Song Yihuan stood in the yard for a while before entering the house.
Outside, the weeds were overgrown, and the inside of the house was naturally covered with dust. Song Yihuan looked around the small house where she had lived for more than a decade. She found a cloth to cover her nose and mouth and began to pack the autumn and winter clothes for herself and her younger brother. At the same time, she put all the things she could take away into the boxes as much as possible.
She thought this should be her last time back to the Marquis Mansion. After everything was settled there, she would find a way to take Xuan'er and flee the capital, far away from all the troubles. So she wanted to take all the things she could.
On the other side, Ji Lingchuan walked slowly in the Ding'an Marquis Mansion with Song Nanxin. Song Nanxin introduced every scenery of the mansion to him, but he remained silent all the time, his eyes following her introduction and passing over the pavilions and towers.
"This pavilion is very cool. Even in the hot summer, there is always a gentle breeze when sitting in it. This concubine liked to come here to enjoy the cool, read books and play the zither most when she was in the mansion."
The Ding'an Marquis Mansion was much smaller than the Prince Ning Mansion, but its scenery was very elegant. The pavilion Song Nanxin mentioned was on a rockery, surrounded by tall bamboo. Bamboo curtains were hanging in the pavilion, making it look very quiet.
But what he saw in front of his eyes at this moment was not the picture of Song Nanxin sitting in the pavilion reading books and playing the zither, but the appearance of Song Yihuan sitting in the pavilion holding an embroidery frame and embroidering very carefully, with fine beads of sweat on her forehead and the tip of her nose.
"Every summer, the lake in the Marquis Mansion will be full of lotus leaves and lotuses. When the lotuses wither and lotus pods grow, this concubine will take her younger brothers and sisters to take a small boat to the center of the lake to pick lotus pods. It's so much fun."
The green lotuses in the lake were stretching their leaves in the sun. Ji Lingchuan seemed to see a figure sitting in a small boat picking lotus pods, which made him absent - minded involuntarily.
Frowning slightly, he said to Song Nanxin beside him, "Let's go and sit in your room."
Song Nanxin smiled shyly and said, "Yes, Your Highness, this way please."
Song Nanxin's boudoir in the Ding'an Marquis Mansion was in the south of the back courtyard, called Fengbo Courtyard. The main house was a two - story attic named Xiaohan Pavilion. There was a pond in the courtyard with several red carps in it. There were also a swing frame and a wisteria frame, and many different kinds of flowers were planted all around. The whole courtyard was colorful and very charming.
Ji Lingchuan could tell that although Song Nanxin was already married, her small courtyard was still often taken care of and not allowed to be deserted. It was obvious that she was really favored in the Prince Ning Mansion.
After entering the house, Ji Lingchuan didn't sit down to rest immediately. Instead, he paced in the room with his hands behind his back, carefully looking at the furnishings in Song Nanxin's room.
There were many antique shelves and rosewood cabinets in the room. Precious objects such as jade, porcelain vases and strange stones were neatly arranged on the shelves. There were also many paintings hanging on the walls, all of which were by famous artists.
Song Nanxin followed him and told him where each ornament in the room came from. Before she knew it, Ji Lingchuan had walked around the room, not missing any corner.
Song Nanxin thought he just wanted to know more about her, and her heart was as sweet as honey.
Standing in front of the stairs leading to the second floor, Ji Lingchuan looked up and asked Song Nanxin, "What's up there?"
The wooden stairs led straight up, and there was a bamboo curtain hanging on the connected door, making it impossible to see the situation behind.
Song Nanxin stood behind Ji Lingchuan. Seeing him looking at the room on the upper floor, she swallowed secretly and smiled, "It's my study. I usually read books, practice calligraphy and paint there. Does Your Highness want to go up and have a look?"
Ji Lingchuan turned around and left in front of the stairs, saying, "No need."
Song Nanxin couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, and her hanging heart finally fell.
The second floor of Xiaohan Pavilion was indeed a study, but there weren't many books there before. In order to dispel Ji Lingchuan's suspicion, she specially asked Mrs. Meng to find some books to fill the bookcases on the second floor.
If Ji Lingchuan really went up and tested her on - the - spot like before, she might not be able to answer. Her studies in the Imperial College would surely arouse his suspicion.
Next, Ji Lingchuan stopped walking around and sat down in Song Nanxin's room. Song Nanxin asked the servant to prepare the tea set and personally made tea for Ji Lingchuan.
This time, Ji Lingchuan brought her back to her maiden's home and visited her boudoir. Song Nanxin couldn't help but have other thoughts. She picked out some interesting things that happened in the Imperial College in the past and told him. Ji Lingchuan listened quietly and occasionally replied a few words. The atmosphere between them was quite harmonious.
Ji Lingchuan sat in Fengbo Courtyard for a while when someone from the Ding'an Marquis came to invite him, saying that the marquis invited him to play chess.
Ji Lingchuan knew very well that since he rarely came to the Ding'an Marquis Mansion, the marquis would never miss this opportunity to win him over. He told Song Nanxin to have a good rest in the room and then followed the attendant beside the Ding'an Marquis away.
When he arrived at the Wenwu Pavilion, the Ding'an Marquis stepped forward to greet him and said with a smile, "Your Highness is here. Please come in and sit down quickly."
Ji Lingchuan's eyes swept across the Ding'an Marquis's face, which was obviously over - indulged. He responded casually and strode in, sitting down on the other side of the arhat couch.
The Ding'an Marquis still wanted to show Ji Lingchuan his collection of famous calligraphy, but when he turned around and saw that Ji Lingchuan had already started to arrange the chessboard, his face froze.
This young man had such an attitude towards him when he came to his father - in - law's house? Although Ji Lingchuan was the prince's heir, he was still his father - in - law after all!
Ji Lingchuan looked up at him and said, "Why is Your Lordship standing there? Didn't you send someone to invite me specifically from Fengbo Courtyard to play chess?"
The Ding'an Marquis had to walk over and said with a smile, "Yes. I've heard that Your Highness is very good at chess. It's a rare opportunity today. This marquis really wants to play a game with Your Highness."
Sitting down opposite Ji Lingchuan, the Ding'an Marquis opened the chess box, took out a chess piece and raised his hand towards Ji Lingchuan, saying, "Your Highness, please."
Ji Lingchuan held the white pieces and placed one on the chessboard. Then the two started to play chess silently.
When Ji Lingchuan played chess, his face was cold and solemn, and his eyes were slightly lowered. He was only half the age of the Ding'an Marquis, but his momentum overwhelmed the marquis. Even placing the chess pieces could bring invisible pressure to the Ding'an Marquis.
Ji Lingchuan showed no mercy when playing against the Ding'an Marquis. He surrounded and blocked the marquis's black pieces. In less than a cup of tea, the outcome of the game on the chessboard was already decided.
"Your Lordship, do you still want to play?" Ji Lingchuan looked up at the Ding'an Marquis.
The Ding'an Marquis was secretly annoyed. Although Ji Lingchuan was the heir of the Prince Ning, he was still his father - in - law after all. This was his first visit. Why didn't he show some respect and let him win a little?
The Ding'an Marquis forced a smile and said, "Your Highness's chess skills are excellent. This marquis lost this game."
Ji Lingchuan said coldly, "It's because Your Lordship wasn't focused enough when playing chess. Naturally, you can't defeat me."