Spring Drunk Chang'an

Song Zhinian was really curious.

However, Liu Changan just smiled and couldn't answer her.

Are you saying that Aunt Lai is a "loving mother" who doesn't care much about men or status, and who thinks wholeheartedly about Liu Qingru?

This……

It's true, but who would believe it?

The concubine is obsessed with the legitimate daughter?

No one knew about the girls being swapped?

Liu Changan smiled but said nothing.

Fortunately, Song Zhinian's eyes flickered as she found an excuse for herself. "I think Aunt Lai knows her limits. The things she spread were just minor matters that could affect the reputation of Liu Wenbai and the Duke's Mansion, but wouldn't lead to Liu Xiu being punished."

"Yes, that's right. Rumors are spreading that Liu Wenbai is too picky and that the Ningguo Mansion is overestimating its capabilities. This might make Liu Xiu and Old Lady Lai vent their anger on Qu Qiutong and her son. But if it's said that a 'confessional daughter' is living in the main courtyard and calling herself a lady, that would be considered a violation of the law. Liu Xiu might be reported to the censor and have his salary fined and reprimanded..."

"Then the loss will outweigh the gain."

"I didn't expect Aunt Lai to be so cautious. After all, she doesn't have any children and will rely on Liu Xiu for her whole life. She doesn't want to bring bad luck to him."

"It's Qu Qiutong, she's really incompetent. Even with Liu Xiu's support, she can't even manage the servants."

"I've lived in vain!"

"I don't know what Liu Xiu likes about her?"

Song Zhinian snorted, discarding her ladylike demeanor and revealing her true nature in front of Liu Changan.

At once……

Very sharp-tongued, gossipy, loves to chat, and likes to gossip.

Anyway, not very 'young lady'.

When Liu Changan first saw her, he was quite surprised. He never expected that the noble lady of the Cheng'en Mansion, the queen's niece, who was well-known in the capital, was such a 'little venomous chatterbox'. However, as time went by, Song Zhinian became more and more presumptuous in front of her...

The other day, I actually gossiped with her, saying that in order to win the emperor's favor, Concubine Qu in the palace kept a dozen beautiful young palace maids in the surrounding rooms, and coaxed the emperor to drink deer blood wine to nourish his body!

Your Majesty, you are almost fifty years old. This is the age when you should take good care of your health. How can you be so noisy?

Aren’t you just waiting to shorten your life?

Listen, this kind of, uh, topic involving royal infighting and a bit of a dirty topic, is it something a noble lady should talk about? Song Zhinian, on the other hand, didn't care and chatted with great joy. When Liu Changan first heard it, he was so shocked that he wanted to cover her mouth, sweat dripping down his forehead. Later, he gradually got used to it and also...

It's very enjoyable to listen to.

In her past and present lives, she was not of high status. She was either bullied by the Duke's Mansion or imprisoned in the Qingyun Crown. How could she hear such explosive royal secrets? If she couldn't stop it, she would just enjoy it~~

Well, it's quite enjoyable.

So, when Liu Changan saw Song Zhinian passionately cursing his "former uncle" today and discussing other people's concubines without any scruples, he was not surprised.

However, Song Zhinian had almost finished discussing the Ningguo Mansion, and finding it boring, he stopped talking and instead talked about something else. "By the way, Chang'an, the weather is nice today, let's go out for a walk!"

"Where are you going? It's so cold!" Liu Changan tilted his head, indifferent.

The capital city officially entered the cold winter in December. It snowed a few days ago and the weather was as cold as an ice cellar. When she was a child, she was thrown to the Yan River and suffered a lot and was exposed to the cold. Although her adoptive parents carefully cured her, she still had some problems.

As soon as winter comes, my hands and feet become cold.

If Song Zhinian hadn't insisted on seeing the clear lake and the vast ice river today, she wouldn't have sat with her in the garden pavilion in the middle of winter.

I went back home early and lit the charcoal stove to keep warm.

Even wearing a cotton-padded jacket and leather clothes, and holding a hand warmer, she still felt cold. She didn't want to go through the trouble of leaving the house and riding in a drafty carriage...

"I heard that the plum blossoms are blooming in the mountains outside the city, and I'm planning to go and enjoy them. Coincidentally, my cousin the Crown Prince has a garden there too, so we can rest our heads there!"

"My cousin, the Crown Prince, has recently moved there. My grandmother is very worried, so I'm here to say hello to her..."

The divorce between Song and Liu Xiu certainly caused a huge uproar in the capital, and there were countless people gossiping behind their backs. However, after all, the Ningguo Mansion and the Cheng'en Mansion were the top nobles and powerful officials in the Great Xia Dynasty.

The Queen's maternal family.

A dignified Duke.

The two families worked together, and Queen Song in the palace issued decrees to frequently reward his sister. The prince did not show any sign of displeasure, and even the Emperor acquiesced.

Now, no one dares to gossip about the Big Three to their faces.

Even when the Song family took Liu Wenrui and Liu Qingru away, the common people and nobles in the capital would only speculate behind their backs. No one really cared about it, and even the censor was silent.

To put it bluntly, he is Liu Xiu's son, and Liu Xiu is happy with it. What does it have to do with them?

However, due to the theory of horoscopes, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who had to live outside the palace, was a bit "pitiful". The Ningguo Mansion was no longer his uncle's home, so he certainly had no reason to live there. Unfortunately, His Majesty did not want him to be too close to his maternal family, so he did not ask him to live in the Cheng'en Mansion. The Crown Prince had to find a place to live on his own.

He has several houses in the capital, a separate courtyard in the suburbs, and a garden given by the Emperor. He stays here today and goes there tomorrow. Liu Changan doesn't even know where he is...

Yeah, it’s been a while since we last met.

"The prince went to the garden?" She pursed her lips, her almond eyes filled with longing that she herself didn't even notice.

Song Zhinian lowered his head to drink tea and answered casually, "Yes, he's been staying in the garden these past few days, acting so mysterious. I wonder what he's been doing? I just wanted to go take a look. Why don't you come with me?"

"Let's go together and talk on the way!"

"Uh..." Liu Changan looked up at the sky, seeing dark clouds and sparse sunlight, as if it was going to snow. It was so cold, she really didn't want to move, but...

"I go!"

"Also, I pay my respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

Long time no see.

It’s been eight days!

She narrowed her almond-shaped eyes slightly, showing a bit of grievance.

"That's fine, let's pack up quickly..." Song Zhinian instantly became excited upon hearing this and stood up to go out. At this moment, Bei Ruo, the head maid beside her, suddenly interrupted, "Miss, you and Miss Chang'an are going out to play, why don't you ask Miss Qingru to come along?"

There are few people in the Cheng'en Mansion, and there was only one daughter in the family. Later, Miss Chang'an and Miss Qingru were added!

There are only three in total.

My daughter and Miss Chang'an went out to play, leaving Miss Qingru behind. It doesn't look good no matter how you look at it, right?

"Madam has told you to take Miss Qingru with you more often so that she won't feel uncomfortable!" Bei Ruo reminded in a low voice.

Song Zhinian's brows furrowed tightly. She twisted her hands, looking unhappy. "It's freezing cold out here. Sister Qingru might not want to move."

"You have to ask!" Bei Ruo was helpless.

Song Zhinian curled her lips and looked at Liu Changan with a wronged look.

Liu Changan: ...