The carriage had reached halfway when it suddenly stopped.
Anning sent the maid to inquire about the situation, and the maid returned saying that they had encountered Prince Kang and Prince Rui, and Tang Rong was talking with the two Princes.
After a mont, Tang Rong led Prince Kang and Prince Rui to pay respects to Anning.
Anning had not yet entered the palace, but the Emperor had already decreed that she was to be the Supre Empress, making her the grandmother of Prince Kang and Prince Rui; naturally, they had to co to pay their respects upon eting her.
Anning did not show herself; she only spoke a few words to Prince Kang and Prince Rui behind the curtain of the carriage, then urged the carriage driver to hurry on.
By chance, a gust of wind blew at the mont the carriage passed by Prince Kang, lifting the curtain and allowing Prince Kang to catch a glimpse of Anning and Xu Wan sitting inside, looking like a pair of sisters.
Anning sat upright, her expression serene, yet she exuded an aura of solemn dignity, along with an ineffable sense of compassionate sorrow.
Yet Xu Wan, who leaned on Anning due to the swaying of the carriage, displayed a light and graceful deanor, unlike Anning.
The two won resembled each other by eighty to ninety percent in appearance, but whether in posture or temperant, they were utterly different, both stunningly beautiful in their unique ways.
With just this glance, Prince Kang rembered Xu Wan.
As the curtain fell and the carriage swayed away, the beauty also faded into the distance.
A sense of loss erged in Prince Kang’s heart.
"Sixth brother."
Prince Rui called out, bringing Prince Kang back to his senses: "Third brother."
"What did you see just now, sixth brother?"
Prince Rui asked with a smile.
Prince Kang shook his head: "I didn’t see anything."
Prince Rui stepped closer and whispered, "Really? The curtain was lifted by the wind just now, and you were quite close to the carriage. Did you see what the Imperial Grandfather’s beloved looks like?"
So that was what Prince Rui wanted to ask. Prince Kang breathed a sigh of relief: "I didn’t see clearly, but she must be extrely beautiful."
That’s stating the obvious, thought Prince Rui, seeing that Prince Kang was reluctant to speak, and could only huff in frustration as he mounted his horse.
Upon reaching Xiangguo Temple, Anning took Xu Wan to pray for Xu De’s blessings, and also offered the transcribed Buddhist scriptures before Buddha.
Having prayed to Buddha, Anning thought that Xu Wan had not been out much, so she called Tang Rong and took the two children to play at a hill foot behind the Daxiangguo Temple.
It was just the ti when spring was warm and flowers were blooming; behind the Daxiangguo Temple, more than a dozen peach trees were blooming beautifully, the apricot flowers had fallen on the mountain, pear flowers were at their peak, and so crabapple flowers had also blood.
Anning took the two children up the hill for a while, and when they were tired, they sat among the crabapple flowers, had the maid bring over the snacks, and the three of them ate snacks while chatting and laughing, enjoying themselves quite freely.
Tang Rong looked at the blossoming flowers across the hill, and couldn’t help but praise: "It’s truly a fine view, only the outside has such splendid scenery. Although the mansion also has many flowers, they can’t compare to those growing wildly in the mountains."
Xu Wan also laughed: "The wind here in the mountains seems different too."
Anning played with the children until almost evening before returning.
Inside the Duke Zhongyong’s Mansion, Jiang Baoshu and Song Jingman were inquiring about Xu Wan’s whereabouts, and they were also investigating Anning.
After all, this person shouldn’t exist.
Jiang Baoshu wondered if Anning had an experience similar to hers, perhaps she too had been reborn?
And Song Jingman speculated whether Anning had traveled through ti via a book, and that’s how she coincidentally saved Tang Pei?
However, Song Jingman couldn’t figure out one thing: the book never ntioned Tang Pei at all, not even his na from beginning to end. How did Anning know of Tang Pei’s existence and how did she manage to save him?
Upon learning that Anning had gone out with Xu Wan and Tang Rong, the two finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Anning, it seems, never thought of keeping Xu Wan and Tang Rong apart; in other words, it’s unlikely that Anning has gone through the sa experiences as them.
Song Jingman thought more deeply, speculating whether Anning’s appearance might be the result of the Butterfly Effect caused by her ti travel.
They had been waiting, and as soon as Xu Wan returned, they both sought her out.
Song Jingman, who was closer to Xu Wan, was the first to enter the courtyard, calling out, "Sister Xu, I’ve co to visit you."
Xu Wan’s maidservant, Du Juan, heard the voice and ca out with a smile: "Miss Song is here, hurry in, our miss was just saying she brought so things from outside to give to you."
Song Jingman followed the montum into the house.
She looked around Xu Wan’s room and couldn’t help but marvel that it was indeed elegant.
She had just sat down when Xu Wan arrived with her hair loosely hung.
Dressed in a light aqua short jacket with a moonlight-colored long skirt underneath, she walked over slowly, looking ethereally beautiful like a dream.
At that mont, looking at Xu Wan, a hint of jealousy arose in Song Jingman’s heart.
With a smile plastered on her face, she reached out to pull Xu Wan, "Sister Xu, you went out without even telling . I’ve been so cooped up at ho, I’m about to grow mold."
Xu Wan did not let Song Jingman pull her.
She felt sowhat uncomfortable with physical contact.
She sat down on another chair, speaking softly with a faint smile, "It was the ancestor who took out, and we went to the temple to offer incense. It wasn’t convenient to call you along, sister, but next ti I go out, I’ll definitely take you with ."
Then, Xu Wan had Du Juan bring out so trinkets she had bought outside for Song Jingman to choose.
Song Jingman was about to pick sothing when she heard Jiang Baoshu’s voice.
Song Jingman could only curse her bad luck internally, wondering why she had to show up.
She never liked Jiang Baoshu back when she was studying in her own world, thinking that Jiang Baoshu was too worldly and crafty, not as pure and kind as Xu Wan.
Now seeing Jiang Baoshu, Song Jingman disliked her even more.
"Miss Song is here too."
Jiang Baoshu’s face was full of smiles, handing over so snacks she brought to Du Juan: "These are snacks from our family’s restaurant, praised by visitors; I thought they were quite good, brought so for your young lady to taste."
Upon hearing this, Xu Wan quickly asked, "Have you sent so to the Old Madam, Madam, or the ancestor? And the other sisters?"
Jiang Baoshu smiled and sat down, "They’ve all been sent, don’t worry, it’s not just you receiving them."
Song Jingman curled her lips, thinking that Jiang Baoshu was good at currying favor, making such a fuss over so snacks as if others couldn’t afford them.
Jiang Baoshu, smiling benevolently, complinted Xu Wan: "Sister, your filial piety is remarkable, copying so many Buddhist scriptures to dedicate to our aunt. I initially wanted to light a long-lasting lamp for my father, and even I have copied a few scriptures, just regret that I couldn’t be with you."
Song Jingman lowered her head, grinding her teeth in anger.
Having lost both parents at a young age, Jiang Baoshu knew this, yet she spoke such words in her presence, which felt like an accusation of her being unfilial.
Xu Wan, sensitive, also caught the innuendo.
However, she pretended not to understand, smiling, "Sister Jiang, having your own elder brother to accompany you, must make going out convenient, unlike us. The Old Madam no longer likes going out, so if I want to go, I can only ask my ancestor to accompany ."
Jiang Baoshu smiled and nodded at Xu Wan’s words, "Next ti you go out, you can ask Brother Rong to accompany you; he’s very enthusiastic."
Xu Wan bowed her head and said nothing more.
Jiang Baoshu then held her hand and asked, "Did you encounter any interesting events when you went out? If you did, share so fun stories with us."
Song Jingman was all ears as well.
Xu Wan thought for a mont, "Nothing much interesting, just the flowers on the hill behind Xiangguo Temple blood beautifully, and both Brother Rong and I liked them. Also, on our way there, we t Prince Kang and Prince Rui who paid their respects to our ancestor."
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