056

The warm sun begins to appear and the fine snow melts.

Raindrops fell from the eaves.

Xu Li'er looked at the snow-covered yard in a trance.

Wang Anlin hadn't been seen for several days.

Maybe he was angry about her suggesting taking a concubine.

She held her breath and would never give in even if Wang Anlin didn't come.

Watching time pass by little by little.

The maid reminded her softly, "Your Highness, the appointed time is approaching."

Xu Li'er came back to her senses, with a hint of fierceness in her eyes.

She asked, "Is everything ready?"

The maid bowed her head and said, "Everything has been prepared according to the princess' instructions."

Xu Li'er nodded, turned around and walked to the dressing table, took out a box of bright lip balm, and applied it carefully.

She looked at herself in the mirror and suddenly smiled.

Like a gorgeous peony.

A quarter of an hour later, Xu Lier arrived at the temple outside the city, burned incense very piously, and then walked to the back mountain leisurely.

Under the pavilion on the back mountain, a pink figure stood there.

It's very cold in the mountains.

Xu Huai frowned and held on to his cloak. Tang Pozi, the only source of heat in his arms, was gradually cooling down.

She kicked the stones under her feet impatiently.

"What is Wang Anlin doing? He asked me out but didn't show up. Is he playing a trick on me?!"

Xu Li'er stood behind the rockery, staring coldly at the angry person in the pavilion.

The person who asked her out today was not Wang Anlin, but Xu Lier.

It was she who used Wang Anlin's name to hook Xu Huai out.

"Eighth sister."

Xu Huai Ni was shocked, "Sister? Why are you here?"

Realizing that she had overreacted, she took a deep breath to calm herself down.

"Are you here to burn incense in the temple, big sister?"

Xu Li'er responded calmly and looked around, "Why is Eighth Sister alone in the back hills? Are you waiting for someone?"

Xu Huaini didn't dare to answer, and replied vaguely: "Yes, yes... But seeing that she hasn't come, I won't disturb eldest sister..."

She hesitated and wanted to leave.

Xu Lian'er would never do as she wished.

He stepped forward and blocked her way.

Xu Li'er smiled calmly: "Eighth sister is waiting for the prince consort, right?"

Xu Huai's hair stood on end immediately. He took a step back and looked at her warily: "What are you talking about, big sister?"

Xu Li'er saw her reaction clearly, still with that warm smile on her face: "You are here, don't you have an appointment with my husband?"

Seeing that she wanted to deny it, Xu Li'er quickly interrupted her.

"It was me who asked you to come here."

Xu Huai was stunned and was not fooled, "What are you talking about, eldest sister? I didn't wait for eldest sister's consort anymore?"

Xu Li'er smiled without saying anything, just stared at her.

Her eighth sister was not fooled at all. They underestimated her.

Xu Li'er walked around her and sat down. "Eighth sister, are you still going to play tricks on me? That day, you were intimate with the prince consort, but you provoked me in person. Why don't you dare to admit it now?"

Xu Huai Ni slowly relaxed, and the innocence on his face disappeared.

She turned and stared at Xu Li'er, "I didn't know that my elder sister would also resist."

"Yeah..." Xu Li'er lowered her eyes and sighed, "I didn't even know that Eighth Sister had such means."

She suddenly raised her eyes and stared at him, "On my wedding day, it was you who ruined my wedding dress, right?"

Although there are many people who have come into contact with the wedding dress, it is easy to investigate if we eliminate them one by one.

It was her preconception that Xu Huaini would not do such a thing.

But she forgot how many children who grew up in the palace could be innocent.

Xu Huaini knew that she wanted to have a showdown with him.

So I simply stopped pretending.

She calmly sat down opposite him and said, "I did it. Big sister and I both grew up in the palace, how can we still be so naive? If we want to blame someone, we should blame big sister for being too stupid. Among us sisters, who really treats each other sincerely?"

Xu Huai paused and burst into laughter.

She wiped away the tears from her eyes and looked at her with a strange look, "Big sister, big sister, do you really think there is true love among us?"

"Third sister has a good relationship with you, but that's because she feels sorry for you. Third sister is such a proud person, how could she look down on you? Only eldest sister foolishly thinks that she treats you sincerely, hahaha!"

Xu Lier's eyes darkened little by little.

No matter how wildly Xu Huai smiled, she remained indifferent.

Xu Huaini is the youngest among them. As the eldest sister, she subconsciously feels that she is a child.

She was too naive.

Xu Li'er looked at her and smiled, her smile grew bigger and bigger, but there was no smile in her eyes at all.

Xu Huaini noticed something was wrong, "What do you want to do?"

Xu Li'er stood up and approached her, "Eighth sister, even rabbits will bite when they are angry. You seduced my prince consort, ruined my wedding dress, and now you are mocking me in front of me. Do you really think I won't resist?"

Xu Li'er remained silent for more than ten years and endured the bullying in the palace without saying a word.

Now she is not going to endure it anymore.

Xu Huai turned around to run, but she grabbed her hair.

"ah!"

Xu Lier's eyes turned fierce, and she grabbed her by the back of the head and slammed her against the pillar.

"Ah! Onee-san—"

A cold light flashed.

Xu Li'er pulled out the hairpin and stabbed it into her shoulder fiercely, "You will slowly pay me back for all the things that happened in the past!"

Occasionally, birds fly over the cold and quiet hills.

Then, return to peace.

*

The prince wants to investigate Yang Chaoxue's miscarriage.

Song Jin plans to make a big fuss about this, and it would be best if Yang Chaoxue loses the prince's favor.

Yang Chaoxue has been depressed since she gave birth and has not left the East Palace for several months.

Song Jin has been waiting for her to meet Xu Nanheng.

Finally got the chance on this day.

Watching Yang Chaoxue and Xu Nanheng walk into the garment shop one after another, Song Jin prepared to sit down at the tea stall opposite.

I caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in my peripheral vision.

"Your Highness?"

While Song Jin was stunned, Xu Guanlin had already sat down opposite her.

"The county lord is here too." Xu Guanlin looked puzzled, as if he didn't know Yang Chaoxue was standing opposite him. "Speaking of which, the county lord has returned from Suizhou. I wanted to go visit him, but the marquis stopped me from going."

Visit her?

What is there for her to visit?

Song Jin looked puzzled, "What does Your Highness want to see me for?"

Xu Guanlin: "Of course I am curious about the county lord's visit to Suizhou and the relationship between the county lord and Quling Hou."

Song Jin:?

Why is everyone so curious about her relationship with Cui Huaiji?

She was silent for a moment. "I went to Suizhou only to help Zhaiyue Tower get samples. As for my relationship with Lord Hou... partners?"

No one would believe it if she said it didn't matter, so it would be better for her to make it up herself to avoid other people making up stories.

Xu Guanlin seemed to be thinking about something, and then smiled and said, "I think that the relationship between you two is more than just a partnership. I have known Fu Ji for many years, and I know him very well. I just wonder if the county lord knows it too."

“…”

Song Jin didn't want to continue this topic.

She was subconsciously avoiding the question.

Tea stalls are the place where there is no shortage of idle chatter.

Suddenly, I heard people talking about the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess.

Song Jin had learned something from the letter and immediately changed the subject, "From what they said, it seems that His Highness and the Crown Princess have a rift?"

Xu Guanlin glanced at those people lightly, without commenting: "Well, the relationship is a little cold, but it's not like what they say. I have a deep friendship with the Crown Princess."

They both knew how credible this statement was.

The topic began to revolve around him and Chang Yue.

Song Jin suddenly realized that he didn't mention his concubine at all.

Weren't we in love with each other at first? Why did we become distant after the birth of a child?

Song Jin's mind moved slightly, "Your Highness has been talking about the Crown Princess, what about the concubine? Hasn't the matter between Your Highness and the concubine been spread a few days ago..."

Xu Guanlin's eyes turned cold, then his expression softened, "Well, I've already said that rumors are not to be believed. The concubine was injured in the miscarriage and needs time to recuperate."

What a thoughtful thing to say.

Song Jin admired in her heart. If she didn't know the inside story, she would have been fooled by Xu Guanlin.

It seems that Xu Guanlin also began to doubt.

How can he be a stupid person if he can become the crown prince?

Yang Chaoxue was taking advantage of his favor and was trying to erode his love for her.

Song Jin no longer tried.

The two sat in silence.

It was not until an hour later that Yang Chaoxue left the clothing shop.

Xu Guanlin looked coldly, without even glancing at Song Jin, and stood up to say goodbye to him.

Song Jin watched his reaction and probably understood something.

Xu Guanlin now has some doubts about Yang Chaoxue.

That's fine.

*

After noon, it was time for Xu Lier to come to her place to study.

Song Jin was waiting for her in the shop.

"My Lord, you have been waiting for a long time."

Xu Li'er looked apologetic.

Song Jin shook his head and spread out the account book, preparing to teach her how to check for errors in the account book.

Xu Lien'er studied seriously, like a hungry person, drinking up everything tirelessly.

The sun sets.

The house began to cool down.

Qingwu came in at the right time to add hot tea.

Song Jin's eyes felt a little uncomfortable after staring at the account book for too long, and he rubbed his brows as he looked at her.

Inadvertently caught a glimpse of the scar on her wrist.

She was slightly stunned: "The injury on the eldest princess' wrist?"

Xu Lier quickly pulled up her sleeves to cover it, "It's nothing serious, I accidentally did it at home."

Song Jin nodded and didn't take it to heart.

Another half an hour passed, and Xu Li'er seemed unable to hold back any longer.

"I suddenly have a doubt."

Song Jin looked at her in confusion.

"I have lived in the palace for several years. What do you think would happen if something happened to the princess?"

Song Jin was confused by her irrelevant question.

"What does the princess want to ask?"

Xu Li'er frowned, "If something happens to me, it probably won't cause any trouble. No one will care if I live or die. But what if something happens to the county lord? Others may not care, but Qu Linghou will definitely care!"

Song Jin felt something was wrong and tried to get up, but he felt so tired that he had no strength at all.

She immediately called out: "Qing Wu..."

The sound was faint and the vision began to blur.

Xu Li'er slowly approached her and touched her eyes with her cool fingertips.

She murmured: "These eyes are so beautiful..."

Song Jin tried hard to open his eyes: "You...you are in the spices..."

The incense in the house was sent by Xu Lier this morning.

She checked it out and it was clear that there was nothing wrong.

Xu Li'er looked at the burning incense, "The county lord is so vigilant, ordinary smoke can't fool you, I found this incense specially for the county lord."

"Go to sleep, you'll be fine after a good sleep."

Song Jin finally succumbed to the sleepiness and fell into a deep sleep.

Xu Li'er looked at her with a gloomy look in her eyes, "...Song Jin, I won't hurt you."