Zande the Grand Princess glanced at Huo Ying before her, then at Shen Xiaoyan beside him. Gritting her teeth, she left with Huo Ying.
Shen Xiaoyan and the others didn't leave immediately. They stood in place, watching Zande the Grand Princess's figure disappear before heading towards Shian Courtyard.
Before they reached the gate of Shian Courtyard, they could already hear laughter and joy from within.
Arriving at the gate, Shen Xiaoyan gently knocked. Soon, the door was opened from the inside.
It was Huo Fen who opened the door.
Seeing Shen Xiaoyan and the others standing at the gate, Huo Fen's face immediately lit up with joy.
Shen Xiaoyan and the others nodded to her and quickly entered the courtyard.
In the courtyard, the wet nurses were playing with the four children.
The weather was beautiful today, and basking in the sun outdoors was beneficial for their growth.
This was something Shen Xiaoyan had previously discussed with the four wet nurses and maids.
The four little ones were playing happily. Seeing Shen Xiaoyan and the others enter, they became even more excited.
One by one, they extended their fair and plump little hands, waving and grabbing towards Shen Xiaoyan and the others, calling out excitedly.
Although they couldn't understand what they were saying, they could guess.
Shen Xiaoyan and the others played joyfully with the little ones, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
In the living room of the front courtyard, Zande the Grand Princess sat with a stern face, her chest heaving violently.
Jiang Yubao had already returned to the palace to report before Zande the Grand Princess arrived. Zande the Grand Princess was surprised not to see Jiang Yubao upon her return. However, considering what she was about to say, she felt it was for the best that Jiang Yubao wasn't there, so she sat down with an unchanged expression.
Sima Han and Yi Zixie saw Zande the Grand Princess enter but made no move to greet her. They merely glanced at her indifferently and remained silent.
Zande the Grand Princess sat down on her own accord, tidied her temples, and then slowly began, "Did A'han know Zheng Wei's identity long ago? Was that why you befriended Zheng Wei? In order to receive Prince Duan's help when you returned to the imperial capital?"
Sima Han was first stunned by her words, then he laughed.
His laughter was resounding, causing Zande the Grand Princess to frown deeply.
"What are you laughing at?"
Sima Han stopped laughing, shook his head, and looked at Zande the Grand Princess. "I am laughing at the Princess for judging others by her own standards."
Zande the Grand Princess sneered at this. "You know best whether it's true or not. However, I still need to tell you, don't be fooled by Prince Duan's seemingly kind fatherly demeanor. Once he gets what he wants, Zheng Wei will be nothing."
Hearing Zande the Grand Princess say this, Sima Han's expression remained unchanged, but a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. He asked faintly, "And what is it that Prince Duan wants?"
Zande the Grand Princess shook her head at this. "How would I know?"
"Heh~"
Sima Han chuckled lightly and looked at Zande the Grand Princess with a hint of disdain. "Since the Princess doesn't know, where did your confidence come from to speak so assuredly just now?"
Zande the Grand Princess didn't answer. The words she had just spoken were indeed mere speculation.
However, based on her years of understanding Zheng Xiang, even if she didn't know exactly what Zheng Xiang wanted in the capital, her guess was likely not far off.
"Princess, you should return soon." Sima Han issued a polite but firm request for her to leave.
Zande the Grand Princess's face turned grim. Sima Han was increasingly disregarding her.
"If the Princess has time to dwell on such trivialities, why not worry about your own affairs?"
Yi Zixie put down his porcelain cup and suddenly spoke.
Zande the Grand Princess looked at Yi Zixie in confusion. "Does the Grand Tutor's words imply something more?"
Yi Zixie shook his head. "No, I can speak very plainly. The Princess's husband, what was Baili Hao's original name? I believe Prince Duan would be more interested in that. Wouldn't you agree, Princess?"
"You..."
Zande the Grand Princess suddenly stood up, pointing at Yi Zixie in anger, but unable to utter a word.
Facing such a Zande the Grand Princess, Yi Zixie calmly said:
"It seems the Princess is leaving. Safe travels."
Zande the Grand Princess closed her eyes, forcefully suppressing the anger in her heart.
She flicked her sleeves forcefully, turned around, and walked out.
Yi Zixie!
Sima Han!
We shall see.
Baili Ziyun and Lin Xiaowei, however, were left bewildered, completely failing to understand why Zande the Grand Princess had such a strong reaction.
Since Zande the Grand Princess had already left, the two of them naturally had to quickly follow.
Huo Si had been waiting outside the door. Seeing Zande the Grand Princess storm out, he knew she must have been vexed inside again.
He silently muttered to himself: "Serves her right."
Huo Si then followed behind Baili Ziyun and Lin Xiaowei, politely escorting the three of them out of the main gate.
As the three of them just stepped out of the gate, they heard a loud bang behind them.
Turning their heads, they saw the main gate had been tightly shut.
Zande the Grand Princess looked at the gate for a moment before boarding her carriage.
On the way back to the Princess's mansion, Baili Ziyun, seeing Zande the Grand Princess's sour face, quietly minimized her presence.
That night. In the large bed, Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei slept embraced.
Shen Xiaoyan rested her head on Zheng Wei's chest, listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat, feeling exceptionally at ease.
"Mimi, do you regret coming to the imperial capital?"
Hearing Zheng Wei's voice suddenly, Shen Xiaoyan was slightly taken aback.
After thinking for a moment, Shen Xiaoyan propped herself up, looked down at Zheng Wei, stared directly into his eyes, and said firmly.
"No regrets."
Shen Xiaoyan clearly saw a flicker of joy in Zheng Wei's eyes because of her answer, but then Zheng Wei continued, "But our peaceful life is gone forever."
Shen Xiaoyan slightly curled her lips, revealing a sly smile.
"Who said that?"
Seeing Shen Xiaoyan like this, Zheng Wei raised an eyebrow slightly. What did she mean?
Shen Xiaoyan sat up straight, picked up a strand of hair from her neck, and played with it between her fingers.
"Whoever dares to make me unhappy, hehe~ I will make them unhappy for their entire lives."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Wei sat up abruptly and pulled Shen Xiaoyan into his embrace. "You've really grown capable."
Shen Xiaoyan tilted her head slightly and asked, "What? Do you want me to just stand by and be bullied by others?"
"Whoever dares to bully you, I will ensure they never return."
As Zheng Wei spoke, his entire aura changed, and even the temperature dropped by several degrees.
Shen Xiaoyan looked at Zheng Wei in surprise.
It seemed her feeling over the past couple of days wasn't just her imagination; Zheng Wei was indeed changing.
When had the old Zheng Wei ever been like this?
Although his martial prowess had never diminished, Zheng Wei had always been reserved before.
As long as he didn't want to, no one would notice his difference.
But now, he was like a sword that had been unsheathed, its dazzling radiance almost blinding.
Zheng Wei waited for a moment, but Shen Xiaoyan showed no reaction.
He looked at Shen Xiaoyan closely and saw her staring at him, her eyes shining with an unreadable light, as if lost in thought.
"Mimi?"
Zheng Wei called out softly and saw Shen Xiaoyan instinctively look up at him, her face filled with confusion.
"What's wrong?"
Hearing Shen Xiaoyan's soft voice, with a hint of huskiness, Zheng Wei's throat tightened.
Before Shen Xiaoyan could react, Zheng Wei extended his long arm and pulled her into his embrace.
Shen Xiaoyan: ?
"What are you doing?"
Hearing Shen Xiaoyan's question, Zheng Wei's eyebrows slightly arched, and he whispered softly in her ear, his voice husky, "Mimi, what do you think I'm doing?"
Feeling the heat of Zheng Wei's breath on her ear, Shen Xiaoyan's face instantly turned red.
Although the two of them had already experienced countless intimate moments, and had even had triplets,
this was the first time Shen Xiaoyan had seen Zheng Wei like this.
He was clearly the same person, with the same face, yet he inexplicably seemed somewhat devilishly charming to her.
This feeling was novel and made her want to explore, to discover a different Zheng Wei.
Seeing Shen Xiaoyan staring at him blankly again, Zheng Wei couldn't help but let out a light chuckle.
"It seems my dear wife has been mesmerized by her husband."
"Ah?"
After Shen Xiaoyan's surprise, she slowly registered what Zheng Wei had just said.
"Who is mesmerized by you? I'm still better-looking than you..."
Shen Xiaoyan's defense sounded rather amusing.