Best friends dressed up in ancient times to become mistresses? You run, I run too!

At that moment, a dark shadow descended from the sky.

With a hint of reluctance in his eyes, he said, "Your Highness, weren't you a bit too harsh on Miss Shen just now?"

Look how scared Miss Shen was! She ran away in a flash. Anyone who didn't know better would think she was being chased by a ghost.

Jiang Xuan Yan stood ramrod straight, lazily lifting his eyelids to look at him, letting out a cold snort.

"Why, are you feeling distressed?"

Jiang Yi was so frightened that he immediately knelt down, "Your Highness, please understand, I dare not."

"It's not that I don't dare to, but that I don't have the courage, right? Jiang Yi, do you think I've been too harsh on her?"

But have you considered that with her unreasonable, arrogant, and domineering nature, how many days could she survive in the Eastern Palace?

The Shen family father and son have begged him to take Shen Ningzhu away more than once, so it's clear that she's no longer just causing trouble.

She was his woman, and he couldn't just stand by and watch her die. Her current misbehavior was likely due to his failure as her husband to properly guide her.

Fortunately, it's not too late. Let's start teaching today.

Jiang Yi:......

"I punished her this way for her own good. It's to prevent her from being so impulsive and accidentally getting herself killed one day. After all, as the old saying goes, those who drown are often the best swimmers."

After today, she should be scared. If she tries to win favor by diving again, she'll have to think twice.

Jiang Yi was stunned for a moment.

"Does Your Highness mean that Shen Ningzhu can swim?"

Jiang Xuan Yan narrowed his eyelids, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes; he was originally unaware of this matter.

Yesterday, while attending a banquet at a restaurant, I happened to pass by a private room. Inside were Wang Zilin, the daughter of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and her several attendants.

The group was indignantly discussing the incident at the welcome banquet where Shen Ningzhu and the others had fallen into the water.

They kept saying that Shen Ningzhu wanted to kill them, and even pointed out that Shen Ningzhu could swim.

Today, when he came to the Minister's residence, he happened to see Shen Ningzhu and Shen Ningxue soaking in the water at the same time. He did not know why they fell into the water, but he saw Shen Ningzhu swim ashore by herself.

again and again……

This is why he couldn't stand it anymore and had to teach her a lesson.

After Jiang Xuanyan patiently finished two cups of tea and a game of chess, Shen Ningzhu finally finished tidying up.

The Minister's residence also sent a special carriage to take them back to the Crown Prince's residence. The entire family came out to see them off at the gate.

The emotions in their eyes were complicated. Shen Ningzhu couldn't explain it, nor did she want to delve into it. She simply curtsied slightly to them and prepared to leave.

Before she could even take a step, Jiang Wanwan sighed, walked up to Shen Ningzhu, and stuffed a folded piece of paper into her hand.

Without saying anything, he turned around and went back to where he was standing.

Shen Ningzhu was stunned for a moment, but then, as if nothing had happened, she took the help of her maid and got into the carriage.

Jiang Xuan Yan arrived on horseback and originally planned to continue riding back. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he handed the horse's reins to Jiang Yi beside him.

He followed Shen Ningzhu into the carriage.

The crowd outside: ...

“Master, this…” Jiang Wanwan frowned with worry.

Shen Yu sighed, "Half a month ago, His Highness the Crown Prince admitted in front of all the nobles that he had an ambiguous relationship with her. So it's nothing for him to ride in the same carriage now."

Given Shen Ningzhu's current status, even if she becomes an adopted daughter of the Shen family, she can only ever be a concubine at best.

They had previously said they would throw a grand banquet, but now it seems His Highness doesn't even want to hold one for her. Oh well, who can she blame? Isn't it all her own doing?

in the compartment

Shen Ningzhu looked at Jiang Xuanyan who followed her in, somewhat confused.

The carriage was tall and spacious, ornately decorated, and furnished with ice basins, tables, tea, fruits, and snacks, making it quite comfortable.

But Jiang Xuan Yan was tall and slender, and when he sat there, the entire carriage suddenly felt cramped.

Coupled with that icy aura, Shen Ningzhu felt extremely uncomfortable.

No, what's he doing coming in? Wasn't he going to ride a horse?

Jiang Xuan Yan ignored her gaze, sat down, and gently tapped the carriage wall with his finger. The carriage then slowly started moving.

Shen Ningzhu looked up at him and found that he was leaning back slightly, his head against the car wall, and he was dozing off.

Shen Ningzhu noticed that Jiang Xuanyan had changed into a brand new robe, which looked exactly the same as the one he had worn when he first arrived, but she still noticed it.

Because the filth she had smeared on his chest and shoulders while crying by the pond was gone.

It's disgusting that he's getting off easy, that bastard.

Forget it, let's just treat him like he's invisible.

Shen Ningzhu followed his example, leaning against the car wall and closing her eyes. Unbeknownst to her, the moment she closed them, Jiang Xuan Yan slowly opened his eyes.

He glanced at her sideways, then closed his eyes again to rest.

Shen Ningzhu didn't notice at all.

They traveled in silence until they turned a corner, at which point the carriage suddenly stopped.

Jiang Xuan Yan opened his eyes. "What happened?"

At that moment, a guard in black slipped into the carriage from outside. "Your Highness, His Majesty urgently summons you."

"Do you know what it is?"

"I don't know, I just said there's an urgent matter that needs your immediate attention."

Jiang Xuan Yan nodded and got off the carriage without saying a word. "Send the person to the Crown Prince's residence."

"Yes."

Soon, the sound of horses' hooves approached. Shen Ningzhu knew that the other party had left, and she breathed a sigh of relief, her tense body relaxing considerably.

The rumbling sound of the wheels turning came, and the carriage started moving again.

Shen Ningzhu continued to close her eyes and rest.

She has suffered from motion sickness since childhood, and even in modern times she gets motion sickness in luxury cars, let alone horse-drawn carriages. Closing her eyes and resting makes her feel more comfortable.

Suddenly, she sensed something was wrong.

The carriage remained quiet, but there was a different atmosphere. Realizing this, she suddenly opened her eyes and saw a man in a moon-white robe sitting opposite her with a gentle smile.

"you……"

Shh, keep your voice down.

The other person put their index finger to their lips and smiled as they spoke.

Shen Ningzhu frowned deeply. Just then, Zhiyuan's voice came from outside.

"Miss, what happened?"

The man looked at her with a half-smile, resembling a male fox spirit. Shen Ningzhu regained her composure.

"It's alright, continue driving."

The Crown Prince and his guard were the only ones on this trip who knew martial arts, but they had already left. Those left behind were ordinary maids and servants sent by the Minister's residence to escort her.

They couldn't do anything to this man, otherwise they wouldn't have let him enter the carriage so quietly.

"Yes, ma'am."

Only then did Shen Ningzhu look at the man opposite her.

The man smiled again. "Miss Shen, it's been a long time. Why are you looking at me like that? Are you perhaps attracted by my good looks?"

Shen Ningzhu's face turned cold.

"Who exactly are you? Knowing that I am His Highness the Crown Prince's woman, you still dare to be so insolent. Do you have nine lives?"

The man raised an eyebrow. "Is my beauty showing concern for me?"

"I almost forgot. I haven't told you my name yet, miss. I'm truly ashamed. My name is Jiang Yanche."

Shen Ningzhu paused, "Jiang?"

"Yes, what's the problem?"

Hearing that he also had the surname Jiang, Shen Ningzhu blinked. Jiang was the imperial surname, and also a very common surname in the Jiang Kingdom; there were countless people with the surname Jiang throughout the entire Jiang Kingdom.

Normally, she wouldn't have thought about it so much.