Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

Gu Jinyan and Princess Lin agreed to go out today. As soon as they stepped out, the spring breeze brought a faint fragrance of flowers, which made them feel happy.

Accompanying us today was Aunt Zhao, who was older and always composed, dressed in simple and elegant clothes, which formed a low-key and warm contrast with the bright and beautiful Princess Lin and Gu Jinyan.

The group walked slowly along the moat, with weeping willows brushing their faces on the bank and the water shimmering.

It adds a touch of soft color to this vibrant spring scenery.

The maids carried small food baskets, and the servants bustled about, occasionally glancing back at their young mistresses' smiles, and couldn't help but show a relaxed expression themselves.

Gu Jinyan wore a light purple gauze coat, the hem of which was occasionally fluttered by the wind, making her appear elegant and serene.

Princess Lin, dressed in a bright yellow gown, looked elegant and graceful, attracting the attention of passersby.

Just as everyone was engrossed in their conversation, a sweet voice suddenly called out from afar: "Sister! Princess Consort Lin!"

Gu Jinyan and Princess Lin were both startled and looked in the direction of the sound.

Then they saw Quran walking briskly toward them with a beaming smile on his face, his eyes sparkling with eager anticipation.

“Your Highness, I am Jin Yan’s younger sister. It is my great fortune to meet you and your sister on this outing today. We are fortunate to be able to enjoy the spring together.”

Quran bowed gracefully, his smile undiminished, his tone carrying an undeniable intimacy.

Princess Lin nodded slightly, then turned to look at Gu Jinyan, smiling with a hint of doubt, "So it's Miss Lanci, what a coincidence."

Gu Jinyan felt a chill run down his spine. Although he maintained a polite smile, his eyes darkened slightly.

Quran has always been competitive, and this time he probably heard that she was going to accompany him, so he deliberately tried to curry favor with the Queen of Lin.

If we let her follow us around, it will inevitably cause some trouble.

So she smiled slightly and said tactfully, "Since we've met by chance, why don't we take a walk together and enjoy the spring scenery along the way?"

The tone was gentle, both echoing the Quran and subtly conveying a sense of detachment, subtly leading the Quran to the scenery around us.

However, he did not understand the Quran and even held the Queen's hand.

She recounted her experiences at the university with great enthusiasm, how her teachers praised her intelligence, and how she won the affection of her close female friends.

She spoke with great enthusiasm and a bright smile, her words seemingly carrying a sense of superiority. Every now and then, she would tug at the sleeve of the Princess Consort, acting as if they were old friends.

Seeing this, Gu Jinyan frowned slightly and glanced at Princess Lin with a hint of helplessness.

Seeing that she was still smiling gently, but subtly pulled her sleeve back, it was clear that she did not intend to be too intimate with the Quran.

Gu Jinyan walked calmly to Gu Lanci's side and subtly reminded her in a low voice, "Lanci, the princess has always preferred quiet."

"If it's this lively, it makes things a bit too quiet for the Princess. Why don't we go over there and take a look at the peach grove?"

Qu Lanci was taken aback upon hearing this, and a hint of displeasure appeared on his face. However, out of consideration for his pride, he had no choice but to suppress his smile and walk to the side with Gu Jinyan.

Still unwilling to give up, she turned around and called out to the princess again while the princess was looking down at the peach blossoms, "Your Highness, I heard that you have traveled to the Northwest and seen the desert scenery there. I am so envious."

My sister is always quiet and reserved, unlike me who loves to travel. Now that you've taken the time to travel, could you tell me some interesting stories?

His words carried a hint of flattery and boasting, which drew sidelong glances from the maids present.

Princess Lin nodded slightly and smiled faintly: "I have indeed traveled there, but the scenery there is rugged, not as elegant as the spring scenery here. I didn't know that Miss Lanci liked the desert scenery."

Gu Jinyan took the opportunity to wink at the servant beside him and said softly, "Someone, bring some snacks for the spring outing. Let my sister also try the exquisite pastries made at home. Don't just focus on having fun."

The servants understood and quickly set out the food baskets, carefully arranging the snacks on the grass. Someone else brought over a small pot of warm tea.

Upon seeing this, Princess Lin naturally sat down, a hint of pleasure flashing in her eyes, and she seemed to relax as well.

Seeing the Queen sit down, Quran, though unwilling, could not press the matter further and had no choice but to follow suit.

The maids around them were busy serving them food and tea, and occasionally brushing the dust off their clothes with delicate and skillful movements.

During the meal, Gu Jinyan intentionally or unintentionally blocked Gu Lanci's attempts to get close to Princess Lin, sometimes interjecting with conversations about folk customs, and sometimes chuckling as he poured tea for the princess to distract her.

Just as everyone was chatting and laughing, the sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from afar, and a troop of cavalry could be seen passing by, startling the birds flying not far away.

The maids were startled by the commotion and quickly helped their mistresses up, afraid of disturbing them.

Gu Jinyan, however, calmly glanced at the newcomer.

Seeing that they were guards from the Prince Lin's residence, he smiled calmly and said, "It seems that even the guards in the residence don't trust the Princess Consort to go on her trip."

Princess Lin nodded with a smile: "That's right. They've been very protective of us the whole way, but they've relaxed a bit because of the beautiful scenery here."

She turned and gestured to the guards, who then quietly withdrew.

The whole scene remained peaceful, as if the sound of horses' hooves had only brought a brief disturbance.

During the meal, Gu Lanci tried several times to inquire about the background and experience of the guards serving the queen, but Gu Jinyan skillfully diverted the conversation.

With a smile, she gently inquired about the princess's hobbies and casually recounted anecdotes about the maids' flower-growing activities, perfectly setting the relaxed atmosphere of spring.

Quran tried several times to impress the Queen, but Gu Jinyan deftly defused each attempt.

Later, Quran almost couldn't help but show a hint of frustration, inwardly blaming Gu Jinyan for meddling, but there was nothing he could do.

Although the Queen listened with a smile, she never showed much enthusiasm for the Quran.

As the sun gradually set, Princess Lin raised her eyes and looked at Gu Jinyan with a hint of meaningful approval.

Gu Jinyan smiled slightly, calmly lowering his eyes, as if today was just an ordinary spring outing.

As the group prepared to return home, Quran realized that despite her best efforts during the spring outing, she had failed to live up to expectations.

Princess Lin, however, maintained a subtle sense of closeness with Gu Jinyan.

She bit her lip in frustration, forcing a smile as she silently followed behind them, her heart filled with resentment and confusion.

Gu Jinyan tilted his head slightly, glanced at the Quran indifferently, and said nothing.

She had already seen through everything that was happening today, but she didn't reveal it at all. Instead, she presented her calm and composed side to the Princess Consort at just the right moment.

The maidservant beside her quietly followed, a smile playing on her lips, secretly admiring her mistress's thoughtfulness.