The following morning, Shen Yunjiao followed Jiang Rong out of the city to the training ground.
Both of them wore veils and dressed very simply and modestly.
The drill ground was near Donghua Gate, and a fence surrounded the area, with several pavilions erected around it.
Shen Yunjiao and the others sat by the pavilion, watching the muscular soldiers constantly brandishing their swords and forming various square formations.
The summer sun was blazing, and Shen Yunjiao felt as if her veil was sticking to her face, making her extremely uncomfortable. After much deliberation, she finally removed the veil, revealing her delicate face.
Her action, however, immediately drew the attention of all the soldiers on the training ground.
They were all burly, rough men, and they had never seen such a beautiful young woman before.
Looking at her cousin-in-law, who resembled a blooming wild hibiscus in the sunlight, Jiang Rong couldn't help but whisper in admiration, "Cousin-in-law, you're so beautiful! Look, those men don't even want to train anymore; they're all too busy looking at you."
Jiang Rong said this without a trace of jealousy in her heart.
She was also happy; the prettier her cousin-in-law was, the uglier she looked.
The more you compare, the more hurtful it becomes.
When Yao Zhan sees his incomparably beautiful cousin-in-law and then sees himself, he will definitely feel dissatisfied, and then he can rightfully make him break off the engagement.
Jiang Rong leaned back comfortably.
Shen Yunjiao never expected that summer in Dayong would be so hot and humid.
Her forehead was glistening with fragrant sweat, and she slowly waved a round fan in her hand. She looked like a peeled lychee, white, tender, and smooth, and looked extremely tempting.
Seeing that the soldiers were staring intently, Yao Zhan looked towards the pavilion, puzzled.
Two women were sitting brazenly under the pavilion, watching them train.
He frowned slightly, and said in a deep, authoritative voice, "That's enough for today's training."
There's no point in continuing to practice; these people's minds have wandered off somewhere else.
Yao Zhan strode up to Shen Yunjiao and Jiang Rong, bowed, and said, "May I ask what brings you gentlemen here?"
"We're bored, can't we come over here and take a look?" Jiang Rong raised her eyebrows and glanced at him, then took off her veil.
She wondered to herself, "Will Yao Zhan be scared by me?"
Unexpectedly, Yao Zhan, as expected of a seasoned general, frowned slightly upon seeing Jiang Rong with red spots on her face, but his expression quickly returned to its usual calm. "This is not a place for women to play. Let me take you away."
Shen Yunjiao winked at Jiang Rong, who then smiled and said, "Alright, why don't you take us home, General? I am Jiang Rong, General Jiang's daughter, and our home is in the neighborhood next to Jinhe Bridge."
“I know,” Yao Zhan said calmly. “I’ve been there.”
"Then we'll have to trouble you, General." Shen Yunjiao exchanged a glance with Jiang Rong and quickly replied with a smile.
She also had some doubts in her heart. Why did Yao Zhan look at Jiang Rong without showing the slightest disdain?
"Yao Zhan, oh, so you're hiding here slacking off!"
At that moment, a clear, melodious voice of a young man came from behind.
Shen Yunjiao recognized the voice; wasn't it Yan Shiman, whom she had just met a few days ago?
She turned around, smiled, and was about to greet Yan Shiman when she bumped into another dark gaze.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince?" Shen Yunjiao looked quite surprised, but quickly followed the others and bowed to the Crown Prince.
—
"No need for formalities," Xiao Huaijin said casually, but his eyes were fixed on Shen Yunjiao. Although she was not dressed as brightly as usual, she was graceful and slender with a fair and radiant face, as beautiful as a daffodil.
Yan Shiman smiled and said, "I didn't expect it to be Miss Shen. May I have a chat with you for a few minutes?"
Shen Yunjiao hesitated slightly. Although she knew that Yan Shiman was looking for her because the matter she had asked him to handle last time had been resolved, she still felt that it was not good to leave Jiang Rong alone here.
Xiao Huaijin then spoke up, "Chatting under the sun might cause heatstroke, why don't we all move to Ziyun Tower together?"
Yao Zhan bowed and said, "I will follow Your Highness's arrangements."
Jiang Rong glanced at Shen Yunjiao. She wasn't familiar with the people here, but her cousin-in-law seemed to have something important to discuss with them, so she decided to accompany her cousin-in-law.
Furthermore, Yao Zhan is going too.
She took this opportunity to ask Yao Zhan if there was any possibility of annuling the engagement.
Jiang Rong said, "Since His Highness has invited us, shall we go together, Cousin-in-law?"
Shen Yunjiao sighed deeply in her heart and could only say, "Let's go."
She doesn't really want to see Xiao Huaijin right now; every time she sees him, she's reminded of his terrible behavior that night.
Without noticing, I missed a step while walking down the steps of the pavilion.
Xiao Huaijin gripped her arm tightly, "Watch your step."
Shen Yunjiao pursed her lips, glared at him, and then pretended to walk forward as if nothing had happened.
She was incredibly embarrassed; the hand that Xiao Huaijin had just grabbed was now burning hot, as if it had been branded with a hot iron.
Yan Shiman and Jiang Rong glanced at them strangely. Jiang Rong was curious as to why her usually open-minded and generous cousin was acting so awkwardly today.
Yan Shiman immediately realized that there was something fishy going on between the two. The last time they met, they were chatting and laughing, but this time, Miss Shen was deliberately avoiding her cousin as if she had seen a plague god.
My cousin must have done something bad that Miss Shen found out about!
At this moment, Yao Zhan walked to Xiao Huaijin's side and said, "Your Highness, in a few days, the Northern Hu will send an envoy to visit. I heard that this envoy is their second prince, who is competitive and belligerent. Your Highness should prepare well in advance."
"Yes, I understand." Seeing that Shen Yunjiao was dawdling like a tortoise behind him, Xiao Huaijin stopped and waited for her.
As soon as the prince stopped, the group of people also stopped.
Everyone stared at Shen Yunjiao, and she had no choice but to follow.
"Is your wound hurting?" Xiao Huaijin asked, tilting his head. His caring expression gave Shen Yunjiao goosebumps.
She could only force a smile and wave her hand: "It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt. I'm all better now. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."
When they reached the carriage, Shen Yunjiao naturally followed Jiang Rong into the Jiang family's carriage. Unexpectedly, Xiao Huaijin spoke up again: "Miss Shen, why don't you ride in the same carriage as me?"
Although Shen Yunjiao was surprised that Xiao Huaijin really didn't avoid suspicion at all, Jiang Rong had secretly whispered in her ear just before she came over that Yao Zhan should get into their carriage later.
Since that was the case, Shen Yunjiao did not refuse any further.
Yao Zhan and Jiang Rong got into one carriage, while Xiao Huaijin and Shen Yunjiao got into another.
As for Yan Shiman, he wisely mounted his own steed and went ahead long ago.
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