Hearing Cui Ying'er whisper those two words in her ear, Song Nanxin was so scared that her face turned pale. She quickly covered his mouth and nose. "Are you crazy? How could you say such a thing here?!"
Cui Ying'er... Oh no, perhaps he should be called Cui Muyuan.
Cui Muyuan hugged Song Nanxin but didn't make any further moves. Instead, he said with a bit of grievance, "You were chatting and laughing with the heir in the Ding'an Marquis Mansion today. It made me unhappy. Your heart is all on him, but he has been helping your fourth younger sister both openly and secretly. I don't believe you haven't noticed."
Thinking about what Cui Muyuan said, Song Nanxin also felt something was wrong the more she thought about it.
She just couldn't figure out why Ji Lingchuan was in such a hurry to leave after she returned to the mansion for only half a day. He also helped that little bitch get her monthly allowance smoothly and took them to the East Market to buy clothes.
She was truly the daughter of a coquette, always using such coquettish tricks!
Just as Song Nanxin was thinking about how to teach Song Yihuan a good lesson and make her behave, an unexpected guest came outside Shulan Courtyard.
Fu Xing came to deliver a message from Ji Lingchuan.
Ji Lingchuan would stay in Shulan Courtyard tonight and asked the courtyard to make preparations for the night of serving him in bed!
After nearly a month, Ji Lingchuan finally summoned Shulan Courtyard to serve him in bed again!
Song Nanxin felt happy at first. Since Ji Lingchuan had left in a huff last time, she thought she had been disliked by him. She didn't expect that he was still willing to come to Shulan Courtyard.
It was a pity that her body couldn't serve him in bed, so she could only let Song Yihuan take her place.
Her heart skipped a beat. Combining what Cui Muyuan had just said, Song Nanxin suddenly sat up straight.
No, she almost forgot that Ji Lingchuan had given them sisters the perfume paste from Que Luo Fang in the Ding'an Marquis Mansion today!
Clutching Cui Muyuan's hand tightly, she asked nervously, "Do you think the heir has noticed something, so he gave different perfume pastes to us sisters? Is he testing us by summoning Shulan Courtyard to serve him tonight?"
However, there were also doubts in Song Nanxin's heart.
Song Yihuan had taken her place to serve him in bed so many times without being noticed by Ji Lingchuan. How did Ji Lingchuan notice something was wrong?
Cui Muyuan comforted her, "Don't worry unnecessarily. Even if he has noticed something, with my disguise technique and making your fourth younger sister smear the perfume paste he gave you, it will be enough to deceive him."
Although it made sense, Song Nanxin still felt a bit uneasy.
"Or maybe I should just feign illness and avoid this time of serving him in bed?"
Cui Muyuan pinched her wrist and said, "You're being stupid. If you avoid his favor at this time, aren't you just blatantly telling him that there's something wrong with the matter of serving him in bed? Don't worry. With me here, everything is under control."
Under Cui Muyuan's comfort, Song Nanxin finally felt relieved.
Cui Muyuan got up and walked outside the courtyard. He said to Fu Xing who was waiting outside, "Please go back and tell the heir that the princess will be waiting for the heir in Yixiang Pavilion tonight."
Watching Fu Xing leave, Cui Muyuan had an interested smile on his lips and walked towards Songhe Courtyard.
He wouldn't forget that now he was "Bai Shao", the spy placed by the Princess of Ningqin in Shulan Courtyard.
Hearing the news from "Bai Shao" that Shulan Courtyard would serve the heir in bed tonight, the Princess of Ningqin was trimming the potted plants beside her and smiled contentedly.
"They say that a short separation makes the heart grow fonder. After being separated from the princess for a few days, Chuan'er seems to be more enthusiastic than before. He accompanied the princess back to her natal family and now wants the princess to serve him in bed. It seems that in a few more days, there will be good news from the princess."
Nanny Chen also chimed in, "That's right. Our heir has a cold exterior but a warm heart. He's just like the prince and knows how to take care of people. He just doesn't know how to express it."
Seeing "Bai Shao" still kneeling in front of her, the Princess of Ningqin said, "Alright. If there's nothing else, you can go back and serve the princess. Take good care of the princess and help her keep the heir's favor. Do you understand?"
"Bai Shao" replied in a proper manner, "Yes, Your Highness."
When "Bai Shao" stepped out of the main gate of Songhe Hall, a figure walked in from outside the courtyard at the same time. It was Ji Lingchuan.
The two met face - to - face in the courtyard. "Bai Shao" stopped in her tracks according to the etiquette and bowed. "This servant pays respects to the heir."
Ji Lingchuan looked down at the maid in front of him, whose height was no less than that of Gu Yunzheng, and frowned tightly.
He had long heard that "Bai Shao" was the maid the Princess of Ningqin had given to Song Nanxin. It was not strange to see her in Songhe Hall, but he just felt something was a bit off. Just as he was about to ask, the voice of the Princess of Ningqin came from inside:
"Chuan'er, is that you outside?"
Only then did Ji Lingchuan withdraw his gaze from "Bai Shao" and strode into Songhe Hall.
Today Ji Lingchuan had brought his new wife back to her natal family. He should have stayed for a whole day, but he had brought her back early. For propriety's sake, he needed to explain it to the Princess of Ningqin. But he had other things to do when he first returned to the mansion, so he had delayed coming here until now.
The Princess of Ningqin had indeed had doubts before, but after learning that he was going to summon Shulan Courtyard to serve him in bed tonight, her doubts were dispelled. So when Ji Lingchuan saw her, her face was full of smiles.
However, she still asked, "How was it when you went back to your wife's natal family in the Ding'an Marquis Mansion today? Did you feel comfortable?"
"It was okay." Ji Lingchuan said.
"If that's the case, why did you come back early?"
"I received an urgent report suddenly and needed to meet someone in the East Market to discuss the matter of the autumn hunt." Ji Lingchuan told the lie without batting an eyelid. Even the Princess of Ningqin didn't notice.
"Speaking of the autumn hunt, there's one thing I want to discuss with you." The Princess of Ningqin was fiddling with the potted plant in her hand. "I plan to take Miss Huan and Xuan'er with me when I go to Xingzhou this time."
There was obvious surprise on Ji Lingchuan's face. "Why is that, Mother?"
The Princess of Ningqin looked up at Ji Lingchuan, staring into her son's eyes that were almost identical to hers.
"Last time in the Duke Jiang's Mansion, Miss Huan didn't find a suitable man. There will be many heroes and outstanding men during the autumn hunt. Are we still afraid that she can't find a husband? You, as her brother - in - law, should help your sister choose carefully at that time."
Ji Lingchuan tightened his hand hidden in his sleeve. He felt that the wound on his right shoulder that had already healed began to ache faintly again.
He lowered his eyelashes. His dark pupils were filled with unwavering coldness. He replied, "Yes, Mother."
As an order came from Jingtao Courtyard, the long - silent Shulan Courtyard came to life again. The maids and old women nervously cleaned the rooms, changed the bed sheets, burned incense and boiled water, all for tonight's service in bed.
In Tinglan Courtyard, Song Yihuan was sitting in the room, continuing to copy "Yangshan Miscellany". Just as she was deeply engrossed in copying, there was a soft sound from the door. She looked up and saw Fuling walking towards her with a solemn expression.
Putting down the pen in her hand, Song Yihuan asked, "What's wrong?"
Fuling walked to her side and whispered in her ear the news that Shulan Courtyard would serve the heir in bed tonight.
"A message came from the eldest miss. She asked the fourth miss to be ready to serve the heir in bed again tonight."