After her mind was read, the spoiled brat became the darling of the whole group.

Since the old prince fell seriously ill and abdicated, the old princess has been staying in the small Buddhist hall to chant scriptures and pray for blessings.

Rumors circulated that she was kind-hearted and compassionate, and if Jun Lanjin hadn't witnessed her poisoning him, he would have almost believed it.

His mother, whom he once trusted and loved the most, turned out to be the real culprit who wanted him dead.

Jun Lanjin walked into the old princess's small Buddhist shrine under the cover of night.

Under the dim candlelight, a simple figure knelt outside the ancestral hall, the rhythmic tapping of the wooden fish echoing through the air.

The old princess had her back to Jun Lanjin, her eyes gently closed, and she devoutly chanted scriptures and prayed to Buddha.

"Mother concubine."

Jun Lanjin had somehow appeared behind the old princess. The warm candlelight cast a soft glow on him, half bright and half dark. His eyes were deep, and his features were hidden in shadow, making it impossible to discern his expression.

The old princess stopped striking the wooden fish, opened her eyes, and got up. Immediately, a maid brought water for her to wash her hands.

"Jin'er, you've come."

Jun Lanjin's thin lips curved slightly, his voice gentle: "As night falls, Mother, is there something important that you've called me at this hour?"

"A cool breeze is blowing tonight, and it may be quite chilly inside the Buddhist hall. Mother, you should take care."

As soon as he finished speaking, a cool breeze swept by, gently lifting the strands of hair behind Jun Lanjin.

"Cough cough."

The old princess coughed lightly. Although she was getting on in years, her beauty still shone through, and her beautiful eyes sparkled in the moonlight.

She looked at Jun Lanjin with a smile, her eyes overflowing with tenderness.

“I am fine. If I could ask Buddha for even a little bit of protection for you, I would have no regrets even if I died.”

As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes.

"Is that so?" Jun Lanjin lowered his eyelashes, his voice revealing little emotion.

As if sensing his unusual mood, the old princess hesitated for a moment before tentatively asking, "Jin'er, have you been troubled by anything lately?"

Jun Lanjin put his hands behind his back and said, "Of course there are troubles."

After saying that, he quickly changed the subject, "Did Mother summon me here for something?"

Upon hearing this, the old princess turned around and walked to the small table, beckoning Jun Lanjin over.

Jun Lanjin walked over in a few steps and sat down opposite the old princess.

Immediately, maids served tea and pastries.

Jun Lanjin lowered his eyes to look at the tea and pastries on the table, his expression unchanged.

The old princess smiled gently as she poured tea for Jun Lanjin, pushing the teacup toward him, and said, "Recently, the Empress Dowager invited me to her palace for a chat. Jin'er, do you have someone you like?"

The old princess raised her eyes and looked at Jun Lanjin with a smile.

Jun Lanjin picked up the teacup on the table, brought it to his nose and sniffed it lightly, then put it down again, rubbing the rim of the cup with his fingertips, and asked in a low voice, "What makes you say that?"

The old princess was stunned for a moment.

She said, "Jin'er, I know you best."

“From a young age, you have never wanted maids or concubines, you have never been interested in children’s private affairs, and you have never paid attention to any woman.”

"But recently, I've heard that you've been very interested in the new girl that the General of the State has recently found in the Emperor's household?"

Junlan remained noncommittal.

The old princess smiled and said, "That girl is a bit younger than you. If Jin'er likes her, I might as well go to the General's Mansion to propose marriage."

Jun Lanjin put down his teacup. "When did Mother become so interested in my children's private affairs?"

The old princess paused for a moment, "Jin'er, you're not young anymore, if you want to get married..."

Before he could finish speaking, Jun Lanjin had already stood up.

The old princess had not expected him to react this way, and for a moment she was caught off guard. She could only look up at him as Jun Lanjin moved.

Jun Lanjin looked down at the old princess with a cold expression and said in a low voice, "If you are concerned about my children's private affairs, Mother, you should be more concerned about my injuries."

Immediately, he curled his lips in a mocking smile, "Why bother getting married? Perhaps in a while, Mother Consort will be burying her son."

what? !

The old princess's pupils widened, and her blood-red face instantly turned pale.

She suddenly stood up, as if to say something, but Jun Lanjin turned and left.

"Jin'er!"

The old princess looked panicked.

How could he say such a thing?

Does that mean he discovered something?

This is impossible!

The old princess suddenly looked at the tea table on the table; the cup of tea she had just handed to Jun Lanjin was untouched.

In the past, Jun Lanjin would never have acted this way.

She seemed to have lost all her strength and collapsed to the ground.

How to do?

how come? !

This is impossible!

The old princess kept denying the possibility that Jun Lanjin had discovered it.

"princess!"

The maid was terrified and quickly went to help the old princess.

The old princess was completely distraught at this moment, and hurriedly said, "Back to the courtyard!"

She needs to find out exactly what happened.

Jun Lanjin's attitude was ambiguous. If the news had leaked, he shouldn't have remained inactive.

But if he knows nothing, what could possibly cause such a sudden change in her personality?

……

Ever since the night Xie Tongchen tried to kill Xie Xing, Xie Xing has seen Xie Yuze outside his courtyard gate every day.

He even brings himself little gifts from time to time.

Xie Xing didn't have time to pay attention to him; she was currently thinking about the most important thing.

Although the plot has become chaotic, Xie Mingzhu and Luo Hanfeng still managed to cross paths.

The autumn imperial examinations will be held in a few days.

Xie Xing plans to visit Song Qingyang before the exam to further their relationship.

He was, after all, the brother who loved the original owner.

Thinking this, Xie Xing tidied up, called Lin Yi and Qi Yi, and prepared to go out.

Before they even stepped out of the courtyard gate, Xie Yuze suddenly fell down from the treetop and made a face at Xie Xing, startling her.

"Third Brother?" Xie Xingxing's eyes widened slightly. She looked up at the tree where Xie Yuze was hiding, and then her face darkened a little: "What are you doing hiding in the tree in my yard?"

Xie Yuze leaped down from the tree, lazily draped an arm over Xie Xing's shoulder, and chuckled, "Isn't this just me protecting you?"

"How do you feel? Do you feel safe?"

Xie Yuze grinned and moved closer to Xie Xing.

Xie Xing: "..."

She squinted, tilted her head back slightly in disgust, and pushed Xie Yuze's face away.

"Thank you, Third Brother, but I don't need it."

Her voice was still soft and pleasant, but the affectionate look in her eyes was gone, and her expression was cold, which made Xie Yuze feel very uncomfortable.

He said with distress, "No, do you have to be like this? My brother and I didn't leave you by the river on purpose last time."

"Are you still angry?"

As Xie Yuze spoke, he flicked Xie Xing's forehead and laughed, "I promise you, there won't be a next time, okay?"

Xie Xing gasped in shock when he was hit.

She took a few steps back and looked at Xie Yuze with an extremely strange expression.

Is he still Xie Yuze? Has he been possessed?