Chapter 121 Dusk

When mentioning Zhou Chang, Sima Jun looked somewhat helpless.

"Before I rushed to Kuaiji, the Grand Tutor and Madam laid out many plans for me. Now, three months have passed, and we are still fighting with the nobles and reviewing the strategies of the Ming Emperor. I wonder how much longer it will take to pacify the Three Wus."

Sun Wei said, "Your Highness has no roots in the Three Wus, so it will be time-consuming and laborious. However, your experience in Jiangzhou should be of great benefit."

Sima Jun nodded and stood up.

"I still have to go to the main camp, so I'll take my leave now."

Sun Wei knew that according to Sima Jun's habit, he would go to the camp and stay there that night.

"I wonder when the prince will leave tomorrow?"

"We'll set off before daybreak, so there's no need to see you off, Madam."

It's still dark.

Sima Jun was always like this, coming and going silently, like a gust of wind. In her previous life, she sometimes suspected that she had become a fake relative.

She was speechless for a moment as she watched the palace maid put a cloak on Sima Jun.

Sima Jun put on his cloak and turned around to look at Sun Wei.

"How about you give me a ride, Madam?"

His expression was calm.

Sun Wei was stunned, but a ripple appeared in her heart.

"That's not a bad idea."

After she said that, she asked A'ru to get a fox fur coat, put it on, and followed Sima Jun out of Qixia Garden.

Outside the garden is a lake. The weather is cold and the lake is frozen, and it is emitting a hazy light in the sunset.

They walked along the lake.

"The prince's marriage seems to have been decided," Sima Jun said suddenly, "It's to Wang Yao, Wang Han's niece."

"Really?" Sun Wei asked, "What did the Duke of Nanjun say?"

"He's temporarily returned to Jingzhou for the Lunar New Year. But judging by his intentions, he's determined to get to the bottom of the late Crown Princess's death. He has the witnesses from the palace maids from that time, and he even has the poison the late Crown Princess consumed. All he needs to do is open the coffin and perform an autopsy," Sima Jun said. "He's adamant that an open coffin and autopsy will confirm the palace maids' claims."

"But neither the palace nor the court will agree to this," Sun Wei said. "Duke Nanjun's move is truly extreme. If they fall out, they will cut off their own escape route."

"The Duke of Nanjun has such a stubborn and strong character."

Sun Wei sighed softly. This was exactly the same as in his previous life. The Huan family's demise was inextricably linked to Huan Yi.

"Where's the prince?"

"The Crown Prince is quite depressed," Sima Jun said. "A few days ago, he invited me to dinner and drank some wine, and then he talked about his wife."

Sun Wei's heart skipped a beat, and she pretended to joke, "Are you saying something bad about me?"

"The prince said that Madam's divination ruined his marriage, so why didn't you give him someone he loves?"

"How can this be put on my head..."

"Madam, you know who the prince's favorite is, right?"

"I don't know." Sun Wei smiled, "Does the prince know?"

"Know."

Sun Wei paused and said, "Really? Did the Crown Prince and the Prince say that?"

"The prince didn't say it explicitly, I just guessed it."

"Oh, I see."

Sima Jun turned his head to look at her: "Madam, don't you want to know who it is?"

"Who it is, what does it matter? The prince's marriage is already decided. The prince and that woman are destined not to be together."

"But that woman is very intelligent," Sima Jun said, "just like Madam. If she has her mind set on something, there might be consequences. In Madam's opinion, what would you do if it were Madam?"

Sun Wei rolled her eyes inwardly.

This question was almost as if he was naming someone. I didn't know if he was asking on behalf of the prince or if he wanted to ask for himself.

"Your Highness, this is a strange question." Sun Wei said calmly, "According to seniority, I am the Crown Prince's aunt. No matter how I think about it, I can't think of the answer to this question."

Sima Jun didn't answer and continued to look at her.

"But if the prince insists that I go beyond the bounds of my duty," Sun Wei looked towards the lake, "I will have the audacity to answer for him."

"Madam, please speak."

"The prince said that the woman was intelligent?"

"Exactly."

"If the prince cannot obtain her, it means that the woman is not among the nobles. A smart woman would not covet the prince, so this is the end of the story."

Sima Jun seemed dissatisfied with this answer and pressed on, "If there were no barrier of family background, do you think that woman would like the Crown Prince?"

"I'm not her, how would I know?"

"Then don't think of her as such." Sima Jun stopped and turned to ask Sun Wei, "What does Madam think of the Crown Prince?"

Sun Wei finally turned around to look at him, her face darkening.

"The prince is being unreasonable."

"Madam, just treat me as being unreasonable."

Sima Jun stared at her, not giving in, as if he was determined to get to the bottom of the matter.

In his previous life, he had never cared so much about her feelings. Was he really afraid that she would hook up with the Crown Prince and do something to disgrace the reputation of the Yuzhang Palace?

"No, okay?" Sun Wei was displeased and said seriously, "Don't worry, my lord. Although the prince is good, I have never had the slightest thought about him."

Sima Jun seemed to have finally gotten the answer he wanted. He said "hmm" and turned his head away.

He walked ahead and said, "So, a smart woman would not covet the Crown Prince. Thank you, Madam, for your explanation."

Sun Wei stared at his back and said coldly, "It looks like it's going to snow heavily again. I will send you here and say goodbye."

Sima Jun was about to speak when he saw Sun Wei had already turned and walked away, saying as he walked: "Aru, go back to Qixia Garden!"

A'ru and Deng Lian were originally following behind about ten steps away, chatting as they followed. Suddenly they saw Sun Wei's face darken, and they were both stunned.

The two looked at each other, and Aju immediately responded and hurried towards Sun Wei.

"Madam, weren't you going to send the prince out? Why did you go back?" she asked in a low voice.

Sun Wei, still with a sullen expression, continued walking forward. After a few steps, he suddenly heard Sima Jun say to Deng Lian, "Go to Lijing Pavilion and tell Tian Ying that the Madam doesn't want to see him anymore. Let him go back."

Deng Lian was stunned.

Sun Wei stopped.

She turned around and looked at Sima Jun suspiciously.

"Tian Ying?" she asked, "When did I say I wanted to see him?"

"Isn't it?" Sima Jun said slowly, "Yu Kuan said that Madam had intended to summon Tian Ying. But he went to the palace in Beijing to report matters to me and was not in Xunyang. Now during the New Year, he has returned. When I heard about this, I specially asked him to come to Lijing Pavilion to pay his respects to Madam. I almost forgot about it and didn't tell Madam."

Sun Wei: “…”

Yu Kuan was indeed a loyal minister and told Sima Jun everything.

Tian Ying, the General Manager of the Jiangzhou Military Headquarters, was a crucial figure within the Jiangzhou army. While the old Prince of Yuzhang was alive, he was highly regarded and entrusted with important positions. After the old Prince of Yuzhang's death, Sima Jun, having to travel to the capital to mourn, entrusted the affairs of the Jiangzhou Military Headquarters to Tian Ying.

The reason why Sun Wei wanted to see him was also because of the connection in his previous life.

She had never met Tian Ying in her previous life.

Because just after the first month of this year, Tian Ying died of a sudden illness.