Upon arriving at the Princess's residence, Shen Hanshan alighted from his carriage and strode confidently into the residence.
Du Heng, Nan Xing, and a group of others followed behind him with joyful expressions, curiously and excitedly looking around the princess's residence.
The Princess's Mansion is nestled against green hills and faces clear waters. It adopts a symmetrical layout along a central axis, consisting of five courtyards. In front is a screen wall and imperial road, and behind is a garden and horse farm. The red walls and green tiles shimmer with a soft and solemn light in the afterglow of the setting sun. The carved beams and painted rafters are decorated with lifelike patterns of dragons and phoenixes, showing the grandeur of the royal family.
Shen Hanshan had no time to admire the beauty of the princess's residence. He passed through the screen wall, followed the covered corridor, circled the artificial hill, and hurried across the arched bridge, passing through the hanging flower gate, before heading straight for the bedchamber. His steps were hurried, his heart filled with anticipation and anxiety for the person he was about to meet.
Nan Ying carried a silver tray with freshly removed snacks and tea in her hands and walked carefully toward them.
She kept her head down and walked lightly, as if afraid of disturbing someone. Hearing hurried footsteps, she suddenly looked up and saw that it was Shen Hanshan. She quickly bowed respectfully and said softly, "Greetings, Your Highness."
Shen Hanshan nodded slightly, a barely perceptible hint of joy flashing in his eyes. Nan Ying had arrived, so Zhao Zhi must have arrived too.
He raised the corners of his mouth slightly, trying to maintain a calm expression, and asked, "Where is your prince?" His gaze fell on Nan Ying, with a hint of expectation.
Nan Ying's expression changed slightly. She looked at Chen Hanshan hesitantly, as if she wanted to say something but didn't know how to begin. Her lips moved, but she ultimately remained silent. After a moment, she gently shook her head, indicating that she didn't know either.
Then, she looked up at Shen Hanshan, pointed in the direction of the palace, and indicated that he could go in and take a look.
Shen Hanshan frowned slightly, a sense of worry rising in his heart. He thought Zhao Zhi had met with misfortune on her way back to Da Xuan. But if that were the case, how come he hadn't received any news about it?
Shen Hanshan took a deep breath to calm himself down, and then strode towards his bedchamber.
When he entered the bedchamber, the scene before him made his heart sink. Zhang Wan sat by the bed, holding Yun Xiao in her arms, one hand gently resting on his pulse, intently taking his pulse. Her expression was serious, her gaze focused, as if the whole world consisted only of the two of them.
Shen Hanshan's heart skipped a beat, and his face instantly turned grim. Had something really happened to Zhao Zhi on her way back? He raised his hand to signal the surrounding palace maids and eunuchs not to bow, so as not to disturb Zhang Wan's diagnosis. His gaze quickly swept around the palace, searching for Zhao Zhi's figure.
No trace of her was found.
He was extremely anxious. He turned around, gently stepped over the threshold, and walked towards the side hall. He searched around but could not find Zhao Zhi.
Feng Hong also rushed to the palace with Yun Xuan. As soon as they arrived, they saw Shen Hanshan pacing back and forth in the palace, looking anxious and uneasy. Feng Hong asked, "Your Highness, what happened? Why are you in such a hurry?"
Lanru looked at Shen Hanshan and said softly, "Is that even a question? He must be anxious because he can't see our princess."
Upon hearing this, Feng Hong's heart sank, but she still pretended to be calm and said, "Oh, Your Highness, it was because I didn't explain it clearly to you on the way. Her Highness said that she will be able to come and reunite with you in a few more days."
Upon hearing this, Shen Hanshan's eyes suddenly hardened, his chest heaved, and his breathing became rapid. He lowered his head and growled in a low voice, "Zhao Zhi!"
Lanru saw him clenching his teeth in anger, his fists clenched so tightly that the veins on his arms bulged as if they were about to burst. A hint of fear appeared on her face, but then she thought that Shen Hanshan was a veteran of the battlefield and would not punish the two female officials indiscriminately.
"You, you guys, well done!" Shen Hanshan suddenly raised his head, glanced at the people in front of him, a cold glint in his eyes, and then strode out of the mansion.
Du Heng called out to him, "Your Highness, where are you going?"
"Go find a wife!" Shen Hanshan left without looking back.
Nanxing and Du Heng exchanged glances. She whispered, "Isn't His Highness in his bedchamber?"
Du Heng was about to answer her when he saw Shen Hanshan take a few steps and then suddenly stop, walking back to face him, muttering, "No, she can be so heartless, but I can't bear to leave my child. Xiaoxiao looked really bad just now, I have to go and see what's wrong."
Nanxing pursed her lips slightly, thinking to herself: The prince is clearly being soft-hearted, finding a way to save face for himself. Sigh, as expected, the prince still doesn't win His Highness's favor at all.
She sighed, watching Shen Hanshan's retreating figure and gently shaking her head. She gave Du Heng a wink, signaling him to follow, while she went to the kitchen to see if they had prepared any dishes the prince liked.
"As expected, you have to pamper your own master." Nanxing muttered, listlessly walking towards the kitchen.
Du Heng watched Nanxing's departing figure and couldn't help but shake his head. He thought to himself that Nanxing was truly a worrier, even worrying about the relationship between the Prince and His Highness. However, he knew in his heart that Nanxing was right; the Prince's feelings for His Highness were indeed sincere, but His Highness didn't seem to appreciate them.
In the palace, Feng Hong saw Shen Hanshan return and secretly gave Lan Ru a look, whispering, "His Highness only dared to leave the young prince and princess to him because he knew the consort was all bark and no bite!"
Lanru agreed wholeheartedly. Especially after the prince learned that His Highness was Zhao Zhi, the second daughter of Duke Zhao, he obediently swallowed all his grievances.
"To be honest, seeing the prince like this, he looks rather pitiful." Lanru couldn't help but feel indignant for Shen Hanshan, but quickly changed the subject, "Let's go see the young prince!"
The two carried Yunxuan into the inner hall. Zhang Wan had already checked Yunxiao's pulse and found that the little guy was fine, but he was a bit listless due to the bumpy journey.
Shen Hanshan washed his hands and took off his dusty outer robe before carefully reaching out to hug Yun Xiao. In all this time, he had grown taller than Yun Xuan.
He reached out to tease the little boy, "Little one, have you missed your father?"
Yun Xiao seemed to sense his father's warmth and familiar presence. His previously listless face gradually broke into a smile. He reached out and gently touched Shen Hanshan's fingers, then suddenly grabbed them and sucked on them forcefully.
A strange, tingling sensation instantly surged through Shen Hanshan's mind, and he felt his hard shell softened by the little guy.
"Your Highness, the young master must be hungry," Zhang Wan whispered from the side.
Shen Hanshan suddenly realized, yes, Yun Xuan behaved the same way when she was hungry. He reluctantly handed Yun Xiao to the wet nurse beside him, and then gestured to Zhang Wan, "Madam, please come with me."
Zhang Wan knew exactly what her son-in-law, Shen Hanshan, wanted to ask her, so she calmly replied, "Okay."
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