How could a wooden man like Wei Xun, who had not been interested in women for more than ten years, fall in love with any girl just because he liked her? Besides, although the second daughter of the Marquis's Mansion had a good appearance and temperament, she was not outstanding among the other daughters of wealthy families.
What on earth did Wei Xun like about Ling Qingwan? An Yi looked at Ling Qingwan carefully, and became more and more confused.
"It seems so now." Tan Jiao replied reluctantly. "But I think the Seventh Prince was just bewitched by Ling Qingwan for a while and mistakenly thought he liked her. Didn't you see how happy she was chatting with the First Prince just now?"
"Not only the Seventh Prince and the First Prince, she doesn't even follow the rules in front of my brother. And the Crown Prince, I know she has hooked up with four or five men." Tan Jiao counted them one by one on her fingers to An Yi.
"Is Ling Qingwan really that capable?" An Yi frowned and stared at Ling Qingwan suspiciously. "If you said she was close to Brother Hongbo, I would believe it. Brother Wei Xun is so smart, how could he be played by a woman?"
Having said that, An Yi was already thinking in her heart, how did Ling Qingwan do it. She and Tan Jiao had known each other since childhood, so naturally she believed Tan Jiao more. Add to that the rumors she heard from the people, and An Yi believed them without a doubt.
"That's her brilliance." Tan Jiao crossed her arms and snorted. "I saw everything I said. If you don't believe me, watch for yourself. She played with my brother one moment, and then made friends with the Seventh Prince the next. She also didn't leave out the Crown Prince and the First Prince. If she really liked the Seventh Prince, it would be fine. I'm angry that she was so scheming, and she kept these people in the dark."
Tan Jiao became angrier and angrier as she spoke, and she wished she could tear Ling Qingwan apart on the spot.
"Yawn!" Ling Qingwan sneezed.
Qiao'er stepped forward and quickly put the jacket on Ling Qingwan.
"Miss, have you caught a cold?" Qiao'er asked worriedly.
"It's okay." Ling Qingwan waved her hand.
She had suffered all kinds of hardships in the past, and now she was just catching a cold. To Yu Lingqingwan, it was a trivial matter and not worth mentioning.
Not far away, Song Zhiqing saw Ling Qingwan coughing. He became anxious and was about to leave when he was stopped by the nanny.
"Your Highness, the Queen invites you." The nanny reported to Song Zhiqing respectfully.
Song Zhiqing was in a dilemma. He looked at Ling Qingwan worriedly and turned to go to the Queen.
"What does my mother want to tell me?" Song Zhiqing lowered his head and asked the queen.
"If I have nothing to do, can't I ask you to come and keep me company?" The queen looked serious and glanced at Song Zhiqing.
Song Zhiqing lowered his head even deeper.
"I called you here today to let you take a look at these noble ladies and see if you have picked one you like. I don't want you to keep staring at the second young lady of the Marquis's Mansion." The Queen lowered her voice, her words revealing deep dissatisfaction.
Song Zhiqing looked at Ling Qingwan for a long time, and she observed Song Zhiqing for the same amount of time.
"Mother, you know that the person I like is the second daughter of the Marquis' Mansion." Song Zhiqing frowned. In his previous life, he married Ling Qingwan because of the empress's urging. Now the situation has changed, he wants it, but the empress does not allow him to marry Ling Qingwan.
"The second young lady of the Marquis's Mansion grew up in the village and has a lot of vulgar habits. How can she be worthy of the position of Crown Princess?" The Queen rolled her eyes at Song Zhiqing, not as kind as she was when she was talking to Ling Qingwan just now.
"Look at her every move today, how can she look like a vulgar person? Besides, even if she grew up in the countryside, she is still the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's family." Song Zhiqing really couldn't agree with the Queen's words and refuted it on the spot.
"I said she is not worthy of you, and she is not worthy of you." The Queen's anger grew stronger and stronger, and she managed to hold it back.
"Qing'er, right now the Seventh Prince is in the limelight, and the First Prince is eyeing you covetously. Even if you become the Crown Prince, it is still uncertain whether you can hold on to this position. Don't let your personal feelings hinder you and delay important matters."
The Queen spoke earnestly and advised Song Zhiqing to think twice.
Song Zhiqing heard these words again and again, and his ears were almost callused.
"Then, mother, who do you think is the most worthy of me among the women present today?"
"I think the eldest daughter of the Marquis's Mansion is just the right person."
Originally, he let the Queen make the decision just to be angry, but he never thought that the Queen really had a candidate in mind. Song Zhiqing was upset.
Besides, the person chosen by the Queen was someone he never wanted to have anything to do with again.
"What eldest lady and second lady? Since they are both daughters of the Marquis's Mansion and both are legitimate, why can't Wanwan do it?" Song Zhiqing was firm in his attitude and refused to listen to the Queen's arrangements no matter what.
The queen was helpless. While Song Zhiqing was not paying attention, she raised her eyes and glanced at the nanny.
At that time, Ling Qingwan was squatting, carefully observing a wild flower.
The lake was shimmering, with a hint of spring in sight.
"Hey!"
The sudden sound startled Ling Qingwan so much that she slipped and fell to the ground.
Ling Qingwan raised her head and met Tan Hongbo's face, which was smiling brightly.
"Why are you scaring me!" Ling Qingwan stood up and kicked Tan Hongbo in anger. Tan Hongbo was agile and dodged quickly.
"I saw you squatting here and not talking to other girls, so I wanted to come and see you." Tan Hongbo told Ling Qingwan. After that, he squatted to the place where Ling Qingwan had just squatted.
"What's so beautiful about a wild flower?" Tan Hongbo was puzzled. "There are so many bright and rare flowers in the Imperial Garden, but you don't want to see them."
"It is because there are exotic flowers and plants everywhere that this wild flower seems so special." Ling Qingwan raised the corners of her mouth slightly and smiled brightly at the wild flower.
"For example, you see that all the women in the garden look the same, but there happens to be a girl with an extraordinary temperament, completely different from the others. You will definitely be dazzled and attracted by her." Ling Qingwan was in a good mood and was patient for a rare time, explaining more to Tan Hongbo.
Another reason was that Ling Qingwan was too bored. She wished the banquet would end soon so she could go back. Only when she met someone she knew did Ling Qingwan feel happier.
"Completely different from others..." Tan Hongbo kept chattering, repeating Ling Qingwan's words. He looked around and fixed his eyes in one direction.
Ling Qingwan was curious and looked over.
There were two women standing next to a cluster of moon-white magnolias, laughing and chatting. One of them was pretty and lively, and the other was gentle and generous, giving people completely opposite impressions. Ling Qingwan confirmed again and again that the two women were indeed where Tan Hongbo's eyes were.
"Who are you looking at?" Ling Qingwan couldn't help but ask.
"There are so many beautiful girls, I don't even know who I'm looking at." Tan Hongbo raised his eyebrows, looking like a dandy young man.
Having said that, Tan Hongbo turned around.
Ling Qingwan rolled her eyes to the sky. Sure enough, how could a man like Tan Hongbo focus on one woman? Maybe he had a crush on both girls.