The fact that Ling Xiao favored his sister was known to the entire mansion, and he had never tried to hide it. Ling Xiao was exhausted on his trip to Sui City, and he only brought some things for Ling Qingwan.
Ling Qingwan carried the package all the way. The maid offered to help her several times, but she refused. She only opened the package after returning to Iris Pavilion.
There were a lot of food and strange gadgets in it, all of which she had never seen in Tokyo. Ling Qingwan couldn't help but think of what Ling Xiao had said to her before leaving the capital.
She took out a bag of crispy candies and distributed them to the maids in the yard.
Ling Xiao finished reporting to Ling Feng and originally wanted to go and see the old man, but as expected, he was stopped by Ye Yun. It was only two hours later that a letter arrived from the Grand Prince's Mansion.
After reading the contents of the letter, Ling Xiao frowned.
"What happened?" Ling Qingwan had just brought over some fresh tea when she saw Ling Xiao's sad face. When she mentioned Song Zhicheng, she could only think of the last time they met at the flower viewing banquet.
Perhaps because she hated Song Zhiqing to the core, Ling Qingwan did not have a good impression of her brother, who was a fellow soldier with the same father.
"The eldest prince invited me to have a drink at Zhuyanfang in the evening." Ling Xiao told Ling Qingwan.
But he held the letter with a worried look on his face, wondering what he was thinking. Ling Qingwan concluded that this matter was not that simple. She simply took the letter and read it carefully to the end.
"I want to go too?" Ling Qingwan was surprised and suddenly looked up at Ling Xiao.
In just a few lines, Song Zhicheng mentioned Ling Qingwan three times and repeatedly urged Ling Xiao to bring his sister with him.
"Although I grew up in Tokyo City, I am not familiar with the eldest prince. It was already very strange that he invited me to drink for no reason, and he also invited you to join us. I am even more worried that his purpose is not pure." Ling Xiao was puzzled.
As the crown prince, Ling Xiao has made many contributions in recent years and is very popular in the court. It is reasonable for the eldest prince to take this opportunity to win him over, or to contact him for court affairs. Ling Xiao can still handle a drinking party like this. But the eldest prince asked Ling Qingwan to be there, and the matter changed its meaning.
"Since ancient times, women have not discussed state affairs. I think the eldest prince wants to tell you that today's trip has no special purpose." Ling Qingwan felt really distressed when she saw Ling Xiao was sad.
No matter in the past life or this life, her existence seems to only bring trouble to Ling Xiao.
Ling Qingwan thought about it, and then told Ling Xiao about how the eldest prince approached her at the flower-viewing banquet.
"The Crown Prince and the Seventh Prince haven't reached a decision yet. The First Prince is getting involved now. I'm afraid his intention is not for you, but for the two of them." Ling Xiao sighed helplessly.
"That has nothing to do with me. I don't like any of them." Ling Qingwan curled her lips and complained. Things that all women in the world admired were like a burden in Ling Qingwan's eyes.
"But if they are interested in you, you must choose one of them to pass the emperor's test." Ling Xiao's eyes were full of guilt as he looked at Ling Qingwan closely.
Ling Qingwan knew that her brother was blaming her again for not being able to protect her.
"Look at my mouth." Ling Qingwan covered her mouth and chuckled. "Both the Crown Prince and the Seventh Prince are outstanding men in Da Yue. If I could marry them, I would enjoy endless wealth and glory in the future. I would be so happy."
Ling Xiao thought about it carefully. After all, Wei Xun was his brother who grew up together. After Ling Qingwan married into the prince's mansion, he could still take care of her and make sure she lived a good life. He felt relieved.
"The most urgent task is how to deal with the trouble caused by the eldest prince." Ling Qingwan reminded Ling Xiao.
For no reason, first the rich lady in the garden talked to her, and then invited her to go boating on the lake. Ling Qingwan didn't believe that the eldest prince didn't have something on his mind.
At worst, if she refused once and it didn't work, she could refuse twice. Ling Qingwan was actually somewhat relieved that Wei Xun was still pestering her.
"I will discuss it with Tan Hongbo and then make a decision." Ling Xiao planned to ask Wei Xun and Tan Hongbo first and then discuss how to deal with it.
The eldest prince suddenly intervened, fearing that this matter would not only implicate Ling Xiao and Ling Qingwan, but also the entire Marquisate, and even Wei Xun. This was also what Ling Xiao felt was the most difficult part.
Soon, Tan Hongbo replied that he would go with Ling Xiao and Ling Qingwan.
Tan Hongbo often went to places of entertainment and had a very playful personality, so it was just right for him to be the uninvited guest. Ling Qingwan was somewhat impressed that Tan Hongbo seemed to be so carefree, but he was actually so righteous.
If he offended the eldest prince, Tan Hongbo would lose more than he gained. He could have just ignored the matter.
That night.
Zhuque Street was full of lights and bustling. Ling Xiao and Tan Hongbo took Ling Qingwan to the night market nearby to buy her favorite crispy meat.
"Wanwan has been back to Tokyo City for several months, and you haven't been to Tingxue Tower to see the night view of Tokyo City. Today, your second brother will take you for a walk." Tan Hongbo said with a smile.
"Yes, and the eldest prince will pay for it. This is a good plan of yours." Ling Xiao agreed.
Ling Qingwan couldn't help laughing.
Who would have thought that the eldest son of the Marquis's Mansion, the powerful commander of the Six Divine Orders, is calm and reserved in front of outsiders, but so talkative in private.
"Don't forget, it was you who begged me to go with you tonight. Now you blame me for drinking with the eldest prince." Tan Hongbo rolled his eyes at Ling Xiao in a bad mood.
Ling Qingwan thought he was going to be angry, but after he finished speaking, he took Ling Qingwan's hand and walked forward on his own.
"Wanwan, look at how unreasonable your brother is. He starts to criticize me now. I'm afraid he won't play with me anymore when he gets promoted. Don't abandon your second brother when that happens."
Ling Xiao followed with a dark face and stood on the other side of Ling Qingwan.
The three of them walked side by side, with Ling Qingwan tightly surrounded in the middle, with an obvious protective meaning. The women around them cast envious glances at her from time to time, wishing they could leave their souls and possess Ling Qingwan.
The Listening Snow Tower is built on the moat. Every night, it is brightly lit and bustling with people. Especially when the New Year is approaching, the banks are gradually covered with red lanterns, the lake is sparkling, and sometimes a pleasure boat passes by, bringing the sound of beautiful piano music.
Not far from the Listening Snow Tower is the Zhuyanfang, which together created the most lively and prosperous nightlife in the entire Tokyo city.
Tan Hongbo was familiar with the route, and before he even arrived, he had already run into several familiar faces. From the sons of noble families and wealthy businessmen to the common people and even the girls from Yihongyuan and Zhuyanfang, some of them were people Tan Hongbo knew.
The three of them stopped by the lake, where the eldest prince's servant had been waiting for a long time.
"Prince Ling!"
As soon as he entered the pleasure boat, the eldest prince greeted Ling Xiao in a clear voice. Then he came out of the cabin and seemed to see two people standing next to Ling Xiao.
"Mr. Tan is here too. Unfortunately, I only have three sets of wine cups, so I can't keep you here for a chat." The eldest prince said with a smile.
Ling Qingwan frowned.
Ordinary people always have to consider their personal relationships and face. As soon as Tan Hongbo arrived, he couldn't wait to order him to leave. It seems that Ling Xiao's thinking was right. The eldest prince is really not simple.