The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

The next day.

After the rain in the early morning, the trees outside the window were dripping with water, and even the air felt damp.

The news about Cao Wantang kept Jing Anle awake all night, and the dark circles under his eyes were quite noticeable when he woke up in the morning.

"Afang?" Jing Anle rubbed his temples, trying to relieve his fatigue.

Afang had just brought in a basin of water when she heard Jing Anle calling her.

"The servant is here."

Looking at the Epang Palace before her, she felt something was amiss and asked, "How much Mengding tea is left?"

“I gave one box to Consort Lin yesterday, and there are four boxes left,” Afang replied truthfully.

Jing Anle took the handkerchief handed to her by Afang and placed it on her face. The warmth reached around her eyes, and she felt much better.

"Give the remaining four boxes to the four princes of other countries."

Before Afang could answer, Jing Anle continued, "Just have Aqin deliver it."

"Yes." Although Afang was puzzled, she obediently went to make the arrangements.

When Afang returned after giving her instructions, Jing Anle had already changed her clothes, but not in princess attire; instead, she was dressed as an ordinary young lady.

“Princess, what’s wrong with you…” Afang asked in surprise.

Jing Anle straightened her clothes, feeling that they were indeed much lighter than the princess's attire. Looking at the surprised Afang, she said, "Today we'll go see Mu Ping."

Afang immediately beamed with joy and said, "I will help the princess with her makeup."

……

Qingyun Palace.

Xiao Heng was playing chess with Luo Wei. The two sat in the pavilion in the palace. Water from the eaves dripped onto the soil, and occasionally the chirping of insects and birds could be heard.

"Brother Luo, you're too kind." After saying this, Xiao Heng placed his white piece, and the outcome of the game was immediately decided.

Lowe looked at it again in disbelief, sighed, and said, "I accept my defeat wholeheartedly."

"Haha, Brother Luo's chess skills are superb. I only won by a narrow margin." Xiao Heng laughed as he picked up the chess pieces.

As the two were talking, a palace servant came to report, "Your Highnesses, a servant from Princess Anle's side has brought some things!"

Xiao Heng paused in his actions, his smile widening. Knowing it was Jing Anle's promise from last night, he still asked the palace servant, "Oh? What is it?"

A palace maid presented a brocade box to Xiao Heng, and as soon as it was opened, he saw a tea cake wrapped in paper.

“It looks like tea leaves,” Lowe remarked from the side.

Before Xiao Heng could speak, a palace maid beside him said, "The palace maid who came to deliver the items asked me to tell Crown Prince Luo that you were not in your bedchamber just now, so the same items have been placed in your palace as well."

As soon as the palace servant finished speaking, Xiao Heng's eyes darkened, and the starlight in his eyes vanished without a trace.

“So I have one too. Princess Anle is truly thoughtful and considerate,” Luo Wei said happily upon hearing the palace servant’s words.

Xiao Heng didn't listen to Luo Wei at all. At this moment, his mind was only on Jing Anle. Why? She clearly asked him why he was giving it to someone else. Was she trying to tell him not to have any other thoughts?

He felt his heart sink, and then become a jumbled mess.

……

A side courtyard of the General's Mansion.

Mu Ping had been sleeping soundly for the past few days, her whole body aching from the pain. Today, she had just gotten up to go for a walk when someone pushed open her door from the outside. Aside from delivering meals, no one usually came out of the room.

"Who?" Mu Ping asked warily.

Two figures passed through the screen; the newcomers were Jing Anle and Afang.

Mu Ping's eyes lit up, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Princess, Afang!" She was about to bow when Afang pulled her up and made her sit down.

Seeing that Mu Ping's complexion was much rosier than when she was injured, Jing Anle knew that Mu Ping had greatly improved and said, "Seeing that your complexion is much better, I am relieved. Here is a ginseng for you to nourish your body."

After saying this, Afang took out a box and placed it on the table. When she opened it, there was a perfectly preserved thousand-year-old snow ginseng.

“Princess, this is too precious…” Mu Ping knew that ginseng was valuable, so she waved her hand to refuse, but before she could finish speaking, A Fang stopped her, “This is something the princess has been choosing for a long time. If you don’t take it, you will be letting the princess down.”

Jing Anle smiled and nodded, agreeing with Afang's statement, "Giving you this ginseng is just right."

"It's a rare treat for you two to have a chat today, so I'll go for a walk first," Jing Anle said, seeing the good relationship between the two.

When Afang heard that Jing Anle was leaving, she immediately said, "I will go with the princess!"

"Come find me in an hour." Jing Anle found it amusing. She was quite familiar with this huge general's mansion; how could she, a grown woman, possibly get lost?

“Don’t follow me,” Jing Anle added.

Upon hearing this, Afang had no choice but to stop and watch Jing Anle leave.

Jing Anle originally intended to visit her maternal grandmother first, but today her cousin Zhihua accompanied Old Madam Qin to the temple to offer incense.

Therefore, she could only stare blankly at the fish in the pond. Perhaps because it had just rained, the fish swam happily, occasionally blowing bubbles. Looking into the distance, the side courtyard of the general's mansion was connected to the main courtyard, with an archway in the middle, guarded by two soldiers.

"Princess?" a voice called out from behind Jing Anle.

Jing Anle turned around in confusion, only to see a handsome man.

"Cousin?" It was Qin Xiuyuan.

He was ordered to deliver things to Mu Ping every day. Today, he had just finished delivering the things when he saw a young girl standing in the corridor. She was wearing a light green dress that swayed in the wind, making her look slender and exceptionally fresh and charming.

Even though it was just his back, he recognized him at a glance as Jing Anle.

At first, he doubted his eyes and stared for a long time before finally speaking up. It wasn't until Jing Anle spoke that he believed it was real.

"Is the princess coming to see Mu Ping?"

Ever since Jing Anle started visiting the General's Mansion from time to time and always talked with Qin Xu in the study, he guessed that there must be some secret behind it.

Qin Xiuyuan didn't ask any more questions; he just wanted to say a few more words to Jing Anle.

Jing Anle nodded, "That's right." Then, seeing the food box Qin Xiuyuan was carrying, she immediately understood and said, "Thank you for taking care of Mu Ping, cousin."

"Not at all. Mu Ping and I grew up together. In my heart, she's like my older sister. It's only natural for me to take care of my sister." Qin Xiuyuan didn't know why he emphasized these things, as if he was afraid that Jing Anle would misunderstand.

Jing Anle smiled and said, "Cousin is so thoughtful. I wonder which lucky young lady will be my cousin's wife in the future." She understood Qin Xiuyuan's meaning, but Jing Anle couldn't respond, so she could only say it on purpose.

Qin Xiuyuan always understood the distance between himself and Jing Anle. Every time he met Jing Anle, Qin Xiuyuan always felt fortunate to be able to see her. If he could talk to her, Qin Xiuyuan would feel satisfied.