Her beautiful almond-shaped eyes were now empty. She turned her head blankly, her gaze unfocused, even though she was facing Rong Zhen. Rong Zhen felt a pang of heartache.
Mingwei is a sheltered young lady from a prestigious family, and she has never seen such a grand spectacle before!
Just a few days ago, she was disturbed by the rude soldiers of Shuntian Prefecture at Wangyue Lake, and today she encountered assassins!
Even the bravest person would be scared!
"Seventh Miss, Seventh Miss?" Rong Zhen's gentle voice unconsciously revealed a hint of pity. "Don't be afraid, it's all over now!"
No one can hurt you!
Rong Zhen tried his best to comfort her, but Ming Wei remained dazed, as if her consciousness had been detached, turning her into a delicate porcelain doll.
"...Your Highness the Crown Prince?" After a short while, Mingwei finally snapped out of her shock at being interrupted while trying to kill Rong Duo. Her eyes widened as if trying to identify the person who had entered. Before she could finish speaking, tears streamed down her face like beads from a broken string. Her body swayed slightly, on the verge of collapse.
Rong Zhen quickly helped her up.
At this point, emotions are no longer relevant; it's merely a physiological reaction driven by bodily instincts.
Rong Zhen thought that Ming Wei would be fine once she cried, but he didn't expect that Ming Wei would just silently shed tears, which made him panic.
“It’s me, Seventh Miss!” Rong Zhen’s voice became even gentler, almost like she was coaxing a child: “It’s alright now! Don’t be afraid!”
A flash of pain crossed Mingwei's eyes, and she slowly came to her senses.
Before Rong Zhen could offer further advice, a figure in moon-white robes came rushing towards them. Su Xuan, disregarding Rong Zhen's presence and without even bowing, shook Mingwei, asking, "Mingwei, Mingwei, what's wrong!"
"Seventh Miss was too frightened." Rong Zhen let go of her hand, hurriedly explained a few words, and seeing that Su Xuan was still following the young lady from the Chengping Marquis's mansion at a distance, he gave her a few more instructions and left.
However, his gaze remained fixed on Mingwei.
Rong Zhen only emerged from his hiding place after the crowd surrounding Mingwei had gradually disappeared.
Those people failed to outmaneuver him last time, so this time they want to take advantage of the flower-viewing banquet to make a scene in the palace! A sinister glint suddenly flashed in Rong Zhen's gentle and calm eyes. He clenched his fist and made up his mind.
He will absolutely not let their plot succeed!
Just as Rong Zhen was about to turn and leave, he noticed a flickering light in the bushes where Ming Wei had just passed.
Rong Zhen walked over and parted the grass, finding a delicate gold hairpin. The South Sea pearl in her hair was slightly worn, and the hairpin felt heavy in her hand. Rong Zhen tightened her grip, feeling as if the warmth of her palm still lingered on the hairpin.
She probably dropped it in her panic, and she probably still doesn't know she's lost her hairpin.
Thinking this, Rong Zhen carefully put the gold hairpin into her sleeve and quickly left.
I'll return it to her next time we meet!
Chapter 97
097:
For the past few days, An Ran has been staying at Princess Yunyang's residence with Jia Niang. Princess Yunyang is keen to cultivate her and doesn't treat her like an outsider, asking her to help organize the banquet.
From the draft guest list to the arrangement of the reception halls and main hall, and the arrangements for entertaining guests, including who sits at which table and in which seat, and who has a history of grudges with whom, everything must be carefully planned so that guests are not grouped together...
Princess Yunyang made it clear that she wanted to teach Anran, so she had Anran follow along and learn from her from beginning to end.
“Ninth Sister, after you and Mingxiu get married, you won’t have any parents-in-law or elders to look after you. You’ll have to take care of these things yourself.” Princess Yunyang earnestly instructed her, “The Pingyuan Marquis’s family has many relatives, but they gradually faded away after the Pingyuan Marquis’s accident. Although Mingxiu inherited the title a couple of years ago, many people came up to curry favor with him, but he refused them all. I’m afraid that after you get married, things will be different.”
An Ran nodded.
It's easy to add flowers to brocade, but difficult to provide charcoal in the snow. These people ran away faster than rabbits when the Pingyuan Marquis's mansion was in trouble, but now that Lu Mingxiu is doing better, they're eagerly coming back to curry favor. Where in the world is there such a good thing?
"Have you met the Grand Princess of Lin'an?" Princess Yunyang revealed a mocking expression. She sneered at An Ran, "Back then, she hid away out of fear of trouble, and now she even calls herself a meritorious official! The Emperor has long been tired of her, but he still gives her some face, just to silence the gossip of the world."
"You don't need to befriend these people sincerely. Just make sure they're presentable and don't give anyone reason to criticize them." Princess Yunyang was also a person of strong likes and dislikes when she was young, but over the years, she has become more mature and prudent in her actions.
Knowing that Princess Yunyang's teachings were all well-intentioned, An Ran carefully remembered them all.
As the two were discussing the banquet, Jia Niang returned with Heng Ge'er and Yi Jie'er. The children were getting along better and better, as if Jia Niang was gradually resolving her inner conflicts.
"Sister, why aren't you coming out to play with us?" After greeting Princess Yunyang, Jia Niang leaned against An Ran and said coquettishly, "I'm already very good at kicking shuttlecock!"
An Ran stroked her head and smiled. Before she could speak, Princess Yunyang said with a smile, "Your sister is very busy these days. Next month, Marquis Pingyuan will go to the Marquis of Nan'an's residence to make an engagement, and she will be getting married in two months."
When Princess Yunyang mentioned her marriage in front of the children, An Ran blushed slightly and remained silent.
“Last time, Her Majesty the Empress bestowed a box of pearls, the luster and size of which were all of the highest quality.” Princess Yunyang suddenly remembered this item and hurriedly had it found. “Put this in your dowry as well, consider it an addition to your dowry.”
Anran estimated that the items Princess Yunyang casually remembered could already fill about ten boxes, but Princess Yunyang still enjoyed doing it.
“Princess, you have bestowed far too many gifts upon me.” After considering for a while, An Ran smiled and said, “I don’t need all of these treasures. Why don’t you keep them for Jia Niang and Yi Jie?”
One day, An Ran inadvertently saw the dowry list that Princess Yunyang had prepared for her, and she was utterly shocked. Princess Yunyang was even giving her land and shops, and An Ran didn't know how to politely refuse.
Princess Yunyang shook her head. "I told you, if I weren't worried about Mingxiu feeling awkward, I would have recognized you as my goddaughter. You're like Jia Niang and Yi Jie'er's older sister, so what does all this matter?"
Upon hearing this, Jia Niang stared wide-eyed at Princess Yunyang. She wasn't an ignorant child; the princess's kindness towards her sister was likely due to her sister bringing her back. In the past few days, Jia Niang had heard quite a bit from Yi Jie'er and Heng Ge'er.
Princess Yunyang always had a few days each year when she was sullen and wouldn't see anyone. Heng-ge'er even saw her secretly shedding tears. Normally, Princess Yunyang would prepare three sets of things for the children each time, even the seasonal clothing. Jia-niang suddenly remembered that after her sister was injured, she had changed clothes in Princess Yunyang's room, and there happened to be some that she could wear.
The maids said that it was prepared by the princess for the eldest daughter.
The maids and servants in the manor all spoke of their eldest daughter with ease, for Princess Yunyang and her husband had never given up on this daughter.
Jia Niang was deeply moved. Before she was five years old, she was cherished by her parents like a precious jewel, but the princess and Lord Tan had been suffering from self-blame and torment.
Princess Yunyang was unaware of Jia Niang's thoughts. Seeing that her daughter was still somewhat distant from her, she felt distressed and could only try her best to make amends. Knowing that Jia Niang was close to An Ran, she put a lot of effort into preparing An Ran's dowry. On one hand, she also liked An Ran, and on the other hand, she also wanted to please Jia Niang.