The next day, Jiang Ning'an received an invitation.
Xu Linchuan actually invited her to go boating on the lake.
"Has he moved out?"
Lin Ji nodded slightly. "He moved out yesterday. Now he's staying in the Tianzi No. 1 guest room at the Mo Xiang Inn."
The Mo Xiang Inn was more like a library than an ordinary inn. You could find various classics by famous scholars there. It even provided writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones for free, which made it very popular among scholars.
Most of the people bustling around the inn were poor scholars. They worked in the inn, and in return, the inn provided them with food and accommodation. Therefore, the Mo Xiang Inn enjoyed a very high reputation among poor scholars.
"Where did he get the silver?"
The Tianzi No. 1 guest room wasn't cheap.
Meng Chun said with a complicated expression, "Your Highness, have you forgotten? You gave a lot of valuable things to Scholar Xu before. He could just sell a few of them and live a carefree life for the rest of his life."
Jiang Ning'an: ...
She really wanted to slap her past self.
No.
She had been controlled by the plot before. What was wrong with that? She should slap the plot instead.
Jiang Ning'an took a deep breath and her gaze fell back on the invitation. "Boating on the lake... It's been a long time since we last went out for a walk, hasn't it?"
Meng Chun hesitated, not knowing whether she should nod or not.
She was really afraid that Jiang Ning'an would fall in love with Xu Linchuan again.
That kind of Jiang Ning'an made her feel extremely strange.
But Jiang Ning'an wasn't really asking for her opinion. "Then let's go."
"Your Highness..."
Jiang Ning'an glanced at her. "What? That's the silver I spent. It would be a waste not to go."
Hearing this, Meng Chun felt relieved. She called the maids to help Jiang Ning'an change her clothes.
Jiang Ning'an had a delicate constitution. She was afraid of the heat in summer and the cold in winter. There weren't many opportunities for her to go out throughout the year. The weather was just right now.
When Jiang Ning'an arrived at the lake by carriage, the sun was already high in the sky.
Xu Linchuan was standing under the shade of the trees in a blue robe, looking at the lake absent-mindedly. He looked so beautiful that he seemed like a character in a painting. Many young girls around were stealing glances at him.
Seeing Jiang Ning'an coming, Xu Linchuan took two steps forward to greet her. "Ning'an, you're here."
Jiang Ning'an still made a grand entrance with seven maids following her. A canopy blocked the somewhat scorching sunlight above her head.
Jiang Ning'an replied casually with an "um" and then turned to look around.
It was already late spring. Everything in sight was full of vitality.
The sunlight was too strong. The light on the lake was a bit dazzling. A small boat that could only accommodate two people was moored by the lake, gently rising and falling with the rippling water.
Xu Linchuan got on the boat first and reached out his hand to Jiang Ning'an. "Come on."
His fingers were well - defined but overly thin. Jiang Ning'an couldn't help but think of the rows of ribs on his body.
"Ning'an?"
Jiang Ning'an just stared at the small boat that could only hold two people and didn't move at all.
For one thing, she couldn't swim. For another, she didn't want to be nice to Xu Linchuan anymore. What if she offended him on the lake and he pushed her into the water?
She was in poor health. Even if Xu Linchuan had a conscience and saved her, she would surely fall seriously ill after going back.
Seeing that Jiang Ning'an didn't move for a long time, Xu Linchuan was about to say something when the boat swayed slightly. Xu Linchuan instinctively withdrew his hand and supported himself on the boat to steady his body.
Turning his head, he saw a painted pleasure boat four or five times larger than the small boat he was on approaching him.
Jiang Ning'an didn't even look at him anymore and went straight onto the painted pleasure boat. Behind her, the maids also followed.
Seeing this, Xu Linchuan had no choice but to grit his teeth and get out of the small boat and follow them onto the painted pleasure boat.
The painted pleasure boat sailed towards the center of the lake.
On the small boat, Xu Linchuan could hardly stand still by himself. But on the painted pleasure boat, everyone could not only stand steadily but also walk around freely.
However, Xu Linchuan was a bit dissatisfied.
He had deliberately chosen the small boat that could only hold two people in order to pour out his heart to Jiang Ning'an alone on the vast expanse of the blue lake.
It would be even better if Jiang Ning'an accidentally fell into the water. He was an excellent swimmer and could protect her. After this incident, Jiang Ning'an would surely be infatuated with him again.
He had thought everything through, but he never expected that Jiang Ning'an wouldn't even get on the small boat.
Coming back to his senses, Xu Linchuan looked up and saw Jiang Ning'an looking at him with a scrutinizing look. His heart skipped a beat and he forced himself to remain calm. "What's wrong?"
Jiang Ning'an curled her lips. "I was just thinking that in the past, Scholar Xu couldn't wait to stay as far away from me as possible. Why did you think of me today?"
Xu Linchuan didn't know how to answer this question.
He couldn't tell Jiang Ning'an that it was for Chu Yu, could he?
The deadline set by Chu's mother for Chu Yu was approaching. Xu Linchuan couldn't tolerate the slightest mistake.
So Xu Linchuan just said, "In the past, I was young and arrogant and didn't understand things." Xu Linchuan's expression was a bit unnatural. "If I offended Your Highness, please forgive me."
Seeing that Jiang Ning'an just sneered, Xu Linchuan took a deep breath and made a very sincere gesture. "Your Highness, as long as you can calm down, I'll do anything."
"Really?"
Meeting her gaze, Xu Linchuan nodded.
He was certain in his heart that no matter how Jiang Ning'an treated him on the surface, she wouldn't really do anything to hurt him.
She couldn't bear to.
Before he could finish thinking, an irresistible force grabbed his collar and threw him out.
The cold lake water rushed into his mouth and nose, completely submerging him.
The instinct to survive made Xu Linchuan quickly adjust his posture and float to the surface.
He looked up at Jiang Ning'an in disbelief.
Jiang Ning'an was also looking at him. There was finally a bit of a smile on her face. "What's wrong? Didn't you say that as long as I'm happy, you'll let me do anything to you? Is Scholar Xu just saying that to coax me?"
Xu Linchuan's face looked ugly. "Of course not. Ning'an, as long as you're happy."
Jiang Ning'an sneered and lifted her chin. "Look, your boat is coming. Go back by yourself."
Xu Linchuan turned his head and sure enough saw a man rowing his boat towards him.
Xu Linchuan breathed a sigh of relief and swam towards the small boat.
"Thank you—"
Before his voice fell, he saw the man jump onto the painted pleasure boat.
The man even took the oars with him.
At this time, a burst of undisguised laughter came. Xu Linchuan looked in the direction of the sound and saw Jiang Ning'an laughing so hard that she could hardly straighten up.
The happier Jiang Ning'an laughed, the darker Xu Linchuan's face became.
How could she be so excessive?
But before Xu Linchuan could say anything, Jiang Ning'an had already ordered the people to row the painted pleasure boat towards the center of the lake.
On the painted pleasure boat, Jiang Ning'an took the handkerchief handed by Meng Chun and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. "It was really worth coming here today."
Meng Chun nodded repeatedly.
When had they ever seen that man in such a sorry state!
He really deserved it!
This lake was famous for its lotus leaves that seemed to touch the sky in midsummer. Although the season hadn't arrived yet, there were already many boats of various sizes floating on the lake, becoming part of the scenery.
The lake was vast and the wind was cool. Jiang Ning'an leaned against the beauty's couch casually, looking extremely relaxed.
Jiang Ning'an took a round on the lake on the painted pleasure boat. On the way back, she saw Xu Linchuan rowing the boat with his bare hands. He looked extremely embarrassed.
So Jiang Ning'an couldn't help laughing again.
The painted pleasure boat was faster than his. By the time Xu Linchuan got ashore, Jiang Ning'an had already disappeared.
Xu Linchuan didn't have time to think too much. He avoided the curious looks of the crowd and left in a hurry.