Upon learning that it was Song Yihuan's birthday today, Ji Lingchuan somehow recalled the scene he had witnessed in the marketplace yesterday and her radiant smile.
Ji Lingchuan looked at the thin and pitiful Song Yixuan in front of him and suddenly asked, "What does your fourth elder sister like on weekdays?"
Song Yixuan had no guard against him at all and immediately counted on his fingers, "Fourth elder sister likes embroidery, reading, writing, and she also likes to buy desserts for Xuan'er..."
Even Ji Lingchuan, with his dull personality, couldn't help but be amused by him.
Forget it. What could one expect to learn from a four - year - old child?
"Right! Fourth elder sister likes cat slaves!"
Song Yixuan's eyes sparkled. "The eldest elder sister once had a cat slave with golden eyes. Fourth elder sister liked it so much. It's a pity that the cat slave died later. Fourth elder sister was so sad that she couldn't eat for several days."
Cat slave?
A cat slave refers to a cat. Many noble people in the capital city like to keep cats for fun, so cats are also called "cat slaves".
He didn't expect that she liked this.
He silently noted this down in his heart and said to Song Yixuan, "Don't tell your fourth elder sister that we've met, lest she overthinks."
Song Yixuan nodded obediently. Ji Lingchuan sent him back to the stone table. He lowered his eyes and looked at the sleeping beauty. There was a hidden desire in his deep eyes that only he himself knew.
He took away the outer robe covering her body. Just as Ji Lingchuan was about to turn around and leave, his sleeve was grabbed. A charming murmur came from beside his ear.
"…Don't go."
Song Yihuan didn't sleep deeply. She always felt that she was being watched. That line of sight followed her like a shadow, making it impossible for her to escape.
Until her body warmed up and a faint fragrance of grass and trees came from the tip of her nose. She felt that she had fallen into a firm and reliable embrace, and only then did she allow herself to fall asleep peacefully.
However, such a quiet and peaceful moment was very short. The warm embrace withdrew soon, leaving her alone and standing in the heartless and indifferent mortal world.
Subconsciously, she reached out her hand to grab that warmth, wanting it to stay with her a little longer.
Don't go. Don't leave Yihuan alone in this world.
Don't go. Even if you have to go, take Yihuan with you...
As her consciousness returned, Song Yihuan suddenly opened her eyes and sat up straight.
"Fourth elder sister, you promised to read and write with Xuan'er. Why did you fall asleep by yourself?" Her younger brother's voice came from beside her. Song Yihuan came back to her senses in a daze.
She looked around and then at her palm.
What she was holding there was a banana leaf.
Sure enough, it was just a dream.
For some reason, Song Yihuan felt a bit empty in her heart.
She forced a smile, stroked her younger brother's hair, and said, "Sorry. I copied books too late last night and I'm a bit tired. Sister promises you that this will never happen again."
She sat there for a while longer and ended today's homework before noon. The siblings packed their things and returned to Tinglan Courtyard.
Song Yihuan didn't notice at all that there was one piece of writing she had written missing from the basket in her hand.
When the siblings returned to Tinglan Courtyard, the noisy opera singing outside had stopped.
Without that annoying sound in her ears, Song Yihuan's mood was much better than in the morning.
After settling Song Yixuan down, she returned to her room, found the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and continued to copy the book *A Miscellany of Yangshan*.
The room was completely quiet. Song Yihuan was focused and serious. She silently recited the content in the book and wrote line by line.
When Ji Lingchuan returned to Jingtao Courtyard, he happened to see Song Nanxin walking with a very charming woman. The two were chatting and laughing, looking very familiar.
"Miss Cui performed several wonderful opera shows today. The princess also praised Miss Cui's acting skills. I really enjoyed myself today."
"The princess is too kind. It's a blessing that I've accumulated over several lifetimes to be appreciated by the Princess of Ning and the princess - consort." The voice of the woman surnamed Cui was also gentle and pleasant. One could tell at a glance that she came from an opera troupe.
A servant with sharp eyes saw Ji Lingchuan and called out "My lord". Only then did Song Nanxin and the woman surnamed Cui look up at Ji Lingchuan.
Song Nanxin was overjoyed. "Your humble wife pays respects to my lord."
Beside her, Cui Ying'er also gracefully saluted Ji Lingchuan. "Cui Ying'er from Qionglan Troupe pays respects to the Prince of Ning's heir. May my lord be in good health."
Since he had bumped into them, Ji Lingchuan stopped and replied indifferently, "There's no need for such formalities."
Cui Ying'er and the other actors of the opera troupe all stood up and lowered their heads, standing quietly aside so as not to offend Ji Lingchuan.
Song Nanxin stepped forward and asked with a smile, "My lord, have you just returned from outside? Your humble wife invited the people from Qionglan Troupe to perform several opera shows just now. It's a pity that my lord missed them.
If my lord wants to listen, how about asking Miss Cui to perform another show for my lord?"
Ji Lingchuan said "No need" and without even looking at the charming Cui Ying'er, he was about to continue walking inside.
However, when he passed by Cui Ying'er, he suddenly stopped, looked at her, and frowned.
Although Cui Ying'er, like the others, was standing with her head lowered, looking respectful, Ji Lingchuan just sensed something strange about her. Among the actors, Cui Ying'er was relatively tall, so she stood out.
As if sensing Ji Lingchuan's scrutiny, Cui Ying'er rolled her eyes and looked at Ji Lingchuan without evasion. Her eyes were full of charm, clearly seducing Ji Lingchuan.
Ji Lingchuan's expression tightened. He didn't stop and strode away from there.
Song Nanxin and Cui Ying'er glanced at each other and then continued walking towards Shulan Courtyard.
The actors from Qionglan Troupe performed several opera shows in the Prince of Ning's Mansion, enlivening the whole mansion. People in every small courtyard were discussing today's opera. Even the Princess of Ning couldn't help but hum a small part of it softly when she returned to her room. She was really immersed in it.
"I have to say that our princess - consort really knows how to handle things. After the princess listened to several opera shows, her mood has improved a lot." Nanny Chen said with a smile as she massaged the Princess of Ning's shoulders.
The Princess of Ning let out a soft "hmm" and said regretfully, "The princess - consort is really good at pleasing people. It's just a pity that she can't warm Chuan'er's heart. Look, it's been so long, and the number of times they've shared a bed can be counted on one hand. I heard that Chuan'er went to her room a few days ago but left after just a short while. I don't know what exactly happened between them. It's really worrying."
Just as she was speaking, Nanny Hu walked into Songhe Hall in a hurry. Her face looked very solemn.
The Princess of Ning seemed to sense something and looked up. Nanny Chen behind her also stopped her movements.
"What big thing has happened that makes you look like this?"
Nanny Hu clenched the handkerchief in her hand and lowered her voice, "This servant heard some rumors about the princess - consort in the mansion today. Those rumors... are related to the heir of the prince's mansion."