Xie Yuancheng held me down so I wouldn't get up until my mother called me from outside twice.
"Ying'er, I want to go out with you."
“No, if you go out looking like that, all the girls will be looking over here. Besides, this is the capital. If it were Linyang, it would be fine, but if they see you, you'll be in trouble.”
"You forgot, I'm shameless."
Oh right, I almost forgot, his dough is so delicately made that no one would recognize it.
After I told my mother, she laughed and said that the young couple couldn't live without each other.
When Xie Yuancheng came out in disguise, his mother was astonished. "I never thought there was such a face. It's amazing!"
I took my mother's arm and went out, with Xie Yuancheng waiting beside me like a servant.
The only downside is that I have to wear a veil, but things are different now than before. Even if I'm unhappy, I have to put up with it.
My mother was very happy and would show me any interesting little gadgets she saw on the street.
A few men with ill intentions looked over, but Xie Yuancheng casually knocked them aside, which amused my mother and me.
We walked for a while, and my mother took me to Yuxianglou Restaurant for some snacks. As soon as we went in, we saw a familiar person: Caiwei.
"Aunt Ji, why did you come out of the manor?" Caiwei had changed into Da Zhao's clothes, but she no longer had the spirited look she used to have.
"I brought my daughter out for a walk to help her relax."
"daughter?"
"She is Yuancheng's wife. It's a pity that her brother passed away and her husband is missing. Even though I'm sad, I still have to bring her here for a walk and have some sweets to cheer her up."
"Thank you for your trouble, Aunt Ji. I just arrived too, let's sit at the same table."
Caiwei's smile was purer than Cailu's, making her particularly energetic, though her eyes weren't as bright as before.
After we sat down, Caiwei began to pour tea. Her technique was skillful, suggesting she had practiced for a long time at the Second Prince's residence.
Caiwei looked at Xie Yuancheng and asked, "And who is this?"
"He is Yuan Cheng's servant, here to protect Ying'er."
"Ying'er? Isn't that the prince consort's name?"
The mother smiled very politely: "I have two Ying'ers, a boy and a girl. It's a pity that the older Ying'er has passed away, but thankfully the younger Ying'er is with me."
I laughed beside her, and Caiwei looked at me and said, "The Marquis's wife and the Prince Consort do look a bit alike. No wonder Aunt Ji and Marquis Anle... Never mind, let's not talk about these hurtful things."
Caiwei raised her teacup to me, saying that she was offering tea in place of wine.
"Why doesn't the Marquis's wife remove her veil or speak?"
“Ying’er has been unable to speak since she was a child. She caught a cold as soon as she arrived in the capital. Today, I saw her sitting there in a daze and I was worried that she might do something rash, so I took her out with me.”
"I understand." Caiwei poured a cup for her mother: "I was being presumptuous just now, I hope you won't take it to heart."
"No, Princess Caiwei."
“Aunt Ji, I’m not a princess anymore.” Caiwei lowered her voice. “You can call me by my name, not ‘Princess’.”
Mother nodded: "Okay."
I only just realized that Caiwei and her mother had so much to talk about. Back when she was in the Ji family, her mother must have taken good care of her, which is why they had so much to say to each other.
However, she talked a lot, but didn't mention anything about her time in the Second Prince's mansion, and there was a hint of worry in her eyes.
Mother was having a pleasant conversation with Caiwei when a commotion broke out outside.
"Your Highness, I told you that that slut was meeting with someone here, but you didn't believe me."
A sharp, sarcastic voice came in and asked, "Which bitch?"
Xie Yuancheng approached from behind me. I don't know how to talk when I run into someone I know. It's all his fault for spreading rumors back then.
A man and a woman walked in from outside. The man was handsome and imposing, while the woman was also beautiful, but she didn't look friendly.
Caiwei greeted them as they entered, saying, "Your Highness, Madam."
It was the first time I'd ever seen her so humble and subservient; it broke my heart to see her like that.
My mother took my hand and followed me over, saying, "Greetings, Prince Huan, Princess Huan." I bowed in response.
There weren't many people in the building today, except for the innkeeper who came running up from the back, fawning, "I didn't know Prince Huan was here, please take a seat."
Huan Wang is the Second Prince. This old emperor really wanted his younger generation to eat, drink, and have fun so they wouldn't try to take his position, which is why he bestowed such a title upon them, a title that suggests a life of ease and enjoyment.
"Madam Ji, I heard that the seventh day after the death of the Prince Consort has not yet passed. Why are you meeting with my concubine?"
A concubine? Caiwei was actually willing to become the Second Prince's concubine.
“Your Highness, my goddaughter has come from Linyang to visit Marquis Anle and keep vigil for her brother. But as a mother, I have lost my son, and I cannot let my daughter also perish. So I have to suppress my grief and bring her out for a walk.”
The mother even wiped away her tears. She really acted so well, almost as good as Xie Yuancheng, that drama queen.
"Is this the wife of the Marquis of Anle?" I nodded from the side. The Second Prince continued, "I heard people say that the wife of the Marquis of Anle cannot speak. It seems that the rumors are true."
"Your Highness, this is not the time for greetings, it's this vile woman."
"My beloved concubine, she is my concubine and also your sister. Today, she ran into Madam Ji while out. Although she did not have your permission, she still violated the laws of the Prince's Palace. What do you intend to do with her?"
"Of course, we'll make her open her mouth twenty times, then deduct three months' worth of her monthly allowance, and see if she dares to go out again."
What a cruel person! Caiwei just came out for some snacks, why punish her like this?
Just as I was about to step forward, Xie Yuancheng grabbed my sleeve from behind. I looked at my mother, and she shook her head as well.
"Alright, but twenty slaps are far too many. I'll just give her one."
"If Your Highness really can bring yourself to do it, that would be best." Princess Huan laughed from the side. My goodness, how could such a beautiful woman be so narrow-minded?
I originally thought the Second Prince was just putting on an act, but he really hit her hard. Caiwei knows some martial arts, and blood even trickled from the corner of her mouth.
The mother was also frightened: "Prince Huan, she has not done anything wrong, why are you making things difficult for her?"
"Madam Ji, this is a matter for our Prince's residence. You should be more concerned about the Prince Consort's funeral and the aftermath of your daughter's death."
After finishing her sentence, Princess Huan swaggered out, arm in arm with the Second Prince. Her smug, self-satisfied demeanor was utterly detestable.
Now I finally understand why my parents always protected Xie Yuancheng. He was good to me, so naturally they liked him.
Xie Yuancheng never said anything too harsh. The most serious thing was when we first argued because of a misunderstanding about Green Research. It was because I was persistent that he said something a little harsher.
He even accused me of hitting him, because he always picked me up and put me down gently, as if he was worried about dropping me.
Caiwei followed them and left. It was truly pathetic. She was clearly a noble princess, so why did she have to put up with this?
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