After Xie Qinglan changed her clothes and did her makeup, the maid led Danzhu to the Green Pine Courtyard.

Seeing that Xie Qinglan's complexion was not good, Danzhu asked with concern, "Why do you look unwell, Miss?"

Xie Qinglan didn't want to say more, so she shook her head and asked, "You came to find me in such a hurry, is something wrong with Zhaozhao?"

Danzhu nodded and said, "Our young lady had a falling out with the prince and caught a cold, so she's been depressed all day. The doctor said she needs someone to keep her company and talk to her more, so the young lady would like to ask you to come and keep her company and talk to her."

"Why did you have a falling out with the Prince of Qin?" Xie Qinglan asked with concern. "Everything was fine last time, wasn't it?" Remembering the rumors about the Prince of Qin, she lowered her voice worriedly and asked, "But the Prince of Qin..."

"It's not that bad, Miss. Don't worry too much. She's just sick and had a little disagreement with the Prince. She's lonely in the Prince's mansion and wanted to talk to you."

Xie Qinglan was relieved and said, "I understand. Go tell Zhaozhao that I will go to see her after I have settled things at home."

Danzhu said "Eh" and then said, "Our young lady thought that now that the eldest young lady is married, she can't act as freely as before. She was afraid that it would be difficult for you, so she specially arranged for a carriage from the Prince's Mansion to pick her up. When would be a convenient time for you to come?"

Xie Qinglan hadn't expected Shen Youying to be so thoughtful. A surge of warmth welled up in her heart, and even her brow relaxed a little. After a moment's thought, she no longer hesitated: "Let's do it today. There's nothing going on at home. I'll go see her early and talk to her. Maybe she'll recover faster that way."

Danzhu immediately agreed, then took his leave to return and report the news, and arranged for a carriage to pick up Xie Qinglan.

After everyone left, Xie Qinglan's smile hadn't faded. She instructed Lian Qiao to fetch the newly collected storybooks, intending to take them to the Prince of Qin's residence. Zhao Zhao was ill and bedridden, so she probably wouldn't be able to move around much. The two of them could read the storybooks together.

Lian Qiao quickly sorted out the storybooks, and Xie Qinglan stared blankly at the stack of brand-new, unopened storybooks.

She had always enjoyed reading storybooks, stories of talented men and beautiful women, fox spirits and scholars, where the endings were always happy and the lovers were united in a perfect union. She thought that her relationship with Xue Shaojun would also have a happy ending, just like the stories in these storybooks.

But now that she thinks about it, she realized she never truly understood the other person.

Looking at the brand-new storybooks, she whispered to Lian Qiao, "These storybooks were specially reserved for me by the bookstore owner, but since I married into the Xue family, I haven't had time to even flip through them."

Lianqiao felt so sorry for her that she didn't know what to say. Her daughter used to be such a lively and cheerful person, and everyone who met her liked her.

But ever since she married into the Prince's mansion, the young lady has suffered so much injustice that she has even stopped smiling.

She wiped away her tears and whispered, "Miss, why don't we talk to the master and mistress and go home?"

Xie Qinglan pursed her lips and said, "Yes, I will find an opportunity to talk to my parents. Xue Shaojun and I were husband and wife. Although he did something wrong, it would be too ugly and would make both families lose face. It would be better to part amicably."

*

The carriage from the Prince of Qin's residence arrived at the gate of the Prince of the County's residence in less than half an hour.

Upon receiving the news, Xie Qinglan instructed Lian Qiao to inform the Princess Consort of the same county before preparing to leave with Lian Qiao.

Xue Shaojun remained kneeling at the door. Seeing her leave without looking back, he staggered to his feet and chased after her, trying to grab her sleeve: "Lan'er, I know I was wrong."

Xie Qinglan subconsciously took a step back to avoid his hand, and Lian Qiao also reacted, protecting Xie Qinglan behind her like a mother protecting her child: "Young master, our young lady's arm is still sore from the bump, please don't touch it."

Xue Shaojun's expression faltered slightly, his hands tucked into his sleeves tightened, but his eyes remained filled with deep affection and guilt as he looked at Xie Qinglan. He stammered, "I didn't mean to..." He then deliberately revealed a slightly disheveled state, "If you're in a bad mood, it's fine to go out and clear your head, but don't not come back."

His expression was earnest as he looked at Xie Qinglan, just as he had in the past, his voice choked with emotion: "I'm waiting for you at home."

Xie Qinglan felt a slight sting in her nose, and her eyes reddened. She almost wanted to say something, but then she remembered how affectionate and earnest he had been in the carriage the last time, and those earnest words were swallowed back down.

She lowered her eyes, sniffed, but didn't look at Xue Shaojun again: "I will come back."

She was the one who agreed to this marriage in the first place, so even if it doesn't work out, she should come back and settle things.

Xie Qinglan gave a slight bow, then turned and left with Lian Qiao.

As Xue Shaojun watched her retreating figure, he had a feeling that things were about to spiral out of control.

Countless dark thoughts were brewing in his mind, but he still maintained a tender expression as he gazed at Xie Qinglan's back until she disappeared from sight. Only then did he calm down and go to his study.

A maid brought in a teacup, and Xue Shaojun stared at her with a gloomy expression, then beckoned to her.

The maidservant, bewildered, stepped forward. Xue Shaojun, with a smile, picked up the scalding hot tea in front of him and poured it over her head. The maidservant screamed in pain, but Xue Shaojun kicked her over, grabbed her by the neck, and lifted her up, saying viciously, "Shut up if you don't want to die!"

The maid stared at him in terror, unable to understand why the usually gentle and humble Sixth Prince had suddenly become so frightening.

Xue Shaojun sized her up, his face contorted with rage, but in the end, he hesitated and didn't make a move. He shoved her away with annoyance, then smiled and took off the jade pendant from his waist, handing it to the maid. He said gently, "I had a little disagreement with the Sixth Madam and was in a bad mood. Did I frighten you? Consider this a reward as an apology. Don't tell anyone else about what happened today."

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