Nan Shiying played with the jade pendant in her hand. It was made of fine Hetian white jade, and a mandarin duck seemed to be carved on it, lifelike and very beautiful.
"Is it pretty?" A faint voice entered her mind from beside her ear. Nan Shiying's brain suddenly issued a warning. She casually grasped the jade pendant's cord and swung it back and forth, as if she hadn't heard what Ji Jinmo had just said. She turned and asked, "What did you just say?"
Her acting was excellent and the transition was natural. If Ji Jinmo hadn't known she was as cunning as a fox, he would have truly believed her.
However, Ji Jinmo did not repeat his earlier words. Instead, he asked, "Why is Xiao Hua his pet?"
This made Ji Jinmo feel a little displeased. Nan Shiying had always called her pet tiger Xiao Hua, both back then and now. Now, someone else was so in sync with her, which made him somewhat jealous.
Nan Shiying, oblivious to Ji Jinmo's displeasure and rather proud of her own cleverness, answered without much thought, "Your question is backwards. You should ask why Xiao Hua is so attached to me."
"And why is that?"
"Perhaps it's because, like Yu Chengxuan, I carry the scent of irises."
Ji Jinmo had not smelled irises on Yu Chengxuan earlier. Perhaps it was because he was standing quite close to Nan Shiying then, and naturally assumed that the scent of irises wafting into his nose was all from Nan Shiying. Now, hearing this news abruptly, Ji Jinmo's face turned as dark as if it could drip water.
Only when she felt the increasingly biting air around her did Nan Shiying belatedly realize what was happening. She quickly shoved the jade pendant into Ji Jinmo's hand and said to him at a breakneck speed, "I don't like this jade pendant. You keep it!"
Seeing Nan Shiying's flustered appearance, Ji Jinmo felt as if the boulder blocking his chest had finally cleared. He casually tossed the jade pendant aside. It hit a huanghuali brush holder on the desk but did not break.
Nan Shiying watched, not caring about the quality of the jade pendant. She only felt that ever since she and Ji Jinmo had broken the ice between them, she had become quite attuned to his emotions. This feeling was strange; sometimes it was annoying, and sometimes it was amusing. Her emotions no longer flowed with the same calmness as before, making her suddenly realize that she had truly returned to a past life.
Ji Jinmo also felt that he didn't need to be bothered by such matters. At least Yu Chengxuan didn't know Feng Luan's true identity, so he wasn't exactly a love rival.
He stopped dwelling on the matter of the jade pendant, picked it up instead, and placed it into an empty wooden box, which he then put on the bookshelf. This seventh prince of Da Li, Yu Chengxuan, was no ordinary person. His attitude towards Nan Shiying today suggested he had heard that Feng Luan was his close friend and was trying to win her over with favors. Although he didn't know the use of this jade pendant, judging by the reaction of his attendant, it was not an insignificant decoration. In case this jade pendant proved useful in unexpected ways later, Ji Jinmo decided to keep it safe.
However, he would keep it with him, lest she see the jade pendant and be reminded of Yu Chengxuan again.
Nan Shiying felt she should go talk to Hui'an, but then remembered the palace banquet tomorrow, and her siblings would see each other then, so she didn't want to move.
But while she was reluctant to move, Hui'an, having heard the news of Yu Chengxuan's arrival in the capital, came to request an audience.
She was likely here to see Ji Jinmo, as she had not gone to Xin Yuan Pavilion but directly to the front courtyard study.
Seeing Nan Shiying, Hui'an showed no surprise or awkwardness. She merely curtsied to Ji Jinmo and Nan Shiying respectively.
Ji Jinmo nodded slightly in response.
Nan Shiying reclined on the couch without getting up, telling Hui'an to make herself at home and sit down.
Hui'an readily sat down beside Nan Shiying. She envied Nan Shiying's boldness and her unrestrained freedom to some extent.
"Princess, what brings you here?" Out of consideration for Nan Shiying, Ji Jinmo did not ignore Hui'an and proactively inquired.
Hui'an said, "I merely heard that my seventh brother has arrived in the capital, so I wish to ask Your Highness for permission to leave the manor and meet my seventh brother at the post station."
Nan Shiying looked at her with surprise.
*Well done. Didn't she used to avoid Yu Chengxuan like the plague? Now she's rushing to get close to him.*
Previously, her request to leave the manor was more of a test of the relationship between Ji Hong and Ji Jinmo. But this time, proposing to meet him alone, anyone unaware would think she and her brother were on very good terms.
"The Princess and the envoys residing in my manor is merely a temporary measure. I have no intention of imprisoning the Princess and the envoys. I am surprised Princess believes this. However, a small matter like leaving the manor should not require me to grant permission."
Although Ji Jinmo's voice was not lowered, nor did he sound angry, his words made Hui'an's heart tremble. She stood up and explained, "I did not mean that. I simply reside in Your Highness's manor as a guest, and it is proper to inform the host when leaving."
"I see!"
Ji Jinmo accepted Hui'an's explanation and then said, "Since the Princess misses her brother, you are permitted to leave."
"However, there are still remnants of the Miao and Xiliang factions within the capital. For the Princess's safety, I will still assign escorts to accompany and protect you."
Hui'an thanked him, "Hui'an is deeply grateful for Your Highness's kindness."
"Hui'an takes her leave!"
After Hui'an left, Nan Shiying sat up. The brief conversation between them contained too much information. In any case, Hui'an would still be 'protected' by the manor's guards. This action, stating 'protection' while actually meaning surveillance, was also a way of telling Hui'an: you'd better not have any ulterior motives, and you should carefully consider what can and cannot be said!
Nan Shiying didn't care what Hui'an thought. She and Yu Chengxuan had fundamental conflicts of interest. Both of them wanted to obtain that throne. And compared to Yu Chengxuan, Hui'an's path was much more difficult, especially since she was now sent by Da Li to Lin Yuan for a political marriage.
Unless she felt Yu Chengxuan could support her better than they could.
Nan Shiying surmised that Hui'an would not do anything foolish!
After Hui'an left, Xuan Thirteen pushed open the study door with a food basket, delivering lunch.
As Nan Shiying ate, she said to Ji Jinmo, "I'm going to the palace this afternoon. What about you? Are you coming with me, or what?"
"Oh, right. Can you lend me Sheying?"
Ji Jinmo: "..."