Although there were some disturbances during the outing to Liquan Mountain, everyone's interest was not greatly affected. In the afternoon, the sun was setting slowly in the west, and the tourists on the mountain began to return home.
Jiang Lun noticed that Princess Xianning had abandoned Zhang Xianzhi and left alone, so he used his own carriage to send Zhang Xianzhi back to Princess Xianning's mansion.
As the carriage slowly moved on the way back, the two finally had the opportunity to open their hearts and talk about the past.
"Brother Xianzhi, it's been many years since we last met. I didn't know you were in such a difficult situation now." Jiang Lun sighed softly, his tone revealing a hint of concern.
Zhang Xianzhi smiled self-deprecatingly: "Brother Jiang, you don't need to worry about me. I still have unfulfilled wishes in my heart. In fact, I want to live more than anyone else!" His words revealed a tenacity and indomitable spirit that made Jiang Lun look at him with admiration.
"I don't hold an official position yet, but I can still do my best to help. If you have any difficulties, feel free to come to me."
Zhang Xianzhi knew that Jiang Lun's words came from the heart and were not just a compliment.
"Three years ago, I wanted to graduate from the same school as you, but I didn't expect that Brother Jiang chose to go out of Beijing to study and enjoy the beautiful scenery. I really envy you. This time you are taking part in the spring examination, I believe you will definitely be on the list of successful candidates." Zhang Xianzhi looked at his high-spirited friend in front of him and sincerely hoped that he would have a smooth life and a bright future.
"One day, when we serve in the same court, I will seek justice for what you have suffered today. Even if you are a royal relative, you cannot act so recklessly."
Zhang Xianzhi understood that his friend was standing up for him and smiled with relief.
When the carriage arrived at the Xianning County Princess's Mansion, the driver got off to report, but the guards at the gate were indifferent. The gate was tightly closed and no one responded.
"Let's go to the corner door at the back." Zhang Xianzhi suggested awkwardly.
"You are a noble prince and a fifth-rank Hanlin, yet they treat you like this?" Jiang Lun was shocked again.
Zhang Xianzhi just nodded indifferently and signaled the driver to drive towards the corner gate.
After passing through the alley and arriving at a small door only for servants and handymen to enter and exit, Jiang Lun got out of the car first and reached out to help Zhang Xianzhi.
At this moment, a thin servant walked out from behind the door. He hurried forward and looked at Zhang Xianzhi with a worried look on his face; "Master, you are back."
When Jiang Lun heard the name, he glanced at it in confusion.
"He has been my servant since he was a child, you can rest assured." Zhang Xianzhi explained.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Lun immediately handed him a bottle of ointment: "This is medicine for treating external injuries. Dissolve it in hot wine before going to bed every day and apply it to your young master's wound."
The servant gratefully accepted the ointment, as if it were a treasure: "Thank you, sir!"
Zhang Xianzhi, supported by a servant, was about to enter the mansion when he stopped. He lowered his voice and said to Jiang Lun, "From today on, everyone in the Jiang Mansion and the Xingyuan Marquis Mansion must be careful with their food and drink."
Zhang Xianzhi's frightened eyes and cautious tone seemed to warn of some unknown crisis.
Jiang Lun stood there in a daze, watching Zhang Xianzhi's back gradually disappear behind the corner gate.
Regardless of whether this was alarmist or groundless, he still assigned his servant Yuanbao to pass the news to his cousin Jiang Shuxiu.
Everyone who returned to the Marquis' Mansion gathered in the Xiangyun Hall for dinner and was shocked when they heard about this.
"Is Princess Xianning crazy? Does she really dare to plot against the Marquis' Mansion?"
Xue Huichun was baffled by Li Yunting's behavior, but she also suspected that Zhang Xianzhi, the Duke of Mount Deer, might have been frightened out of his wits and had hysteria. Otherwise, how could he have such a horrifying idea?
Just because of a few arguments in public, she, a princess, wanted to poison the entire marquis's mansion?
When Xue Zhongfu thought of Li Yunting's shameless words, he couldn't help but curse: "Crazy woman!"
Hong Yingrong didn't dare take the matter lightly. Of course, she couldn't let the unpleasantness of today's incident lead her to her fear that Princess Xianning would poison the entire residence. But she also couldn't turn a blind eye. So she solemnly instructed Madam Zhao, "It's spring now, and diseases like hepatitis and heat rash are prone to occur. The kitchen staff must be on high alert. Those who aren't normally on duty in the kitchen are strictly prohibited from entering or leaving at will."
Madam Zhao nodded and replied, "I understand. I will pay close attention to this."
After all the dinner dishes were served, Hong Yingrong noticed that her youngest son Xue Jiyan had no appetite and didn't even touch his favorite crispy prawns. She thought he was still blaming himself for letting Yan Boxi stay temporarily in his house.
"What's wrong? Is the food not to your taste?" she asked with concern.
Xue Jiyan hurriedly shook his head. In order not to worry his mother, he immediately picked up the soup bowl and took a big sip of soup.
"What happened to Yan Boxi is not your fault. Don't dwell on it anymore." Hong Yingrong picked up a crispy prawn and put it into her youngest son's bowl, comforting him softly.
Xue Jiyan put down his chopsticks, looked around at his family, and smiled shyly.
"Mother, I saw the miserable state of the Duke today. If I pass the imperial examination in the future and His Majesty or the Queen Mother gives me such a willful wife, I will be really miserable..." His words revealed deep worry and his face was full of sorrow, but these words made everyone laugh.
Xue Shanqiu and Xue Jiyan had been playing and joking since they were little. She left her seat and walked over to her third brother, jokingly saying, "It seems like your third brother is starting to think about marrying his third sister-in-law!"
These words made the whole family laugh and have fun, and the haze on Liquan Mountain also disappeared.
…
In the Qiao Mansion in Yongnan Lane, Beijing, a dispute between mother and daughter is unfolding.
"Mother, please give the wooden box back to me. I will never dare to do it again!" Qiao Heyuan pleaded anxiously.
However, the eldest lady of the Qiao family, Yang, ruthlessly ordered her servants to throw the wooden box into the kitchen stove.
Seeing that the wooden box was about to turn to ashes, Qiao Heyuan reached out to take it back in desperation.
"You're really messing around!" Yang scolded harshly, "Now you don't even listen to me? Your aunt took you outing today, and you brought back these disgusting things."
"I asked you to get close to your eldest cousin. Your aunt loves you the most. She might let you be the equal wife of the eldest daughter of the Marquis' Mansion!" As he said this, he pinched Qiao Heyuan's cheek, hoping to teach her a lesson.
"Ouch!" Qiao Heyuan rubbed her cheek in pain and muttered dissatisfiedly, "Mother, stop daydreaming. My cousin treats me like a child!"
Thinking that Xue Huichun treated her like her own younger sister today, Qiao Heyuan felt respect and love for her.
"Mother, you haven't seen the eldest sister of the Xue family. In her silver satin Taoist robe, she looks just like the Bodhisattva Guanyin. She and my eldest cousin standing together are truly a match made in heaven, like a talented scholar and a beautiful woman straight out of a play."
"You are so heartless!" After hearing this, Yang was so angry that she wanted to go up and pinch her again.
At this moment, Qiao Heyuan noticed the two people in power of the Qiao family - Old Master Qiao Sanhe and the eldest master of the Qiao family, Qiao Mingyuan - walking over, and immediately stepped forward to seek shelter.
"Grandpa, Dad, please save me! Mom is twisting my face!"
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