Editor: Henyee Translations
They all engaged in lively conversation over tea and reveled in the picturesque surroundings, soon gathering for a delightful lunch. Soone ntioned their plan to visit Fayun Temple in the north to offer incense and invited Qiao Xuan to join them.
Qiao Xuan agreed with a nod.
One by one, they departed for their destination. However, He Zhiqing requested that Qiao Xuan stay back and have a chat with her. She also extended an invitation for Qiao Xuan to visit the Fourth Prince’s mansion whenever she had the ti.
Qiao Xuan politely nodded, inwardly determined not to accept the invitation.
She had no idea what He Zhiqing had in mind, but she knew it couldn’t be anything good.
However, she didn’t want to revisit the ti when she and Shao Yunduan had left the capital, facing the Fourth Prince’s attempts to set them up. If the opportunity arose in the future, she could consider paying them a visit then.
For now, she decided to let it go.
Secondary Concubine Shi hadn’t caused any trouble, and Qiao Xuan had done nothing to provoke her either.
Shao Yunduan felt relieved seeing her safe and sound.
Approaching her, he couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief before saying, “Look, you’ve returned safely and unhard! The Fourth Prince’s estate must be magnificent, and the red leaves on the mountains must be stunning!”
Shao Yunduan sighed with relief and gently held her hands. “I will have a few days off soon. Let’s go to the mountains and enjoy the beauty of the red leaves, alright?”
Qiao Xuan smiled and nodded. “That sounds like a plan!”
“Absolutely.”
It was autumn in the capital, and vibrant red leaves adorned the scenery. Shao Yunduan had intended to take her mountain climbing and admire the picturesque landscapes.
After all, he didn’t want his wife to feel lonely. With his busy schedule at Hanlin Academy, she had little to do to pass the ti.
Qiao Xuan had been busy managing their properties at ho. She had a lot on her plate, and she could even whip up delicious als. However, without many people to share them with and help with the tasting, she and Shao Yunduan felt that sothing was missing.
Qiao Xuan recounted her encounter with He Zhiqing to Shao Yunduan.
Seeing Shao Yunduan’s puzzled expression, she couldn’t help but chuckle. It dawned on her that Shao Yunduan had never t He Zhiqing before and had no idea who she was.
After so thought, Qiao Xuan decided to share He Zhiqing’s identity and how she had been involved in the sche against Taotao and herself. He Zhiqing was, after all, the concubine of the Fourth Prince, and the Fourth Prince had a close relationship with the Tian Family. Qiao Xuan believed that Shao Yunduan should be aware of this, rather than being kept in the dark.
Shao Yunduan furrowed his brow. “That really happened?”
Qiao Xuan sneered and glanced at him. “This cousin of mine is nothing more than a cunning woman, and I have exposed her true nature. It’s a matter of reputation, and I don’t want to dwell on it. I thought we would never cross paths again, so I decided to spill the beans. But now she’s associated with the Fourth Prince…”
After such a long detour, they had encountered the situation once again!
Shao Yunduan spoke, his tone serious. “This woman is up to no good. Stay away from her as much as possible. She’s just a concubine without an official title, and she won’t hold it against you for not associating with her.”
Although the imperial family held great power, a prince’s concubine did not possess enough influence to command the won of the court, especially when it ca to soone as unique as Qiao Xuan.
Qiao Xuan smiled. “I will keep my distance from her, and we will only et at formal gatherings. However, she must have approached for a reason. I fear the Fourth Prince is behind this, and he is after you, my husband…”
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