Su Chong wore an expression of disappointnt.
He had openly and subtly encouraged his brother-in-law to assert himself more.
But for how long? His brother-in-law hasn’t improved one bit.
Although Su Jin is his sister, he still believes a woman should be gentle and considerate.
If words weren’t enough, Su Chong also tried urging Xie Jingchen with his gaze.
Xie Jingchen felt exhausted.
His brother-in-law’s goodwill left him unsure of how to respond.
Su Chong gave Xie Jingchen’s arm a few pats and then rode away.
Xie Jingchen returned to the carriage.
Su Jin kept staring at him.
"If you want to ask sothing, just ask," Xie Jingchen said.
"I won’t ask," Su Jin replied.
Trying to avoid her, intentionally calling Xie Jingchen over for a conversation—it clearly involves sothing about her that they don’t want her to hear.
Moreover, even though it was far, she could vaguely see the expression on Su Chong’s face.
She could guess seven or eight out of ten things, even with just her imagination.
Su Jin strongly disapproved of her elder brother’s behavior of directly pulling up the carriage curtain without any greeting.
But she dared not say it; being upright, she feared no shadows. Why let them ss around in the carriage?
A lesson wouldn’t be bad; it prevents Xie Jingchen from fooling around in the future. His peculiar interests, she couldn’t indulge.
The Hidden Guard silently drove the carriage.
Inside the carriage, after a mont of quiet.
Su Jin started thinking about the matter Su Chong had specially co to ask her about earlier.
Xie Jingchen said, "There’s no difference between poisoning Prince Qi and Duke Chong; it just depends on when the poison takes effect."
If it takes effect in the mansion and the antidote is administered, then the poisoning won’t an much.
Though the matter of Zhangzhou Iron Mine was suppressed under Princess Duanhui’s self-sacrificing ploy, it wasn’t because of the emperor’s generosity but to stabilize Prince Qi, avoiding internal and external troubles later on.
Prince Qi clearly knows the emperor wants to eliminate him.
Revolt is inevitable.
They want the antidote to save the Old Duke Chong.
On this point, Su Jin and Xie Jingchen are of the sa mind.
Prince Qi must have the poisoning exposed publicly, connected to the sa poison affecting Old Duke Chong.
If Duke Chong wants to save Prince Qi, he must simultaneously save the Old Duke Chong.
"You could visit the emperor more often," Xie Jingchen suggested.
Su Jin blinked, "Would you want to co along, my dear?"
Xie Jingchen, "..."
What purpose would it serve him to go to the palace?
Confine him to disrupt their father-daughter reunion?
Seeing Su Jin’s radiant face, Xie Jingchen knew she was being deliberate.
Knowing full well, yet intentionally rubbing salt in his wounds, Xie Jingchen wrapped one long arm around her, pulling Su Jin into his embrace.
He tightened his grip slightly, not allowing Su Jin to break free.
"I’ll settle the accounts from these few days with interest," Xie Jingchen said in a husky voice.
He couldn’t do much else, but it didn’t prevent him from biting Su Jin’s ear lobe.
That was her sensitive spot; a bite made her tremble all over.
Su Jin regretted her actions a bit; wasn’t she digging a hole for herself?
As it grew late, there were fewer people on the road, and the carriage quickly returned to the mansion.
Arriving at Agarwood Pavilion, Xie Jingchen heard a bird call upon entering the courtyard.
Such calls were mundane and routine to Su Jin and Xingxing, but they made Xie Jingchen furrow his brows.
He didn’t return to the house; instead, he went to the backyard.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, a Hidden Guard erged and said, "Young Master, Princess Fuqing has discovered ."
"How did she discover you?" Xie Jingchen’s brows knitted tightly.
Princess Fuqing wasn’t proficient in martial arts, and the Hidden Guard was sent by the Prince; it was impossible for her to easily notice.
What Xie Jingchen asked was exactly what the Hidden Guard needed to report.
Xie Jingchen escorted Princess Jiuling back to the capital all the way.
Because Princess Fuqing coveted him, the emperor assigned the task of ensuring Princess Jiuling’s safety to the Eldest Prince.
For fear of inadequate protection, the Hidden Guard from Prince Zhenbei Mansion was never withdrawn.
These days, the Hidden Guard stayed in the palace to ensure Princess Jiuling’s safety.
As for Princess Fuqing’s contact with Li Yian in the palace, the Hidden Guard wasn’t aware.
But her clamoring to return to Nanliang was very clear to the Hidden Guard.
They could also sense Princess Fuqing’s restlessness.
Fearing mishaps, whenever Princess Fuqing went out, the Hidden Guard would watch her from the shadows.
Today, Princess Fuqing went shopping, and soone gave her a note.
Princess Fuqing took a glance at it and then threw it on the ground as she walked off.
The Hidden Guard picked up the note, it bore a few conspicuous words: Soone is following you.
Just as the Hidden Guard made out the writing, Princess Fuqing doubled back.
"Soone is indeed following !" Princess Fuqing exclaid angrily.
Looking at her, the Hidden Guard knew she recognized whose people he belonged to.
The Hidden Guard said, "I am under orders from the Young Master to ensure your safety."
Ensure her safety?
Princess Fuqing was reminded of how Xie Jingchen and Su Jin flaunted their love in the palace, stirring her anger.
"Go and tell your master that this Commandery Princess doesn’t need it!" Princess Fuqing said through gritted teeth.
What could the Hidden Guard do, being dismissed, he could only return.
Originally hoping to go after the person who delivered the note after picking it up.
With this interruption, the person had vanished.
The Hidden Guard was in the dark, yet there were others deeper in the shadows.
"It’s likely Nanliang wants to use Princess Fuqing to take Princess Jiuling back," Xie Jingchen said.
"I’ll go back to keep an eye," the Hidden Guard said.
"No need," Xie Jingchen said.
Being noticed and driven away, following again would not only yield no results but might also bring danger to oneself.
"Inform the Eldest Prince of this news," Xie Jingchen said.
The Hidden Guard leaped and disappeared into the backyard.
Inside the palace.
Princess Fuqing was having dinner with Princess Jiuling.
The table was set with ten dishes, those that flew in the sky, walked on land, swam in the water, all present.
Enticing in color, aroma, and taste, pleasing to the appetite.
Yet Princess Fuqing only ate a couple of bites before placing her chopsticks on the table, biting her lip, with tears welling in her eyes.
She looked like she’d suffered an injustice.
Princess Jiuling’s greatest fear was her suffering grievances.
If she ever left the palace, she’d send a maid with her and inquire about where she’d been upon returning, whether she’d argued with anyone.
Princess Jiuling glanced at her, then at the dishes, "Are none of these to your liking?"
"Mother, I miss Father," Princess Fuqing said, voice laced with sobs.
Princess Jiuling picked a fish for her, saying, "Your father will co to fetch us."
"Why must Father co to fetch us?" Princess Fuqing asked displeased.
"Father’s health isn’t good; we should return ourselves, sparing him the tiring journey,"
Princess Jiuling knew she was devoted to Prince Jing, feeling comforted, she soothed softly, "Stay with a little longer, whatever you want to eat, I’ll ask soone to prepare."
Again with the sa words!
"Even the best chefs in Daqi can’t replicate the taste of Nanliang dishes!"
Princess Fuqing said, then stood and left.
A few steps away, she turned back to look at Princess Jiuling.
She’d always thought her mother cared for her, but from beginning to end it was re exploitation!
Using her was one thing, but if anyone dared to use her to harm Father, no matter who it was, she’d show no rcy!
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