Ji Lingchuan's tall and imposing figure rushed through the Prince Ning's Mansion. The servants bowed to him all the way. With a slight frown, he headed straight back to the Surging Waves Courtyard.
Fuxing had been waiting outside the door. As soon as Ji Lingchuan entered, he stepped forward to take the weapons and cloak from his body.
Ji Lingchuan asked, "How is she?"
Fuxing was taken aback for a moment and subconsciously replied, "The princess returned to the Shulan Courtyard to rest as soon as she got back to the mansion."
However, after he said that, Ji Lingchuan showed no reaction at all.
Fuzhou kicked Fuxing and winked at him, mouthing "Fourth Miss Song". Fuxing quickly added, "And Miss Song Si said she was going to send the relics of the Fifth Young Master back to the Marquis Mansion. She left as soon as she returned to the capital. According to your order, my lord, I've already sent Fumeng to serve beside Miss Song Si. Just now I received a message from Fumeng by carrier pigeon. She has successfully entered the Ding'an Marquis Mansion."
Ji Lingchuan paused in his steps. Looking at the somewhat unfamiliar courtyard in front of him, he finally replied faintly after a long while, "I see."
After changing his clothes and washing his face in the room, the chill on Ji Lingchuan's face finally faded. Looking at the jar of green plums on the shelf, he picked it up, opened the lid, and took one into his mouth. Only then did his restless mood ease a little.
He had long guessed that the first thing Song Yihuan would do after returning to the capital was to deal with the matters of her birth mother and younger brother.
But when he really learned the news of her departure, his heart still couldn't help being affected. He always felt that there was an empty space in his heart, as if a corner was missing.
He knew that it was because the person he cared about at home had left, and he didn't know when she would return to his side again.
Just now, when he entered the palace with Ji Zihuan and the Empress Dowager, he reported the matters in Xingzhou to the Empress Dowager in detail. The Empress Dowager also implicitly admonished Ji Zihuan, roughly meaning that the reason for bestowing the legitimate daughter of the Ding'an Marquis to Ji Lingchuan as the princess was that her family background was suitable and her academic performance in the Imperial College was excellent. She was a rare talented woman.
Although the late emperor and the Prince Ning both married a pair of sisters, they were both legitimate daughters with noble birth. But not just anyone was qualified to enter the palace and stand beside their Ji family.
Presumably, the Empress Dowager had also heard about Ji Zihuan's series of actions before his departure. On the surface, it seemed to prevent Ji Zihuan from having feelings for Song Yihuan, but in fact, it was also a warning to Ji Lingchuan.
Although the Ding'an Marquis had publicly recognized Concubine Rou's status in front of everyone, this high - ranking Empress Dowager and his mother still looked down on a daughter born of a concubine from the bottom of their hearts.
The green plum melted on the tip of Ji Lingchuan's tongue, and the sourness rushed straight to his forehead, making his heart ache even more.
The road ahead for him and her was so difficult, but even if it was the hardest, he had to strive for that glimmer of hope.
Closing his eyes, Ji Lingchuan took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.
When he opened his eyes again, he had regained his clarity.
He got up and walked to the study next door. He found a piece of letter paper and called Fuzhou in to grind the ink. Dipping the brush in the ink, the tip of the brush moved on the paper.
Fuzhou glanced inadvertently and only saw the words "Dear Miss Rou" at the beginning, and then didn't dare to look anymore.
When the ink was dry, Ji Lingchuan sealed the letter and handed it to Fuzhou, saying, "After dawn tomorrow, you send this letter to the Youyang Bookstore."
Fuzhou took the letter with both hands and replied, "I obey your order."
His gaze fell on the charcoal brazier in the corner. Ji Lingchuan said, "Go to the market and buy a hundred catties of red snail charcoal. Send them to the Youyang Bookstore together. Remind the bookstore owner to make sure to give them to Miss Rou, so that her hands won't get cold when she copies books in winter."
Fuzhou agreed and left with the letter.
Ji Lingchuan then got up and left the study, striding towards the Shulan Courtyard.
In the Yixiang Pavilion, Song Nanxin was reclining on the soft couch, eating the fruits fed by the maid. There was a bandage on her arm, looking as if she had suffered a serious injury.
The door creaked, and Ji Lingchuan's tall and straight figure appeared in front of her.
Song Nanxin's heart skipped a beat. She held her bandaged hand and stood up. With a bit of grievance, she bowed to Ji Lingchuan and said, "Your humble concubine pays respects to the prince."
Ji Lingchuan ignored her pitiful face and said coldly, "Didn't I tell you to go to the villa as soon as you returned to the capital? Do you take my words as a deaf ear?"
Song Nanxin secretly gritted her back teeth. She knew that this heart of iron and stone wouldn't let her off so easily!
She said, "Your humble concubine didn't forget. As soon as I returned to the Shulan Courtyard, I immediately started packing up my things. But when I picked up the porcelain bottle on the shelf, I accidentally touched the jade pendant placed beside it. The jade pendant fell and hit my hand, injuring me."
As she said, she deliberately showed her bandaged hand. "After the princess mother learned the news, she invited a doctor to treat my injury and allowed me to recuperate in the mansion before going to the villa."
She took a step forward, looking pitiful. "My lord, your humble concubine assures you that before my injury heals, I'll stay in the Shulan Courtyard obediently and won't come to bother you. Is that okay?"
The frost between Ji Lingchuan's eyebrows became even thicker. He grabbed Song Nanxin's bandaged hand and tightened his grip.
The sharp pain came from her hand. Song Nanxin's face contorted, and she couldn't help screaming.
"Ah - what are you doing? Let go quickly!"
"Song Nanxin, I've seen too many feigning - injury tricks when interrogating traitors and enemy captives. Do you think you can gain my sympathy with such a petty trick? You're too naive."
He threw her away forcefully. Song Nanxin took two steps back, and the hairpin on her head became a bit loose.
Ji Lingchuan looked at her expressionlessly. "What the princess mother said doesn't count. I'm the real person in charge of the Prince Ning's Mansion. You must go to the villa today. For every moment of delay, I'll cut off one of your fingers. You decide for yourself."
Song Nanxin was so frightened that her face turned pale. How dare she delay? Immediately, she told Nanny Zhao and other maids to pack up her things.
Song Nanxin packed up her things overnight, got on the carriage, and left the Prince Ning's Mansion for the villa.
In the Ding'an Marquis Mansion, it was quiet all around. Most of the people in the mansion had turned off the lights and gone to sleep.
A woman was holding a bowl of medicinal food and walking towards the courtyard where the wife of the Ding'an Marquis, Lady Meng, lived.
There were lanterns hanging under the eaves of the corridor. The light shone on the woman's face. She just looked like an ordinary - looking maid.
A team of patrolling servants passed by the woman. The leader respectfully called out, "Miss Tianqing." The woman nodded and continued walking forward without pausing.
The patrolling servants didn't notice anything strange either and continued to turn into the next courtyard.
Successfully entering the Qiushuang Courtyard, Song Yihuan paused for a moment, turned around and looked behind her. After making sure no one was following her, she gently pushed open the door of Lady Meng's room and walked in.