"The nine - ring puzzle. Had you seen it before that day?" Ji Lingchuan's inquiry echoed in her ear.
Song Yihuan looked at Ji Lingchuan in front of her. Seeing that the cold hostility had disappeared from the man's eyes, she then looked at ease into the man's palm.
The nine - ring puzzle was a bit rusty. It must be an old item. She picked it up and examined it carefully from all angles, but still couldn't figure out anything.
She returned the nine - ring puzzle to Ji Lingchuan and shook her head gently. "Sorry. I haven't seen this nine - ring puzzle except on that day."
She was telling the truth. She wondered if it was just her illusion, but after she said this, she saw Ji Lingchuan's gaze turn solemn, and the light in his eyes dimmed a lot.
She clenched her palm and asked, "Is there some mystery hidden in this nine - ring puzzle?"
Ji Lingchuan put the item away and said, "It's related to a case I'm investigating. Since you don't recognize it, then forget it."
Song Yihuan felt relieved. Only then did she notice that their bodies had gotten extremely close because of what had happened just now. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly stepped back to keep a distance from him.
"If Your Highness has nothing else to say, Yihuan will take her leave first. Xuan'er wakes up easily at night. If he wakes up and doesn't see me, he'll throw a tantrum."
Knowing that she was concerned about her younger brother, Ji Lingchuan didn't try to detain her. His gaze swept over the jar she had placed on the stone table. "A jar of green plums is not enough to repay the favor you owe me."
Why was he so persistent! Song Yihuan frowned in annoyance and once again thought that she shouldn't have come here.
She looked up at Ji Lingchuan and tentatively asked, "Then what does Your Highness want?"
Although she was sure that Ji Lingchuan had no amorous feelings for her and would never consider taking her as a concubine, he was still a man, a normal man after all. When a man made a request of a woman, it always made her feel uneasy.
Thankfully, Ji Lingchuan just said, "Your embroidery skills are quite good."
As soon as Song Yihuan heard this, she immediately understood.
When she presented the long embroidery of the pine tree, fairy crane and birthday blessings to Lady Jiang, Ji Lingchuan was right beside her. He must have noticed her excellent embroidery skills and wanted her to embroider something for him?
"I wonder what Your Highness is in need of? A purse? Soles of shoes? A sachet? Or does Your Highness also want a long embroidery like that one?"
Ji Lingchuan didn't say a word, just stared at her intently.
Song Yihuan sighed silently. "I understand. Your Highness just wait."
Only then did Ji Lingchuan let her go. He picked up the jar of green plums on the table and walked out of the pavilion. "It's getting late. Go to bed early."
Watching the man's back striding away, the pavilion suddenly seemed empty again. Song Yihuan recalled all that had happened after their encounter in this pavilion tonight and let out a long breath.
If she didn't know his character, she might have misinterpreted his actions as having amorous feelings for her.
People always said that a woman's heart was as unfathomable as the ocean floor. In her opinion, Ji Lingchuan was no less mysterious.
She took down the lantern hanging beside, packed up the wound medicine and gauze, and carefully made her way back to Tinglan Courtyard under the cover of the tree shadows.
When she returned to Tinglan Courtyard, Fuling was anxiously waiting in the yard. Seeing her return safely, Fuling let out a sigh of relief.
Following Song Yihuan into the room, Fuling lowered her voice and asked, "Fourth Miss, why did you take so long tonight? Was everything all right? Did you encounter any trouble?"
Song Yihuan quietly put the wound medicine back in its place. "Everything went smoothly. No one noticed my whereabouts. From now on, we just need to wait patiently."
Fuling nodded vigorously and stepped forward to serve Song Yihuan as she changed her clothes and got ready for bed.
After a tiring day and the recent encounter with Ji Lingchuan, Song Yihuan was really exhausted. As soon as her head touched the pillow, she fell into a deep sleep.
Fuling covered her with a light quilt and blew out the lamp before quietly leaving.
Perhaps because she had successfully gotten rid of Baizhi, Song Yihuan slept more soundly than ever that night.
Jingtao Courtyard was completely silent. All the servants had gone to bed, and no one knew that Ji Lingchuan had gone out and come back.
Bringing the jar of green plums back to his room, Ji Lingchuan lit a lamp and sat down at the table. He carefully peeled off the cloth covering the jar.
As soon as a small opening was revealed, a fragrant smell wafted out.
It smelled a bit sour but also fresh, making one's mouth water involuntarily.
He didn't expect that she could pickle green plums, and the smell was quite good.
When Ji Lingchuan was leading troops in the border areas, he once tasted the pickled plums made by the hostess of a peasant family in Yancheng. It wasn't a rare delicacy, but it was really delicious.
He carefully took out a plum from the jar with a wooden chopstick and examined it carefully under the lamp. The green plum still retained its original shape, plump and full of pulp. It was clearly of excellent quality.
He put it into his mouth. At first, his tongue felt a strong sour taste. After the sourness faded, the freshness of the plum lingered on his lips and tongue.
He sealed the jar and lay back on the bed.
Perhaps because his wound had been properly treated, he no longer felt any pain in his shoulder. He felt refreshed and much more comfortable.
Song Yihuan.
This name echoed in his mind as he chewed the plum. Ji Lingchuan closed his eyes and found that the plum in his mouth tasted sweeter and more delicious.
That night, Ji Lingchuan also slept very soundly and didn't have any absurd dreams.
In the huge Prince Ning's Mansion, only one person was haunted by nightmares and couldn't sleep all night.
In Yixiang Pavilion, on the carved canopy bed, came Song Nanxin's suppressed and panicked murmurs.
"It was you who were dishonest and stole my precious jewelry, so I punished you!"
"Don't, don't come near me!"
"Someone, drag this slut out and beat her to death with sticks!"
"Ah!" Song Nanxin suddenly woke up with a start. She sat up in bed, covered in sweat, her chest heaving violently as she gasped for breath.
The commotion in the room woke up the servant in the side room. Nanny Zhao walked into the main room from the side room, adjusted the wick and lit the oil lamp, then quickly walked towards the big bed and asked with concern, "What's wrong, Miss?"
Song Nanxin threw herself into Nanny Zhao's arms and cried uncontrollably. "Nanny, I dreamed, I dreamed that Baizhi came back to haunt me!"
Nanny Zhao comforted Song Nanxin. "Miss, don't worry. Dreams are the opposite of reality. Baizhi served Miss for many years. She must understand Miss's good intentions. She won't blame Miss."
Song Nanxin had only ordered to beat Baizhi twenty big boards and send her to the utility yard to do menial work in front of Ji Lingchuan today. But Baizhi knew too many of her secrets. She was afraid that Baizhi would leak the deepest secrets in her heart after she was sent to the utility yard, so she had no choice but to kill her.
Under Nanny Zhao's comfort, Song Nanxin's emotions gradually calmed down, and she fell asleep again.
Early the next morning, when it was already bright, Nanny Zhao brought two little maids into the room to serve Song Nanxin. When she lifted the bed curtain and helped Song Nanxin sit up, Nanny Zhao was shocked when she saw her face.
"Miss, your face..."