"I see," Mei Xiyuan said, reaching out to pat Ling'er's head in comfort. But Ling'er suddenly backed away and quickly hid behind Yi Shangyun, concealing most of her body and only revealing half of her face. Her eyes showed an expression that was hard to tell whether it was fear or disgust.
"Ling'er, don't be rude! Quickly pay your respects to the Princess Consort!" Yi Shangyun scolded Ling'er for her impolite behavior.
A moment later, Ling'er reluctantly stepped forward from behind Yi Shangyun, and knelt down to greet her in her childish and innocent voice, as clear as a silver bell, saying, "Ling'er greets Her Highness the Princess Consort of Qin."
Upon seeing this, Mei Xiyuan quickly stepped forward, bent down, and helped Xiao Ling'er up. Then she took the opportunity to pat her head and said, "Ling'er is so good and cute. Since His Highness has allowed you to stay at the Prince's Mansion for the time being, you should come to my place more often in the future. It will make things more lively for me, okay?"
Ling'er did not answer her, and as soon as she stood up, she shrank back behind her clothes and clouds.
Yi Shangyun had no choice but to thank her on her behalf, saying, "Your Highness is so kind. It is Ling'er's good fortune to be favored by Your Highness. Ling'er will definitely come to bother you more often in the future. I hope Your Highness will not blame her."
"You flatter me, Yi Yao Nu," Mei Xiyuan said politely with a smile.
"It's getting late, and I'm in a hurry to return to the palace to report to the Imperial Pharmacy and get my duties done. I won't disturb Your Highness any longer. I'll come to pay my respects to Your Highness another day when I have the chance," Yi Shangyun said to Mei Xiyuan after glancing at the sky.
"Then take care on your journey, and be sure to visit the Prince's Mansion more often in the future," Mei Xiyuan said with concern.
"Yes, this servant thanks Your Highness for your kindness," Yi Shangyun said, nodding goodbye to Lu Tianjiao beside Mei Xiyuan. Then she took Ling'er's hand and walked towards the gate of the palace.
They soon arrived at the gate of the Prince Qin's mansion. Yi Shangyun then turned around, squatted down, and took Ling'er's small, delicate hands, saying, "Ling'er, you and your grandmother will be living in this mansion for some time to come. The Princess Consort of Qin is the mistress of the mansion, do you understand?"
Seeing Ling'er pouting and remaining silent, she continued to look earnestly into her eyes and said, "You must be a good girl and listen to me, so that the master will like you; if the master likes you, your life will be easier; if your life is easier, your parents will be at ease, and you can safely wait here for them to return so that the family can be reunited, understand?"
"But sister, everyone in the palace thinks that His Highness Prince Qin likes you, not that princess. Why did Prince Qin marry that princess instead of you?" Yi Shangyun was surprised that Ling'er would say such a thing.
She panicked and looked around to make sure no one was there. Then she sternly reprimanded Ling'er, "Don't talk nonsense! Who is His Highness Prince Qin? And who am I? This is disrespect to His Highness, do you understand? Only a noble princess like Princess Dongning is worthy of His Highness. Never say such things again, remember?"
Ling'er still looked unconvinced, but had to mutter, "Ling'er will remember."
"Alright, remember what your sister said, take good care of your grandma, sister is leaving now." Although Yi Shangyun was reluctant to part with this poor little girl, she also knew that she was someone who had no choice in the matter and was in a precarious situation.
"Sister, will my parents come back safely?" Ling'er suddenly asked.
"Yes, of course they will, Ling'er. You must believe in them, so you must be obedient and wait here patiently," Yi Shangyun comforted her.
"Ling'er understands, Sister Yun, don't worry. I will be good and take good care of Grandma so that you and your parents won't worry about me," Ling'er said, as if she had mustered up her courage.
“Yes, that’s right. No matter what happens in the future, Ling’er must be a brave girl and remember your sister’s words.” As Yi Shangyun spoke, her eyes filled with tears. She then hurriedly got up and ran outside, afraid that if she stayed even a second longer, she would burst into tears in front of this innocent child.
How embarrassing would it be to teach a seven-year-old girl to be strong, only to break down in tears yourself?
Yi Shangyun had already left, but Xiao Ling'er was still standing there, staring blankly at her departing figure. At this moment, Xuan Yuanhan, who had been hiding in the corner listening to the two's sad farewell, came out and stroked Ling'er's head with a large, reassuring hand.
Ling'er looked up and saw that the person who came was Xuan Yuanhan. She gave him a reproachful look and asked, "Your Highness, why did you marry Princess Dongning instead of Sister Yun?"
Xuanyuan Han listened with a complicated expression, unsure how to answer the child's question. Yes, perhaps he really shouldn't have agreed to Emperor Jing's marriage proposal, but now...
Finally, he could only say to Ling'er, "Ling'er, be good. When you grow up, you will naturally understand that there are many things in life that are unexpected." Ling'er looked puzzled, and then Xuan Yuanhan took her little hand and turned to walk towards the back hall of the palace.
At this moment, Mei Xiyuan and Lu Tianjiao saw Yi Shangyun off and returned to Shaohua Pavilion.
In the dead of winter, the outside world was covered in ice and snow. But inside, it was warm and cozy, like springtime.
The finest smokeless charcoal in the brazier burned with a captivating warmth in the cold winter. Mei Xiyuan, wearing the most luxurious white fox fur coat of Dongning Kingdom, which she had specially prepared for her morning audience with the emperor, chatted happily with him over tea, fruit, and snacks.
Lu Tianjiao said to Mei Xiyuan, "So this is the clever girl with such high medical skills that Sister Mei mentioned who treated me."
Mei Xiyuan listened with a hint of doubt in her heart and said, "It is indeed her. Does my sister also know this woman?"
Lu Tianjiao's eyes darted around as she said, "Sister, this woman is probably known to everyone in the Qin Prince's mansion."
Mei Xiyuan suddenly sensed a hidden meaning in Lu Tianjiao's words and said, "Oh, is what you say true, little sister? If you know anything, why not speak frankly and tell your older sister?"
Lu Tianjiao suddenly changed her mind and said, "Sister, you don't know this, I only heard it secondhand. There's no way I know where to begin, but I suppose you'll gradually learn as you spend more time in the Qin Prince's mansion."
After saying that, Lu Tianjiao looked out the window at the sky and said, "Sister Mei, it's getting late. It's time for me to set off with you back to the academy." Then he got up.
Mei Xiyuan looked suspicious upon hearing this, but since Lu Tianjiao was unwilling to elaborate, she didn't press the matter further. She stood up and said, "In that case, younger sister should visit your elder sister at the Prince's Mansion more often when she has time, so that we can keep in touch."
"Of course, if my sister ever bothers me in the future, I hope you won't take offense," Lu Tianjiao said politely.
Mei Xiyuan: "How could that be? My sister would love for her younger sister to come often."
“It’s cold outside, and you’re not feeling well, so there’s no need for me to see you off,” Lu Tianjiao said, turning to leave. But then she suddenly turned back and added, “As the saying goes, ‘One should not have the heart to harm others, but one must be wary of others.’ You’ll need to be more careful in the future.”
Mei Xiyuan felt that there was something wrong with what she said, but she said directly, "Thank you for reminding me, sister."
At this moment, Lu Tianjiao smiled slightly at Mei Xiyuan before slowly moving out.
Mei Xiyuan stood there stunned for a long time, muttering to herself, "Yi Shangyun, everyone in the Qin Prince's mansion knows him."
"Granny Zhao, go and find out for me, Princess Consort," Mei Xiyuan said with a frown after a long while.
"Your Highness, rest assured, this old servant will investigate thoroughly," Zhao Mama said through gritted teeth, her eyes filled with fierce determination.
Inside the city of Xiqin, the Lu siblings from Xiqin Academy were riding together in a carriage, speeding south on their way back to the academy.
It was getting late, so we stopped at an inn to stay the night and continue our journey until dawn.
"Innkeeper, could you please prepare two superior rooms and a table of food and wine for us? Also, please arrange for someone to properly prepare and resupply the carriage outside, as we need to continue our journey early tomorrow morning?"
After arranging everything, Lu Tianlin sat down next to Lu Tianjiao, who was waiting nearby.
Lu Tianlin sat down, glanced at Lu Tianjiao, and frowned, saying, "Little sister, you are too bold and willful. I reminded you so many times before we went to the Prince of Qin's mansion. His Highness the Prince of Qin is already married. What more do you want?"
"Brother, why do you say that? I don't understand what you're saying," Lu Tianjiao replied expressionlessly, feigning ignorance.
"Don't understand? Then what did you mean by what you said to His Highness? His Highness is a member of the Western Qin royal family, do you know that?" Lu Tianlin said in a tone that was almost reprimanding.
"So what if he's a member of the Western Qin royal family?" Lu Tianjiao retorted without backing down.
Seeing that she remained unrepentant, Lu Tianlin grew even more angry and said, "Royal children, how can you decide your own marriage? Aren't you all first and foremost pawns in the royal family's efforts to consolidate the empire?"
"So what?" Lu Tianjiao still refused to admit his mistake.
"Well? Since you already know, why ask His Highness whether he likes Princess Yongle or not? They are already husband and wife; what business is it of yours whether he likes her or not?"
Lu Tianlin was still on tenterhooks because his younger sister had questioned him about that in front of the esteemed Prince Qin. He was truly worried about his sister.
Lu Tianlin knew that the childhood sweetheart relationship that Lu Tianjiao spoke of was nothing more than wishful thinking on her part. The noble War God, the King of Qin, was no ordinary man, so how could he possibly be interested in a woman as ordinary as his sister, who at most had only a pretty face?
"Sir, your food and wine are ready. Please enjoy." At this moment, the innkeeper brought out a table of steaming hot food and wine. The brother and sister looked at it but neither of them started eating.
Finally, Lu Tianlin couldn't help but say something that deeply hurt Lu Tianjiao's pride: "Sister, of all people you could like, why did you have to like someone impossible? You know perfectly well that from beginning to end, it's just wishful thinking on your part."
Upon hearing this, Lu Tianjiao immediately jumped up and said, "Enough! My affairs are none of your business. Mind your own business. Can't you see His Highness's feelings for the Yi family's eldest daughter whom you broke off your engagement with?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Tianjiao turned around and rushed out the door, disappearing instantly into the already hazy night.
"The eldest daughter of the Yi family... Yi Shangyun... His Highness Prince Qin, his feelings for Yi Shangyun..." Lu Tianlin was startled by his sister's roar, but he began to ponder the words his sister had left behind.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible. That ugly woman from the Yi family is a good-for-nothing. How could His Highness possibly have feelings for her..." Lu Tianlin muttered to himself, shaking his head in disbelief.
He suddenly realized that Lu Tianjiao hadn't eaten all day, so he looked up in the direction she had left, but there was no one there. He sighed and started eating by himself.
In a pavilion by a small river not far from the inn, Lu Tianjiao, who had been scolded by Lu Tianlin, ran out of the inn and was now sitting in the pavilion, sobbing sadly with tears streaming down her face.
"Wishful thinking, unrequited love, Lu Tianjiao, you're supposed to be the eldest daughter of Xiqin Academy, well-educated, a lady from a prestigious family. Yet you've been humiliated like this!" Lu Tianjiao said through gritted teeth.
"I hate it so much, I hate it so much! Why? Why are you all treating me like this? What did I do wrong? Your Highness... Brother Han, why do you treat Tianjiao like dirt, discarding him like worn-out shoes?"
"No, I, Lu Tianjiao, was born noble, how can I allow myself to be summoned and dismissed at your beck and call? I cannot admit defeat like this. Hmph... Princess Qin, Yi Shangyun, you forced me to do this, you forced me to do this!" Lu Tianjiao shouted as if he were going mad.
On this frigid winter night, she seemed completely oblivious to the cold. At this moment, she was almost out of her mind, as if consumed by hatred, her whole body burning with rage. It was as if only in this icy world could she find a little comfort and make herself feel better.
Just then, a strange figure appeared in the dark night. Who are you?
......
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