12dz Chapter 124 Following him to Sangzhou to assume his fiefdom
Chapter 124 Following him to Sangzhou to assume his fiefdom
Sure enough, Xiao Jingyan arrived at the Marquis's residence in the afternoon, but he did not see Qin Huai.
He wasn't angry; his real purpose in going to Wanyue Courtyard was to find Qin Wan.
"Are you serious?" Qin Wan asked again, somewhat incredulous.
"It's true, it was Father Emperor's personal approval. The mansion is now vacated, and the next step is to decorate it according to your preferences!" Xiao Jingyan took a sip of tea, his expression slightly disappointed.
"I originally wanted to surprise you and ask your father what he liked. I planned to tell you after the renovation was finished. But my father-in-law had already agreed to discuss it with me today, but I can't see him now, so I came to find you!"
father in law!
Of all the things Qin Wan heard, she only caught these two words.
She knew the Qin family didn't like Xiao Jingyan, and calling him "father-in-law" would probably make her father's face turn black with anger!
“Actually, when I went to see my father, he gave me two choices: one was to go to Sangzhou to take up my fief, and the other was to stay in Fengdu City. However, Sangzhou is far from Fengdu City, and the seasons there seem to be quite different from those in Fengdu City. I was afraid you would have a hard time adapting, so I chose the latter…”
Xiao Jingyan kept talking, repeating to Qin Wan every word of what he had said to Emperor Xiao that day.
Qin Wan's expression froze, and she was stunned for a moment.
"You mean, His Majesty has granted you permission to go to Sangzhou to assume your fiefdom?"
Since ancient times, after Your Majesty abdicates, the princes who have not yet ascended the throne must go to the cities they have been granted fiefs to, and are not allowed to return to the capital without being summoned.
Firstly, it consolidated the imperial throne, and secondly, it avoided unnecessary power struggles.
However, all of this happened after His Majesty abdicated and the Crown Prince ascended the throne.
Qin Wan truly did not expect that His Majesty would allow him to go to Sangzhou to assume his fiefdom while still in power.
Sangzhou is located northeast of Fengdu City. It is said that there is snow and ice there all year round, and there are no four seasons, only winter.
Just thinking about it makes you realize how harsh the conditions must be there.
However, Qin Wan was not afraid of any of this. She wanted to leave the Marquis's mansion and Fengdu City. The world was vast, and she could live anywhere.
If she went to Sangzhou, it would mean she would never be able to return to Fengdu City again.
This is exactly what she wanted.
Xiao Jingyan didn't understand what Qin Wan was thinking, so he said, "Yes, this is the choice Father gave me, but Sangzhou is harsh, and I'm afraid you won't be able to adapt, so..."
Qin Wan was somewhat excited, as if the future was right in front of her, and she subconsciously grabbed Xiao Jingyan's hand.
Her voice trembled slightly as she said, "I can do it, I can persevere!"
Xiao Jingyan was stunned. Holding her like that, his face couldn't help but flush.
"Wan'er, I was talking about Sangzhou, not anything..."
“I know, I know Sangzhou. As long as I can be with you, I don’t care where I can stay. Although Fengdu City is a prosperous place, people’s hearts are unpredictable. I have seen too much deceit and treachery. I want to live in a place with simple and honest people in the future!”
Xiao Jingyan's eyes widened. He wondered if he had misheard, but after thinking about it several times, he was certain he hadn't.
"Wan'er, do you really want to go?"
I want to go!
Qin Wan responded without hesitation.
Looking at the woman in front of him, Xiao Jingyan felt a pang of heartache. Fengdu City was where she had lived since childhood. Her determination to leave must have been broken by the people here.
Those who hurt her were none other than her family and the people she once loved.
He could see the longing she was trying so hard to hide in her eyes, hoping that he would say "I'll listen to you"!
She wanted to leave; she wanted to never come back.
He liked her so much, how could he let her down?
"Okay, listen to you!"
Upon hearing this, Qin Wan smiled—a genuine smile from the bottom of her heart.
But the conditions in Sangzhou were really too harsh, so he gave her another option.
"Even if we go to Sangzhou to assume our fiefdom, it depends on when Father Emperor issues the decree. I will talk to Father Emperor and try to go after our marriage. However, just in case, our mansion still needs to be renovated properly, since we will be getting married in the new mansion!"
Qin Wan's eyebrows curved, and she smiled sweetly.
"Alright, since we're going to Sangzhou, a simple renovation will suffice!"
“No, since this is where we will get married in the future, it can’t be just any place. You just need to tell me how to decorate it, and leave the rest to me!” Xiao Jingyan’s lips curled into a wicked smile as he leaned close to Qin Wan’s ear and whispered something.
“I told my father that I didn’t have any money, and he said that he would pay for the renovation. Since someone else is paying, if we just do whatever we want, wouldn’t we be saving money for them?”
Xiao Jingyan's thoughts were written all over his face, leaving Qin Wan momentarily at a loss for words.
He could only manage a forced smile.
"who!"
A startled cry from outside the door interrupted the two.
Then the sound of hurried footsteps could be heard.
Qin Wan and Xiao Jingyan rushed out of the room, only to see a smoke bomb thrown at them. The smoke obscured their vision and made the courtyard even more dangerous.
"Cough cough cough..."
Qin Wan inhaled the smoke and coughed a few times.
Xiao Jingyan's eyes flashed with worry. He put his arm around Qin Wan's shoulder and led her back into the room.
"Wan'er, drink some water!"
After Qin Wan took it and drank a few sips, she felt instantly revived.
However, she still had no idea who had thrown the smoke bomb.
After a while, Nian Qisang walked in with a sullen face.
"Your Highness, Miss, please forgive me. It was my incompetence that I failed to catch the eavesdropper!"
Qin Wan didn't blame her. After all, what she said wasn't a secret, and everyone would find out in the future anyway, so it didn't matter if it was overheard.
"It's alright, that person just reacted too quickly and threw a smoke bomb to block the view. But to be able to move around the Marquis's residence like this, they shouldn't be someone from outside the Marquis's residence!"
Now that Qin Wan has a direction, she just needs to be more wary of other people in the Marquis's mansion.
Nianqi felt utterly useless, unable to even handle such a small matter. She vowed to teach that person a lesson if she ever got the chance.
After leaving the Marquis's residence, Xiao Jingyan boarded the carriage to return to the palace. Since his Wan'er had said she wanted to leave Fengdu City to live, he would grant her wish.
All I need to do is talk to my father.
But what just happened...
A cold glint flashed in Xiao Jingyan's eyes. Could Wan'er really leave Fengdu City without her family and friends?
It's clear how badly they were injured; none of the people in the Marquis's mansion could escape.
"Who was eavesdropping outside Wanyue Courtyard just now?"
"Your Highness, it is Young Master Qin's personal attendant, named Qingyan!"
"Now that we've identified this person, send a message to Nian Qi: if he's caught eavesdropping again, break his legs and turn him into a cripple like his master!"
"Yes!"
at the same time.
Nanfeng Academy.
"What? You're saying Wan'er is going to Sangzhou with that good-for-nothing?" Qin Lang didn't believe it. Wan'er was pampered and spoiled, how could she stand a place like Sangzhou?
"I heard it clearly; this idea was actually proposed by the Fourth Miss!"
Upon hearing this, Qin Lang felt as if he could hardly breathe. No, Wan'er couldn't go to Sangzhou, much less marry the Fifth Prince.
"Go, go and fetch Wan'er. I want to talk to her myself!"
Qingyan frowned. He wanted to say that he went to Wanyue Courtyard early this morning to find the Fourth Miss, but she was unwilling to see him. He was afraid that she would still not come this time.