latelenovela Chapter 106 Does the princess want to ask about Xie's feelings?
Chapter 106 Does the princess want to ask about Xie's feelings?
The next morning, after having breakfast, Qin Yizhen finished dressing up and went to Wanshi Tower to see Madam Changting and Madam Min.
Cheng Yan sat on the side drinking tea, his face tense and silent, but it was obvious to anyone with eyes that he was not happy.
Qin Yizhen leaned over and wrapped her arms around his neck, then shyly kissed the corner of his mouth:
"It's not that I don't want to be with you, it's just that I made an appointment with Lady Changting and Lady Min the day before yesterday. Since I made the appointment, I can't break it, can I?"
Cheng Yan glanced at her sideways, then pointed to his lips: "Give me another kiss."
Qin Yizhen blushed slightly, but she obediently kissed him. However, before she could pull back, he pressed her down, pinched her chin, and kissed her back.
When Qin Yizhen finally left the house, her lips were a little red and swollen.
Knowing that the purpose was to find a husband for her, Zhao Rufang dressed up in a pink dress, making herself look glamorous. After getting into the carriage, she even lingered in front of Qin Yizhen.
"Princess, do I look good like this?"
"It looks good, of course it looks good."
"Your Highness's words are law, I am certainly beautiful! Oh my, how can I be so gorgeous!"
Song Pingping looked disgusted, wishing she could stay as far away from her as possible.
Qin Yizhen, on the other hand, laughed heartily.
As the carriage moved forward, Zhao Rufang was still looking at herself in a small bronze mirror when Song Pingping leaned over and asked Qin Yizhen, "Does the princess think she can find a 'good' husband?"
She paused on the word "good" for a long time.
Qin Yizhen laughed and said, "Why not? There are millions of people in this world. She has a lively personality, but she is also simple and lovely. There will always be someone who is willing to spend their life with her. Besides, don't you think it will always be lively with her around?"
Song Pingping touched her chin and thought about it, and agreed. Wherever Zhao Rufang went, she brought excitement; that was indeed one of her strengths.
Song Pingping glanced at Qin Yizhen and noticed that her lips seemed a little swollen. She asked, "What happened to your lips, Princess?"
What's wrong with your mouth?
Qin Yizhen bit her lip and snorted, "Biten by mosquitoes."
Song Pingping thought to herself, how could a mosquito possibly bite my mouth? But then, in a flash, something occurred to her, and she suddenly stopped, then sat back down in her original spot without saying a word.
Qin Yizhen noticed that she seemed a little unhappy, so she asked her, "What's wrong? Who made you unhappy?"
Song Pingping was somewhat absent-minded, and forced a smile: "Your Highness is overthinking it. I just feel a little down all of a sudden, but I'm not unhappy at all. Your Highness even took me with you when you went out, and I am so grateful."
For some reason, Qin Yizhen felt that her words were a bit strange, but she didn't delve into it. She simply said, "It's rare for you to come out, so you should have some fun. If you don't want to stay in Wanshi Tower, you can take your maids and guards out for a walk."
"Thank you princess."
When the group arrived at Wanshi Tower, Manager Wan had been waiting for them for a long time and personally welcomed them to the Peony Pavilion on the third floor.
"Am I disturbing the business of the establishment?" Qin Yizhen asked him.
Manager Wan replied, "Your Highness is overthinking it. People in Qindu have heard that Your Highness enjoys listening to storytelling and drinking tea at Wanshi Tower. These past few days, Wanshi Tower has been packed with customers and business is booming. If it weren't for the fear of disturbing Your Highness, the owner would have liked to come and thank you in person."
"It's good that I didn't disturb them." This is also one of the reasons why Qin Yizhen doesn't like to go out; she's afraid of affecting other people's business.
To be honest, her previous tendency to hesitate and overthink was really unacceptable.
The group entered the Peony Pavilion and sat down. Manager Wan took his leave and immediately had food and tea served, and arranged for the most exciting storytelling performance.
She had arrived early; there was still half an hour before the appointed time, and Lady Changting and Lady Min had not yet arrived. She was just about to listen to a storyteller when someone came to report that an old friend from the Plum Blossom Pavilion next door wanted to invite her for a chat.
"An old friend?" Qin Yizhen blinked, feeling a little strange. She had spent all those years in the palace, and after marrying Cheng Yan, she lived in seclusion in the Pingxi Marquis's mansion. Where would she have any old friends?
"Who?"
"Thank you, sir."
Young Master Xie?
Qin Yizhen was confused at first, then she thought of someone and suddenly froze.
Speaking of which, she also wanted to meet Xie Zhan, who was said to be heading south to Lanzhou tomorrow.
However, she felt it wasn't safe to go alone, so she called on Lü Qiao and two guards, and then went to the Plum Blossom Pavilion next door.
The Plum Blossom Pavilion is different from the Peony Pavilion. The Peony Pavilion is naturally extremely rich and beautiful, and all the ornaments and paintings there are luxurious.
Plum Blossom Pavilion, on the other hand, is characterized by its simplicity and elegance. It features a tea table, a large-bellied green vase with a few plum branches inserted at an angle, and bamboo curtains as decoration. It is understated yet refined, exuding the elegance of a scholar.
Xie Zhan, dressed in a moon-white robe, sat before the tea table. Upon seeing someone enter, he rose and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Princess."
"Greetings to Mr. Xie."
Back when she was still in the palace, Xie Zhan taught her chess and zither. When they met, she had to respectfully address him as "Mr. Xie".
"Please sit, Princess."
"Mr. Xie, please also."
The two exchanged pleasantries and were somewhat reserved. After sitting down, Xie Zhan took out the tea set and brewed tea. Qin Yizhen looked at him, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.
Xie Zhan was quite frank, letting her look at him for a while. After brewing tea and serving her a cup, he said, "Please, Princess."
"Thank you."
Qin Yizhen drank a cup.
Xie Zhan was an excellent tea connoisseur; with the same tea leaves, she somehow managed to evoke a sense of refined elegance and clarity in this particular cup of tea.
The poem says, "The body is a Bodhi tree, the mind a bright mirror stand; constantly wipe it clean, lest it be covered with dust." It's as if the dust in her heart was wiped away by this cup of tea, leaving her with a calm, clear, and pure mind.
Qin Yi suddenly felt a pang of guilt. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but then didn't know what to say.
"Does the princess wish to inquire about my feelings?" Xie Zhan took a sip of tea, quite frankly stating, "Back then, I did indeed have feelings for the princess."
In the depths of the palace, what man wouldn't be attracted to a princess with bright eyes, a kind demeanor, and exceptional beauty?
Under the peach tree that year, he wanted to tell her that when she grew up, he would marry her.
"It's just a pity that Marquis Cheng stole the princess away, and in the end they were destined to be apart, leaving only sighs."
Qin Yizhen felt somewhat guilty: "I'm sorry."
“The princess is not at fault and should not blame herself. Just as Marquis Cheng said, he was simply a step ahead of me in our competition. He won and I lost.”
Xie Zhan spoke calmly and slowly, like a gentle breeze touched by the frost of the bright moon.
Lonely and desolate, elegant and otherworldly.
This is Xie Zhan, also known as the immortal Xie Langjun.
"I saw the princess today to ask her if she is happy to be with Marquis Cheng?"