The weather was getting hotter and hotter. Hua Xi Wan began to change out of her brocade palace dress and put on a silk wide-sleeved dress. She also replaced the incense in the room with a refreshing minty scent that repels insects. But even so, she still felt uncomfortable from the heat. She was lazy to begin with, so she didn't like to go out even more. If a noble lady invited her to a garden party, she would reject it completely because she couldn't stand walking around in this kind of weather.
Bai Xia and the other servant girls knew that she suffered from summer, so they always thought of all kinds of ways to dispel the heat when serving her. However, they were worried that Jun Wang Fei would make Jun Wang Ye unhappy if she rejected all the invitations. After all, the relationships among the women in the backyard were also very important to aristocratic families.
After Hua Xi Wan learned of their worries, she asked with a smile, "What do you think of Princess Duan He's personality?"
Bai Xia, Green Bead, and the others looked at each other. After a long silence, Green Bead said hesitantly, "We don't dare to casually talk about the Princess's honor."
"Ha," Hua Xi Wan lazily leaned on the chaise lounge, picked up a peeled iced lychee, and ate it before saying, "The so-called relationships in the backyard are just between the lower class and the upper class, or forming cliques. Our Jun Wang Manor has no intention of forming cliques. We just want to live a peaceful life. It doesn't matter whether we go to these garden parties or not." She was not like the virtuous Princess Sheng, who not only took good care of the entire backyard of the Prince's Manor, but also had high praise among the women.
Some people said that she was arrogant because of her status, or that she was noble and pure. In any case, these women who disliked her still had to carefully smile and flatter her in front of her. So, what did it matter if these people liked her or not?
If the status of the men in the imperial court depended on women to gain recognition, then what was the use of these men?
"Princess Duan He has always been high and mighty and arrogant, but in the entire capital, who doesn't respect her and flatter her?" Hua Xi Wan said disapprovingly, "No matter how clever you are, in front of noble status, everything is futile."
Bai Xia and the others were speechless. Junw.a.n.g Fei's words were too direct and embarrassing, but the truth was so. Everyone yearned for power. In front of benefits, the so-called friendship was not worth mentioning. They remembered that when they were in the Duke's Manor, there were also women outside who said that their Madam was tough and rude, but in front of her, how many of them were not polite and smiling?
"Right, Junw.a.n.g Fei, the day after tomorrow is the sixth of the sixth month. Should we send someone to invite Lin Ping Junzhu to stay for a day in the junwang fu?" Green Bead suddenly remembered that the sixth of June was Aunt's Day. According to the old rules, the married daughter should be invited back to her parents' home for a short stay. However, Princess Linping had not sent anyone to visit Jun Wang's Manor since she came to the capital, so it was a little awkward to deal with this matter.
"Didn't Jun Wang Ye say that everything will be as usual? Just do what you did in the past." Hua Xi Wan did not have a good impression of Princess Linping, so she was too lazy to pretend. Anyway, even Yan Jinqiu, the younger brother, was estranged from Princess Linping, so how could she, the younger sister-in-law, have anything to do with it?
In the Dali Monastery, Yan Boyi looked at the information from various sources. These information all pointed to the Crown Prince intentionally or unintentionally. He looked at the Dali Monastery official sitting opposite him, sweating profusely, and put the information on the table, "What do you think of this matter, Lord Zhao?"
"This official... this official does not dare to make an arbitrary decision. Please instruct me, Prince Sheng. The sweat on Lord Zhao's forehead increased, but he did not dare to take out the handkerchief on his body. He used his sleeve to wipe his sweat.
"Lord Zhao must be joking. You are the official of the Dali Monastery. I'm afraid you can't even count the number of unjust cases you have investigated. How can this case be a problem for you?" Yan Boyi's index finger lightly tapped the table, making a tapping sound that made Lord Zhao's heart jump.
"Prince Sheng, Lord Zhao, Prince Xian is outside asking to see you." A bodyguard hurried in and reported.
Yan Boyi frowned slightly, then stood up and said, "Quickly invite him in."
Not a moment later, Yan Jinqiu, dressed in a water-colored silk robe, walked in gracefully with a paper fan in his hand. He looked calm and collected. When he saw Yan Boyi, he saluted as an equal and said, "Ziling greets Cousin."
"Cousin is too polite." Yan Boyi returned the salute and said, "May I know why Cousin is here this time?"
"Ziling came uninvited. Sorry to disturb you two. It's just that Jun Wang Fei is very concerned about Master Zhang's case. I can't bear to see her in a difficult position, so I wanted to ask a few more questions." Yan Jinqiu's gaze swept over the two and said slowly, "If there is any difficulty, please tell me. I just want to ask a few questions."
"Prince Xian is my generation's role model as a husband." Lord Zhao chuckled, but didn't mention if there was any difficulty in this matter. "Master Zhang's case is being thoroughly investigated. Jun Wang Ye, please rest assured. We will definitely get to the bottom of this matter."
"In that case, I will have to trouble Cousin and Lord Zhao." Yan Jinqiu slowly closed his fan, and gently tapped his palm with the paper fan. He smiled faintly and said, "I won't disturb you two any more. Goodbye."
When Lord Zhao heard this, he immediately stood up and said, "This official has many trivial matters to attend to. I didn't receive Jun Wang Ye properly. Jun Wang Ye, please forgive me."
"Lord Zhao is too polite." Yan Jinqiu cupped his hands in salute in the direction of Yan Boyi, then walked out.
Lord Zhao followed behind him and sent him all the way to the Dali Monastery. Then he said, "Jun Wang Ye, take care. This official won't send you off."
"Lord Zhao, please wait." Yan Jinqiu politely nodded, and then stepped on the pedals and sat in the carriage under Lord Zhao's gaze.
Watching Prince Xian's carriage go further and further away, Lord Zhao withdrew his gaze and sighed. This case involved many people, and there were many aristocratic families watching. It really increased the pressure on his Dali Monastery. However, all the suspicious points in this case pointed to His Highness the Crown Prince. What should they do?
Returning to the office, Lord Zhao saw that Prince Sheng was still sitting in the same place. He sighed again in his heart. Which one of these people was easy to talk to? Even that seemingly easy to talk to Prince Xian just now was not a simple person.
Prince Xian repaid evil with good. For his family's Jun Wang Fei, he personally went to the Dali Monastery to inquire about Young Master Zhang's case. This news quickly spread throughout the capital. Some people said that Prince Xian was deeply in love with their family's Jun Wang Fei, and for her, he went to inquire about the people who had offended him many times. There were also some women who thought that Princess Xian relied on her beauty to get the originally noble and pure Prince Xian to intervene in these troublesome matters. Sooner or later, she would be despised.
Regardless of what the outside world said, the Zhang family was very grateful to the county's Jun Wang family. In today's world, there were very few people who helped when one was in need, but there were many who added flowers to one's brocade. The death of the only son of the Jang family was equivalent to cutting off their roots. Sooner or later, they would be replaced by members of the collateral branch. At this time, someone was still willing to lend them a helping hand. How precious was that?
Lord Zhang, who had aged overnight because of the loss of his only son, sighed and said to his wife, "Only an outstanding person like Prince Xian would help us on account of our Zhang family's reputation as a scholarly family."
"Didn't the outside say that Xian Junw.a.n.g is doing this because of Xian Junw.a.n.g Fei …" Zhang Furen recalled that her eldest daughter had personally gone to Xian Junw.a.n.g Fu to ask Xian Junw.a.n.g Fei for help. "Is that not the case?"
"Although I don't know Prince Xian's character very well, I have more or less heard of him. He is not someone who changes his mind because of a woman's beauty. He is very noble and pure, and he is very accomplished in poetry and painting. The reason why he is willing to help our Zhang family is probably because of the Zhang family's reputation over the years." Lord Zhang's eyes were full of fatigue. "I will remember his kindness."
Madam Zhang wanted to say that even if Prince Xian would not be tempted by ordinary beauty, Princess Xian's beauty could not be described as outstanding. However, seeing her husband's tired expression, she did not say what was in her heart. Perhaps he was really a man who would not be tempted by a woman's beauty?
Compared to those outside who believed in the rumors, Nghi An Marquis was more concerned about one thing, and that was the matter of picking up Hua Xi Wan to stay for a day on the 6th of June.
As Hua Xi Wan's eldest brother, Hua Changbao was naturally the first person to pick up Hua Xi Wan. However, the 6th of June was just a folk festival. She did not know if Prince Xian would think that her maiden family was meddlesome.
"What's the point of thinking so much?" Madam Zhang said straightforwardly, "Picking up our Miss to go back to her maiden family is our family's goodwill. Could it be that Prince Xian's family is so high that they won't allow our Miss to go back to her maiden family?"
Hua Ding Wei nodded in deep agreement: "Mother is right. With Prince Xian's breadth of mind, he definitely won't think too much."
Hua Hesheng sighed helplessly. Now that his daughter had married into such a family, even if Nghi An Marquis could support her, what could they do? If this small matter caused the relationship between husband and wife to deteriorate, then the gains would not make up for the losses.
Just as he was hesitating, he heard a servant report that Prince Xian had arrived.
"Why is Prince Xian here at this time?" Lu Clan member raised an eyebrow, thinking of the case of Young Master Zhang that had caused a stir in the past few days, "Could it be because of Second Sister-in-law's maiden family?"
Hua Hesheng thought for a moment but to no avail. He shook his head and said: "No need to guess. Changbao, Dingwei, you two come with me to see the guest."
Hua Changbao and Hua Ding Wei exchanged a look and then stood to follow their father outside.
Lu Clan member watched as the three of them left the zhengyuan. She pretended to complain to the servant girl beside her, "The three of them are together."
"Eldest Young Master and Second Young Master are both talented people. Marquis naturally has to take them out to see the world," The servant girl went forward and gently squeezed her shoulder. She said half-sincerely and half-flatteringly, "This year, Second Young Master is going to participate in the fall examinations. It is good to get to know some of the prestigious families in Jing."
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