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The carriage headed into the city, and Ziyan ordered her maid, Yang Xiaodie, who was sitting beside her in the carriage, to tie up all the curtains. "Don't you want to see the capital properly? Then tie up all the curtains and feast your eyes—once you've seen enough."
"Mm mm mm mm, my master is so thoughtful," Yang Xiaodie nodded her head rapidly, like a chick pecking at grains.
She was so excited that she jumped up from her seat on Ziyan's left side.
In a flurry, she began to lift and tie up the curtains on both sides of the carriage, as well as the front window and door curtains.
This made Ling Yuer, who had been squeezed next to Ziyan, burst out laughing along with Ziyan.
"This little maid is really amusing," Ling Yuer said while laughing, looking at Yang Xiaodie with an expression as if she had seen a monster.
Of course, since Ling Yuer was a princess who had lived in the capital her whole life, everything in the capital had long lost its novelty for her.
It was quite baffling to her that someone could be so curious about coming to the capital.
"Hehe, please don't laugh at me, Princess. This is my first time coming to the capital," Yang Xiaodie candidly admitted without any pretense.
"Well then, make sure to serve your master well and hope she stays in the capital for a while. Later, I can take you both around the city and its outskirts. How does that sound?" Ling Yuer kindly suggested.
"Really? That would be wonderful! Princess, you are such a good person," Yang Xiaodie exclaimed in surprise, her heart filled with joy as if it were blooming. She was grinning so widely that it seemed her mouth might split from ear to ear.
"Alright, alright, quiet down! Stop making a fuss. Don't you want to see the scenery? Just look quietly," Ziyan said with some annoyance at Yang Xiaodie's chatter. She shook her head disapprovingly while gently scolding the overly excited maid in front of her.
Finally, Yang Xiaodie pouted and obediently quieted down. Her curious eyes darted around like a hawk, glancing left and right.
At the same time, Ziyan also quietly observed both sides of the carriage.
Overall, there hadn't been much change in the capital over the past two years.
The street was still the Stone Paved Street, and the buildings on both sides had not changed much from two years ago. However, today it seemed even more bustling and lively than before. Additionally, many people dressed in exotic attire could be seen moving about on both sides of the street.
Ling Yuer seemed to notice the change in Ziyan's expression.
She quickly explained with a smile, "Are you seeing many foreign people? They are all here to celebrate my father's birthday. So every year during this month, many such people come to the capital."
"Oh! I see. No wonder I didn't see so many people when I last visited the capital."
Ziyan had actually guessed this reason long ago but didn’t want to dampen the enthusiasm and goodwill of the Princess, so she pretended to be slow in understanding.
"By the way, when did you come to the capital last time?" Ling Yuer casually asked.
"Uh? Oh, last time was in spring, around May or June," Ziyan couldn't remember the exact time of her visit two years ago, so she could only give a rough estimate.
"I see. Then based on our relationship, can you come to the capital more often to see me? You know that with my status, I have to be under my father and Mother Empress's control wherever I go. Sigh!"
As Ling Yuer spoke, she felt a bit envious of Ziyan's freedom.
"The Princess is too modest; you are loved by so many! Why sigh?"
Ziyan understood her feelings but could only offer such consolation. Could she really encourage the Princess to run away from home frequently?
That would be a death sentence; how many heads could she offer if it came to that?
Thinking of this, Ziyan could only helplessly let out a long, soft sigh for this beloved and admired Princess.
"Sigh— To outsiders, we royal children seem to live freely and easily, but we have many worries," Ling Yuer said, looking as if she were speaking to Ziyan but was actually more like talking to herself.
In such a situation, what could Ziyan say? After thinking for a moment, she could only respond with a smile and silence.
Thus, the carriage continued toward the Zi Family Spiced Braise branch in the capital. After some cheerful chatting among the three young women, the carriage finally arrived at the entrance of Zi Family Spiced Braise.
Once the coachman had set down the footstool properly, Xiang Wang Ye Ling Feng had already handed over the reins to his subordinate.
He slowly approached the footstool of the carriage and, in a very gentlemanly manner, extended his hands—one towards Ziyan and the other towards his younger sister.
Thus, Ziyan and Ling Yuer both grasped Xiang Wang Lingfeng's hand simultaneously and carefully descended from the carriage. They then entered the establishment and walked towards the staircase leading to the lobby.
Unbeknownst to them, at that very moment, three groups of people were standing across from the shop, watching them intently.
One group belonged to the Crown Prince, another to the Chancellor's Young Lady, whom she had offended in the past, and the last group included someone whom Ziyan could never have imagined—Ling Yuxuan, wearing a Golden Mask.
It should be noted that Ling Yuxuan had actually arrived in the capital several days before Ziyan. Among her attendants, there were people who kept sending him updates about Ziyan's specific itinerary via Pigeon Post.
Longing for his Beloved Child, Ling Yuxuan waited here, intending to catch a distant glimpse of her to confirm her arrival.
Meanwhile, as soon as Ziyan got off the carriage, she began to feel an intense soreness throughout her body. She wanted nothing more than to eat something quickly and then go up to the third floor for a good sleep; as for other matters, they could wait until tomorrow morning when she would receive the Emperor's decree for an audience.
Thus, Ziyan proceeded to follow her desires.
She quickly ate something and apologized to Ling Yuer and Ling Feng, then left the royal siblings, who were still full of enthusiasm, leading all her attendants straight back to the third floor. She arranged rooms for each of them for temporary accommodation.
Afterward, she stepped out and instructed Yang Xiaodie to prepare a bath and change of clothes for her. After going through this process, once she finished bathing and changing, Ziyan swiftly climbed into bed and fell asleep under the thin covers.
As maidservant Yang Xiaodie waited until Ziyan was completely asleep, she quietly exited the bedroom.
Just after she entered the small room next door to her mistress's, a figure appeared in Ziyan's room—a tall and ethereal white figure.
The visitor was none other than Ling Yuxuan, who had been standing across from the entrance on the street for quite some time.
Looking at his sleeping Beloved Child, he couldn't help but want to reach out and touch her smooth, fair face or give her a kiss.
Just as he extended his hand, Ziyan, who was usually quite alert even while sleeping soundly, sensed someone approaching. Struggling to open her eyes, she saw a familiar face wearing a Golden Mask.
However, just as she was about to fully awaken, it happened in an instant. Ling Yuxuan quickly pressed his finger against Ziyan's deep sleep acupoint.
As a result, this time Ziyan truly fell into a deep slumber.
Next, Ling Yuxuan embraced her Beloved Child and kissed her tenderly for a long time, even staying by her side as she slept for most of the night before quietly leaving.
The next day.
When Ziyan still had not woken up, a series of knocks echoed from outside her door.
The sound gradually shifted from gentle taps to heavy, forceful banging, accompanied by urgent shouts: "Master, Master, wake up quickly! Someone from the palace has come with an imperial decree!"
Ziyan was finally roused from her sleep. She slowly lifted her head, sensing that something urgent was happening.
In a hurry, she flipped out of bed without even glancing in the mirror and rushed to open her door.
"Master, someone from the palace is here! Hurry and wash up and get dressed!" Yang Xiaodie urged with a flushed face.
"Oh!" Ziyan shook her still-drowsy head vigorously, allowing Yang Xiaodie to fuss over her.
After washing her face and getting dressed, Ziyan's mind was completely clear.
She couldn't help but stare at Yang Xiaodie and ask, "Do you know who has come?"
"I heard it's the Crown Prince. He looks quite monstrous, with skin whiter than a woman's!" Yang Xiaodie whispered conspiratorially.
"Really?" Ziyan felt as if she had been struck by lightning. How could this be? Just when she hoped that the gods would not send him her way, he appeared at her door!
She had prayed fervently the day before to avoid encountering this person, yet here she was hearing that he had come knocking, bringing an imperial decree no less.
A sense of inexplicable sorrow and desolation filled Ziyan's heart.
If he had not come with an imperial decree, she could have easily found an excuse to avoid seeing him. But now, she had no choice but to meet him.
Her only hope was that while she had to see him, he would not make things difficult for her or create any more trouble.
With a heart full of anxious speculation, Ziyan descended the stairs accompanied by Qi Yu and Xu Feng until they reached the door of the largest and most luxurious private room on the second floor.
Ziyan saw the person she had always feared, the current Crown Prince.
Fortunately, her partner Xiang Wang Lingfeng was also present, sitting to the lower left of the Crown Prince, which made Ziyan feel a bit more at ease.
Of course, Crown Prince Ling Xianjun had been staring at the entrance for a long time, and as soon as he caught sight of Ziyan, he fixed his gaze on her with an expression of great surprise.
Upon meeting his enchanting gaze, Ziyan felt inexplicably downcast. However, with no other choice, she forced herself to lift her spirits and bowed slightly, saying, “Commoner greets Crown Prince.”
Silence. The Crown Prince above was surprisingly silent, just staring at Ziyan.
After a long while, Ling Xianjun finally spoke up and asked, “Miss Ziyan, how have you been? Do you still remember your old friend?”
“Uh? Oh, of course I remember. Thank you for remembering me, Crown Prince,” Ziyan replied softly.
“Hahaha—why do I feel like Miss Ziyan doesn’t quite welcome me?” Ling Xianjun said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, causing Ziyan to frown.
I almost forgot that this Crown Prince loves to show off his big white teeth. But what good is having a pretty smile if the heart is unkind? Besides, I have no interest in you at all, Ziyan thought to herself.
“Come on, let’s finish this breakfast with the Crown Prince, and then we can go together to meet His Majesty,” Ling Xianjun said cheerfully and gestured invitingly towards Ziyan.
“Oh! Commoner thanks the Crown Prince.” Knowing that refusing would be useless, Ziyan decided it was better to graciously accompany him for this meal.
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