The carriage was spacious, lined with thick cushions, and even had a long table inside. Song Tangning had initially worried that Xiao Yan might trouble her or mock her for her audacity, but to her surprise, he leaned back against the opposite side and closed his eyes to rest after boarding.
When the man closed his eyes, the lines on his face softened, and his cold, pale complexion melted into the gently swaying light and shadow, like cold jade falling into warm water, dissipating the sharpness that usually intimidated others. Song Tangning gradually relaxed and couldn’t help but turn her head to lift the curtain beside her.
The mountains weren’t far from the capital, and Xiao Yan’s estate was located in the suburbs. It was early spring, the peach blossoms had yet to bloom, and the plum blossoms had already withered. The farmland, weighed down by snow, didn’t offer much in the way of scenery. The cold wind biting her face was a bit chilling, but Tangning, who hadn’t seen the outside world for a long time, greedily breathed in the air of freedom.
As the carriage approached the east gate of the city, the number of pedestrians increased. The rising noise and the occasional cries of vendors made her feel more real—she was truly back.
When the carriage arrived in front of the Prince Cheng’s residence, they were informed that the Princess Cheng had gone to the Ministry of Revenue’s Grand Secretary’s mansion to attend a banquet.
Canglang, standing outside, said, "Today is the wedding of the third son of the Qian family, and Princess Cheng went to attend the banquet. I heard that the heir of the Xie family is there too..."
"Shall we go inside and wait for them?" Xiao Yan asked Song Tangning.
Song Tangning bit her lip lightly. She had nearly lost her life when she was thrown into the mountains, and yet Xie Yin was happily attending a banquet. "No, let's go directly to the Qian family!"
The Ministry of Revenue's Grand Secretary, Qian Baokun, hailed from a prominent family in Lingnan. Though not as prestigious as the Cui and Lu families in the capital, he had secured the top position in the Ministry of Revenue by the age of forty and had held the important financial post for ten years without being moved. This alone made him well-connected in the capital.
His third son was marrying the legitimate daughter of the Earl of Enyuan’s family, another family of considerable stature. At this moment, the Qian family mansion was bustling with guests.
Princess Cheng was sitting in a gazebo draped with curtains, chatting and laughing with others about the Qian family’s good marriage when she vaguely noticed a group of young men and women chatting and laughing as they approached from a distance.
"Isn’t that the heir of the Xie family?" Zhou, the wife of Marquis Wenxin, who was familiar with Princess Cheng, remarked with a smile. "The young lady beside him looks unfamiliar. Could it be that something good is about to happen?"
Following her gaze, Princess Cheng looked over and immediately showed a look of disdain. "Don't bring bad luck to me. She’s just a concubine's daughter who doesn't belong in the spotlight."
"A concubine's daughter?" Madam Zhou was surprised. "Could it be from the Song family?"
At these words, Princess Cheng's face darkened. Everyone knew that the elder sister of Princess Cheng had married into the Song family and was deeply in love with Song Xi, the second master of the Song family.
Lady Rong had given birth to a daughter but was unable to have more children afterward. Despite her beauty and charm, Song Xi refused to take a concubine and lived faithfully with Lady Rong. When the two of them tragically passed away, many people lamented their deep affection, and anyone who mentioned them would talk about their profound love.
However, not long ago, a concubine's daughter suddenly appeared in the Song family, claimed to be the bloodline of the late Song Xi. This was a rare and scandalous matter in the capital. Many people who once praised Song Xi's devotion now mocked him.
At that time, everyone thought that the Song family would keep the concubine's daughter hidden away, but surprisingly, the elegant and talented young master of the Song family brought her to several social events, introducing her as the Song family’s young lady and asking others to look after her, which soon made her known throughout the capital as his illegitimate cousin.
And now it seemed that the heir of the Xie family was also close to this concubine's daughter?
Xie Yin and the others had also noticed Princess Cheng and her group, so they walked over.
"Mother."
Xie Yin, with his handsome appearance, smiled with youthful vigor. The others also greeted her, "Greetings to Princess Cheng."
Noticing that Song Shulan seemed somewhat at a loss and didn't recognize the people in front of her, Xie Yin, feeling protective, explained on her behalf:
"Shulan, this is my mother, Princess Cheng, and this is Madam Zhou, wife of Marquis Wenxin. You don’t need to be nervous; my mother is also your aunt, so there’s no need to be formal."
Song Shulan shyly stepped forward. "Shulan greets Auntie."
"My sister only has one daughter, so you shouldn’t call me aunt." Princess Cheng's words instantly drained the color from Song Shulan's face.
Xie Yin frowned. "Mother!"
"What are you shouting for? I’m right here, not a ghost," Princess Cheng snapped. She wasn’t known for her good temper. Already disliking this concubine's daughter who had suddenly appeared, she felt even more protective of her sister and niece. Now seeing her son getting close to this girl, she couldn’t help but snap, "The spring exams are coming up, and instead of staying home to study, you’re here? And let me tell you, I only gave birth to one child. Don’t go around calling people your sister, tarnishing their reputation."
The previously lively group of young men and women fell silent immediately.
Princess Cheng's words seemed to scold Xie Yin, but everyone could hear the underlying meaning. Song Shulan’s eyes instantly reddened, tears welling up, and her frail body swayed as if she might collapse.
Xie Yin’s heart ached. He knew his mother disliked Shulan because of her background, but it wasn’t something she could choose. Besides, she was also a daughter of the Song family, the bloodline of his uncle, so she deserved to live in the same luxury as Tangning.
Why did his mother have to make things difficult for a weak girl?
"Mother, Shulan is also Uncle's daughter, just like Tangning. Please don’t make things hard for her…"
"Shut up!"
Princess Cheng's face turned cold. "A concubine's daughter who doesn’t belong in the spotlight—how could she be like Tangning?"
"Status or not, she is Uncle's daughter, the closest sister to Tangning. She is gentle and kind, always taking care of Tangning. Can’t you show her some of the love you have for Tangning?" Xie Yin protested.
Princess Cheng was nearly infuriated by his words. She stood up, her face ashen with anger, ready to explode. Madam Zhou quickly pulled her back. "Calm down, calm down. We’re at the Qian family’s house. Let’s not make a scene in front of the children."
Princess Cheng's chest heaved as she tried to suppress her anger. Glancing at the startled young men and women, she struggled to control herself before finally speaking with restrained fury: "Is my love something she deserves?"
"Let me tell you, Xie Yin, Tangning is Tangning, and she is she. You only have one sister, Tangning. Don’t let just anyone claim relation to my sister. I know all about the affairs of the Song family. Tangning has cried to me several times about this. That concubine's daughter is nothing but trouble."
Turning her gaze to the tear-streaked Song Shulan, Princess Cheng sneered. "I don’t care what you do in the Song family, even if you turn the place upside down. But don’t bring your act to my son and parade it in front of me, or don’t blame me for being ruthless."
"I didn’t…" Song Shulan's eyes were red with grievance. She had never done anything—Brother Yin had sought her out, and he was the one who wouldn’t let go of her.
Princess Cheng, uninterested in seeing Song Shulan’s pitiful display, felt she might lose control and hit her foolish son. She grabbed Madam Zhou, ready to leave. But before she could turn away, she heard a startled voice nearby.
"The Chief Eunuch is here."
Love this princess, holds nothing back!
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