Chapter 87 The Marquis is Ignorant

Rest the next day.

After breakfast, Xie Jinglan wanted to go to Prince Chen's Mansion with something on his mind.

Last night, he felt uncomfortable all night long with the sweet and soft beauty in his arms. He wanted to know immediately how to prevent the essence and blood from entering the body.

He and Prince Xiao Jinyu had known each other since childhood and had fought side by side for several years. Although they had very different personalities, they could be considered close friends.

Princess Chen has been weak for many years, and the imperial physician has long advised her not to get pregnant. The palace must have a reliable contraceptive method.

Before leaving, he looked at her sitting in front of the mirror combing her long hair, and asked, "Although the Princess Chen is frail, she has a very kind personality. Maybe she and Ning'er will get along well. Ning'er, do you want to go with me?"

The words felt abrupt as soon as they came out of her mouth. She had always been introverted and had never thought about having any long-term involvement with him. How could she follow him to meet those noble people, especially those of the status of a prince or princess? She would most likely decline.

He had prepared some words to smooth things over, but he saw her hand holding the comb suddenly pause.

Wen Ning looked up, the morning light shattering into stars in her eyes through the carved window lattice. She said softly, "Okay, please wait for me to change my clothes, my Lord."

Xie Jinglan was stunned for a moment, then a slight smile spread across his eyes, and he nodded quickly, "No hurry, I'll wait for you in the corridor."

…

The Prince Chen's Mansion was not far from the Marquis Anyuan's Mansion. After the carriage had rolled through two streets, the vermilion lacquered gate came into view.

Xie Jinglan has always been the type of person who would not visit someone unless he had something important to do. He would not even bother to set foot in the residences of ordinary nobles, but today he actually took the initiative to visit them and brought a female relative with him for the first time.

When the news reached the inner courtyard, Xiao Jinyu was accompanying Princess Shen Yunshu in the warm room, reading a storybook.

Shen Yunshu is the younger sister of Xie Jinglan's brother-in-law Shen Lin. In terms of relatives, she is the sister-in-law of her elder sister Xie Wan.

Xiao Jinyu uttered a "tsk," placed the scroll in his hand on the table, and raised an eyebrow at his princess, "Listen, the sun is rising from the west, and that icy-faced man is willing to bring his family to visit?"

Shen Yunshu stopped embroidering the handkerchief she was working on, and a gentle smile curved across her brows. "I think she's a very special girl. I heard that when Marquis Anyuan was in the border town, he fought against the epidemic together with a woman who was well versed in medicine. I think she must be the one."

Xiao Jinyu stood up as he spoke, and helped the princess with his hand. "Let's go out and take a look. We want to see who can melt this ten thousand year old ice."

As the couple arrived at the second gate, they saw the rumbling of a carriage stopped in front of the steps.

Xie Jinglan got out of the car first, turned around and reached out to help the people out of the car.

A bare hand stretched out from behind the curtain.

Xiao Jinyu then opened his mouth exaggeratedly and winked at Xie Jinglan.

"What day is it today? You, a piece of ice, are you willing to bring a girl to visit?"

Before he finished speaking, Wen Ning had already followed Xie Jinglan out of the car.

Wen Ning was wearing a moon-white satin dress with a snow fox fur collar that accentuated her slender neck.

Her black hair was tied into a gentle bun, fixed with only a jade hairpin. The wind blew through the loose hair on her temples and gently swept across her jaw, making her jade-white face even more gentle.

The most eye-catching thing is her peach blossom eyes. Today, because she has applied a light layer of powder, the red at the corners of her eyes looks like petals soaked in morning dew. But within that shyness, there is a clear and bright energy, and the radiance is just right.

Xiao Jinyu sensed something, leaned over to the princess's ear and chuckled, "No wonder it could move this iron tree that hasn't bloomed for ten thousand years."

Shen Yunshu suppressed his laughter and glared at him, then walked forward and nodded gently to Wen Ning, "Please come in, it's cool outside."

Wen Ning saw her kind expression and felt much less nervous. She knelt and bowed, "Greetings, Princess."

When he stood up, his eyes met the inquiring gaze of Prince Chen. Although there was a hint of teasing in his eyes, there was no contempt at all.

She gathered herself together and bowed slightly, "Greetings, His Royal Highness Prince Chen."

Xiao Jinyu dropped his joking attitude and said with a smile, "Please come in quickly. My princess is looking forward to having someone to say something kind."

Xie Jinglan calmly stood beside Wen Ning, blocking Xiao Jinyu's inquiring gaze, and said in a deep voice, "Don't scare her."

Xiao Jinyu shook his head helplessly, with an unconcealable smile in his eyes, "You, you, why are you protecting her like the apple of your eye? Do you think I can eat her?"

The two men went into the study while talking.

On the other side, Shen Yunshu took Wen Ning's hand and walked through the corridor, around a bunch of newly blooming wintersweets, and headed towards the warm room in the inner courtyard.

Xie Jinglan and Xiao Jinyu talked about military and political affairs for half a cup of tea.

"The Crown Prince has recently even dared to touch the money and grain of the Chancellery. I heard that he has also secretly contacted the Six Armies of the Northern Court." Xiao Jinyu raised his eyes and looked at Xie Jinglan. "Who do you think Anyuan Hou will target next?"

The palms under the python robe suddenly clenched, "The Ministry of Revenue has just been replaced by the prince's followers, and now they are getting involved in military power." Xie Jinglan's eyes flashed coldly, "It's time to target me."

"The fifth princess's marriage is just the beginning." Xiao Jinyu tapped the teacup with his fingertips. He originally wanted to ask Miss Wen about her reaction to this matter, but he changed his mind when the words came to his lips. In the end, he suppressed his gossipy thoughts.

Xie Jinglan stroked his white jade ring, his voice tinged with ice. "Over the years, anyone who refused to submit to the Eastern Palace was either exiled to Lingnan or died suddenly. I don't know what methods this crown prince used. If he was truly a wise ruler who worked for the country and the people, then it would be fine..."

The tea gradually cooled, reflecting his grim expression. "If this continues, not only will the rules of government be eroded, but even the very foundations of this vast nation will be eaten away by this eager crown prince!"

The two men fell silent only after the servant brought new tea.

Xie Jinglan put his fists together and coughed twice before slowly saying, "I came here today to ask you something personal."

Xiao Jinyu raised an eyebrow and put down the teacup, "Oh? Marquis Anyuan actually has something private to ask me? Tell me about it."

As soon as Xie Jinglan tactfully explained his purpose, Xiao Jinyu's shoulders shook with laughter.

"My Lord, my Great General, you are such a blockhead! Every noble son in the capital knows this, and yet you, a mere wielder of swords and spears, come to question me."

He drummed his knuckles on the table and added, "It's a good thing you asked me. If you had asked your brother-in-law Chen Lin, within half a day, the whole capital would have known that you, Marquis Anyuan, were in trouble because of your private affairs."

Xie Jinglan's ears blushed slightly, but he still said in a deep voice, "I don't know how these unconventional tricks have become a joke."

"Bah!" Xiao Jinyu was so angry that he laughed and punched him on the arm. "What kind of unconventional trick is this? This is the most respectable thing a man should know! It is, it is a basic contraceptive method for couples, and it is also a proper way to preserve a woman's body!"

Seeing Xie Jinglan still looking bewildered, he simply leaned forward and said, "Why do you think those women in the backyard are always able to give birth and raise children? There are many tricks to this."

As he spoke, he asked someone to bring an ebony box and pushed it in front of him.

"Among the royal family and prominent families, which man doesn't use this? It's a hundred times safer than taking medicine."

Xie Jinglan opened the box and saw dozens of sheep intestine products as thin as cicada wings inside. They had been processed with special techniques and had a faint medicinal fragrance.

"This is made from sheep intestines that have been repeatedly tanned. It's very soft and tough." Xiao Jinyu raised an eyebrow. "How to use it... I don't need to teach you, do I?"

Xie Jinglan's face flushed, he closed the box, stood up and left.

Xiao Jinyu's mischievous laugh came from behind him, "There are plenty of things in my storehouse. Marquis Anyuan, why don't you take this box with you and use it first?"

Xie Jinglan said coldly, "Thank you, Prince Chen, for your kindness. Since it's for your woman, I should have it custom-made by me personally..."