Chapter 74: Separation
The prince glanced at the eunuch, then looked at Sun Wei and smiled.
"It's rare to see Ziheng so enthusiastic about dining." The prince gestured and invited Sun Wei to go back.
Sun Wei said, "It's already noon, time for dinner. Your Highness has been working so hard these days, and it's only natural that the Crown Prince should be concerned about you."
The prince nodded and said, "Ziheng is the main contributor to this trip to Jingkou. Without him, I would be almost helpless."
Sun Wei replied, "The most difficult time has passed. The Crown Prince will escort him to the East China Sea in the future, so you can rest assured."
The prince said, "I haven't informed the princess yet. I will return to Jiankang tomorrow and cannot go to the East Sea."
Sun Wei looked surprised: "Oh?"
"Such a serious matter has occurred. I cannot leave the court. I have no choice but to ask Ziheng to go there for me."
The prince said, "I originally thought of going to the East China Sea, so I changed to a large ship and patrolled the nearby seas. The princess grew up in Cangwu, and I'm afraid she has never seen the vastness of the ocean. It would be a blessing to travel with her. But now it seems that it is no longer possible."
Sun Wei laughed dryly. She thought, it's as if he came to Donghai just for her.
However, when the prince mentioned this matter, Sun Wei changed his mind.
I have fallen out with Sima Jun, and I am afraid that it will be difficult for us to get along with each other in the days ahead.
She didn't care whether Sima Jun hated her or not. She knew Sima Jun's temperament well: he didn't hold grudges, but he was a stickler for truth. She had things she needed to do, and if Sima Jun got in the way, it would be difficult to accomplish.
The only one who could suppress Sima Jun was the crown prince.
While they were thinking, they arrived in the hall.
Chu Yue went to Jingkou City, and only Sima Jun was here.
When the prince and Sun Wei came back, he looked at Sun Wei, bowed to the prince, and then they took their seats.
After lunch, the Crown Prince said to Sima Jun, "I've just told the Princess about the East Sea incident. The ceremonial objects and other items for the sacrifice are all ready. We'll still use the Crown Prince's name, and you'll be the one to offer the sacrifice. As for the Princess, she's been sent by the Queen to pray for the Queen Mother, and she'll still be accompanying you."
Sima Jun responded.
Sun Wei glanced at Sima Jun with a look of regret, and said to the Crown Prince, "Your Highness is going to the East China Sea, and he also intends to inspect it. I had originally thought that I could follow your ship and see the sea to make the trip worthwhile. Now it seems that I will not have the chance."
The prince thought for a moment and said, "If the princess really wants to go, it's not impossible. The boat is docked at the pier at the sea and can depart at any time."
Sun Wei's eyes lit up: "Really?"
"Indeed," the Crown Prince said with a gentle smile, "but you can't go far. Kong Qi of Kuaiji failed in his rebellion and fled to the sea. I heard he's settled on an island in the East China Sea. If the princess wants to go, she must be accompanied by Ziheng."
Sun Wei suddenly put away her smile and pursed her lips: "Thank you, Prince. You don't have to bother me so much."
The prince looked at her expression and noticed something was wrong.
"Is there any difficulty, Princess?"
Sun Wei glanced at Sima Jun again, lowered her eyes again, and shook her head: "I have no difficulties."
The hint was so obvious that the prince also looked at Sima Jun.
Sima Jun turned his eyes away and continued drinking tea.
The prince seemed to understand something and said calmly, "I heard that when Cui Pan was arrested last night, the prince and the princess had some arguments?"
Sun Wei knew that the prince was always well-informed, and that some of the people who came last night were from the Eastern Palace.
Without waiting for Sima Jun to speak, she hurriedly said, "This matter is my fault. I was indeed angry and confused, so I pushed the prince into the water. But if I don't get angry, the prince won't be alert. Although my words are not influential, I am afraid that even if I get angry, it will be useless..."
As she spoke, her voice was grammatically strained, and she seemed unable to continue. She lowered her head and wiped the corners of her eyes with her sleeve.
Sima Jun: “…”
The Crown Prince looked at her pitiful appearance and couldn't help but comfort her, "I'm sorry that the princess has been wronged. Last night, Ziheng was indeed too impulsive. The princess did nothing wrong."
After saying this, he turned to Sima Jun, his face cold: "How many lives do you think you have? Cui Pan was a desperate criminal, you're lucky he didn't hurt you. What are the people below doing? Seeing the thieves escape, they didn't do anything, and insisted that you, the general, personally go into battle? Either they are lazy, or you are a poor leader. You should reflect on this."
Sima Jun: “…”
He glanced at Lu, but she still kept her head down, occasionally dabbing at her face with her sleeve, not knowing what she was wiping.
Sima Jun wanted to roll his eyes very much, but before he could do so, he was seen by the prince.
The prince scolded, "What are you looking at? Do you think that since your father is gone and no one is watching over you, you can do whatever you want? I see that although the princess is new, she has you in mind in every way. I wonder how much more stable her mind is than yours."
Sima Jun snorted in his heart, did not argue, and just looked away.
"Forget it." Sun Wei sighed, "I've said everything I need to say. I only hope that the Crown Prince will understand the painstaking efforts of the Crown Prince and me in the future. However, we still have to go together tomorrow. If the Crown Prince is still angry and resentful of me, I'm afraid it will be of no use. Why don't you just not go? Since we're here to pay our respects, it's fine with the presence of the Imperial Observatory and the Ministry of Rites."
The prince raised his eyebrows and looked at Sima Jun, trying to convince him with his eyes.
But unexpectedly, Sima Jun said, "I think what Madam said is absolutely right."
The prince frowned again.
"The princess is unfamiliar with the place and has no one to look after her. What will happen if something happens?" he said. "The trip to the East China Sea was originally a grand one, but now only a princess from the royal family is left to support the event. Isn't it a joke that there is no one in the court?"
Sima Jun knew that the prince had been deceived by Lu in this matter and refused to give in.
"The prince is right." He put down the teacup and said lightly.
"That's it." The Crown Prince's expression relaxed slightly. "We're all family, so there's no such thing as an unresolved feud. This time, apart from the memorial service, all other matters regarding our trip to the East Sea will be handled by the Princess. Everything is entirely up to the Princess to arrange, and you must not interfere."
After saying this, he turned to Sun Wei, his expression becoming warm again: "Isn't that right, Princess?"
Sun Wei then smiled, bowed at the table, and said softly, "Your Highness is absolutely right."
Sima Juan looked at her coldly.
Sun Wei also looked at him, her eyes clear and innocent, and blinked.
——
The prince gave some more instructions and left.
The two men saw him off respectfully at the door, and when they returned to the hall, they looked at each other and their faces turned cold again.
Sima Jun looked at Sun Wei, his face was calm and composed, without any trace of the aggrieved weak woman he had just had.
"Since Madam thinks I am a narrow-minded person and harbors resentment against me, we cannot go together. I can take the Imperial Observatory and the Minister of Rites on a small ship and go ahead and wait for Madam at the Taiqing Temple," said Sima Jun.
He is indeed a wise man and hits the nail on the head.
Sun Wei wished it were so.
"Your Highness has made excellent arrangements. I will obey you in everything." Sun said with a slight smile, then turned and left.
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