The Beauties of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 85

"Let go of Madam!" Xuan'er rushed over, pulled Su Li away, and stood protectively in front of Wanlan, glaring at her. "Don't you know how the Prince of Yan treated Madam before? No matter what he's become now, it's his own fault! Madam doesn't have the energy to care about him!"

Wanlan stared intently at Su Li, slowly pushed Xuan'er away, and asked softly, "Where is Lan Wu?"

“I don’t know,” Su Li shook her head hurriedly, looking back at her with great seriousness. “Miss, I did see Lan Wu yesterday, but he left after I told him about the prince. I really don’t know where he went.”

Wanlan lowered her eyes, but did not turn around to ask the man behind her. She knew he had been watching her, but she didn't know if he would tell her everything about how this happened.

Why did Zehua go out last night? What was he doing there? And why did he send Lan Wu back alone? And why did he bring Su Li with him today?

All of this... was giving her a headache.

She even felt a sense of panic.

I feel anxious because of a thought that inexplicably pops into my mind but I dare not touch upon it.

"What did you say to him?" She could only ask Su Li.

“I told him that the Prince of Yan was in low spirits and in a very listless state, and hoped that you could come and see him,” Su Li slowly recounted. “Then Lan Wu’s expression changed, he snorted coldly and left.”

Why……

Wasn't Lan Wu always so calm and reserved that she greatly admired him? When did he become so impulsive?

"Where is Zhao Dezhao now?" Is this trip absolutely necessary?

Su Li was taken aback for a moment, then overjoyed, "Miss is willing to go see him?"

How can she not go?

Xuan'er cried out anxiously from the side, "Madam! You can't go!"

Wanlan ignored him. She finally turned around to face the man who had remained silent behind her, and forced a smile. "Do you want me to go?"

No… perhaps she should ask instead, does he want her to go?

Zhao Defang quietly watched her forced smile, her hands clenched into fists behind her back, her whole body stiffening, but he only looked at her, pursing his lips without answering.

If she decides to go, even if he tries to persuade her to stay, even if she manages to stay, he will never be at ease.

So... he didn't say anything.

Wanlan smiled bitterly and lowered her eyes—even if she was worried about that man, shouldn't Zehua have kept her here? He didn't say a word... was it because he was also worried about his older brother, or... did he actually want her to go?

"Su Li, wait for me, I'll go with you."

With a casual remark, Wanlan turned and walked out. She walked so fast that she almost bumped into Lan Wen, who was rushing in from outside.

"lady!"

Lan Wen quickly stepped aside, staring in astonishment at the woman rushing towards the east wing. He then looked at Zhao Defang with a slow reaction, "Master, what happened to Madam?"

Zhao Defang had to grit his teeth to stop himself from chasing after the heartbroken woman. He was as tense as a fully drawn bow. When he heard Lan Wen's voice, he turned around abruptly, his face deathly pale. Lan Wen was so startled that he took a step back, his eyes widening in astonishment.

"Your Highness? What's going on? He's only been gone for less than half an hour. Has something serious happened?"

He subconsciously glanced at the other two people present, only to see Xuan'er looking at the prince with a panicked expression, while Su Li smiled slightly, unable to hide her surprise.

What happened?

Is he still there?

Zhao Defang's deep voice instantly drew Lan Wen's attention back. He swallowed and carefully said, "Replying to your question, sir, he has always lived in Xingze County, less than thirty miles from Xingyang City."

"What?!" Su Li exclaimed in surprise, looking at the two of them with astonishment.

How did they know?

Her exclamation went unnoticed as someone slowly appeared in the doorway.

Zhao Defang's pupils contracted rapidly. He looked up sharply at his neatly dressed wife at the hall entrance, his eyes fixed on her calm face without blinking. Swallowing the dryness and pain in his throat, he suddenly called out in a hoarse voice:

"Xuan'er!"

Xuan'er had been looking at him in a panic, and when his gaze fell on the hall entrance, she followed his gaze. She was staring blankly at her master carrying the bundle when she heard the prince call her. She couldn't help but feel a chill and immediately took a step forward, "Yes, Your Highness."

Zhao Defang kept looking at Wanlan, as if trying to discern something from her calm expression, but Wanlan kept her eyes half-closed and didn't look at him, her expression remaining completely unchanged.

Zhao Defang gritted his teeth, turned away, and said coldly, "You go with Madam!"

A single word can cause a great stir.

Everyone present stared at him in astonishment, including Wanlan.

She had been waiting with her eyes half-closed, thinking that Zehua would tell her to go find Zhao Dezhao, and that he would definitely go with her. But... what was he saying?

What did he just say?

Her lips trembled as she opened her mouth, wanting to ask him what was going on, why he hadn't stopped her yet was unworthy of her, and what had happened last night that made him so strange today...

Xuan'er cautiously moved to Wanlan's side, looked at the man who had turned his back, and asked timidly, "Your Highness...you are not worthy of the Madam—"

"Go and return quickly!"

Zhao Defang strode through the hall and headed for the backyard, leaving behind a bewildered Xuan'er and Lan Wen, a puzzled Su Li, and—

Wanlan stared blankly at his retreating figure.

Perhaps... the reason he didn't tell her he was going to stay in Xingyang was because she wasn't the one going to live in that courtyard house, right? Zehua... he knew Su Li would appear, he knew she would go to Zhao Dezhao?