Chapter 122 Return to the Capital
Wen Ning carefully examined the rash on the princess's body and asked about her diet, and she understood everything.
This is not some serious disease or epidemic, but clearly a rash caused by accidentally eating incompatible foods.
She felt a little surprised. How could the experts at the Imperial Hospital fail to diagnose such common symptoms?
Wen Ning's face remained expressionless, and she replied in a gentle voice, "The princess is fine. This isn't an epidemic, just a slight dietary imbalance that has caused the rash. Please ask the imperial physician to prescribe some heat-clearing and detoxifying prescriptions, along with some cooling ointments for external application. You'll be well in two days."
When the fifth princess heard this, her eyes suddenly lit up, as if she had been pulled back from the gates of hell in an instant, and she breathed a long sigh of relief.
She grabbed Wen Ning's hand, her tone still weak, but with a hint of her usual willfulness, "In that case, you will stay here tonight to watch over this princess! If you make a mistake in the diagnosis and delay the treatment, this princess will not forgive you!"
Wen Ning frowned slightly and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, there are still some errands waiting for me to return to the Marquis' Mansion..."
"What business could be more important than this?" The Fifth Princess interrupted her, unwaveringly saying, "I will send someone to the Marquis's residence to inform them. You can leave the palace tomorrow morning."
Having said this, Wen Ning could only bow in agreement.
The fifth princess drank the medicine and applied the ointment carefully.
In just half an hour, the annoying itching subsided a lot.
She leaned on the soft pillow, her eyes involuntarily falling to the side, where Wen Ning was tidying up the porcelain bottle of ointment on the table with her eyes lowered.
The lines of her drooping profile are soft and her skin is as delicate as jade. Even if she is dressed simply, it is difficult to conceal her quiet and moving charm.
The Fifth Princess frowned, her tone filled with obvious dissatisfaction and pampering, and blurted out, "Hey! Did Brother Jinglan ever say he liked you? Did he ever say he would marry you?"
Wen Ning was stunned for a moment, and she felt that although the princess's words and actions were unruly, she was not a scheming person.
Since she asked so directly, she must have known about the unusual situation between her and the Marquis.
He just bowed his head and replied:
"Your Highness, the Marquis is deeply concerned with military affairs, and his daily concerns are all about defense strategies. He has never made any promises to me that are beyond my status. As a humble servant, how dare I discuss the Marquis's marriage?"
The Fifth Princess was still stubborn and unyielding, her chin slightly raised with a hint of challenge, "This princess knows that Brother Jinglan treats you differently from others. So let me ask you, if the emperor grants me a marriage with Brother Jinglan, what will you do?"
Wen Ning was silent for a moment, but did not evade the question. She just said frankly:
"Your Highness, if this is the Holy Will, then it is a great grace from Heaven. The Marquis is a man of promises and reason, and he will abide by the considerations and decision.
Having experienced epidemics in border towns, I know only too well that human life is fragile and precious, and the universe is vast and boundless. There's no need to confine oneself to a relationship that might not always be satisfactory. In this world, if love isn't the only thing in each other's hearts, even if there are countless compromises, it's still difficult to reconcile. So why limit it to a small courtyard, a single person?
"My vision is limited, and I only know how to survive in a small space. Your Highness, born into a golden family, has seen the vastness of the nine heavens and the vast mountains and rivers. Your vision and the world are certainly more vast and free than mine."
Her words not only acknowledged the supremacy of imperial power, but also expressed her attitude.
If the Marquis chose the princess after weighing the pros and cons, she would not argue any further.
The fifth princess stared at Wen Ning in amazement and was speechless for a moment.
For the first time, those eyes that were always filled with arrogance revealed deep thought and scrutiny.
"You, you don't look like a servant in the mansion! Could it be that some malicious political enemy deliberately sent a young lady from a noble family to disguise herself as a servant and sneak into the mansion?"
Wen Ning was slightly startled when she heard this, and actually felt that this dreamy princess was somewhat reckless and cute.
She cast her eyes down in feigned fear, "Your Highness, please understand! I am a humble servant, and I would never dare to think of deceiving you in this way."
The Fifth Princess snorted, "You wouldn't dare! Well, I'm tired, so you stay here and don't leave!"
Wen Ning stayed in front of the phoenix bed all night. As the candlelight flickered, she remained half awake and alert.
The fifth princess on the couch, however, couldn't sleep for the first time, and the deep-rooted thoughts in her heart were shaken for the first time.
…
Heavy snow fell all night long, and outside the window was already a world of jade and pearls.
The long street outside the palace gate was still immersed in the white morning haze. A black horse stood still in the wind and snow like a black jade statue. The man on the horse was wearing a black fur-collared cloak. The hem of the cloak hung over the saddle and was condensed with a few icicles.
Last night, Xie Jinglan received an urgent report from Qingmang, and learned that Ning'er was summoned into the palace by the Queen.
Without time to think, he immediately left his entourage behind and rode alone back to the capital in the wind and snow.
He didn't arrive at the mansion until late at night, but learned that she was staying overnight in the palace. He rode his horse straight to the palace gate, reined in his horse and waited in the heavy snow.
This wait lasted for two hours.
Two hours is enough for the scorching flames to burn away reason.
Countless thoughts were tearing wildly in his mind.
For the first time, he even felt an almost cruel resonance with the word "rebellion".
If your loved ones are trapped behind high walls, what else can you do except to break down the door with your sword?
This thought was like the coldest wind, instantly blowing away the barrier of loyalty to the emperor that had been built in his heart for many years.
The man suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze piercing through the snow curtain and looking into the depths of the imperial city.
A deeper chill seized him.
He knew that Prince Chen had recently been trying to compete for the throne. Although his power was not strong, he had military achievements, a strong character, and a good moral character, and was clearly different from the Empress and the Crown Prince.
He never thought of getting involved in party disputes, nor did he seek credit for following the emperor.
But if Prince Chen takes control of the world in the future, it will be beneficial to the people. More importantly, he will not harm Ning'er.
So, what does it matter if a crown prince who is lacking in virtue and has murdered loyal and good people is deposed?!
Countless thoughts intertwined in his mind. At this moment, the palace gate slowly opened with a heavy voice, and finally, that familiar figure stepped out.
Wen Ning wrapped her cloak tightly around her and was about to walk towards the sedan chair waiting outside, but her eyes suddenly stopped at a distance.
In the wind and snow, a man and a horse stood quietly. Even though the snow curtain blocked her view, the tall and straight figure and the pair of eyes that looked at her through the wind and snow still made her heart tremble.
"My Lord..." She murmured, and almost instantly confirmed the man's identity.
It’s really the Marquis!
Without even glancing at the sedan chair, she turned and walked over to the eunuch, "Please tell the princess, sir, that the Marquis's residence has sent someone to fetch me. There's no need to send the sedan chair."
After the palace sedan left, she no longer cared about etiquette, lifted her skirt and ran towards the tall figure.
Xie Jinglan's Adam's apple rolled slightly, and he saw the person he had been thinking about running towards him on the snow.
The soft boots stepped on the snow, leaving a series of shallow footprints.
The man's originally tense shoulders suddenly softened, and he quickly raised his hand to shake off the thick snow on his shoulders.
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