Chapter 125
"That fourth prince gives off a very strange feeling." Bai Chuning said this while avoiding her gaze, somewhat worried that she would see her elder sister's sorrowful expression after mentioning Yan Qizhen.
Ever since he and his elder sister began their travels to the Min Dynasty, this fourth prince has frequently appeared by his elder sister's side.
On the way to the capital, Yan Qizhen was extremely courteous and meticulous in every aspect. He even catered to his elder sister's curiosity when passing through some small towns, allowing her to rest at inns for a few days and enjoy the scenery she had never seen before in the Western Regions.
Even after being attacked and poisoned, he sought out renowned doctors to treat himself.
However, Bai Chuning always felt that this Fourth Prince seemed to always be wearing a mask.
Everything was meticulous, every word was watertight, giving one the inexplicable feeling that he had rehearsed it a thousand times.
However, as he saw his sister growing closer to him, and the two of them going out for tea and sightseeing more and more often, his sister would be overjoyed by his letters, but would become depressed when she waited in vain for a reply.
Bai Chuning felt increasingly uneasy...
If he truly admired the Empress, why did he suddenly become distant without any apparent reason? The Empress's numerous visits ultimately yielded no results.
As an outsider, Bai Chuning naturally did not believe that Yan Qizhen had any feelings for his elder sister.
Ying Ning was somewhat surprised, not expecting Bai Chuning to say it so directly. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Bai Chuning continue:
"Your Highness, the Fourth Prince is by no means a good match."
“Ah Chu’s prejudice against the Fourth Prince is not because of his status, but because he is genuinely thinking of his elder sister.”
"If someone were to stay by the Emperor's side with an open heart and sincere intentions."
“Even if he is just a commoner, as long as my sister’s heart belongs to him, I will bless her.”
"However, Ah Chu really hopes that my elder sister will not consider His Highness the Fourth Prince."
The young man in the jade robe in front of me looked somewhat docile as he lowered his head, his straight nose silhouetted against the half-shadow of a brown fan. It was as if a fierce young beast on the grassland was showing weakness in front of someone he was close to.
Bai Chuning didn't hear a word and couldn't help but feel nervous, thinking that Yingning didn't want to hear his advice and was wondering if he had angered his elder sister.
But then he felt a warm sensation on his forehead and looked up.
He then noticed that his most beloved elder sister had a rare look of relief on her face:
"Ah Chu, you've grown up."
Her fingertips were gentle, and the bond between their bloodlines at this moment tied their hearts together.
“Then, my elder sister…” Bai Chuning’s eyes lit up.
"It will be as A-Chu wishes."
"Royal sister..."
"Ah Chu, don't worry. I have my own opinion on Yan Qizhen's matter. No matter who I compare myself to in this world, I am most worried about whether Ah Chu is happy or not."
"Is your body healthy?"
"In my sister's eyes, Ah Chu will always be number one."
"Sister will protect Ah Chu."
*
The next day, when the gatekeeper announced the arrival of the Fourth Prince, Bai Chuning was playing chess with Ying Ning.
Upon hearing that Yan Qizhen was coming to visit, Bai Chuning immediately tensed up.
Although he had made things clear with his elder sister yesterday, he was still somewhat uncertain. When he was in the Western Regions, Bai Chuning had seen a play.
It's a cliché story about a woman who, because she is deeply in love with a man, recklessly elopes with him.
Bai Chuning glanced at Ying Ning discreetly, only to find that Ying Ning was still pondering her next move, as if she hadn't heard the announcement of Yan Qizhen's visit at all.
After a long while, Bai Chuning finally spoke:
"Royal sister?"
"It's your turn." Yingning made a decisive move.
This made Bai Chuning somewhat uneasy. Following her words, he absentmindedly placed a piece, which was immediately captured by Ying Ning.
"Ah Chu, the worst thing you can do when playing chess is to be distracted," she advised.
Bai Chuning was no longer focused on the chessboard. He looked at Yingning and said, "Elder sister, the servant's report just now..."
"how?"
"His Highness the Fourth Prince is here again."
"So what?"
"Isn't my elder sister going to see her...?"
"Yesterday, Ah Chu was thinking about me cutting ties with Yan Qizhen, but today she's urging me to go see him." Seeing that Bai Chu Ning had no interest in playing chess, Ying Ning put the black piece in her jade finger back into the chess box.
"It's not that I wanted my elder sister to see him first..." Bai Chuning just felt that how could her elder sister have forgotten about the Fourth Prince so quickly just because of a few words she said?
"Yes, it would indeed be inappropriate to refuse to see him."
Yingning pondered for a moment, then beckoned to the servant:
"Tell His Highness the Fourth Prince that Zhao Ning is not feeling well today. If she were to greet such an honored guest while ill, it would be disrespectful to His Highness."
“We will find another day to have tea and discuss philosophy with the Fourth Prince.”
After Yingning finished speaking, even the servant was stunned for a moment. Only after seeing his master's gaze did he immediately leave the hall.
After the servant left, Bai Chuning immediately pressed for an answer again:
"Is Your Highness really going to refuse the Fourth Prince's visit?"
"Hmm." After getting up, Yingning walked to the hall door and looked at a climbing trumpet creeper in the garden.
Bai Chuning felt a sense of desolation as he watched her retreating figure.
He immediately walked to Yingning's side, trying to use his own presence to dispel the loneliness he had just felt.
Bai Chuning followed her gaze and saw the trumpet creeper branch.
Although there are many branches, there are already several dead branches on the main trunk. If they are not pruned in time, it will probably wither away soon.
*
Outside the mansion.
Inside a palanquin sat a young man with slender shoulders.
His eyes and brows were hazy and indistinct, his thin lips were pale red, and his whole demeanor exuded gentleness.
Although he was sitting on a soft couch, his back was as straight as a bamboo. Even though he looked relaxed, he did not appear careless.
With such a beautiful appearance, anyone could only describe her as having good looks.
Yan Qizhen fiddled with the jade thumb ring on his index finger, pondering every word he had uttered when he met Bai Yingning.
When he slightly closed his eyes, he concealed his usual air of dignified respect, and at this moment he looked more like a young master from a noble family going out for a stroll.
Yan Qizhen heard footsteps approaching and was about to get out of the sedan chair.
Then they heard the servant's voice:
"Your Highness, the Princess is unwell today and fears that her illness may spoil your enjoyment, so she has sent me to convey her apologies."
"My master's spirits have improved considerably since he heard that the Fourth Prince has arrived."
"When my eldest princess is feeling better, I will certainly invite His Highness the Fourth Prince to have tea and discuss philosophy together."
Upon hearing this, Yan Qizhen's expression changed drastically.
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