The Princess of Ningqin's heart skipped a beat. Subconsciously, she tightened the Buddhist beads in her hand.
He finally found out that she had asked the Empress Dowager to arrange a marriage for him.
She had long guessed that, given his temper, he would confront her once he learned about it.
When he led the troops to the border, he had sent a letter back to the capital. In the letter, he specifically mentioned his marriage. He said that he was going to the border to defend the country and had no intention of getting married. Everything would have to wait until he returned from the border after winning the battle.
But how could the Princess of Ningqin let him have his way?
Taking advantage of the great victory at the border, she asked the Empress Dowager to issue an imperial edict to arrange this marriage, making it impossible for him to refuse.
On the day he led the Black Armored Army back to the capital, she arranged for them to consummate the marriage. After much persuasion, he finally agreed to go to Shulan Courtyard. The Princess of the Heir Apparent was also capable and actually managed to make it happen.
However, in the days that followed, it seemed that he treated the Princess of the Heir Apparent with courtesy, not showing much enthusiasm. He could even ignore Shulan Courtyard for ten days or half a month. Given his character, it was probably the most he could do.
The Princess of Ningqin said, "Don't blame me. You led the troops to fight on the battlefield before you came of age. The battlefield is so dangerous. Your father and I only have you as our son. We've been living in fear and shedding tears every day in the capital. I often regret not arranging a marriage for you before you left for the battlefield so that you would have an extra thought in your heart and come back from the border earlier."
"Taking advantage of the great victory at the border, I asked the Empress Dowager to choose a suitable noble girl in the capital for you and let you get married as soon as you came back."
As she spoke, the Princess of Ningqin shed tears. "Tell me, did I do something wrong?"
Ji Lingchuan said helplessly, "Mother, I don't mean that."
Whether it was the faint fragrance of apricot blossoms or the familiar small regular script, they all hinted to him that Song Nanxin might very well be the lively and cute girl he had met back then.
If it was really her, this marriage would be a match made in heaven. If not...
If it wasn't her, there would be no chance for him and that girl.
Ji Lingchuan felt it difficult to breathe.
After the Princess of Ningqin stopped crying, Ji Lingchuan suddenly said, "Mother, are the account books that the Princess of the Heir Apparent read before still there? I'd like to take them back and take a closer look."
Meeting the surprised look of the Princess of Ningqin, Ji Lingchuan said, "I heard from the Empress Dowager today that the Princess of the Heir Apparent is very outstanding in her studies at the Imperial College. I just want to know more about her."
The Princess of Ningqin visibly became happy and hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, yes. Nanny Chen, go and fetch those account books."
Soon, Nanny Chen fetched the account books. Ji Lingchuan asked Fuzhou to take them. Then he went to the Princess of Ningqin to get back the military book. When he got closer, he found a piece of rice paper under the military book.
On the rice paper, a passage from *The Rhyming Primer* was written in running cursive script. The calligraphy was extremely beautiful, flowing like clouds and running water, with strength and charm.
Frowning, he pulled out the paper and asked, "Who wrote this?"
When the Princess of Ningqin saw the words on it, she suddenly remembered something and clapped her hands.
"Right! I remembered!"
When Ji Lingchuan looked at her, she explained, "This was written by Miss Huan just now. I thought the writing looked familiar just now. Look, doesn't her writing look a bit similar to yours?"
The strokes and the connecting lines of the words on the paper were indeed quite similar to his.
But it couldn't be said to be very similar.
Ji Lingchuan practiced martial arts. He had the army and the world in his heart. His calligraphy was powerful, grand, and full of might. Song Yihuan was just a young lady in the boudoir. Her calligraphy only imitated the form but failed to capture the essence. It was just a show.
"Isn't it a coincidence?" the Princess of Ningqin said. "I just casually tested her, but unexpectedly, this girl is really talented."
Ji Lingchuan's eyes were cold, hiding a faint sneer.
He had just thought a little better of her because of her amazing memory, but unexpectedly, she showed her true colors in calligraphy.
A coincidence? If it were someone else, it might be a coincidence. But if it was her, everything was a calculation.
Just as she and Gu Yunzheng had said, she had long wanted to marry into a high - ranking family. So she deliberately imitated his calligraphy in advance and tried every means to get involved with him.
She really had gone to great lengths.
After leaving Songhe Courtyard, Song Yihuan saw Fuling hiding under a tree outside, anxiously waiting for them.
As soon as Fuling saw the figures of the siblings, she immediately stepped forward and asked anxiously, "Fourth Miss, how are you? Are you okay?"
Song Yihuan didn't expect Fuling to be waiting for her here.
But then she thought that Fuling might not be concerned about her safety but rather about whether she had revealed Song Nanxin's secret.
Song Yihuan glanced at Song Yixuan beside her, who looked curious, and said indifferently, "It's okay. The Princess just asked us a few questions and asked me to chant scriptures with her. That's all."
Fuling understood what she meant and let out a sigh of relief.
Seeing that Song Yihuan looked tired, Fuling thought for a while, bent down to pick up Song Yixuan, and said, "Let this servant take care of Young Master Five."
Song Yihuan looked at her for a few more times but didn't say anything. She walked in the direction of Tinglan Courtyard.
On the way back, Song Yihuan deliberately chose a path away from Jingtao Courtyard and Shulan Courtyard to avoid Ji Lingchuan. But just as she passed through a drooping - flower gate, there came a steady and powerful sound of footsteps behind her.
"Stop."
Ji Lingchuan's voice sounded from behind.
Fuling looked surprised. Song Yixuan was lying on Fuling's shoulder and waved to Ji Lingchuan. "Brother - in - law, why did you follow us?"
Song Yihuan was forced to stop. Listening to the man's approaching footsteps, she closed her eyes tightly.
It was really the case that what you feared most would come.
Ji Lingchuan strode up behind Song Yihuan. His cold and sharp eyes swept over Fuling, who was holding Song Yixuan, and said, "Fuzhou, take her and Young Master Five Song aside."
"Yes."
Ji Lingchuan's eyebrows were full of coldness. It seemed that he came with ill intentions. Fuling sensed something was wrong and subconsciously looked at Song Yihuan.
Although Song Yihuan was extremely reluctant to be alone with Ji Lingchuan in front of Fuling, it was too late to back out now.
She nodded to Fuling and said, "I'll talk to the Heir Apparent alone. Go."
After seeing Fuling take Song Yixuan to a distance where they couldn't hear the conversation here, Song Yihuan took a deep breath, clenched her sleeves, and turned around. Enduring the pain and fatigue all over her body, she showed a charming smile to Ji Lingchuan.
"Does Brother - in - law have anything else to instruct Yihuan?"
She happened to be standing in front of a cluster of blooming roses. When she smiled, her eyes were full of ripples, and her ears and nose were tinged with a faint pink. Even the bright red roses behind her were outshone by her. Her slender and soft figure was so endearing.
Ji Lingchuan was completely taken away by her. For a moment, he forgot the purpose of chasing after her.