Sheng Jinyu didn't say much. Calmly, he got up and dusted off his clothes. "The matter is resolved. Send the two young ladies back to the capital."
Lu Wanning was stunned. She quickly got up and asked, "Wait, Your Highness, what do you mean? Didn't you ask me to work in the Supreme Court of Justice? Now that the matter is settled, are you going to just cast me aside?"
Sheng Jinyu gave her a sidelong glance. "Do you think you're still fit to work in this state?"
Lu Wanning felt a twinge of guilt. Right, she was exhausted.
Sheng Jinyu sized up the carriage for a moment. It was too shabby, and the smell inside was extremely unpleasant. Looking at Lu Wanning's pale face, there was a hint of fragility about her.
He didn't like delicate women, but for some reason, he felt a softening in his heart at this moment. He simply asked, "Can you ride a horse?"
Lu Wanning was taken aback. How could she ride a horse in this state? But when she looked up, she realized that His Highness the Prince of Yu was asking Zhen Yan. What did that mean? Did he want Zhen Yan to ride with her on the horse? It wasn't impossible, but the horse would jolt, and Zhen Yan was also very tired. How could she take care of her then?
Zhen Yan nodded instinctively. "I can."
Sheng Jinyu waved his hand, signaling his attendant to bring two horses. He mounted his horse and waved to Lu Wanning. "Come here."
Lu Wanning stared blankly for a long time before she realized that Sheng Jinyu was actually going to send her back himself.
"What are you standing there for? Come here."
Lu Wanning quickly got off the carriage. She took out a handkerchief to cover her mouth, then reached out her hand to Sheng Jinyu and climbed onto the horse behind him.
Sheng Jinyu handed her his cloak. "Put it on properly."
Lu Wanning obediently wrapped the cloak tightly around herself.
The guard Lian walked over and asked, "Your Highness, aren't you going to take a look at the situation inside?"
Sheng Jinyu glanced at him. "Lord Fang will handle it. What do I need to go and see for?"
The guard thought to himself, You clearly said you were worried and wanted to come and take a look before. If you're not here to look at the case, could it be that you're here to see... the princess?
Sheng Jinyu spurred his horse down the mountain. Zhen Yan chased after him and shouted, "Your Highness, wait for me! Hey, don't go so fast. Ning'er can't take it!"
Lu Wanning grabbed Sheng Jinyu's belt with one hand and waved the other hand in the air. She took a deep breath. "Wow, it's so refreshing! The fresh air, the pleasant spring scenery. It's so wonderful!"
Carelessly, Lu Wanning let go of both hands, and she almost flew off the horse.
Sheng Jinyu grabbed her and pulled her into his arms. Frowning, he scolded, "Sit still."
Originally, Lu Wanning was sitting behind him. Now she was in front of him. And since he was sitting near the front of the saddle, there was no room for Lu Wanning to sit. So she was sitting on his lap, with both hands tightly clutching his neck.
This was so... ambiguous.
Lu Wanning shivered and quickly pushed him away. "You, you, you. Move back a bit. You're squeezing me."
Sheng Jinyu frowned and pushed her back. "Go sit properly behind me. Don't be so naughty."
Lu Wanning obediently sat behind him. She tugged at his belt. After a moment, her hand secretly slipped from the back of the belt to the front, and she changed to holding his waist.
After that embrace just now, she didn't know what he was thinking, but she actually felt a flutter in her heart. She had been single for more than twenty years, and this was the first time she had such a feeling. It was quite strange.
Lu Wanning squinted and smiled. Before, she couldn't understand the original owner's feelings. Now she finally understood that a person's appearance could really be deceiving. Sheng Jinyu was so handsome. If he didn't always have a cold face, he would surely captivate countless young girls.
Wasn't the original owner, Fu Rongxuan, just because of his good looks and gentle manner that he was adored by the young girls in the capital?
However, Lu Wanning wasn't the original owner. She liked serious men, and Sheng Jinyu was serious. Should she consider...
Wait, stop. Who was Sheng Jinyu? He was the short - lived prince who would spit blood and die in less than two years. If she were to be with him, wouldn't she become a widow soon?
Lu Wanning's hand slowly changed from holding his waist to grabbing his belt again.
Such small actions naturally couldn't escape Sheng Jinyu's notice. Sheng Jinyu curled his lips into a faint smile but didn't react.
Soon they reached the foot of the mountain. Sheng Jinyu helped Lu Wanning dismount and signaled for them to wait there, then he left.
Lu Wanning sat on the grass beside and looked around. She asked Zhen Yan, "Is the Prince of Yu just leaving us here? What does he want to do?"
Zhen Yan shrugged. "I don't know either. Maybe he's going to prepare a carriage for us. The previous one was so shabby and smelly."
Lu Wanning quickly sniffed herself. Frowning, she said, "Do I smell bad too?"
Zhen Yan nodded. "Of course. Just now I saw the guard who helped me lead the horse wrinkling his nose. It shows how stinky we are. I just want to go back and take a good bath. I'm so itchy."
Lu Wanning was a bit dazed. Was she really that smelly? She was so close to the Prince of Yu just now. Didn't he smell the stench on her?
Ahh. She was supposed to be a beautiful and cute girl. Wasn't her persona completely ruined? And she had vomited just now, right in front of him!
Calm down. Lu Wanning told herself silently. Calm down. Although he was charming, he was short - lived and not her type, right? She was a practical person and never believed in love at first sight. To her, he was just a powerful backer. As long as he was alive, she wouldn't need to find another one. But if he died...
No, if he died, who else could compete with the Crown Prince?
She couldn't possibly persuade her father and elder brother to rebel. So, not only did she have to rely on him, but she also had to figure out why the Prince of Yu would die two years later.
Zhen Yan waved her hand in front of Lu Wanning's eyes. "Ning'er, why are you in a daze? What are you thinking about?"
Lu Wanning pulled Zhen Yan to sit down with her. Then she asked, "Are you familiar with the Prince of Yu?"
Zhen Yan shook her head. "How could I be familiar with him? If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have seen him much. You were right before. He's a cold - faced prince. He's ruthless and decisive in his actions. Relying on the Emperor's favor, one could say... But after these few encounters with him, I think he's not completely unreasonable. You've been so disrespectful to him, but he's never punished you."
Lu Wanning rolled her eyes. "I understand now. He asked me to work in the Supreme Court of Justice just to take revenge! Revenge for my previous disrespect to him."
Zhen Yan scratched her head. "It can't be that bad, right?"
Lu Wanning didn't dwell on this anymore. She asked again, "You said he's of royal blood and was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Does he have any hidden illnesses?"
"How would I know? Maybe you can ask your cousin?"
Lu Wanning thought this was a bad idea. Although He Nanfeng was nice to her and seemed to have a gentlemanly friendship with the Prince of Yu, as a member of the He family, he might not know the Prince of Yu's private affairs. Even if he did, he wouldn't tell her.
Zhen Yan tentatively asked, "I heard that the late Noble Consort doted on Princess Qin very much. You're on good terms with Princess Qin. Why don't you ask her?"