At night, Ruan Jiu was just about to go to bed when her door was suddenly pushed open.
There stood Xiao Wang, his face阴沉, holding a snow - white fox fur in his hand.
This should be the white fox Xiao Wang had hunted for her at the hunting ground today.
However, she still said crossly, "It's so late. What are you doing in my room, Your Highness?"
She had already promised Xie Jingchu that she would no longer go to the Eastern Palace.
But who would have thought that after returning to the capital, Xiao Wang had directly taken her back here.
He had asked her to stay in the Eastern Palace for a while on the pretext that it would be convenient for her to recuperate.
How could she put on a good face for Xiao Wang then?
Xiao Wang didn't say a word. He just casually threw the white fox fur on the table.
Suddenly, he turned around and walked step by step towards Ruan Jiu.
Ruan Jiu was so frightened by Xiao Wang's actions that she took several steps back in succession until she was forced to the edge of the bed.
Accidentally, she lost her balance and sat down on the edge of the bed.
She folded her arms across her chest and looked at Xiao Wang warily, asking suspiciously, "What are you doing?"
Xiao Wang still didn't say a word, with a cold look on his face.
Suddenly, he squatted down, grabbed her ankle, and pulled off her shoes and socks.
It was not until he saw Ruan Jiu's swollen ankle that the iron - green look on Xiao Wang's face softened a little.
Ruan Jiu then realized that Xiao Wang had come tonight to check if she had really sprained her ankle.
They say that only the ruthless can stand firm.
Fortunately, she had been cruel enough to herself; otherwise, Xiao Wang would have found out.
Thinking of this, she felt more confident as she said, "Are you satisfied now, Your Highness the Crown Prince?"
Xiao Wang let go of Ruan Jiu's ankle and then walked straight to the table and sat down.
"Did you go to see him today?"
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu knew that Xiao Wang was still suspicious.
She pretended to be calm and asked, "See who?"
Xiao Wang fell silent again.
After a moment, he slowly stood up and said coldly, "It'd better not be that I find out you have other thoughts."
After leaving this remark, Xiao Wang walked straight out of Ruan Jiu's room.
Only after Xiao Wang had gone far away did Ruan Jiu let out a long breath.
How much longer would this cautious life last?
-
The next day, Ruan Jiu met Song Yanran, whom she hadn't seen for a long time, in the Eastern Palace.
Obviously, Song Yanran looked more exhausted than before.
But the moment she saw Ruan Jiu, Song Yanran still lifted her noble head.
Ruan Jiu didn't want to get entangled with Song Yanran. After giving a slight nod, she was about to leave.
But Song Yanran didn't seem to want to let her go so easily. She took a few quick steps forward and blocked her way.
Ruan Jiu frowned and looked at Song Yanran, thinking to herself.
What was she up to?
So she took a few steps back and waited for Song Yanran's next move.
"After all, Second Miss is an unmarried girl. Even if you are the younger sister of our Crown Princess, you can't always live in the Eastern Palace. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at if this gets out?"
After hearing this, there was not a trace of anger on Ruan Jiu's face. She just hooked her lips and gave a faint smile.
Before Song Yanran could say anything, her maid beside her started to scold Ruan Jiu first.
"Since you're so worried about me, why don't you go and talk to His Highness?"
The maid didn't dare to reply and just looked at Song Yanran helplessly.
Obviously, the words just now were from Song Yanran's instruction.
Ruan Jiu then said, "Or why don't you, sister, go and talk to His Highness properly? You and His Highness are husband and wife. Naturally, His Highness will listen to what you say."
These words instantly stabbed Song Yanran.
Everyone in the capital knew that Song Yanran had replaced Song Qingyu's position to become the Crown Princess back then.
What husband and wife as one? Xiao Wang had never regarded her as his wife. Over the years, she had just been holding the title of Crown Princess.
Song Yanran glared at Ruan Jiu angrily, burning with rage and wishing she could tear Ruan Jiu apart with her eyes.
Seeing Song Yanran so angry, Ruan Jiu couldn't help but let out a sneer. "Aren't you tired of pretending to be a good sister for so long?"
"Song Qingyu!" Song Yanran shouted angrily. "How dare you talk to this princess like this!"
Ruan Jiu gave a cold laugh and finally stopped pretending.
However, she didn't plan to continue to get entangled with Song Yanran.
After all, such verbal sparring was meaningless to her.
She bent down slightly. "A Yu knows her mistake. A Yu will go back to her room to reflect."
Ruan Jiu's sudden change of attitude caught Song Yanran off guard.
She was slightly stunned for a moment. Just as Ruan Jiu was about to leave, Song Yanran grabbed her wrist.
She said viciously, "Song Qingyu, you'd better behave yourself. Otherwise, this princess can kill you as easily as crushing an ant."
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu took the opportunity to lean close to Song Yanran's ear and whispered, "Is sister going to drug me again or find another group of bandits to insult me?"
Song Yanran was startled, her eyes full of surprise.
Before Song Yanran could come to her senses, she heard a voice from the door.
"Song Yanran, are you bullying A Yu again!"
The voice of the Princess Dowager came before she even entered.
Song Yanran immediately let go of Ruan Jiu's wrist and pretended to be calm as she tidied up her hairpin.
After giving a light cough, she piled a big smile on her face and said to the Princess Dowager, "Sister Yongning, why are you free to come here today?"
The Princess Dowager ignored Song Yanran and just focused on checking if Ruan Jiu was okay.
"A Yu, is she bullying you again?" After saying that, the Princess Dowager didn't forget to glare at Song Yanran.
Ruan Jiu pursed her lips and shook her head. "Sister treats me very well."
Seeing Ruan Jiu's pretentious look, Song Yanran was really speechless.
The Princess Dowager took Ruan Jiu's arm, snorted at Song Yanran, and then took Ruan Jiu to the pavilion.
Song Yanran was so angry that she stamped her feet on the spot.
Who was bullying whom!
As soon as they sat down, the Princess Dowager couldn't wait to say, "This Song Yanran is always up to no good. Why don't you come and live in my princess mansion?"
Ruan Jiu smiled helplessly.
Even if she wanted to go, Xiao Wang had to be willing to let her go.
"Why did you come here today?" Ruan Jiu asked.
"You were frightened and sprained your ankle at the hunting ground yesterday, so I came here specially to see you," the Princess Dowager replied.
Then the Princess Dowager asked the maid to take out the good wound medicine she had prepared and said a lot of caring words.
This series of concerns made Ruan Jiu feel a bit emotional.
This close friend of Song Qingyu was simply impeccable.
It was a pity that she was Ruan Jiu, not Song Qingyu.
However, she also had a bosom friend. She just didn't know if Wan Wan would be overly sad after learning that something had happened to her.
And there was her brother Shen Yu, who was both like a brother and a friend to her.
She missed them so much!
Thinking of this, Ruan Jiu's eyes were full of gloom.
"A Yu, what are you thinking about?"
The Princess Dowager's words immediately pulled Ruan Jiu's thoughts back.
Then she forced a relaxed smile and said, "I was just thinking that it seems I haven't heard any interesting things for a long time."
Hearing this, the Princess Dowager's eyes lit up. "I do have an interesting thing. Do you want to hear it?"
Ruan Jiu immediately became interested. She leaned her little head over and nodded repeatedly.
The Princess Dowager didn't plan to keep her in suspense and said,
"Young Marquis Xie has been thrown into the Imperial Prison."