Princess's Residence.
The maid Bihe said respectfully, "Princess, Acai has returned."
Upon hearing this, Princess Xilan immediately lost her appetite for the herbal jelly in her hand: "Send it quickly!"
Immediately afterwards, the servant A Cai entered and knelt before Princess Xi Lan: "This humble servant greets Your Highness."
"Get up. What did you find out?"
"Your Highness, Lin Tanhua was not stripped of his academic honors; His Majesty even appointed him to an official position."
Upon hearing this, Princess Xilan felt a great weight lifted from her heart, and a smile appeared on her face. She then asked, "What official position has been assigned?"
"Magistrate of Ganning County"
"It's being played externally!"
Unless an official has outstanding political achievements, it is difficult for them to be transferred to the capital. Lin Shikang went to Ganning County. Even if someone in the capital was willing to help him, he would not be able to return for two or three years.
Lin Shikang's absence from Kyoto meant they wouldn't see each other for several years, which left Princess Xilan somewhat disappointed.
Seeing that Princess Xilan was sullen, the maid Bihe said, "Princess, Lin Tanhua has been transferred to a post outside the capital. Will the Wang family object to this marriage?"
Upon hearing this, Princess Xilan's eyes lit up. Ever since Lin Shikang saved her last time, she had fallen for him at first sight. However, she had suppressed her feelings because Lin Shikang was engaged to Wang Mengyun. But if the Wang family broke off the engagement, wouldn't she have a chance? If Lin Shikang became the prince consort, he might be able to stay in the capital.
However, Princess Xilan's eyes quickly dimmed: "Wang Mengyun has already been engaged twice. If this one doesn't work out, she will definitely never be able to get married. So the Wang family can't possibly break off the engagement."
Bihe said angrily, "If anyone is to blame, it's that bitch Yang. If it weren't for her, how could Lin Tanhua have been sent to that godforsaken place!"
Princess Xilan also loathed Yang Cui, this rumored person, to the extreme. Lin Shikang could have had a bright future, but it was all because of this ignorant village woman, Yang Cui, who ruined Lin Shikang!
………
The Chen residence.
As soon as Chen Shaoyun arrived at the door, Qiu Mingxuan appeared. In fact, Qiu Mingxuan had been waiting there for a long time.
"Lord Chen, did you run into Brother Cen in Wan'an County? Did he say when he would be back?"
Chen Shaoyun: "You can write a letter and ask yourself."
"I wrote him a letter last time, but I haven't heard back yet. I don't know if Brother Cen didn't receive the letter."
Cen Xiao didn't mean he didn't receive the letter; he simply didn't want to reply! He basically wouldn't even glance at her letters, either returning them directly or throwing them away. But Qiu Mingxuan would still stick to him like a leech, as if she knew nothing about it.
Chen Shaoyun knew, of course, that Qiu Mingxuan was trying to save face, and he didn't intend to expose her. But just because he didn't expose her didn't mean others wouldn't!
Upon hearing this, Chen Shiqi burst into laughter: "It's not like he'd reply to you just because he received a letter."
Qiu Mingxuan's face instantly turned a deep purplish-red, and she looked as if she was about to cry.
Chen Shiqi and Qiu Mingxuan have always been at odds because Chen Shiqi believes that Qiu Mingxuan was responsible for her cousin Song Yingying's death four years ago, but she has no evidence.
Back then, Cen Xiao was just a fourth-rank military officer, but the Song family saw his potential and intended to arrange a marriage between them. Just as they were about to exchange betrothal gifts, Song Yingying was defiled and committed suicide out of shame and indignation!
When Song Yingying got into trouble, Chen Shiqi noticed that Qiu Mingxuan was smiling. Moreover, since everyone in the capital knew about Qiu Mingxuan's feelings for Cen Xiao, Chen Shiqi became even more suspicious, but she had no evidence.
"You don't know yet, do you? General Cen is already married. Not only is he a skilled warrior, but he's also very shrewd. He saw through you long ago—you're a pretentious and wicked woman—so he'd rather marry you..."
"Shut up!" Chen Shaoyun interrupted Chen Shiqi. The fact that Cen Xiao was going to "marry" Yang Cui should not be spread around before Cen Xiao himself announced it.
Chen Shiqi realized she had spoken too quickly and immediately shut up. However, just thinking about how Qiu Mingxuan would react and cry when she found out about this made her happy.
Chen Shaoyun said to Qiu Mingxuan, "If you want to know about Cen Xiao, you should write a letter to ask him yourself. I have something to attend to at home, so I won't invite you in."
Chen Shiqi: "Fourth Uncle, let's go inside quickly. Tell me quickly, is the story between Yang Shi and Lin Tanhua the same as in the play? Is Yang Shi really that powerful?"
After listening to those opera performances, Chen Shiqi now idolizes Yang Cui.
Chen Shiqi is Chen Shaoyun's eldest niece. She is thirteen years old this year. She had planned to sneak away to Su Murong in Wan'an County, but was caught by her family and brought back. Chen Shiqi overheard Chen Shaoyun talking to his attendants after he returned. However, Chen Shiqi did not know that Cen Xiao's marriage partner was Lin Shikang's ex-wife!
Qiu Mingxuan left in disappointment after seeing the uncle and nephew enter the Chen residence.
Although Chen Shiqi hadn't finished speaking, Qiu Mingxuan still had a bad feeling.
Chen Shiqi's expression and tone just now clearly showed schadenfreude. What could be so schadenfreude that could make Chen Shiqi gloat?
Back home, Qiu Mingxuan went straight to her father, Qiu Tianyun: "Dad, Chen Shaoyun is back. Did Brother Cen send him a message to you?"
Qiu Tianyun looked at the woman with mixed feelings, unsure whether he should tell her that Cen Xiao would rather be a live-in husband to a divorced woman than marry her.
"Dad, what's wrong?"
Qiu Tianyun sighed and said, "Xuan'er, your father has found you a marriage..."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Mingxuan immediately protested: "Father, who would want me in this condition? Don't drag others down."
Qiu Mingxuan is already seventeen years old and still unmarried, making her a "leftover woman" of advanced age.
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