Xie Jingyan, the Prince of Yanping, and Shen Du were all around the same age and had lively personalities. They always spoke their minds, making it easy for them to get along. They ate and drank for more than half an hour before finally stopping.
After a satisfying meal, they went downstairs chatting and laughing, much to the envy of the group of diners below.
Each and every one of them is of noble status, someone that ordinary people cannot reach.
Well, let's not talk about the diners downstairs. Upstairs in a private room, Xie Jingyin stood by the window, watching the Prince of Yanping and his entourage come downstairs. His eyes were dark, and no one could tell what he was thinking.
The eldest son of the Left Prime Minister's residence stood beside him and said, "It's fortunate that Prince Ling didn't have a chance to compete for the position of Crown Prince, otherwise, with the power behind these people, plus the Yun family..."
He's probably already been made crown prince, so there's no point in having Prince Jin and the eldest prince.
Xie Jingyin had always known that the Prince of Yanping and several others were close to Xie Jingyan. Because Xie Jingyan had fallen from his horse and broken his leg, which had been difficult to heal, and also because of Consort Chen, he had never regarded Xie Jingyan as a rival, even though Shen Wan had abandoned him and chosen Prince Ling.
But ever since Xie Jingyan's leg ailment was cured, things have become increasingly out of his control. The position of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites that he wanted, as well as the positions in the Armory and the City Patrol Division, all fell into Xie Jingyan's hands. Even the recommendation of Prince Cheng could not be obtained, but Prince Ling was able to persuade the Emperor to allow the heir of Prince Yanping and the eldest son of the Duke of Tan to enter the City Patrol Division.
Both he and the eldest prince were certain that the heir of the Prince of Yanping was not up to the task and would vacate the position within three to five days. However, the prince secured the position in just one day.
Furthermore, the Emperor's attitude towards Prince Ling is also unpredictable.
Xie Jingyin's gaze remained fixed on Xie Jingyan. Xie Jingyan noticed this as he stepped out of Deyue Tower and turned his head to look at him.
The two locked eyes—
A cold and sinister one.
A calm and indifferent person.
Xie Jingyan glanced at Xie Jingyin only once before stepping out the door.
Tang Ze patted the Prince of Yanping on the shoulder and said, "Can you even ride a horse with that ass?"
The Prince of Yanping said dejectedly, "I can ride a carriage just as bumpy as a horse-drawn carriage."
They could only ride on horseback and be led slowly by a servant.
That's why he was late.
The servant couldn't support the Prince of Yanping by himself, so Tang Ze helped him. After he finished, he habitually patted the horse's rump.
Before the Prince of Yanping could even settle into his seat, the horse took off galloping forward.
Tang Ze, "..."
Everyone, "..."
And then there was Prince Yanping, who was being carried forward, his buttocks bouncing so badly... it really hurt so much he felt like he wanted to die.
"Tang Ze, you just wait!"
The sound of the Prince of Yanping gritting his teeth could be heard.
Tang Ze shuddered.
God have mercy, he really didn't mean it!
It's over.
They both served in the city patrol division.
He couldn't escape it.
Fearing for the safety of the Prince of Yanping's heir, Tang Ze quickly rode off to catch up and escort the Prince of Yanping back to the Prince of Yanping's residence.
The others also mounted their horses and went home.
Xie Jingyan walked towards the Prince's Mansion. Before he even left the street, he heard the rapid sound of hooves. A horse galloped past him, and on its back was a yamen runner.
Upon seeing this, Chen Feng said, "Sir, it's an urgent dispatch..."
The urgent messages delivered over 800 li were all extraordinary.
I don't know what happened.
Logically speaking, the princess has dreamed about all the major and minor events of the Great Chu in recent years. The most recent major event is the Xizhou Dam, but the date is not yet here.
Just as Chen Feng was thinking this, Xie Jingyan's command came: "Go and find out."
"Yes, I'll go right away."
Chen Feng accepted the order and left, while Xie Jingyan returned to his residence alone.
Xie Jingyan had just reached the entrance of Moyuxuan Courtyard when a servant ran up behind him and said, "Your Highness, the First Prince has arrived."
...
On the large, carved rosewood bed, Shen Wan woke up from her afternoon nap, sat up lazily, and asked Yin Shuang, "Has the Prince returned?"
Yinshuang nodded repeatedly, "The prince has returned and is currently in the study talking with the eldest prince."
Why did the eldest prince come to the Lingwang Mansion to find Xie Jingyan?
Last time, he came to Xie Jingyan to ask for the blueprints of the Xizhou Dam. He gave them to him but failed to keep them. He probably doesn't have the face to ask for them a second time, right?
Shen Wan threw off the covers and got out of bed. As she dressed and went out, she saw Steward Zhou seeing the Crown Prince off.
Shen Wan stepped into the study. The door was open, and Shen Wan went straight in.
Xie Jingyan sat there drinking tea when Shen Wan stepped forward and asked, "What brings the Crown Prince here to see you?"
Xie Jingyan put down his teacup, smiled, and said, "Testing whether I have any intention of supporting the Eighth Prince, trying to win me over."
...The eldest prince suspects that Xie Jingyan wants to support the eighth prince in his bid for the throne, without ever considering that Xie Jingyan himself might have such an idea.
He still felt that Xie Jingyan had no chance to compete with him at all, and that no matter how many people supported him, it would be useless; he could only support other princes.
Shen Wan had always been curious about what Consort Chen had done back then, and she was even more curious now, but she dared not ask. It was Xie Jingyan's deepest pain, a sore spot that could not be touched.
Shen Wan couldn't understand why the Emperor had taken his anger out on Xie Jingyan after Consort Chen's offense, punishing him by sending him to guard the imperial mausoleum for four years. Yet, the news hadn't spread. In her previous life, when Xie Jingyan raised an army in the Northwest to rebel, Consort Chen's matter was never mentioned either. It was truly strange.
Shen Wan looked at Xie Jingyan, "Then how will you answer the Crown Prince?"
“I have no intention of supporting the Eighth Prince. If he misunderstands and plots against the Eighth Prince, he will have one more enemy.”
Shen Wan knew that Xie Jingyan could not be won over by the First Prince. She had seen too many cases of discarding a good bow after the birds have flown away and killing a donkey after it has served its purpose. She would never place her hopes on others unless absolutely necessary, and she did not trust even the Eighth Prince.
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