AWB Chapter 376 The city is too deep
Chapter 376 The city is too deep
Yu Wan had achieved her goal, and Princess Changning waved for the other noble ladies to return. She left a few maids at Miaoshou Hall to take care of Su Qingchan, and then prepared to return to the princess's residence.
Xiao Huanyan also returned to the manor.
As the sun sets, twilight, as dark as ink, slowly spreads, gradually enveloping the entire world.
After Princess Changning returned to her residence, she asked Yu Wan to change out of the maid's clothes.
As Yu Wan changed her clothes and was about to take her leave, the gatekeeper of the princess's residence came to report that Prince Qi had arrived.
Yu Wan's eyes flickered slightly, a hint of barely perceptible wariness flashing in them.
She looked up at Princess Changning and asked, "Does the princess wish to see His Highness Prince Qi?"
Princess Changning hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "I will see you. Don't go back yet, hide behind the screen."
Yu Wan had originally intended to stay and hear the purpose of Prince Qi's visit, but she didn't expect that before she could even speak, Princess Changning had already asked her to stay.
Princess Changning truly gave herself everything.
Yu Wan smiled slightly at Princess Changning, then turned and hid behind the screen.
King Qi soon appeared in the front hall, his face unusually devoid of its usual gentle smile.
His eyes were deep and dark, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.
"Changning, you acted too impulsively today."
His opening remarks were accusatory, which startled Princess Changning.
In her memory, her third brother had always been gentle and refined, polite and courteous in his dealings with others, and always knew how to conduct himself properly and maintain a proper sense of propriety.
But in reality, Princess Changning didn't like her third brother very much. She always felt that he was like someone wearing an unfathomable mask, making her feel inexplicably uncomfortable.
She rarely interacted with her third brother and originally had no prejudice against him, but upon hearing his words, she immediately felt very displeased.
She didn't hold back, looking up at him directly, her tone indifferent, "Third brother, did you come all the way to Changning's residence just to criticize Changning?"
“If Third Brother has come here only to discuss this matter, then Changning is not welcome.”
“Changning doesn’t think he did anything wrong today. Even if he did, it should be Father and Mother who teach him a lesson, not Third Brother.”
Yu Wan hid behind the screen, listening to Princess Changning's sharp tongue, which left Prince Qi speechless for a moment, and a smile couldn't help but flash in her eyes.
She really hadn't expected that Princess Changning would have such an eloquent side.
King Qi's expression darkened slightly after Princess Changning's sharp rebuke, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes. However, he quickly regained his composure and put on that faint smile again.
He coughed lightly and said in a gentle tone, "Changning, your brother is not here to criticize you, but is just worried that you are acting too rashly and will bring unnecessary trouble upon yourself."
“Prince Yong is your elder brother, a member of the royal family. The words you spoke in front of the people are a disgrace to the royal family.”
Princess Changning snorted coldly, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes, "You think I'm trampling on the dignity of the royal family?"
"Heh," she sneered, "The Third Prince doesn't blame the Ninth Prince for committing such an outrageous act, doesn't feel that he has betrayed his royal status, but instead thinks it's my fault."
"It's ridiculous."
"Since he has committed such a heinous act, why is he afraid of being exposed? As a princess, I cannot stand idly by and do nothing about this injustice."
The King of Qi wore an expression of disbelief.
He seemed to never have imagined that the obedient and well-behaved Changning in his memory would say such sharp words.
He frowned, his displeasure barely concealed in his eyes. "Changning, you're too naive. Things in this world aren't as simple as black and white."
“While Prince Yong may have made a mistake, you shouldn’t have made such a big fuss about it.”
"Do you know that if this matter blows up, it will be a disgrace to the entire royal family?"
If it weren't for Empress Su forcing her to learn etiquette and rules for so long, Princess Changning would have almost blurted out "Bullshit!"
She held back, clenching her fists. "I believe Father and Mother can distinguish between losing face once and losing face every time."
King Qi was speechless for a moment, and the smile on his face looked somewhat stiff.
Behind the screen, Yu Wan finally understood why she and Princess Changning were so compatible.
Essentially, they are the same kind of people.
Princess Changning was born in the palace and grew up under strict rules, but she deliberately did not follow the rules. She seemed obedient and well-behaved, but in reality, she was rebellious.
"Third brother, I'm tired and want to rest." Princess Changning directly dismissed him.
King Qi gave Changning a deep look, his eyes seemingly filled with complex emotions, before turning and leaving.
But as he left, his gaze lingered on the screen.
Once he was out of sight, Princess Changning looked behind the screen, but Yu Wan did not come out for a long time.
She was surprised and walked over a few steps. She saw Yu Wan looking in the direction of the door with a solemn expression.
"Sister Yu, what's wrong?"
Upon hearing Princess Changning's voice, Yu Wan snapped out of her reverie, lowered her eyes, and whispered, "His Highness Prince Qi just discovered that I was behind the screen."
Princess Changning's expression changed slightly, then she waved her hand and said, "My third brother practices martial arts, so it's normal for him to be able to sense someone behind the screen. But he definitely doesn't know it's you, so you don't need to worry, Sister Yu."
"No one else will know that you came to the princess's residence to find me today."
Yu Wan, however, did not relax because of this.
King Qi was the person she kept the deepest secret when reading the original novel.
No one knows how deep a person's thoughts run.
Yu Wan even felt that it was impossible for him to be rendered speechless by Princess Changning's few words.
His words seemed more like a deliberate attempt to provoke Princess Changning, making her insist on the matter of Prince Yong being killed.
The thought flashed through Yu Wan's mind, and she almost broke out in a cold sweat.
Princess Changning noticed that something was wrong with her and looked at her with concern, "Sister Yu, is something wrong?"
Yu Wan hesitated and did not tell Princess Changning.
"nothing."
These were just her guesses; speaking them aloud would only cause Princess Changning unnecessary trouble.
Yu Wan bid farewell and left the princess's residence. Just like when she came, she did not leave through the main gate, but quietly left through the side gate.
……
On the street, inside a carriage that was not outwardly luxurious but whose interior furnishings were extremely exquisite, King Qi stroked the teacup in his hand and asked indifferently, "Who is this?"
A low voice sounded from outside the carriage, "Your Highness, it is Yu Wan from the Duke of Anguo's mansion."
“Yu Wan…”
King Qi murmured the name "Yu Wan," his fingers lightly tapping the rim of his cup, making a rhythmic sound. His eyes were as deep as a still pool, making it impossible to fathom what he was thinking.
After a long pause, he asked again, "How did she end up in Princess Changning's residence, hiding behind a screen?"
The King of Qi's voice was calm and unhurried, yet it carried a hint of danger.