he received that day?"

Xie Jingyan frowned and remained silent.

Xie Jingyin's smile deepened. "It seems you don't know."

But he didn't say another word. After saying that, he rode away.

Shen Wan hates it when people deliberately keep things a secret, and she finds Xie Jingyin's suspense even more offensive.

The letter that the eldest prince received was sent at Xie Jingyin's behest. Others might not know what was written in that letter, but Xie Jingyin certainly did.

He deliberately blocked the way and said those words, clearly trying to sow discord.

After Xie Jingyin left, the servant continued on his way.

Xie Jingyan's furrowed brows remained for a long time. Shen Wan looked at him and said, "He has ill intentions."

Xie Jingyan knew this without Shen Wan reminding him.

He said, "I really don't know what was written in that letter that lured the Crown Prince into the trap."

"He told me this on purpose, making it clear that the contents of the letter were related to me."

However, he didn't have much interaction with the eldest prince, nor did he have any personal grudges against him.

A letter related to him was delivered to the eldest prince in that manner, and the eldest prince went to keep the appointment, ultimately nearly losing his life.

He didn't believe the eldest prince had no precautions at all; he could only have gone because he had no other choice.

A guess flashed through Xie Jingyan's mind.

That letter might be related to his mother's case.

Could it be that the one who plotted to frame his mother was the eldest prince's birth mother, the late empress?

But if he really was the late empress, then why didn't the Duke of Mao and the Empress Dowager send anyone to kill him during the years he was demoted by his father to guard the imperial tombs?

The Empress Dowager was not one to leave any hidden dangers in her actions.

The Duke of Maoguo was even more ruthless.

Although he knew Xie Jingyin had no good intentions, he had to admit that the seed of suspicion had still been planted in his heart.

The carriage chugped forward, and it took almost half an hour to reach the Yun family's residence.

When the gatekeeper of the Yun family saw the carriage of the Prince of Ling's residence, he sent someone to announce that the Prince and Princess of Ling had arrived, while he went down the steps to help carry a footstool, showing great attentiveness.

Xie Jingyan got off the carriage and helped Shen Wan down. As soon as Shen Wan got off, a carriage drove up from the other side.

It was a carriage belonging to the Marquis of Pingyang's residence.

When the carriage curtain was lifted, Shen Wan saw Princess Huai'an, whom she hadn't seen for a long time.

Both of them were pregnant, and Princess Huai'an had moved back to Prince An's residence to rest during her pregnancy, so Shen Wan didn't visit her, and Princess Huai'an didn't come to Prince Ling's residence either. But they didn't expect to run into each other at the Yun family.

Shen Wan asked, "My sister-in-law is here too?"

Princess Huai'an said, "How can the Marquis of Pingyang's residence not send a congratulatory gift for my maternal grandfather's birthday?"

Shen Wan said, "If you are not feeling well, just have the steward send a congratulatory gift."

Princess Huai'an said, "I haven't had morning sickness much lately."

Shen Wan looked at Xie Jingyan, "Why hasn't my older brother returned from the Northwest yet?"

Before leaving, he said he would come back as soon as possible, but he didn't even return for his maternal grandfather's birthday celebration. If it weren't for the fact that he was going to the Northwest to retrieve warhorses and had a large entourage, Shen Wan would have been really worried about her elder brother's safety.

Xie Jingyan also felt that Shen Du should have returned to the capital long ago. He said, "He must have been delayed by something."

Shen Wan and Princess Huai'an stepped inside and headed towards Liushuang Courtyard, where Old Madam Yun lived.

Madam Yun was surprised that Shen Wan was due to give birth in just over a month and came to the Yun family to celebrate Old Master Yun's birthday. Even Princess Huai'an came. She was so happy that she added a few more wrinkles to the corners of her eyes.

The Yun family had a lot of happy events this year, and since they didn't know how to send out the invitations, they decided to hold a small event and just have a few tables for the family to celebrate.

Even Shen Wan and Princess Huai'an came, not to mention Yun Mo and Yun Rui. The only regret is that Shen Du is not here.

Shen Jing didn't dare to hope for it. Even though he was in Kyoto, he was busy with military affairs, and it was already a rare treat for him to be able to take the time to visit the Yun family.

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