Chapter 29 – Handkerchief

Two people walked over from the distance. One of them was dressed in a beautiful purple brocade brocade dress. He was around twenty years old. His appearance was handsome and condescending. He was indeed the current crown prince, Yan Tao.

As he walked, he asked the people beside him, “Have you found out who it was?”

The person beside him acknowledged, but his tone did not fluctuate at all. “It’s Third Brother.”

The Crown Prince smiled, lowered his sleeve to cover the wound on his wrist, and continued to walk forward.

After leaving the palace, they encountered an ambush. More than a dozen Death Soldiers rushed out from all directions, each and every one of them trying to take his life.

It was probably because he was too carefree in the palace that third brother could not bear it any longer and wanted his life so badly.

He tilted his head, deep in thought. “What does Sixth Brother think about this?”

The person he called “Sixth Brother” was a fifteen year old youth. He had delicate facial features, like a sculptor, and was extraordinarily handsome.

He had been tanned a little in the past few years, and his skin was a light wheat color. He had lost the tender and delicate spirit of his childhood, and looked even more valiant and spirited.

He had grown taller since last year, and now he was only a little lower than Yan Tao.

He was the Sixth Prince, Yan Yu.

Yan Yu was silent for a moment before he analyzed calmly, “Third Brother is too rash, so there is no need to be afraid of him.”

Just like what the Crown Prince thought, Yan Tao smiled and patted his shoulder, but didn’t say anything.

His sixth brother had been brought back from the common folk only nine years ago. When he had just entered the palace, he had been acting as if he was a complete and reckless person. He never expected that in just a few years, he had become a completely different person.

It was like a completely different person. You could no longer see the childish shadow of him.

This was a good thing, otherwise he would not have been able to survive in the palace.

As he was speaking, he saw a person wearing a white cape walking out from the main courtyard of Duke Dingguo’s residence. He couldn’t see her appearance clearly, and her figure should be that of a slim young lady.

The two of them ignored her. They walked up to take a look, only to realize that the girl had left in such a hurry that she didn’t even notice that the handkerchief had fallen to the ground.

Yan Tao bent down to pick it up and touched the fabric. It was extremely soft and silky, with a plain flower embroidered on the lower left corner. Other than that, there was nothing else.

Yan Tao handed it to Yan Yu and said with a smile, “Sixth Brother, please wait here for a while. Maybe you can even meet that girl.”

Yan Yu took a glance at it and asked without much interest, “So what if I did?”

Yan Tao curled his lips, “Then this second brother should be a matchmaker.”

It was actually such an idea …

Yan Yu pursed his lips, not even answering, “Thank you for your kind intentions second brother, I don’t need it.”

The Crown Prince sighed and said regretfully, “Sixth Brother, you are not young anymore. You don’t have a woman by your side. Don’t you feel lonely?”

In the royal family, it was already time for thirteen or fourteen to come into contact with a woman. Not only did he not take any concubines, he didn’t even have a single building maid girl with him.

Sometimes, Yan Tao would take him as a guest to his subjects’ house, and dancers would enter in droves, each more delicate than the last. However, he didn’t even raise his eyes and just drank his wine, not caring about anyone.

No one knew what he was thinking at this time.

Yan Tao thought he had no desire, but once, when he was drunk, he spilled a name from his mouth.

His voice was so soft and repressed that Yan Tao did not hear him clearly.

When she asked him later, he wouldn’t say anything.

Yan Tao asked again, “Or could it be that you already have a girl you like?”

Yan Yu stopped and looked ahead, “We have arrived. Dosen’t Second Brother want to give a birthday present?”

“Don’t be late.”

As expected, he still refused to say …

Yan Tao smiled and stop asking.

Out of the main yard, Xie Zhen never found out he’d dropped anything.

She was dizzy. She only knew how to walk back, not how much she cared.

Shuang Yu followed her, all her attention on her body, and naturally paid no attention to the fallen handkerchief.

Xie Zhen looked around. “Where is this?”

Shuang Yu did not know whether to laugh or cry. He supported her as she walked forward. “Miss, this is the way back to Jade Hall.”

She said, “Where are mother and Ah Xun?”

“Madam and Seventh Miss should be entertaining guests in the front yard. They will be back in a moment.”

After a few steps, she suddenly stopped and rolled her eyes. “We’re not going back to the Jade Hall. Let’s go to the backyard.”

Shuang Yu were at a loss, what was going on?

This little mistress, you haven’t recovered from your illness yet, can’t we go back to our room and have a good rest?

Of course, Shuang Yu would never dare to say it out loud. She tactfully persuaded him, “You hasn’t taken your medicine yet …”

Unfortunately, Xie Zhen’s decision would not be easily changed.

“No rush, let’s go to the backyard first.”

As she spoke, she ignored Shuang Yu and continued walking forward.

Shuang Yu hurried after her, frowning. “What’s the girl doing in the backyard?”

The old lady’s birthday banquet. There should be a lot of ladies in the backyard, and they didn’t know each other. Why would they go there?

“I won’t tell you.”

Shuang Yu felt helpless.

The backyard was quite a distance away from the Jade Hall. After walking through the long corridor and passing through the two Lunar Grotto Gate, he would walk along the cobblestone path for a while before finally seeing the scenery of the backyard.

There was a big lake in the backyard, and now it was frozen, with three octagonal pavilions, surrounded by ginkgo and pine trees, and last night there had been frost and a misty, glassy world.

There was no one in the pavilion at the moment, so Xie Zhen walked over there and said to Shuang Yu, “It’s too cold here. Go get two stoves and bring me my moon white and sky blue ice clothes.”

Shuang Yu did not understand what she meant. To bring the stove was fine, but why also to bring the clothes?

But Xie Zhen insisted, “You can go if I tell you to.”

Shuang Yu said no more. “Wait for me, young lady. I’ll be back soon.”

When Shuang Yu had gone, Xie Zhen sat on the fence in the kiosk, leaned against the pillar, closed her eyes, and soon fell asleep.

A short while later, Xie Ying and a few other girls walked in from the back of the group, led by Xie Yin and another girl in a white dress.

They talked to each other and talked to each other, but no one noticed Xie Zhen in the pavilion.

Dressed in a white silk coat, the Imperial Tutor’s granddaughter, Ling Xiangyun, asked Xie Ying with a smile, “I heard that the Fifth Miss and the Seventh Miss have returned. Why have I only seen the Seventh Miss but not the Fifth Miss?”

They had met Xie Xun in the main hall, and she was a rare beauty.

When Ling Xiangyun saw her, she gave her praise, praising that her eyes could speak. She was the most beautiful little girl she had ever seen.

Xie Xun was frightened by her enthusiasm and refused to come out from behind Leng, only revealing a pair of watery eyes to peep at people.

Ling Xiangyun fell in love with him immediately, and even invited Xie Xun to her house as a guest.

Of course, Xie Wu didn’t agree. She was shy.

They had just come out of the front yard and thought of sitting in the back yard and talking. Just as Ling Xiangyun was thinking of that the Duke Dingguo’s Mansion had another miss, she casually asked.

Xie Ying couldn’t see the crown prince and the Sixth Prince. She absent-mindedly said, “The fifth sister have caught a cold and didn’t come out today …”

Ling Xiangyun said regretfully, “When spring opens, elder sister will hold a banquet at the mansion. I originally wanted to invite them all.”

Ling Xiangyun’s sister, Ling Xiangmun, was the Crown Prince’s wife. She had been married to the Crown Prince for two years and had a daughter.

Hearing this, Xie Ying’s eyes lit up. “The Crown Princess wants to hold a banquet?”

She nodded. “The peony flower that elder sister raised herself will bloom soon. I want to invite everyone to enjoy the flowers and cultivate the style.”

The crown prince’s residence was filled with the children of high-ranking officials and nobles, and they might even bump into a few princes. Xie Ying was intrigued. “I just happened to …”

Before she could finish, Ling Xiangyun froze, staring straight ahead.

Xie Ying followed her line of sight, and was stunned when she saw Xie Zhen snuggling on the pillars and taking a nap.

If one were to say that a girl was the national color of the Heaven Fragrant Sky, it was possible that the person in front of them. People who saw her would immediately understand the meaning behind it.

Xie Zhen’s cheeks were pink, and her lips were slightly parted, like two bright blossoms of peach blossoms, delicate and beautiful.

A strand of hair fell from her ears and covered her small face. It was as if the wind was blowing as she stroked her smooth face again and again.

People would be a little envious of her hair and wanted to replace it and test how smooth and tender her face was.

When she heard movement, her long eyelashes trembled as she slowly opened them. A pair of hazy watery eyes gazed at the approaching person.

At first, she was a little confused, but when she saw who it was, she cutely called out: “Third Sister, Fourth Sister.”

Her voice was soft, with the accent of someone who had just woken up. It tickled the ears of those who heard it.

The others were stunned by what they saw. It turned out that the beauty was so beautiful when she woke up. Even though they were also women, they still felt her heart move.

Xie Ying’s expression was a little unsightly. She forced a smile, “Isn’t Fifth Sister sick? Why are you here?”

She stood up and rubbed her eyes. “I remembered something and came over to wait for Third Sister.”

Xie Ying didn’t understand. What could have happened?

Shuang Yu had just returned from the Jade Hall’s Courtyard. She was carrying a long-sleeved blouse in her hands while the two maidservants behind her were carrying a stove. They rushed over quickly and finally made it.

Shuang Yu came up to her. “Here’s the clothes, miss.”

Xie Zhen didn’t take it. Instead, she asked her to deliver it to Xie Ying.

Xie Ying didn’t react. “What does this mean?”

Xie Zhen looked at Xie Yin, who suddenly had a bad premonition. Sure enough, she said, “Fourth Sister said your clothes don’t fit. Our bodies are similar, so we can lend you my clothes.”

“This is my favorite. If Third Sister doesn’t mind, then just wear it.”

Xie Ying’s face turned green. She actually said these things in public?

Moreover, what kind of identity did she have to borrow clothes from the daughter of a concubine?

Xie Ying glared at Xie Yin, her reproach obvious.

Xie Yin did say it in private, but she didn’t say it in front of her. How did she know?

She immediately tried to explain, “I didn’t …”

“Did Fourth Sister forget?”

“You asked the servant girl to tell me.”

Her ability to tell lies was superb, and her face did not change.

As for which servant girl …

Let them check it out for themselves. It had nothing to do with her.

Xie Ying wouldn’t accept her clothes no matter what. Firstly, it was to save face, and secondly, she didn’t like it.

What kind of beautiful clothes could there be in the poor neighbouring areas of Qingzhou?

Xie Ying didn’t even spare a glance. “Thank you, Fifth Sister, but you probably heard wrong. I don’t lack clothes.”

Xie Zhen then let Shuang Yu take the clothes away. She had reached her goal anyway, so it was good that Xie Ying didn’t take it, and she wouldn’t be willing to give it away.

Although Xie Ying denied it, the eyes of the surrounding girls still changed. They thought Xie Ying was just concerned about face-saving, so she purposely said so.

One of them even covered her mouth and laughed softly.

Xie Ying’s expression turned even uglier as she stared at Xie Yin like a knife.

On the other side, Ling Xiangyun was attracted by the beauty and had already sent an invitation to Xie Zhen, “My sister, are you having a feast?”

“You’ve just returned from the Qingzhou and should know more people. At that time, Princess Yi and you will also be going.”

Faced with such a generous invitation, Xie Zhen couldn’t resist anymore, and finally nodded, “Okay.”

Ling Xiangyun happily took her hand and said that she would send a carriage to welcome her to the Duke’s Mansion and ask her to bring Xie Xun along with her.

After the birthday banquet ended, Xie Ying hadn’t taken care of Xie Yin for a few days.

Xie Yin was at a loss, so she sneaked out to ask all of the maidservants, but none of them admitted to it.

She was quite angry. She gave everyone a punishment, but still it did not let her anger go.

Not long after, the grand imperial concubine set up a feast of peonies. She expressed her regards to Xie Yingseveral times, and only then did she reluctantly forgive her.

The two of them discussed for a while before Xie Ying went to beg the eldest wife. The eldest wife was in charge of food, clothing and ordinary expense, so everything had to pass through her hands.

Within a few days, she had sent over a dozen sets of high-quality cloths to the third branch and the fourth branch to make spring shirts. However, the ones she gave to the second branch, although not some inferior material, were not very good either, and their colors were also very dark, not suitable for teenage girls at all.

Xie Zhen only took a glance. Originally, she wanted to have someone burn it down, but after thinking for a moment, she got the maid to use it as a rag.

Did they think that would embarrass her?

She wouldn’t let them to be satisfied.

Crown Prince’s Palace.

Since seeing Xie Zhen and Xie Xun, every time Ling Xiangyun came here, she would always praise them, “Elder sister doesn’t know that the Fifth Miss and the Seventh Miss of the Duke Dingguo’s Mansion are the true beauties. If I were a man, I would definitely marry them both …”

The Crown Princess, Ling Xiangmeng, burst out laughing. Her personality was completely different from her younger sister’s. Ling Xiangyun was a little carefree while she was gentle and virtuous.

She pointed at her sister’s nose. “It’s the Flower Lover Feast in a few days. I’d like to see if it’s really like you said.”

Ling Xiangyun stuck up three fingers and swore, “it’s more than real!”

This words somehow reached the crown prince’s ears. Yan Tao asked Ling Xiangmang, who was helping him to change his clothes, while shaking her head with a smile, “How could it be as exaggerated as Xiang Yun’s words. Your highness knows her character, and she was crazy. She did not speak the truth.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep