Chapter 027 Don’t Touch Dirty Things

In a blink of an eye it was time for the flower viewing banquet in Taoyuan. Ruan Qinghuan didn't want to come, but thinking that the second prince might take the opportunity to cause trouble, she decided to help He'an survive.

It rained a little last night, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of flowers and plants. Ruan Qinghuan opened the car curtain and looked out. The distant mountains were green, and the flowers and plants on both sides of the road looked like they had just taken a bath, and they were full of vitality.

He An, who was sitting inside, looked at her in a daze.

Ruan Qinghuan is refreshing and happy, just like these free-spirited flowers and plants. Even just looking at them makes people feel happy.

Feeling He'an's gaze, Ruan Qinghuan turned around.

She wore a sky blue floor-length dress today, and a jacket with crabapple embroidered around the hem. Normally such a solemn color would look a bit old-fashioned, but on her it made her look lively and noble.

"You said a few days ago that you didn't want to attend this flower viewing party. Why did you suddenly change your mind?"

"I just want to join in the fun."

He An chuckled. She was not someone who would change her mind easily. She didn't want to go before, but she suddenly offered to go with him last night, but the premise was... she couldn't...

Thinking of this, He An, who had always been calm, suddenly became distracted. He unexpectedly reached out and grabbed Ruan Qinghuan's slender waist, pulling her to sit next to him.

Such intimacy made Ruan Qinghuan a little flustered, and her face turned red unconsciously: "What are you doing?"

"You've been distracted a lot lately. Have you encountered any difficulties?" Although He'an was busy, he could always see her in deep thought when he occasionally returned home, and he thought she had encountered some difficulties.

"No, I just heard that Xiaoyue was close to General Pei Chong's sister, so I was a little worried."

Ruan Qinghuan did not hide the truth from He'an. Once Ruan Xiaoyue and Pei Chong colluded, it must be for the Ruan family's property. Now with He'an's support, he might not dare to ask for it openly, but if He'an divorced her in the future...

Thinking of this, Ruan Qinghuan suddenly didn't want to think about it anymore. Since that night, He'an treated her like a different person, speaking softly, being careful and patient, and Ruan Qinghuan could feel it.

I just don't know whether he did this out of his love for her or just out of his responsibility as a husband.

If they really like each other, maybe their relationship can continue. But if it's just for the sake of responsibility, once the novelty wears off, it will be no different from just getting along, right?

"The Pei family is not a good choice." He An had thought this through carefully. Pei Chong was in charge of the capital's guards and was a close confidant of the Second Prince.

Since the end of the war with the southern barbarians, the military forces have been redeployed, and the purpose of the second prince pulling in such a person is very obvious.

"I know that, but you've also seen the situation in the Ruan Mansion. There's a deep grudge between the first and second wives. If the second aunt agrees, I'm afraid no one can help."

"Then let her be."

Let her go?

Ruan Qinghuan raised his head unhappily: "The Pei family and the Ruan family have never had any connection. Pei Chong suddenly approached Xiaoyue at this time. I am worried that he has other intentions."

"But what's the point if your sister doesn't understand?"

Ruan Qinghuan sat back and looked at him sideways: "Do you know that Pei Chong is plotting against the Ruan family?"

He An was not surprised at all when he heard this. With his shrewdness, how could he not guess this?

"Don't worry, I'm here. Pei Chong doesn't have that ability yet." He An didn't care and put his arm around her shoulders soothingly: "Lean back and take a nap. I'll call you when we're here."

Ruan Qinghuan's worries were not groundless. He'an had not paid much attention to Pei Chong before, but it seemed that he would have to pay more attention to him in the future.

**

Taoyuan is very busy today. There are several low tables and mats scattered among the peach trees in the park, probably for people to rest and chat.

Taoyuan is very large, with a courtyard inside. There is a garden to the west of the courtyard, and a two-story building to the east. Next to the building is an elegant waterside pavilion.

There were quite a few people at Shui Xie, gathering in groups of three or four to chat.

The Second Prince was standing by the window, with the Crown Prince next to him. When he saw He'an, the Second Prince nodded and motioned for him to come over.

He An ordered Jiang Ming and Jiang Qi to follow Ruan Qinghuan, and said, "Don't let yourself be wronged."

Ruan Qinghuan chuckled: "Don't worry."

To be honest, Ruan Qinghuan was a little worried about He'an. If the Second Prince wanted to win him over, he would definitely use some means. The most important point was to sow discord between him and the Crown Prince.

In the garden, the Crown Princess and Princess Chen were talking, while the other princesses were watching the fun.

Although the Crown Princess had never met Ruan Qinghuan, she recognized Jiang Ming and Jiang Qi who were beside He An. Since she had these two people accompanying her for protection, she must be the Prime Minister's wife.

When the Crown Prince and Ji Lingchuan were chatting earlier, Ji Lingchuan said that the Prime Minister, who had always been cold and arrogant, had fallen into the hands of the new wife this time. At first, the Crown Princess did not believe it, but when she saw Ruan Qinghuan's relaxed and lively appearance, she knew that He An treated her well.

A woman who has not married well will not have such lively and free eyes.

The Crown Princess waved at her, and Jiang Ming whispered, "Madam, these two are the Crown Princess and Princess Chen."

She stepped forward and greeted the two people: "Your humble servant greets the Crown Princess and Princess Chen."

Just as the Crown Princess helped the man up, before she could say anything, Princess Chen looked at Ruan Qinghuan and said, "I've heard that the Prime Minister has married. Now that I see her, the young lady is indeed as beautiful as a fairy. What a pity..."

There was naturally a story behind her pause. Ruan Qinghuan was not in a hurry and waited for her to continue.

Princess Chen shook her head with regret: "It's a pity that even though she is so beautiful, she is not the type that the Prime Minister likes. I heard that he postponed the wedding for two years because of this. In the end, he could not stand the pressure from the elders in the family and reluctantly welcomed the young lady back home."

Princess Chen's voice was neither loud nor soft, but everyone around heard it and couldn't help but look over here.

Hearing this, the Crown Princess looked unhappy: "I don't think so. Whether a couple is good or not, only they themselves know. What outsiders see may not be true. If the Prime Minister and his wife really have a bad relationship, why would he bring her to the banquet?"

"No matter how much I dislike what the Crown Princess said, she is still the mistress of the Prime Minister's Mansion. In such an occasion, is it possible for her to bring a concubine here?"

As soon as these words were spoken, there was a burst of whispers around.

Ruan Qinghuan was not angry when she heard this, but smiled brightly: "Princess Chen, you are joking. My master has always been obsessed with official business. He has been staying in the palace for several days. He is also a clean person and cannot touch dirty things."

Upon hearing this, Princess Chen's face turned cold. Ruan Qinghuan was implying that her words were not clean.

Ruan Xiaoyue, who was watching the excitement from the side, saw that the situation was not good, so she wanted to hide away, but Princess Chen saw her and called her over: "Young Madam, there is no need to hide it. These are all said by your sister herself. Could she be wrong?"

Ruan Xiaoyue was put in this position, so she had to speak up for Princess Chen: "Cousin, don't argue about this matter, it will make outsiders laugh at you."

"Who wants to see a joke?"

The prince and his entourage arrived at the garden. Princess Chen had someone to lean on, so she came to the side of the second prince, Prince Chen, and said, "My lord, I was just talking about some family matters with the prime minister's wife, and the young lady was still angry."

The Crown Princess: "Sister, what you said today was indeed a bit too much."

Princess Chen didn't care: "Look, the Crown Princess is also very serious. No one dared to speak for a while."

Prince Chen pretended to reprimand her, but in fact he let her off the hook: "You should learn from the Crown Princess and stop being so spoiled and willful."

"Your Highness, what you said is clearly a way of taking advantage of others." Princess Chen started to act coquettishly: "Don't we have several concubines in the backyard of our palace? What did I say?"

"The princess is indeed generous in this regard." Prince Chen laughed after saying this.

Ruan Qinghuan knew about today's Hongmen Banquet, but it seemed a little off to him. Why did Prince Chen do such a thing right at the beginning? What on earth was Prince Chen planning?