Chapter 42 Chapter 42 No Regrets
Wan Ning didn't dare to say anything, she just said her feet hurt and begged the Eighth Master to rub her feet. The Eighth Master then carried her horizontally in his arms and left.
Inside the carriage, Yinsi's eyes were filled with anxiety.
"Why did you fall? Did Fourth Brother scare you? My Fourth Brother is always serious. He's just like that. Don't be afraid."
Yinsi comforted her gently and checked her ankle. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that it was not sprained.
"He had a very serious face, and I was a little scared. I didn't pay attention to my step. But it's okay. Thank you for accompanying me on this outing."
How could Wan Ning not know that the Eighth Master didn't like to be too close to the Fourth Prince? He came here all for her.
The Eighth Master was accompanying Wan Ning in the carriage, so Chu Xian couldn't spoil the fun, so she had to drag her feet and return to her own carriage.
When the curtain was opened, he saw the Fourth Prince sitting upright.
He lowered his head to read the memorials. Chu Xian nodded with a smile and sat silently on the side of the carriage, separated from the Fourth Prince by a low table.
Just when I was feeling embarrassed and at a loss as to what to do, a book of strange stories about the mountains and wilds suddenly appeared in front of me.
It turned out to be the "Records of Strange Things" that she had been longing for but could not find.
"The journey is not even halfway through, Madam, you can read some miscellaneous books to entertain yourself." The cold and low voice of the Fourth Master came, and Chu Xian couldn't help but feel scared.
"Thank you very much, my lord."
She smiled and took the storybook. She never expected that someone as rigid and boring as the Fourth Prince would prepare such a curious storybook.
"There are many more. Just take whatever you like."
The Fourth Prince placed a large bookcase in front of her. Chu Xian glanced at it and was delighted. It contained all the miscellaneous books she liked to read.
"I will finish reading this one first. Thank you for the book."
Chu Xian thanked him politely, opened the book and took a closer look, her eyes suddenly filled with joy.
It seems that the Fourth Prince likes this book very much. He even writes his thoughts and easy-to-understand comments beside each short story.
The content of the annotations was more than the obscure ancient texts, and Chu Xian read them with great interest.
The Fourth Prince is good at running script. His handwriting has a unique style, with beautiful and elegant strokes, hidden tips and protected tails, calm and steady, and even lively flying white.
Although I have prejudices against him, I have to admit that among all the emperors of the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Yongzheng had the best calligraphy.
Chu Xian raised her hand to cover her face with a book, pretending to read, but her thoughts couldn't help but drift away.
No matter how good it is, it cannot be as good as Chi Zheng's writing. Chi Zheng's official style writing is clear and smooth, and it is more pleasing to the eye.
The handwriting reflects the writer's character. It depends on who wrote the handwriting.
She had only been out for half a day, but she was already eager to go home. She didn't know what Chi Zheng was busy with.
"Master, the mountain road to Jinhai Lake was blocked by rocks last night and is impassable. The Eighth Lady suggested we take the route to Yanqi Lake instead. Although Yanqi Lake is a day's journey farther than Jinhai Lake, it is more beautiful."
Su Peisheng stood on the side of the carriage and spoke.
Yanqi Lake is surrounded by mountains on three sides: Jundu Mountain to the north, Hongluo Mountain to the west, and Jindeng Mountain to the east. If you go there during this season, you can also see cranes and white swans. Boating on the lake with a gentle breeze is even more unique than Jinhai Lake.
Chu Xian felt annoyed as she listened to Su Peisheng's eloquent advice.
She thought it was too far to travel three days to and from Jinhai Lake. If she went to Yanqi Lake, there would be famous mountains and ancient temples on all sides, and she would have to visit them one by one.
There is the Holy Mother Temple on Jundu Mountain, the ancient Hongluo Temple on Hongluo Temple, and the Jindeng Temple on Jindeng Mountain. Climbing a mountain and visiting an ancient temple in one day is a waste of three days.
The round trip would take another three days, and Chu Xian could no longer hold back the gentle fake smile on her lips. She wanted to go back and find Chi Zheng.
Seeing the Fourth Prince looking at her with a half-smile, she quickly took out her handkerchief and covered her lips: "Master, Yanqi Lake is beautiful, but you and the Eighth Master are both in charge of work in the six ministries now. I'm afraid that going back and forth will delay your work."
"Fujin, since you and my eighth brother's wife both think Yanqi Lake is nice, it's okay for me and my eighth brother to take a few days off." Yinzhen went with the flow and finalized the itinerary.
Chu Xian's smile froze and she was speechless.
After a while, she pretended to be full of joy and said, "Thank you very much, sir."
The carriage changed its route to Yanqi Lake, stopping along the way and enjoying the mountains and rivers. Before we knew it, four days had passed and we still hadn't arrived at Yanqi Lake.
Chu Xian was so anxious that blisters appeared at the corners of her lips, and no amount of makeup could cover them.
In the evening of the fifth day, we finally arrived at Hongluo Mountain, west of Yanqi Lake.
As the sun sets, Buddhist chants emanate from the ancient temple in the mountains. Chu Xian looks up at the exposed top of Hongluo Temple.
His hands, hidden under his wide sleeves, were clenched into fists, his palms filled with cold sweat of fear.
The obscene and hideous laughter, the ghostly footsteps in the dark night, the devil's claws reaching out from the pitch-black Buddhist building, the smell of alcohol on the man, the rough hands wandering wantonly on the body, and the emotions of collapse and despair suddenly surged into the heart.
Suddenly, her wrist felt warm, Chu Xian came to her senses, and shook Wan Ning's hand again.
"Xian'er, we all have farms nearby, so you can live in whichever farm you want."
"Yinsi's manor on the southern slope of Jindeng Mountain is exquisite and quiet, nestled against the mountains and beside the water. It even has hot springs. Let's soak in the hot springs together tonight, and then let the manor's female doctor massage my feet and back to relax me."
"Let's not go to Hongluo Temple, no." Wan Ning held Xian'er's cold hand tightly and comforted her in a gentle voice.
"Fujin, the Fourth Master also has a manor to the south of Jundu Mountain. There is a lake inside the manor with beautiful scenery." Su Peisheng bowed and moved behind Fujin.
All necessary items have been prepared at the manor, waiting for the Fourth Master and his wife at any time.
"Su Peisheng, what do you think, Fourth Master? I will follow your arrangements." Chu Xian did not dare to act arbitrarily.
"Replying to the Lady, Master and Master Eight went to the Maple Grove for horse racing. They said they would follow the Lady's arrangements."
"Okay, then I'll go to Eighth Master's farm to bother him tonight." Chu Xian held Wan Ning's warm hand tightly.
After dinner, Wan Ning left Yinsi and took Xian'er to the hot spring pool.
Yinzhen and his eighth brother were left behind by the two men. Seeing his eighth brother sighing helplessly, he couldn't help laughing.
Yinsi didn't dare to say that every time he came here to take a hot spring bath, he and Wan Ning were together. Tonight was the first time they were separated.
Fourth brother and his wife are husband and wife, so what's wrong with them taking a hot spring bath together?
Yinsi was deeply troubled. Wan Ning seemed unwilling to let his fourth brother and his wife be alone, and she often suddenly intervened between them.
What on earth is she going to do?
The fourth brother is the most difficult to get along with among the brothers. He is rigid, dull, unkind, and only follows the orders of Yuqing Palace.
If Wan Ning had not been entangled with his fourth sister-in-law, Yinsi would have been unwilling to get too close to his fourth brother.
"Master, Fourth Master, the hot spring pool to the east is spacious and not far from the pool where the two wives are bathing. I will lead the way to the two masters."
The Eighth Master's personal eunuch Yan Jin glimpsed that his master looked unhappy, and hurried forward to speak.
"Fourth brother, Wan Ning and your sister-in-law are close friends. It's inevitable that she may not know her limits. Please forgive me." Yinsi's eyes were full of apology.
"Eighth brother, your fourth sister-in-law and I apologize for disturbing you."
The two brothers exchanged a few pleasantries and were then led by a servant to a quiet hot spring pool, which was surrounded on three sides by dense bamboo walls ten feet high.
Yinzhen was injured and did not soak in the pool. He lay lazily in the rocking chair and took a nap, listening to the joyful laughter passing through the bamboo wall.
She is smiling.
With the help of his servants, Yinsi took off his outer robe and sat in the hot spring pool near the bamboo wall. Hearing Wan'er's sweet laughter, he raised his lips and laughed along.
On the other side of the bamboo wall, Chu Xian and Wan Ning were wearing underwear and laughing and playing in the hot spring pool.
"Xian'er, you are thinner than me, how come you are so magnificent?"
The wet clothes stuck to her skin, outlining her graceful and exquisite figure. Wan Ning couldn't help but poke Xian'er's swollen and soft breasts.
"Ahem...don't use idioms carelessly. You're not small either, and your waves are turbulent. If you still feel it's not enough, let your Eighth Master rub it."
"Come on! You lewd woman!" Wan Ning tried to untie the thin strap of Xian'er's bellyband, but Xian'er grabbed the bellyband off her with her backhand.
"I'm not kidding. If you don't believe me, ask Matron Lian and Matron Chun."
Chu Xian's face turned red and she hit her chest in retaliation. The two of them were not in a good mood and started to hit each other's chests and tickle each other.
Wan Ning's wet nurses, Lian Ma and Chun Ma, blushed with embarrassment and hid by the pool, chuckling.
"Ah...it really can be rubbed bigger..." Wan Ning was surprised.
"Why would I lie to you?"
The two of them laughed and had a water fight in the hot spring pool.
The servants serving on the side blushed and dared not listen carefully.
"Ahem... Madam, the second masters are resting in the pond next door." Nanny Lian was reminded by Yan Jin, a servant beside the Eighth Master, and hurriedly whispered a reminder.
Chu Xian and Wan Ning were so scared that they hugged each other and covered their mouths.
"Xian'er, I'm going to change clothes first. You soak for a while. I'll have someone add some more medicinal soups suitable for your physique to the hot spring water."
Wan Ning twisted her wet hair and stood up and left with the help of the servants.
"Go ahead. I'll take a break and eat some fruit. The sweet apricots from Master Ba's farm are really delicious."
"Eat more. This farm specializes in growing sweet apricots. If you come early, you can see the garden full of apricot blossoms."
"It's only the end of March now, and apricots taste slightly sour. April and May, when the flesh is smooth and pulpy, leaving only a clear, sweet taste lingering on the tongue, are the perfect times to eat apricots."
"Ouch, my teeth are sore..."
Chu Xian joked that Wan Ning liked to eat sweet apricots the most, and Mr. Ba actually arranged a farm specifically to grow sweet apricots.
Wan Ning's eyebrows were shy, and her cheeks were flushed. "Cui! I always leave some good things for you. The apricot jam, almonds, and apricot fruit pills I send you every year are all sent from this manor."
"I have a farm north of Hongluo Mountain. I grow persimmons specifically for you, and in the lotus pond I raise Baihe ducks, which Yinsi likes to eat."
Chu Xian was so moved that tears filled her eyes and she hugged Wan Ning's arm.
"Wan Ning, I didn't know that Master Ba had arranged for the farm to grow apricots just for you. If I had known, I would have arranged for the farm in Pinggu to grow the peaches you like to eat instead."
"The sweet apricots from Master Ba's farm are better than the small white apricots from my farm. From now on, I won't send you apricots. He sends apricots, and I'll send you peaches."
"Suiqing, inform the manager of Pinggu Manor to cut down all the small white apricots and plant honey peaches instead."
"Oh, Xian'er, there's no need to bother. Yinsi...he has a farm near Jinhai Lake in Pinggu, where he grows peaches just for me."
Chu Xian was stunned, moved by the pure and passionate feelings that Mr. Ba had for Wan Ning, which were always reciprocated. As long as Mr. Ba was around, Wan Ning would never suffer any grievances.
"Hehehe, then I'll ask the embroidery shop under my name to send you a bellyband! And a menstrual belt. If the Eighth Master prepares these two things for you, I... hey hey hey, I can only give you silver..." Chu Xian frowned.
"Who wants your money? Go away! I want a bellyband. The bellyband you gave me is the most suitable for me. I can't buy it anywhere else."
"Xian'er, the bellyband you gave me is light and I like it very much." Wan Ning blushed and lowered her head.
"Tsk tsk, who likes it~" Seeing Wan Ning shyly lowering her head, Chu Xian couldn't help but teasing.
"Qu! I'm going to change my clothes." Wan Ning turned and ran away.
Watching Wan Ning walk into the ear chamber, Chu Xian picked an apricot and tasted it. It was so sweet.
After eating apricots, Chu Xian bent down and soaked in the hot spring pool.
On the other side of the wall, Yinzhen was sitting alone in front of a bamboo wall. From the moment Guo Luoluo spoke about changing clothes, the eighth brother could not suppress the smile on his face and could not wait to get up and leave.
Where to go? It goes without saying.
She looked up helplessly at the lonely star and the cold moon. If Chi Zheng was with her today, he would have held her in his arms, full of affection and love, not so desolate and cold.
Just as he was feeling melancholy, the servant behind him softly reminded him, "Eighth Master."
The eighth brother looked refreshed and walked over with a smile on his face.
There was an ambiguous red mark on her neck, and she smiled shyly.
On this side, Chu Xian stared at Wan Ning's unusually rosy lips, smiling without saying a word.
Wan Ning felt uneasy when she looked at her, and she reached out to tighten the thin collar on her shoulders.
"It was a very big mosquito. It bit you and left such a big bump on your collarbone." Chu Xian joked.
"Auntie, please eat the apricots quickly!"
Wan Ning grabbed an apricot and panickedly blocked her mouth with it.
Chu Xian pushed it away, raised her hand to dismiss the servant, lowered her voice, and asked casually, "Are there any other hot spring pools nearby? I want some that are quieter."
Wan Ning was stunned. She leaned close to her ear and whispered softly, "I have a hot spring house in Tangshan. It's not as comfortable as Yinsi's house. I'll have someone send the house deed to you in two days."
"Then I'll take it. Weren't you looking for a shop near Huguo Temple a few days ago? I bought two of them. I wanted to give them to you as a birthday gift, but I'll give them to you as a thank you gift first. You can give me something else as a birthday gift."
"No need. Yinsi has already bought me five rooms, saying they would be extra boxes for my dowry."
"He is him, I am me, he adds his, I add mine, and I have already prepared the things you added to the box."
"Fifty."
"Xian'er, that's not possible. Just give me two shops."
Wan Ning's face was solemn: "My dowry is only 128 loads, and Yinsi added 20 loads. If you add another 20 loads, it will be inappropriate. Wouldn't it be higher than the standard of the Queen's wedding?"
Chu Xian handed the peeled apricots to Wan Ning and said, "Don't worry. I won't include the dowry I'm giving you in the dowry list. On the eve of your wedding, at dusk, I'll quietly have it carried to your wife's main courtyard storeroom. You don't have to parade it through the streets."
"Xian'er, I only gave you twenty pallets on your wedding day. How dare I charge you fifty?"
"Wan Ning, I know you've done the best you can by giving away those twenty loads, and I'll do my best to repay you. If I can give you fifty loads, I won't just give you twenty."
"If you can spare fifty, will you only give me twenty?"
"Impossible! If I can evenly distribute fifty loads, I will definitely make it an even number. I won't feel at ease until I have fifty-one loads." Wan Ning argued anxiously.
Chu Xian felt a lump in her throat and deliberately frowned.
"Hehe, some people usually say that we are like sisters. Since we are sisters, we are my family. But now that I, a member of my family, have given them fifty loads of dowry, some people have changed their attitude." Chu Xian pretended to be sarcastic.
"I didn't change my face. Take it! Can't I take it?"
Wan Ning choked up, "Xian'er, thank you. Yinsi and you are the most important people in my life. Thank you for never leaving me."
Chu Xian reached out and wiped the tears from Wan Ning's eyes. "What nonsense are you talking about? You will have many children and grandchildren in the future, and you will have more flesh and blood relatives."
"Yes, yes, and your children, they are my children too."
"We recognize each other as godparents."
Chu Xian joked, "Okay, if there's a chance, we..." Chu Xian paused and whispered in Wan Ning's ear, "If there's a chance, maybe we can even become in-laws."
Wan Ning was stunned and subconsciously wanted to retort that Xian'er and her child were cousins, so how could they be in-laws.
Chi Zheng's real identity is the Fourth Prince.
The children of the two families are cousins no matter what, unless Chi Zheng's identity is exposed and Xian'er divorces the Fourth Prince and remarries someone else.
But if Chi Zheng's identity is revealed, Xian'er will not be able to bear the blow.
This is an unsolvable deadlock.
Wan Ning suddenly plunged into the hot spring pool. Xian'er fell ill and almost committed suicide for Chi Zheng.
No wonder the scholar came back to life from the sea of fire.
The Fourth Prince was afraid that Xian'er would die young, so he had no choice but to put on Chi Zheng's mask.
Xian'er was blinded by love and did not realize that Chi Zheng's identity was suspicious.
But she couldn't tell Xian'er Chi Zheng's true identity, otherwise she would be completely despaired.
Wan Ning curled up in the water and held her breath until her forehead felt swollen and buzzing, then she covered her eyes and emerged from the misty water.
"Are you okay?"
Chu Xian brushed away the wet hair on Wan Ning's forehead with concern. Wan Ning was worried and her eyes were red. It was obvious that she had just shed tears quietly in the water.
"Did you have a quarrel with Master Ba?"
"No, I'm just very tired today. Xian'er, let's go to bed early. For the next few days, you and I will sleep in the main room. Yinsi will sleep in the east wing, and the Fourth Prince will sleep in the west wing. If you want, you can sleep with the Fourth Prince."
Chu Xian waved her hand and declined: "How about I switch with the Eighth Master? I'll sleep in the east wing, and you and the Eighth Master will sleep in the main room."
Wan Ning said nothing, took Chu Xian's hand and walked into the ear room.
"Xian'er, you and the Fourth Prince are husband and wife. If you don't find an excuse to sleep with me and the Fourth Prince, people will definitely see that your marriage is not harmonious."
"Besides, Yinsi and I are not married yet, how can we share a bed?"
Chu Xian remained silent. In fact, she had already thought of using her menstrual period as an excuse to not sleep with the Fourth Prince. However, the Eighth Master and Wan Ning were not married yet, so it was inappropriate for them to sleep together in front of the Fourth Prince.
Historically, Emperor Yongzheng and the Eighth Prince Yinsi were mortal enemies. Emperor Yongzheng even changed the Eighth Prince's name to Aqina, which means dog. He also forced the Eighth Prince to divorce his wife and crushed the Eighth Prince's wife to dust.
If she and Wan Ning were not close friends, the Fourth Master and the Eighth Master would never have come here together for an outing.
"Wan Ning." Chu Xian's face was solemn and she held Wan Ning's hand tightly.
"The Fourth Prince is familiar with the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince and the Eldest Prince have been fighting openly and secretly for years. The Eighth Prince is also on good terms with the Eldest Prince. From now on, you should limit the contact between the Eighth Prince and the Fourth Prince."
"Don't let the eldest prince know, it will be bad for the eighth master."
"Wan Ning!" Chu Xian gritted her teeth. "Nian Gengyao, the second son of Huguang Governor Nian Xialing, is a pillar of talent. Could you please ask the Eighth Master to support him? If Nian Gengyao can be loyal to the Eighth Master, he will definitely repay his mentor in the future."
"And...there are also Tian Wenjing, Zhang Tingyu, and Ortai. These people are also considered pillars of society."
"Xian'er, I know very little about the affairs of the court, but Zhang Tingyu, Ortai, and Nian Gengyao were all once the Fourth Prince's study companions. Even if they were to be promoted, it would require the Fourth Prince's support. It would be inappropriate for Yinsi to try to win them over."
"Oh..." Chu Xian sighed.
She originally thought that if she couldn't recruit them, she would suppress these people to the bottom and prevent them from becoming the Fourth Prince's helpers in his fight for the throne, but when the words were on the tip of her tongue, a plan came to her mind.
"By the way, the Tenth Prince doesn't seem to be very smart. He's always obsessed with witches and shamans, asking for divination. Remember to remind the Eighth Master to stay away from those charlatans who speak nonsense, especially the fortune-telling charlatans introduced by the Tenth Prince. They are not reliable."
"Also...did you plant a ginkgo tree in your new mansion?"
"What ginkgo tree? Oh, you mean the ginkgo tree? Yinsi said the ginkgo leaves look beautiful in autumn, so he transplanted an old ginkgo tree to the east of the mansion."
"Ah, there really is one. The smell of the ginkgo tree is so awful that it's even drifted into our yard. Woohoo...how about I replace it with two fragrant osmanthus trees for you?"
Wan Ning rubbed her chin. "Yes, it stinks. It looks nice, but how did the smell get into your yard? I'm sorry, Xian'er. I'll have someone go to the mansion and chop down the ginkgo trees."
"I heard that the Eighth Master raises Saker Falcons outside the Great Wall. Actually, I really like Saker Falcons, but my servant is so stupid that he could even kill himself by keeping them out of trouble. Alas."
Chu Xian sighed, "I originally planned to train Costin to transport lychees to Lingnan, thinking that we would be able to eat fresh lychees in the future."
"What's the problem? They're just a few broken birds. I'll ask Yinsi to give them to you. No, I'll give you his servants who raise Saker Falcons outside the Great Wall and the farm."
Wan Ning patted her chest and made up her mind.
"Will Eighth Master be angry? Do you need to discuss it with Eighth Master?" Chu Xian was uneasy.
"No, he said that apart from court affairs, I would make all the decisions. He only kept the Saker Falcon to flatter Emperor Kangxi, saying that Emperor Kangxi once compared himself to the Saker Falcon, and Yinsi didn't like the Saker Falcon at all."
"Those falcons are ferocious and often injure the servants who train them. They also eat a lot. I've been holding a grudge against them since I was doing the accounting. I've been wanting to dispose of those Saker Falcons for a long time. Now, let me make a deal with you: you take the Saker Falcons away and don't send them back."
"Okay, okay, thank you, Wan Ning. Starting next year, I promise you'll be able to eat fresh lychees. We can eat the whole plate instead of having to share each one."
When Wan Ning heard about lychees, her eyes lit up. "This year, the lychees sent as tribute from Lingnan will only arrive at the Forbidden City around the Dragon Boat Festival. Last year, Yinsi didn't get a single lychee. I wonder if he'll get one this year."
Chu Xian shook her head. "Last year, there were only twenty-eight lychees. Ten were sent to Fengxian Hall for ancestral worship, ten were sent to the Empress Dowager's Palace, the Crown Prince and his wife each received two, the four concubines each received one, and the remaining three were all awarded to the heroes who fought against Galdan. His Majesty didn't keep any for himself."
"The Crown Prince and his wife presented their share of lychees to His Majesty, who then gave them back to the old ministers."
"I think lychees will be even scarcer this year, as there have been heavy rains in the south for months."
"Ah, then it seems there's no hope this year. Xian'er, one day, I'll definitely take you to Lingnan, and we'll sit under a lychee tree and eat fresh lychees."
"Okay, okay, let's sit on the lychee tree and eat lychees." Chu Xian covered her mouth and smiled. "I still have some candied lychees and fragrant mango preserves that I sent last year. I'll have them all delivered to you."
Wan Ning sighed, "Candied fruit and preserved fruit are not as delicious as fresh fruit. In two months, the mangoes should be ripe. Mangoes are not as delicate as lychees, so I can still afford them."
"Give me the Saker Falcon. If I can catch it in time, maybe I can let you eat lychees by the end of May."
"It's too extravagant, using Saker Falcons to transport fresh lychees from the air. Each Saker Falcon can only carry half a pound of lychees at most. If the Imperial Envoy knew about this, they would definitely make the Fourth Prince very upset. Forget it, just keep those useless birds to entertain you."
"What's the point? The wealthy merchants in the capital are wasting their time and money transporting entire lychee trees to sell. When the lychee trees arrive in the capital, there are only a few fruits, you can count them on one hand, and they ask for 1,800 taels."
Chu Xian was jealous of the rich: "I paid for it myself, what am I afraid of? Do you think the imperial envoy would care if I took money from my dowry to buy lychees?"
"There are also lychee trees? Which family is so generous?" Wan Ning was dumbfounded.
"Which other one? Tong Banchao."
"Tsk tsk, the Noble Family is so generous."
"Xian'er, I think the Fourth Prince is a good person. Now that you've married him, you might as well just be the Fourth Lady. The Fourth Prince will definitely not treat you unfairly."
Wan Ning took the opportunity to turn the topic to the matchmaker mission.
"Wan Ning, there's absolutely no chance between me and the Fourth Prince. Don't try to match people up with me again. If the Fourth Prince hears, it'll be over."
Chu Xian was so scared that she covered Wan Ning's mouth.
"He can't hear it. This inner room is very soundproof."
Chu Xian raised an eyebrow and jokingly said, "What did you and Mr. Ba do? How do you know if the soundproofing is good?"
Wan Ning's face flushed red. "You have such a sharp tongue! I'm at fault for not marrying Yinsi. Next year, I'll confidently put my hands on my hips and exchange dirty talk with you."
Chu Xian covered her mouth and laughed so hard that she fell forward and backward. Finally, she reminded him sternly: "You and Mr. Ba are not married yet, so be careful and don't let others see you and gossip about you."
Wan Ning said nonchalantly, "I'm not afraid. As long as Yinsi believes me, it's fine. Rumors won't spread. As long as you don't tell anyone, no one else will know about the affair between Yinsi and me."
"Just bear with it for a while. After you get married to Master Ba next spring, you can do whatever you want."
"Before the wedding, the maid from the Imperial Household Department needs to verify your virginity. If... it would be a crime of deceiving the emperor." Chu Xian reminded seriously.
"I understand, Auntie. Yinsi has restrained himself and returned to the proper rites. We haven't...haven't reached the final stage."
The two were chatting in the room. In the west wing, Yinzhen and his eighth brother were playing chess absent-mindedly.
"Fourth brother, it's your turn."
Yinsi reminded him that his fourth brother seemed to be worried for some reason tonight. He had the impression that he was a calm and cold-hearted person who never showed his emotions. He had never seen him so distraught.
"Eighth brother, you are getting married in the spring, and all the details of the wedding cannot be neglected. You and I are close neighbors, so if you need any help from me, please don't hesitate to ask."
"Thank you, Fourth Brother. I have something I'd like to trouble you with. Wan Ning wants to ask Fourth Sister-in-law to be her bridal party member and accompany her from Prince An's mansion to the wedding day until the banquet is over."
"Eighth brother, just let your fourth sister-in-law agree."
Yinsi bowed and said, "Thank you, Fourth Brother."
"Eighth brother..." Yinzhen hesitated to speak.
"What's the matter, Fourth Brother? Feel free to tell me."
"The chess pieces in the south seem to be forming a siege." Yinzhen nonchalantly fixed his eyes on the chessboard with its crisscross pattern.
If something happens to my eighth brother, his wife will be heartbroken, and that person will also be unable to sleep or eat.
Yinsi played chess in silence, and the two brothers understood each other tacitly, both with solemn expressions.
"Fourth brother, there is no regret in making a move. I can no longer take back my moves."
"Eighth brother, you can't have your cake and eat it too. Where should you place the white piece you've been holding tightly in your hand? It will be doomed sooner or later."
With a click, the white chess piece slipped from Yinsi's fingers and fell onto the chessboard.
The chess game was in chaos and his face was pale.
Yinzhen calmly moved the chess pieces, placing the black piece in a decisive position, and slowly said, "Eighth brother, thank you for letting me."
The servant at the side brushed away a large number of strangled white dead pieces in the south from the chessboard.
The two brothers fought on the small chessboard until three o'clock in the morning, then they dispersed.
The Eighth Prince Yinsi watched his fourth brother leave, clenching the white piece in his palm.
"Yan Jin, Jiangnan..." Yinsi gritted his teeth and said, "Sacrifice the rook to save the king. Those below the fourth rank, abandon them. Cut off all ties as soon as possible."
Yan Jin was already sweating profusely on his back. The eleven white pieces that the Fourth Master had just surrounded and killed happened to coincide with the Eighth Master's confidants deployed in Jiangnan.
Since the Fourth Master already knew about this, it was obvious that Yuqing Palace had already set its sights on Jiangnan.
"Yan Jin, please shirk all responsibilities outside the capital. I will not leave the capital before the wedding."
Yinsi clenched the white piece in his palm. The wedding was approaching, and he couldn't let Wan Ning worry about him.
Even if Jiangnan's power was completely lost, so what? He would definitely be able to make a comeback.
In the west wing, Su Peisheng was also sweating profusely.
I actually leaked the news that the prince was surrounding and killing the Eighth Master's faction in Jiangnan to the Eighth Master.
If Yuqing Palace knew...
Su Peisheng shivered and raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his face.
It was late at night and Chu Xian was feeling sleepy. Wan Ning, who was sleeping beside her, suddenly lowered her voice and said, "Xian'er, what if you said that love and hate are the same person?"
Chu Xian was so shocked by Wan Ning's strange question that she was speechless.
"Your question is really strange. If you hate that person, why would you love him? Hate is the extreme of love. They are like water and fire, and they cannot coexist."
In the dark night, Wan Ning bit her lip nervously and remained silent.
"Well, let me say what if? What if? Just give me an answer."
"Everything in the world is caused by cause and effect, so where are the ifs?" Chu Xian said firmly.
"Love and hate the same person? Such contradictory emotions converge on the same person. You love him, but you also want to kill him? Impossible!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
