PNB Chapter 47 Sword Spike
Chapter 47 Sword Spike
Jiang Wan asked, "What does Father want to say?"
Jiang Xun looked at the untouched tea on the table, still held by Ning Zhi, and slowly said, "Just now, His Highness spoke to me, and I sensed that he was interested in you. Wan'er, have you done anything to make His Highness overthink things?"
Jiang Wan was taken aback: "Father, what are you saying? Are you implying that I deliberately seduced His Highness?"
"I'm just worried that it will give rise to gossip, saying that my Jiang family is trying to curry favor with the Crown Prince. Besides, His Highness has already chosen a Crown Princess, so you mustn't get involved."
"Father, rest assured, I know what I'm doing. But His Highness intends to win over the Jiang family, so why don't you..."
"Alright. Don't get involved in this anymore. Your eldest sister's wedding is in a few days, so you should stay home and behave yourself."
Jiang Mian responded softly, and seeing that Jiang Xun was unwilling to talk any further, she said nothing more.
She came out of the hall and saw a person standing behind the pillar opposite, dressed in flamboyant clothes. Who else could it be but Jiang Li? When Jiang Wan came out, he pretended to be passing by, looking sneaky.
Jiang Wan snapped out of her daze and, recalling her father's words, suddenly realized—
It must have been Jiang Li whispering in his ear that made his father think she was seducing the Crown Prince!
Jiang Li's mouth really needs fixing. She quickly walked towards the other side, only to bump into someone right at the corner.
She was taken aback and looked at the person in front of her.
"Wen Qian... oh no, why is the Crown Princess here?"
Wen Qian smiled and said, "I was passing through this place and thought I'd come and see Miss Jiang."
Seeing her sweet and gentle smile, Jiang Wan asked in a softer tone, "Where is the Crown Prince? Why isn't he with you?"
Wen Qian lowered her eyes and answered in a low voice, "I moved from the Marquis's residence to the Prince's residence the day before yesterday. These past two days, the Prince has been busy with trivial matters and has had no time to take care of me."
"The Crown Prince's residence? You've moved to the Crown Prince's residence?"
Jiang Mian was somewhat surprised. In the past, Li Zhijing had repeatedly emphasized that only the Crown Prince's Consort, whom he had chosen, could move into the Crown Prince's residence.
It's a good thing that I can move in with Wen Qian now!
A look of joy appeared on her face as she said, "Now that you've moved into the Prince's residence, it seems the Prince has accepted you as his consort. Your relationship will surely only get better and better from now on!"
A hint of melancholy flashed across Wen Qian's face, but she only smiled faintly. She knew in her heart that if Jiang Mian didn't take over the Prince's residence, it wouldn't matter who went.
Jiang Mian noticed the frustration in her eyes, probably because although Li Zhijing wasn't harsh towards her, he still wasn't close to her.
She squeezed Wen Qian's hand and comforted her, "Princess Consort, don't be sad. Give him some more time."
Wen Qian nodded and shook her hand in return.
As Jiang Mian walked with her under the corridor, she suddenly remembered something and asked, "By the way, has the Princess Consort's injury healed? Are there any scars left?"
"It's alright now. I had planned to come a few days ago, but I heard from the manor that you went to Zhuoyue Villa to attend the Empress's banquet, so I delayed until now."
The two walked towards the backyard while talking.
Jiang Mian thought about her words carefully and was somewhat puzzled.
The Empress would not have missed the Pingnan Marquis's residence when she held a banquet. Why was Wen Qian able to come to see her some time ago?
She asked, "Didn't the Crown Princess attend the banquet?"
Wen Qian pursed her lips and shook her head with a hint of regret: "I did go, but when I passed Yuezhu Ridge, a person suddenly appeared and cut down the trees in the middle of the forest, blocking the road. Then there was a torrential rain overnight, so I had no choice but to come back."
Jiang Mian paused, suddenly remembering the incident of her horse being stolen at Yuezhu Ridge.
She quickly asked, "Has anyone stolen your horses?"
Wen Qian thought for a moment and replied, "No, not at all."
"Did you see the face of the person who chopped the tree in half?"
"No, the man was masked, and he left as soon as the tree fell."
Jiang Mian's mind raced, and she realized that this was no coincidence. Someone had deliberately stolen her horse and blocked the road behind her.
In this way, no one would pass by her, and if she needed help, she would have to go to the town ahead.
However, after arriving in town, she was abducted and taken aboard a ship.
They went to such lengths, yet didn't just kill her directly.
And it also caused Cong Shuang to be defiled.
Who is he?
Jiang Mian thought it over and over but felt completely confused.
“Miss Jiang,” Wen Qian suddenly spoke, interrupting her thoughts.
"Hmm?" Jiang Man came back to her senses.
"I suddenly remembered that I have some matters to attend to at home, so I will not continue our conversation. Farewell."
Wen Qian finished speaking in a daze, then turned and left, her face showing a hint of panic.
Jiang Wan wondered why her expression had suddenly changed. Following her gaze, she saw that Jiang Li and Aunt Wan were in the courtyard, carrying out several large boxes of dowry.
It seems that what happened last time made Wen Qian still somewhat intimidated by Jiang Li.
......
Wen Qian quickly left the Jiang residence, got into the sedan chair, and breathed a sigh of relief.
Mo Ping gently patted her back to comfort her, saying, "The Crown Princess suffered a loss at the Jiang residence last time, why bother coming here again today and making yourself worry?"
Wen Qian relaxed and explained, "Ever since the fire at the lantern festival yesterday, the young master has seemed absent-minded. I guess he must be worried about Miss Jiang's safety, but he's afraid that going directly to her door would be too abrupt..."
"So, the Crown Princess came today specifically to confirm that Miss Jiang is alright?"
Wen Qian nodded.
Mo Ping then said, "If that's the case, wouldn't it be better to invite Miss Jiang to the Prince's residence?"
"No, Miss Jiang is already engaged. The young master should put aside his feelings for her, both morally and logically. Meeting again would be bad for either of them..."
Wen Qian paused for a moment, then said, "As long as the young master knows she's alright..."
She clenched her fingers, a strange bittersweet feeling welling up inside her.
Upon returning to her residence, Wen Qian saw Li Zhijing hurrying out, looking anxious.
She stepped forward and asked, "Is Your Highness going out of the manor? It's windy today, you'd better wear your cloak."
Li Zhijing brushed past her and replied indifferently, "No need."
Seeing his anxious look, Wen Qian guessed where he was going and quickly said, "Oh, right, I just came back from the Jiang residence. Miss Jiang asked me to give something to the young master."
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Li Zhijing stopped in his tracks, turned back, and asked, "Did you go to the Jiang residence?"
Wen Qian nodded: "Yes, there was a big fire at the lantern festival yesterday, and many people were injured. I want to go and see Miss Jiang."
"How is she? There were so many people at the lantern festival yesterday that I couldn't find her, but with all the commotion, she must have gone."
Wen Qian then spoke up, "Miss Jiang is fine and nothing is wrong."
After she finished speaking, she handed him a wooden box.
"This is something Miss Jiang asked me to give to the young master. Does the young master like it?"
Li Zhijing opened the wooden box, inside which was a dark blue sword tassel, which was very exquisite.
He exclaimed happily, "My sword is indeed missing a tassel!"
Seeing how much he loved it, Wen Qian felt a little annoyed. After bowing to him, she took her leave.
Mo Ping knew how long it took Wen Qian to weave that sword tassel, and yet she gave it away in someone else's name without even receiving a thank you.
She pouted, feeling quite unhappy.
Seeing her sullen expression, Wen Qian asked, "What's wrong?"
"The young master only has eyes for Miss Jiang. Although he no longer goes to the Jiang residence to see her, he is not close to the young master's wife at home either. If this continues, I'm afraid the young master's wife will not give birth to a son before she withers away."
He sighed again and said, "If there were a young master in the family, it wouldn't be so desolate and quiet..."
She gave birth to a young prince...
Wen Qian was taken aback; she really hadn't thought about this.