As soon as Wen Qingwan finished speaking, she saw her previously dejected stepbrothers break into beaming smiles, the light in their eyes sparkling as brilliantly as the Milky Way.
Xiao Lichun grinned, revealing a pair of canine teeth and a playful, childlike mischief. "I actually thought we wouldn't have any dinner tonight!"
Seeing them smile, Wen Qingwan couldn't help letting out a chuckle. "Why wouldn't there be dinner?"
The pleasure boat turned a blind eye; it didn't row away, nor did it come over to rescue them, simply watching from a safe, neither-too-far-nor-too-close distance.
"Help! Save us, please..."
Jin Weilan had shouted until her throat was practically hoarse, yet the pleasure boat still showed no sign of movement.
In high spirits, the Crown Prince instructed the boatman to dock, preparing to return to the imperial palace.
"Your Highness, won't we cruise the lake for a little longer?" Jiang Mengyue asked, looking up.
"There's no need, let's return to the palace!" At the thought of the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince frowned slightly, a flash of irritation crossing his eyes. Lately, the Crown Princess Consort had become completely paranoid; whenever she saw him leaving the palace, she would fix him with a deeply aggrieved stare.
The next morning, Jiang Ning got up bright and early to do her hair and makeup.
Having agreed to Jin Weilan, she was going boating on the lake.
Chunlan stood behind her to comb her hair, picking up a floral hairpin as she asked, "My lady, would you like to wear this one today?"
Jin Jingxiu returned to the Jin household. He had already made a clean break with Jiang Mengyue and vowed that they would have nothing more to do with each other from this day forward.
Jiang Mengyue's appearance had cast a shadow over his mood, but he quickly put the thought out of his mind and refused to dwell on it any longer.
He felt the box tucked inside his robes.
Since Jiang Mengyue was wearing a veil, no one recognized her, nor did anyone have the idle curiosity to stare fixedly at her.
Once inside, Jiang Mengyue swept her gaze across the room, searching for Jin Jingxiu.
He was located in no time.
Jin Jingxiu was busy selecting a women's hairpin, examining them with exceptional care and focus.
With that, Yan Ruoxi was about to crash toward the carriage.
Feeling helpless, Yuanfeng hurriedly grabbed her. "Miss Yan, you've had too much to drink!"
"I'm not drunk, I haven't had too much to drink..." Tears streaming down her face and her eyes burning red, Yan Ruoxi stared fixedly at the carriage. "Brother Chu, why do you have to be so cruel? I just wanted to see you—is even that too much to ask?"
