Although the method was a bit underhanded, it really worked.
Princess Huai'an was so frightened that her heart pounded. Upon hearing that she had bumped into the carriage of Prince Ling's mansion, she disregarded her own shock and quickly got out of the carriage to apologize.
When Princess Huai'an arrived, Shen Wan happened to lift the carriage curtain and come out. She saw that Princess Huai'an's bright and beautiful face, which had made her elder brother fall in love at first sight, was now full of apology. Shen Wan quickly got off the carriage. Although Princess Huai'an and her elder brother did not become lovers in her previous life, in Shen Wan's heart, Princess Huai'an was her sister-in-law.
In this life, with her elder brother not in Kyoto, she will definitely protect her sister-in-law for him.
But whose protection begins with scheming?
Princess Huai'an apologized, "The carriage suddenly went out of control, disturbing Princess Ling."
Shen Wan shook her head and said, "It was just an accident, Princess Huai'an, you don't need to take it to heart. But the horse suddenly got startled, were you injured?"
Shen Wan's gentle tone and the concern in her eyes gave Princess Huai'an a strange feeling, as if she and Princess Ling had known each other for a long time.
Although they had met a few years ago, it was just a brief encounter; they weren't even acquaintances.
Princess Huai'an suppressed the strange feeling in her heart, shook her head slightly, and the ginkgo leaf earring on her cloud-like earlobe drew a perfect arc. She raised her hand to cover her shoulder and said in a voice as soft as a nightingale's song, "It's just a bump on my shoulder, nothing serious."
“It’s good that you’re not injured,” Shen Wan said.
Princess Huai'an, "...???"
She looked at Shen Wan, about to speak, when Xie Jingyan lifted the carriage curtain and said, "It's time to go."
Princess Huai'an's eyes widened.
Why is Prince Ling in the carriage too?
Wasn't it said that his illness was so serious that even the imperial physicians in the palace couldn't cure him, and that the emperor had to issue a proclamation to find a renowned doctor for him?
Shen Wan glanced back at Xie Jingyan, then looked at Princess Huai'an and said softly, "Then see you next time."
Princess Huai'an watched Shen Wan get into the carriage. After Shen Wan got into the carriage, she lifted the curtain and glanced at her with a smile on her face. She unconsciously raised her hand to wave goodbye to her.
The maid standing to the side couldn't help but say, "Princess Ling has such a kind nature."
Princess Ling was traveling in a carriage with Prince Ling when they were hit hard by the carriage from Prince An's residence. Not only did she not seem to be hurt, but she was even worried about whether her princess was injured. She had always thought that only bodhisattvas in temples had such a good-natured person, but she did not expect to meet such a person on the second day after arriving in the capital.
As for Shen Wan, once she got into the carriage, she couldn't help but say, "I only exchanged two words with Princess Huai'an, why did you call me away?"
Xie Jingyan reached out and pulled Shen Wan into his arms, saying, "Unsolicited kindness is always suspicious. If I don't call you away in time, it will backfire."
Shen Wan thought about it and agreed. She was the one who was hit, and she was also the Princess Consort of Ling. There was no need for her to get off the carriage. But when she thought of the affection that Princess Huai'an had for her elder brother, she couldn't control herself. Fortunately, Xie Jingyan called her back in time. Being too enthusiastic would indeed arouse suspicion. She was supposed to help her elder brother, so she couldn't cause him any trouble.
Thinking of this, she felt Xie Jingyan's hand on her waist tighten. Just when Shen Wan thought he was going to do something inappropriate, he put her down to sit on the side.
Without a doubt, Xie Jingyan's action of pulling her into his arms just now was entirely subconscious. Now that he realized it, he's back to being proper.
Shen Wan was both happy and disappointed.
The two did not speak again until the coachman drove the carriage to the end of Changping Street. Shen Wan got off the carriage first, and then Xie Jingyan got off.
Seeing that Xie Jingyan looked well, Shen Wan couldn't resist the urge to go shopping. She dragged Xie Jingyan from one end of the street to the other, and they had a great time.
Changping Street is the most bustling and lively street in Kyoto, with many young ladies from prominent families and young masters from aristocratic households. Some of them recognized Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan and dared not disturb their leisurely stroll. They could only look around frequently. The Prince of Ling had only lost some weight and did not look so ill. Rumors were indeed not reliable.
Wangyue Tower, second floor.
The Crown Prince of Yanping and several scions of prominent families sat there drinking.
The eldest son of the Duke of Tan took a sip of wine, looked at the heir of the Prince of Yanping with disdain, and sighed, "You've spoiled our palates. Ever since you treated us to drinks last month, every drink we have now seems a bit lacking. Where did you buy that wine last time?"
The Prince of Yanping poured himself a drink and said, "That wine is not available for purchase. It was a gift from the Prince of Ling. It is the finest tribute wine from the palace."
Upon hearing the mention of Prince Ling, the eldest son of the Duke of Tan's mansion asked, "You visited Prince Ling's residence a few days ago. How is Prince Ling's condition?"
They were childhood playmates with Xie Jingyan, but later Xie Jingyan was implicated by Consort Chen and demoted by the Emperor to guard the imperial mausoleum. Their contact decreased and their relationship faded. However, the carefree days of riding horses together in their youth were unforgettable for them. After Xie Jingyan broke his leg, they went to visit him together, but Xie Jingyan was cold to them because of his leg injury. After that, except for the Prince of Yanping's son, they never went to the Prince of Ling's residence again.
The Crown Prince of Yanping sighed, "When I arrived, he was vomiting terribly. A few days have passed, and I'm afraid his illness has worsened..."
His voice was low, and the atmosphere in the private room also became somber.
The heir of the Marquis of Xuanping was standing by the window. He turned to look out the window at the people coming and going on the street. As he looked, two figures appeared in his line of sight. His eyes widened. "Come and see!"
The eldest son of the Duke of Tan's mansion asked, "What do you want us to see?"
"Prince Ling".
The eldest son of the Duke of Tan's mansion, "...???"
Prince Yanping's heir, "...???"
"What a joke, how could Prince Ling be on the street?" said the Crown Prince of Yanping.
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