It was because in her previous life, she had studied diligently for several years for the sake of Jiang Yin, that she was now able to live such a smooth life. Otherwise, after being reborn, she would still be an illiterate waste, so how could she seek revenge?
...
When Yin Lan came out of Wan Li Xuan, the sky had gradually darkened.
The setting sun in the west gradually sank, and the snowy fog was vast and obscure. Looking at the time, the Prince should also have returned from the palace.
She went back to Chang Feng Pavilion and gave orders calmly.
She also personally went to the kitchen to supervise and prepare some dishes that the Prince often took more of, then warmed up a pot of hot wine, folded a branch of plum blossoms, and put it in the celadon vase in the room.
The beauty's slender hand gently stroked the plum branches, and the floral fragrance instantly filled the room, making people feel carefree.
Not long after, Yin Lan brought in the wind and snow like a curtain, "Mistress, I heard that the Prince has arrived at the front yard. He was going to go back to Chang Feng Pavilion to dine first, but was called to Zheng De Xuan by Butler Zhao. I'm afraid there are things to discuss with the Duke. It will be a while before he comes back."
When Gu Ying heard this, she didn't know why, but suddenly missed him dearly. She raised her hand to take the fox fur coat from the sandalwood hanger and put it on. "I also have something to tell him. I'll go wait for him at the pavilion."
When Yin Lan heard this, she smiled lightly. "Alright, I will accompany the mistress."
The corners of Gu Ying's lips curved slightly, and she took Yin Lan with her.
No one knew when the winter days in Bianjing would end. Tonight's snow was a little bigger, like flying catkins, fluttering down and covering the entire world in white.
With anticipation and joy in her heart, Gu Ying couldn't wait to see him. She took a palace lantern while Yin Lan held a green bamboo umbrella and followed behind her.
The snowy road was slippery. The master and servant walked slowly for a while. Looking ahead, the pavilion was near.
But Yin Lan's face suddenly changed and she suddenly stopped.
"Mistress..."
"What's wrong?"
Yin Lan hesitated, "It looks like there are people in the pavilion..."
In the snowy fog, Gu Ying raised her eyes and saw two figures standing in the pavilion from afar, one tall and straight, the other petite and pitiful.
As the night grew darker and thicker like ink, she still recognized them at a glance.
A place in her heart quickly collapsed, and an indescribable sourness slowly rose.
Yin Lan hurriedly looked back at her mistress in panic.
But she didn't see any major emotional fluctuations on her face.
She just looked at them quietly from afar, her exquisite and perfect features seemed to be shrouded in a layer of cold mist, making it unclear to discern her emotions.
She didn't say anything, just standing there, looking at them with calm eyes for a while.
Yin Lan’s heart clenched into a ball. “Mistress...”
The corners of Gu Ying's lips slightly rose, and her eyes were also smiling. “Yin Lan, let’s go back first.”
It would be better if she threw a fit of anger, but such calm pain made Yin Lan feel a little uncomfortable in her heart. “Doesn’t the mistress want to ask?”
Gu Ying turned around. “No need.”
The casual two words were filled with strongly suppressed pain.
Yin Lan felt helpless. Countless words of persuasion accumulated at the tip of her tongue, but in the end she could only sigh and slowly followed her mistress.
Snow had accumulated on the stone steps at the door of Chang Feng Pavilion. Gu Ying walked on it slowly as if she was distracted.
On ordinary days, the short trip took nearly two incense sticks before they returned.
Yanzhi felt it strange. She was about to call out to ask why the Prince hadn't come back yet, but was glared back by a look from Yin Lan.
She wisely kept her mouth shut and cautiously looked at Gu Ying’s expression with questioning eyes at Yin Lan.
Yin Lan shook her head, signaling her not to ask further. Yanzhi became even more worried. She anxiously pulled her handkerchief closer to Yin Lan’s side.
The room was dead silent, with only the harsh sound of the cold wind beating against the window frames outside. Gu Ying closed her eyes. She felt exhausted physically and mentally, too tired to even undo the fox fur coat.
She just sat quietly in the chair. A chill rushed up from the soles of her feet, quickly spreading throughout her body.
Seeing her face turn pale from the cold, Yin Lan hurriedly brought over the brazier with Yanzhi’s help.
“Mistress, are you...alright?”
Gu Ying was distracted for a moment before she came back to her senses with a smile. “I’m fine.”
Seeing this smile, Yin Lan only felt extremely distressed in her heart. She had expected that there would be such a day sooner or later. The mistress looked like a generous and easy-going person, but between men and women, where was there true generosity?
At the very beginning, when the mistress's heart did not belong to the Prince, it was fine. But now, as the mistress was gradually growing feelings for the Prince, if the mistress really had to see the Prince surrounded by three wives and four concubines, I'm afraid her days afterwards would be even more miserable.
And the Grand Mistress was a pitiful and lovely person who had an affair with the Prince before.
No matter how hard the later mistress tries, I'm afraid she still can’t compare to the former’s place in the Prince’s heart.
Alas...
The more Yin Lan thought about it, the more depressed she felt in her heart.
"Mistress, don't be sad. Actually, for a man like the Prince, three wives and four concubines are to be expected..."
When she said this, Yin Lan hated that she couldn’t bite off her own tongue.
But since the mistress had married up, even many girls from small doors and common families did not have such good fortune. Other things, as long as she does not seek the Prince’s exclusive favor too much, her days would still be much better than those wives in other households who quarrel with their husbands every day.
She only hoped that the mistress could be more open-minded. Other things can be dealt with in the future.
Gu Ying took a long breath. "Well, I understand."
It was precisely because she understood that she did not step forward to ask for an explanation just now. Though he said angrily that he did not love her, there was probably still a place for Huo Qiyun in his heart. It was right to show more care and concern for her.
After the grand wedding, the Prince had cherished her day and night, giving her the illusion that he could not live without her.
At the pavilion, she only realized that she was making a fuss over small things. Now that she had figured it out, she felt that it was herself who overreacted. "You can go down first. I want to be alone for a while."
Yin Lan pursed her lips. There were no more words of persuasion to say, so she simply said, "Alright."
After speaking, she pulled Yanzhi out of the inner room, and quietly stood guard in the corridor.
Not long after, there was the sound of footsteps stepping on the accumulated snow coming from outside Changfeng Pavilion.
Yin Lan raised her bright eyes to see the Prince coming in with Huai An. Her heart tightened instantly. She hurriedly stepped forward with a smile, "The Prince is back. The Mistress has prepared dinner and is waiting for you inside."
"Hmm."
Zhao Changdu wore a bright red court robe, covered with a black gold embroidered unicorn pattern cloak on the outside. Handsome and elegant with knitted brows, his tall black hat was piled with white snow, setting off his handsome fairness.
As he walked inside, he saw Yin Lan and Yanzhi with tense faces.
He stopped in his tracks, his eyes stern, "What's the matter?"
Yin Lan pulled the corners of her lips. "No...nothing."
Zhao Changdu walked to the door and was about to enter when he saw the little girl inside smile and walk out, pulling up the curtains.
Seeing the person he had been thinking about, there was a smile in the man's eyes instantly. His big hand clutched her boneless delicate hand tenderly, and his usually cold and indifferent voice was a little lingering, "Why are you wearing a cloak?"
