After walking around for a while, everyone felt a bit tired, so they found a pavilion where water puppets were being performed.
Upon seeing that the visitors were well-dressed, the waiter quickly led them to a private room upstairs with a better view.
Because of Shi Lan, the relationship between the Marquis of Changqing's mansion and the Earl of Ningyuan's mansion became much closer, so Shi Xu invited Zhu Yi, who was traveling with him, to come inside together.
He had always wanted to get closer to Shi Lan, so how could he refuse such an opportunity?
The group took their seats one by one, and the waiter served tea and snacks. When he saw the various foods that Zhi Cui was carrying, he wisely refrained from asking any further questions and hurried downstairs to attend to the other guests.
Outside the window, there was a great commotion of gongs and drums. Shi Zhen and Shi Lei, being young, couldn't sit still when they heard the noise. They rushed to the window and looked out.
Shi Xu was worried about the two of them, but also wanted to give Shi Lan and Zhu Yi some space, so he gave Shi Ling a look. The two of them apologized and went to the window.
Qian Zhiqing smiled slightly, picked up her teacup, and came to Shi Lan, giving her a graceful bow.
"Zhiqing was reckless last time, please forgive her, Miss Shi."
Shi Lan pursed her lips, neither responding nor offering a toast, simply watching coldly.
Getting someone to fall into the water and then failing to help them is not something that can be resolved with a simple "I was reckless" or "I apologize."
only……
Shi Lan glanced at Zhu Yi, who hadn't missed a single glance since he sat down, smiled slightly, and said, "Speaking of which, I should thank the young master. If it weren't for your kindness, I'd probably be dead by now."
Shi Lan stood up, poured a cup of tea, and went directly past Qian Zhiqing to Zhu Yi, saying, "I have no way to repay your life-saving grace, except for this cup of tea. Please do not find it offensive, Your Highness."
Zhu Yi took the teacup, took a sip, and praised, "Good tea!" He then said, "If this hadn't happened, we would still be strangers to each other, and how could we..." He paused, then continued, "...how could we be sitting at the same table?"
Shi Lan smiled slightly, and Zhu Yi's attitude gradually calmed her uneasy heart.
Seeing her rosy cheeks and relaxed brows, Zhu Yi's smile deepened.
Qian Zhiqing suddenly turned her head, her gaze lingering on the two smiling faces for a moment, her thin body suddenly trembling as if she were about to collapse.
Bao Xia rushed forward, supporting her and exclaiming, "Miss, what's wrong?"
Qian Zhiqing leaned against her, holding her forehead with one hand and said, "I feel dizzy."
Bao Xia quickly helped her sit down nearby. She saw that Qian Zhiqing's face was as white as paper, her body was limp as she leaned against the armrest, and there were beads of sweat on her hands and forehead. She looked like she was about to get into serious trouble.
Bao Xia panicked and quickly turned to look for Zhu Yi.
To everyone's surprise, Zhu Yi didn't even look in their direction, his eyes fixed intently on Shi Lan.
Thinking that Miss Biao had insisted on spending some time with Zhu Yi despite her illness during a stroll in the garden, only to have it all ruined by this annoying person.
Bao Xia couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
Bao Xia is young and can't keep things to herself; what she thinks is written all over her face.
Shi Lan smiled at Zhu Yi, but she didn't ignore Qian Zhiqing and her servant. When she saw Bao Xia looking over, Shi Lan raised an eyebrow, lightly touched her ear with her finger, and slightly raised the corner of her eye.
Her thick, dark hair piled up around her ears, and camellias made of tiny pink pearls, each the size of a sesame seed, shimmered with a lustrous sheen, reflecting in her dark eyes and slender, white fingers, giving her a unique and graceful appearance.
Zhu Yi's Adam's apple bobbed rapidly as he gripped the teacup with his long, well-defined fingers and began to drink the tea in silence.
Shi Lan smiled, glanced casually to the side, and walked back to her seat.
Bao Xia was furious. Thinking of the deep affection the young lady had for the prince, and then looking at Shi Lan who had used this as an excuse to steal the young lady's marriage, Bao Xia was filled with rage and couldn't help but say angrily, "Miss Shi has turned misfortune into blessing. Are you satisfied now?"
Shi Lan paused, not even glancing at her, and turned directly to the window to watch the water puppet show at its most exciting moment.
Zhu Yi's face darkened, his voice as cold as ice: "No manners! Is this a place for you to act so recklessly?"
Zhu Yi felt sorry for Qian Zhiqing and was somewhat lenient with the maids who served her, but this did not mean that he could allow her to be disrespectful and point fingers at others at will.
Bao Xia had never heard Zhu Yi's voice so cold before. She trembled and knelt down, pleading, "This servant has lost her composure. Please forgive me, Your Highness..."
“Cousin,” Qian Zhiqing said, her fingers trembling as she propped herself up and sat up slightly, breathing softly, “Bao Xia has always been outspoken, please don’t take offense.”
Shi Lan sneered. "Straightforward? So, she, like that maid, thinks she's turned misfortune into a blessing, gaining this marriage? Doesn't she consider who was ultimately responsible for this outcome?"
Shi Lan couldn't help but recall the scene of falling into the water that day. Things that she had never thought about before now seemed extremely suspicious.
Seeing her somber expression, Shi Ling glanced inside and whispered in her ear, "That Miss Qian has been living in the Marquis's mansion. She's a bit older than you and me, and I heard she's still not engaged."
Shi Lan looked up, and Shi Ling nodded meaningfully.
Shi Lan's eyes widened suddenly, and a thought flashed through her mind.
Zhu Yi already had lines between his eyebrows, clearly indicating that he had been in contact with evil spirits for some time.
Qian Zhiqing had lived in the Marquis's mansion since childhood, so even if they couldn't be together every day, they could still meet from time to time. He had never met her before, yet she tried to kill him as soon as she arrived. And today, when they met, she was acting strangely all the time...
Thinking about it this way, it seems that she was targeting me in a subtle way. Could it be that she knows me?
If Shi Lan's previous reaction was merely a subconscious rejection, she could now be certain that Qian Zhiqing was the persistent evil spirit trying to turn Haoze into her puppet.
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