In ancient times, no matter how well a woman lived, without a husband or children, she was considered pathetic in the eyes of others.
Wang Qingyao married Xiao Yun because Tian Yu broke off their engagement. Therefore, subconsciously, Tian Yu felt he bore some responsibility if Wang Qingyao did not live well.
Seeing that Tian Yu's focus was on Wang Qingyao and not Wang Qinglin, Bai Junzhu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Even if Prince Ding'an is short-lived, he is still a prince. A starving camel is still bigger than a horse. The Princess Consort does not need our pity."
"That's true," Tian Yu smiled.
Meanwhile, Wang Qingyao was also speaking with Xiao Yun.
"I never expected these two to end up together, and to be so harmonious and happy."
Wang Qingyao sighed with emotion. Fate was truly marvelous. During the spring outing, Tian Yu and Wang Qinglin were a couple. Who would have thought that half a year later, Tian Yu would be living a blissful life with Bai Junzhu, envied by none?
As for Wang Qinglin, disfigured and paralyzed, she had no future and was merely clinging to life.
Xiao Yun smiled and said, "When I saw you at Changle Fang, I never imagined we would get married. Thinking about it, fate is indeed wondrous."
As he spoke, he leaned in and kissed Wang Qingyao. Wang Qingyao giggled and kissed him back.
After a moment of playful banter, Xiao Yun put his arm around her shoulders and continued, "While you were talking to Mrs. Tian, Tian Yu was also talking to me."
Wang Qingyao blinked, then belatedly realized that the Mrs. Tian Xiao Yun referred to was Bai Junzhu. Her first thought was that he meant Tian Yu's mother.
She laughed, "Don't call her Mrs. Tian. I can't keep up. What else should I call her, Madam Tian? She's the only Mrs. Tian in this region, not in Duanjing."
Wang Qingyao didn't want to bicker with him over such trivial matters and let him have his way.
"Tian Yu thanked us and asked me to convey his apologies to you. He said he was sorry, and that his mother was being unreasonable and had caused trouble for you, the Princess Consort."
"His mother caused me quite a bit of trouble. Which incident is he referring to?"
Xiao Yun playfully tapped her nose and said intimately, "It's about her thinking you sent people to assassinate Tian Yu. Didn't Grandmother write to Prince Dingnan for help? Tian Yu has already written to his family to explain everything."
Wang Qingyao frowned, "So, we still owe Prince Dingnan a favor?"
"Yes, we'll have to pay him a visit, and perhaps gather some military intelligence."
At this point, both Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun felt an inexplicable heaviness in the air.
If Prince Dingnan was indeed the murderer, their trip would be fraught with peril.
"So, from today onwards, we must be exceptionally high-profile. Let everyone in Yun Gui and Nan Zhou know that Prince Ding'an has arrived in Nan Zhou. By then, Prince Dingnan will surely be apprehensive. If I, the dignified Prince Ding'an, were to die in his territory, and you were to make a fuss, preventing him from using curses as an excuse, the Emperor would surely investigate thoroughly."
"Heh," Wang Qingyao sneered, "You've thought it all through, even how to deal with things after your death."
"This is called planning ahead."
The prince who was planning ahead was met with a slap from Wang Qingyao onto the bed. "Let's sleep."
Wang Qingyao used to wish for Xiao Yun's early death so she could be promoted. Now, after spending so much time together, she had developed feelings for him. Hearing him talk about death and funerals made her feel uneasy.
After all, she was a transmigrator. According to the laws of transmigration, the male lead's partner shouldn't die so soon, right?
The next day, Tian Yu prepared a travel itinerary to show Xiao Yun.
As Xiao Yun and Wang Qingyao were having breakfast, Yin Piao suddenly rushed in with another person.
"Your Highness, bad news! The Second Young Master is in trouble!"
Xiao Yun stood up abruptly.
Following Yin Piao was a man in black, a skilled secret guard specially dispatched by Xiao Yun from Duanjing to protect Xiao Mo, Jin Doudou.
Although it was somewhat inappropriate, Wang Qingyao couldn't help but twitch her lips when she heard the secret guard's name.
Jin Doudou.
Xiao Yun was truly talented.
With Xiao Mo in trouble, Jin Doudou had no time to be ashamed of his name and quickly reported the situation.
After receiving his orders and arriving in Nan Zhou, he had been protecting Xiao Mo.
After Xiao Mo handled his business in Nan Zhou, he went to visit Prince Dingnan at his estate.
Prince Dingnan was hospitable and kept Xiao Mo there for several days.
Yesterday, the news of Prince Ding'an's arrival in Changfeng City spread everywhere. Xiao Mo also received the news and took his leave from Prince Dingnan, intending to rendezvous with Xiao Yun in Changfeng City.
However, not long after he left, trouble struck.
Xiao Yun had written the letter to Xiao Mo yesterday, and he surely hadn't received it yet, which was why he wanted to meet Xiao Yun in Changfeng City.
"We were traveling on the official road, and before we even left Nan Zhou's territory, we were attacked by a group of people."
"They were all top-tier experts. Everyone else was killed. They seemed to want to capture the Second Young Master alive, as they didn't harm him."
"I protected the Second Young Master as we fled back, hoping to seek Prince Dingnan's help, but I was also severely injured. The Second Young Master, to save me, went with them!"
As Jin Doudou spoke, he fell to his knees with a thud. "This subordinate failed to protect the Second Young Master properly. I beg Your Highness to punish me."