Perhaps he guessed what Ling Qingwan was thinking and explained to Si Ning.
Ling Qingwan was not obsessed with this matter. She and Xiang Sining were just casual acquaintances, and it was not to the point where Ling Qingwan paid much attention to him.
After separating from Xiang Sining, Ling Qingwan continued on her way.
"By the way, Qiao'er. Don't tell Nanny Park about what happened today, otherwise she will worry again." Ling Qingwan suddenly remembered and reminded Qiao'er.
Madam Park was really a life of worry. She spent the first half of her life worrying about Ling Shenshi, and the second half of her life worrying about Ling Qingwan. When Ling Qingwan thought about how Madam Park got injured because of protecting her a few days ago, she still felt guilty.
After that incident, Madam Pu rested in bed for ten days before she recovered. As soon as she got up, she was busy serving Ling Shenshi again.
"I understand! Don't worry, miss! I keep my mouth shut." Qiao'er straightened her chest and agreed confidently.
Ling Qingwan couldn't help laughing, and started a conversation with Qiao'er, chatting and laughing.
Not far away, a dark blue figure saw Ling Qingwan going away and disappeared around the corner in an instant.
Just as she reached the door, she was stopped again. Ling Qingwan was a little impatient, frowning and looking up at the servant in front of her.
It might not be suitable to go out today. She had already passed several checkpoints on her way back to Ling Mansion from Zuixiao Tower. Ling Qingwan felt a headache just thinking about it.
"Miss Ling, the eldest prince invites you to have a chat in the teahouse." The servant said respectfully to Ling Qingwan.
Ling Qingwan glanced meaningfully at the carriage behind the servant.
Song Zhicheng's carriage had already stopped at the gate of Ling's house, and it looked like he had come to pick her up. If Ling Qingwan didn't go, it would be a loss of face for Song Zhicheng.
This was not an invitation at all; it was clearly forcing her to accept the invitation.
But Ling Qingwan is the kind of person who responds to soft tactics and not hard ones.
"Please tell the eldest prince that I have things to do and cannot go out at this time. I hope the eldest prince can forgive me." Ling Qingwan rejected Song Zhiqing's invitation without thinking.
Ling Qingwan's impression of Song Zhicheng had already hit rock bottom after the incident at Listening Snow Tower. Moreover, he and Song Zhiqing were from the same father, so even if Song Zhicheng did nothing, Ling Qingwan would not like him.
Everyone in the capital knew that Ling Qingwan and Wei Xun had a special relationship. As soon as Wei Xun left, Song Zhicheng invited her to have tea. Ling Qingwan was afraid that Song Zhicheng's real intention was not with her, but with Wei Xun.
Just as she was about to walk around the servant, the servant called her back.
"The eldest prince has come to Ling Mansion to pick you up today. If you don't go, he will become a joke if the news gets out." The servant advised earnestly.
Ling Qingwan glanced at the carriage again.
"Then I will go and talk to the eldest prince myself."
I'm afraid Song Zhicheng won't give up if I don't see him today. This is the gate of Ling's house, and people pass by from time to time. It's not a good thing for her to waste too much time.
The eldest prince became a joke and her reputation was also damaged.
After saying that, Ling Qingwan got on the carriage.
Song Zhicheng was dressed in a silver brocade robe and held himself in a superior manner. When Ling Qingwan came in, he kept staring at her, as if he wanted to see through her.
After all, they were born from the same father, so Song Zhicheng and Song Zhiqing looked somewhat alike. Looking at Song Zhicheng's face, Ling Qingwan lost interest and quietly moved her eyes elsewhere.
"Miss Ling is still the same as before, very arrogant and completely different from ordinary people." Song Zhicheng spoke first with a smile on his face.
He must have been aware of the conversation between Ling Qingwan and the servant just now, but Song Zhicheng was not angry. Instead, he spoke gently. If you didn't know, you would think that he and Ling Qingwan had a close relationship.
"The eldest prince suddenly invited me to tea just to talk about this?" Ling Qingwan went straight to the point and refused to have any unnecessary conversation with Song Zhicheng.
"I just finished talking with several officials from the Ministry of Rites, and when I came out and passed by the Ling Mansion, I thought of inviting you to have tea and chat. As a result, I bumped into you as soon as I got off the sedan chair. Doesn't this just prove that you and I are destined to be together?" Song Zhicheng chuckled.
"I am very grateful that the eldest prince has this intention. But let's forget about drinking tea." Ling Qingwan immediately rejected Song Zhicheng.
Song Zhicheng still had a smile on his face, but his eyes had obviously darkened.
He had never been rejected so bluntly by a woman before, and he felt humiliated. But what could Song Zhicheng do? The person sitting opposite him was Ling Qingwan, not someone else.
"Before, the Crown Prince and the Seventh Prince pursued me one after another, causing the people in the capital to spread rumors that I was fickle and deliberately kept them both hanging. Now the situation has finally calmed down, the Crown Prince and my sister have been engaged, and the Seventh Prince has also gone to guard the border. As the saying goes, once bitten by a snake, you will be afraid of the rope for ten years. I don't want to become a laughing stock again. So, the eldest prince, can you understand?"
Ling Qingwan's meaning was obvious, she just said that she felt bad for Song Zhicheng. Song Zhiqing was not a fool, he could still hear it.
"Yeah, I didn't think it through enough." After a pause, Song Zhicheng laughed out loud, and it was unclear whether he agreed with Ling Qingwan's words or to ease the embarrassment.
"Then I won't delay the eldest prince and will go back home first." After saying that, Ling Qingwan nodded to Song Zhicheng and got off the carriage.
Outside the carriage, the servant was stunned when he saw Ling Qingwan stepping into the Ling Mansion silently.
Logically speaking, Ling Qingwan had no choice but to accept the invitation, but unexpectedly, she actually persuaded Song Zhicheng to release the person.
"Crown Prince, didn't you say that you must meet Miss Ling today?" The servant was puzzled and couldn't help asking Song Zhicheng.
"I have seen it." Song Zhicheng's lips curled slightly, and his eyes gradually became dim.
"But..." But this was not a meeting at all. The servant only yawned, and Ling Qingwan had already finished talking to Song Zhicheng and left.
"Ling Qingwan is just an ice lump, she can't be warmed up overnight. If she were really like other girls, eager to get close to me, I would lose interest in her." Song Zhicheng's smile grew wider, almost overflowing.
"But she is not with the Seventh Prince..." The servant did not dare to continue.
Outsiders all said that Ling Qingwan and Wei Xun were in love, and even the officials in the court knew it. Even though the emperor had not issued an order, everyone had already regarded Ling Qingwan as the future princess.
Song Zhicheng was eager to get close to Ling Qingwan at this time, and it was hard not to think that he was taking advantage of the situation. If the news got to the emperor, Song Zhicheng would be punished.
No matter how he thought about it, the servant felt it was not worth it to do this for a woman.
"Do she and the Seventh Prince have an imperial decree from his father to prove their marriage? If not, then it's just nonsense made up by the world." Song Zhicheng didn't take the rumors outside seriously at all.
At this time, Ling Qingwan had just walked to the Iris Pavilion when she suddenly sneezed and almost fell forward.
"Miss, have you caught a cold?" Qiao'er asked worriedly.
"One thought, two hatreds, three fevers. Maybe someone is targeting me." Ling Qingwan joked with a smile.