The gatekeeper, upon hearing the news, hurried off to report.
At this moment, Qin Linglong had just finished her lunch.
As she was about to go for a stroll, she heard the gatekeeper's report and froze. For a moment, her mind went blank.
Xiao Jia and Xiao Huan quickly replied to the gatekeeper, "First, please inform His Highness Prince Jin's people that the young lady will change her clothes and then head to the palace. Please ask them to wait a moment."
"Yes, I will report back immediately," the gatekeeper said, hurrying back.
Seeing Qin Linglong still in a daze, Xiao Huan quickly reminded her, "Miss, we need to change our clothes as soon as possible. We cannot keep His Highness Prince Jin's people waiting."
"Yes, Miss. I never thought His Highness Prince Jin would want to see you! It seems he truly fell in love with you at first sight. It's only been a few days since the palace banquet, and His Highness Prince Jin is already impatient to see you!" Xiao Huan couldn't help but giggle.
She was so happy, truly overjoyed!
Today, for Miss to enter the palace meant silencing all those who were jealous of her and said she just got lucky by chance!
Qin Linglong hadn't quite recovered, but she was soon pushed into the room by Xiao Jia and Xiao Huan.
As she sat down to have her hair redone and get dressed, Qin Linglong finally came back to her senses. Looking at her slightly blushing face in the bronze mirror, she suddenly realized that she was going to the palace to meet His Highness Prince Jin!
Only she knew clearly that this was her first time seeing His Highness Prince Jin.
Her heart pounded incessantly.
She had only heard Xiao Huan say that Prince Jin was a man who could make any woman fall for him.
But since she had never seen him with her own eyes, she couldn't imagine it. However, she knew one thing for sure: His Highness Prince Jin must be an extraordinary man, the kind of man so many women would want to marry.
Just thinking about this made Qin Linglong's heart race uncontrollably.
She didn't know how she left the manor, how she got into the carriage, and how she arrived at the palace.
She followed the palace attendants to the palace where His Highness Prince Jin resided.
Standing before the palace gates, her feet felt as if they were made of lead. For some reason, a feeling of unprecedented retreat washed over her. She was a little scared.
"Miss, what's wrong?" Xiao Huan asked in a low voice, seeing her hesitation.
Qin Linglong took a deep breath, adjusted her state of mind, and smiled, shaking her head. "Nothing, let's go in."
...
Meanwhile, Qiu Lu received the news.
He learned that Qin Linglong had been summoned by Zhan Tianye.
Qiu Lu was utterly confused.
With a face full of questions, he came before Yun Shu. "Miss, why do you think His Highness would summon Qin Linglong? His Highness clearly knows that it was Miss who impersonated Qin Linglong that night."
Since he knew it was Miss impersonating her, His Highness wouldn't have met Qin Linglong at all! Unless he knew that Miss had entered the palace again through Qin Linglong.
Otherwise, this summons made no sense!
He truly couldn't understand what His Highness was trying to do!
Jing Heng, leaning against the door, scoffed, "What's there to be confused about? Your Highness is simply overcome by lust and wants to take advantage of the situation to enjoy the company of two beauties."
"No one thinks you're mute if you don't speak. You weren't this talkative before; why are you so talkative since coming to Western Xia? Aren't you afraid A'cha will dislike you?" Qiu Lu gritted his teeth and shot back fiercely.
He hated Jing Heng the most right now! Always being a hindrance, and for some reason, he just didn't trust His Highness!
For so many years, he had been by His Highness's side almost every day. No one understood His Highness better than he did!
Yun Shu gently tapped her fingers on the table, her eyelashes lowered. She said softly, "Perhaps he believes Qin Linglong is me from the palace banquet that day."
"What does Miss mean by that? Your subordinate, your subordinate doesn't understand," Qiu Lu scratched his head. He felt like he was becoming dumber.
Otherwise, why couldn't he understand the subtext of Miss's words?
Jing Heng also couldn't figure it out for a moment.
Yun Shu merely said, "We will know the answer when we meet Zhan Tianye again."
Qiu Lu and Jing Heng looked at each other. They didn't understand what Yun Shu was keeping secret.
Fine, their brains weren't as sharp as their skills. They would just wait for Miss's orders!
...
After Qin Linglong followed the palace attendants into the palace, she did not see His Highness Prince Jin.
After she sat down, the palace attendants brought tea and respectfully said that His Highness Prince Jin was in the Imperial Study discussing matters with the Emperor and would return soon, asking her to wait a moment.
Upon hearing that Prince Jin was not present, Qin Linglong's heart felt slightly relieved.
As she sat down, her gaze swept around the room.
Prince Jin's palace was not small; even this small reception hall was so grand.
She wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but she seemed to catch a faint, crisp scent, as if it were left by Prince Jin.
With no palace attendants in the hall, Xiao Huan relaxed considerably.
She said in a low voice, "After Miss marries His Highness Prince Jin, he should move out of the palace."
"Hush, the wedding date hasn't been set yet. Don't say such things," Qin Linglong's face flushed as she cautioned Xiao Huan not to speak carelessly.
It wouldn't be good if the palace attendants outside heard it.
Xiao Huan nodded repeatedly, realizing her mistake. "As Miss says, this servant misspoke."
Miss was still more thoughtful.
Xiao Huan felt that Miss was becoming more and more like a consort to Prince Jin!
Qin Linglong clutched her handkerchief tightly. For some reason, as she smelled the faint, crisp scent, her heart raced uncontrollably, as if the peerless appearance of a man suddenly flashed before her eyes.
She hadn't even met him yet, but she could no longer control her heart.
No one could be more eager to meet His Highness Prince Jin than she was!
"His Highness Prince Jin didn't even request to see Princess Ningde, yet he invited Miss to the palace. This shows how important Miss truly is in Prince Jin's heart," Xiao Huan believed wholeheartedly that their young lady was more valued by Prince Jin.
Hearing this, Qin Linglong bit her lip, making its color even redder. Just like her current mood, Xiao Huan's words made her even more expectant of Prince Jin.
She had been sitting here for so long, why hadn't His Highness Prince Jin returned yet?
"Why hasn't His Highness Prince Jin returned yet?" Xiao Huan craned her neck to look out the door.
Her words were exactly what Qin Linglong wanted to ask.
Just then, a palace attendant was about to enter with refreshments. Hearing Xiao Huan's question, he replied, "The Emperor suddenly summoned His Highness Prince Jin, so Miss Qin might have to wait a little longer."
"It's alright," Qin Linglong replied immediately.
She didn't want people to think she was too eager to see His Highness Prince Jin.
Since she was already in the palace and in Prince Jin's palace, she didn't mind waiting a little longer.
However.
Just as she finished speaking.
There was a sound from outside the door, and the palace attendants bowed in unison with respect, "Your Highness."
"Miss Qin has been waiting inside," a palace attendant reported to Zhan Tianye.
The next moment, the door that had just been closed was pushed open, and a tall, imposing figure appeared at the entrance.