Chapter 66: Princess Linchang (Part 1)

  The two had already lost interest in continuing the conversation. Xiao Xian got up to bid farewell, and also made an appointment for breakfast together early tomorrow morning, before taking Chulan out the door. Because she insisted on asking, Yu Dai didn't see them off much further.

  That night, she was either lying in bed or her mind was wandering, and Yan Dai hadn't closed her eyes all night. It wasn't until the sky began to brighten outside the window that she finally forced herself to close her eyes and doze off for a bit. Wenping brought water over and helped her get washed up. Seeing the dark circles under her eyes, she couldn't help but ask with concern: "Miss, didn't you sleep well again last night?"

  "After a faint smile, Yuan Dai said: 'It doesn't matter! I've never slept well, you know that too!'"

  Wen Ping opened her mouth, wanting to ask something, but hesitated and didn't dare say it out loud. Yuan Dai saw what she meant and didn't wait for her to ask, saying: "Young Miss's childish temper, no need to take it seriously, I think after a few days, everything will be fine!"

  Wen Ping wanted to ask about was precisely the matter of Ling Yu Xuan. Hearing Yu Dai say this, she finally felt a bit relieved and smiled: "Yesterday, when Miss Shao stormed out of the door, it really made me feel a little scared!"

  Yuandai smiled, but didn't say a word. As for Ling Yuexian, she had no intention of saying too much. In fact, she was very clear that Ling Yuexian's anger yesterday was not only due to the Lu Weiyin incident, but also because of other reasons. And in fact, since they came down from Guanyin Mountain, her relationship with Ling Yuexian was no longer as close as before.

  She was very clear about this, but she never broke through this layer of paper. She knew that if the paper was broken, the relationship between the two would never be restored to its original state. However, even though she had maintained it with great care, it still didn't work out in the end.

  She was deep in thought here, but outside had already come Du Ruo's voice: "Miss, Xiao Miss has arrived!"

  Xiao Chengyan had just entered the door when she saw Yuan Dai and smiled, "It's time for you to know that the snow outside has stopped. It's daytime, can't you still stay in the house?" Compared to Yuan Dai's tired expression, Xiao Chengyan was full of spirit and energy.

  Yuan Dai smiled and said: "Sister is so enthusiastic, how can I spoil sister's enthusiasm!"

  Xiao Chengxian heard the words and laughed, saying "Good!" As she spoke, she turned her head to instruct Qiaolan: "Qiaolan, go over to Ling Dainai's side and ask if she and Miss Shi want to come out with us to admire the plum blossoms." Qiaolan responded and then withdrew.

  Xiao Chengxian sat down opposite Yuan Dai, saying: "I reckon that today the tenth sister will not be willing to go with us. However, it's also good this way!" But her words did not conceal her dissatisfaction with Ling Yuanshan.

  Yuandai smiled and got up, walked to the window, pushed it open and took a look outside. The heavy snowfall from last night had lasted all night, but only stopped this morning. As Yuandai gazed out, she saw that the distant mountains were all white, with a layer of silver wrapping around them, as if it was an icy and snowy world.

  Xiao Chengyan was about to speak when a maid walked in and greeted the two. Xiao Chengyan's eyes met the maid, and she looked slightly surprised, asking: "Qing Xiang, why have you come? Is there something going on?"

  This maid is not an outsider, but her own brother Xiao Chengyan's personal maid.

  The green apricot smiled and said: "Master asked me to deliver this invitation to a few young ladies!" As she spoke, she presented a card.

  Xiao Cheng received the letter with a slight surprise, opened it and read it. But after a moment of stunned silence, he finally asked: "When was this invitation delivered?"

  Qing Xing replied: "It was delivered early this morning! Master read it and didn't dare to delay, so he hastily ordered me to bring it to Miss!"

  Yuan Dai originally didn't pay much attention to the note, but suddenly heard the four words "do not dare to slack off". She felt a sudden movement in her heart and quickly walked over. Xiao Chengyan saw her coming over and without saying a word, handed the note over to her, indicating for her to read it herself.

  Yuandai took it over, swept a glance, but involuntarily raised an eyebrow: "Princess Linchang?" The note was written very simply, with only a few words, just asking Yuandai and others to go to Pusui Mountain Villa for a gathering, but the signature was the four characters "Lin Chang Gong Zhu".

  Shuying Mountain Villa is actually the true name of Ruiqin Wang's detached palace.

  Xiao Cheng nodded, but didn't immediately respond to her. Instead, she turned to Qing Xing and said: "You go back to the master and just tell him I know!" After Qing Xing left, Xiao Cheng sighed helplessly and said: "Princess Linchang is the daughter of Li Gui Bin. Because Li Gui Bin was the cousin of Empress Yide, Princess Linchang has always been close to Prince Rui. Who would have thought that she too came to Lü Yu Ling!"

  Yuandai could only smile bitterly upon hearing this.

  It's been a long time since the two families had any contact, and even then it was only between men or between women. There was never any instance of a man inviting a woman to visit his home. Therefore, on that day by the pond in Shuoshui Lin, although Baili Zhuo mentioned going to her other courtyard for a stroll, Yuandai didn't take it seriously at all. The wise and virtuous prince had no wife or daughter, so there was no reason for him to invite them over, and she didn't need to worry about such things either.

  Now, with the emergence of Princess Linchang in Shuying Mountain Villa, the previous obstacles no longer exist.

  "What kind of person is Princess Linchang?" She finally asked after a moment of hesitation.

  Xiao Chengxian heard this, and couldn't help but furrow her brow. She lowered her head to think for a moment before she spoke with a bitter smile: "Qingyue... is too straightforward, so straightforward that it's unbearable, yet can't be borne... Ah, I remember, Qingyue is the name of Lin Chang Gongzhu!"

  Suddenly hearing this, Yuandai couldn't help but laugh. Unbearable, yet because of her identity she couldn't not bear it, the person who could make Xiao Chengyan say such a helpless thing was probably only a princess of the imperial family.

  Xiao Cheng let out a sigh, then called for someone to bring over breakfast. After hastily finishing the meal, she and Yuan Dai went together to the Guo residence. Although the invitation from Princess Linchang did not mention the names of Guo and Ling Yuexuan, Xiao Cheng still had to go inform them personally.

  Before the two of them had even reached the entrance to Miss Guo's residence, they could hear the sound of laughter coming from inside the courtyard, and every now and then, a child's high-pitched voice would call out. As soon as they heard the voices, they knew that one of them must be Ling Ting-an. And wasn't the other girl's crisp voice precisely that of Ling Yuan-xuan?

  The two of them walked a few more steps and arrived at the entrance of the courtyard. Looking inside through the skylight on the wall, they saw that the snow in the courtyard had been swept clean, and in the middle of the courtyard stood a moderately sized, plump snowman. On its round body was a rounded head, but its face was still bare. Ling Yuexian was holding a piece of charcoal, drawing on the snowman's face to give it eyes. Ling Tingan was jumping up and down on the ground, shouting for Ling Yuexian to pick him up so he could put his tiger-head hat on the snowman. Meanwhile, at the side house door, Guo Shi was smiling and leaning against the doorframe, tightly holding onto a very excited Ling Yanqing, who looked like she wanted to rush over.

  This scene seems to have a rather harmonious and joyful atmosphere.

  Xiao Chengyan couldn't help but turn her head to look at Yuan Dai. Yuan Dai's expression was as usual, and there was even a faint smile on her lips, which was warm and gentle. Her eyes seemed to hold a thread of tender nostalgia. An inexplicable impulse made Xiao Chengyan ask, "Sister, what are you thinking about?"