These words were spoken by an old woman who was selling rouge.
Zhao Shuning stopped in her tracks. She asked, "Auntie, which Prince Xia are you talking about?"
"Girl, how many Prince Xias could there be in the Kingdom of Hailing? It's none other than the most renowned Prince Xia Yan in the world!"
Zhao Shuning said, "The prince has a son named Xia Qingyan, right?"
"Yes."
Zhao Shuning then asked, "When did the prince decide to take a side wife?"
Wasn't it said that most men in the Kingdom of Hailing practiced monogamy, and they doted on their wives greatly? The concept of a side wife was quite rare.
"This decision was made some time ago. It seems that the prince started to have this plan when the young prince entered the Changkong Academy. But at that time, the prince was afraid that the young prince wouldn't agree, so he put the matter on hold. After the young prince came back this time, for some reason, he gave his consent, and the prince started to make arrangements for it."
It had been some time?
After getting this information, Zhao Shuning quickly rushed towards the mansion.
She was becoming more and more confused about Xia Qingyan.
Having spent so much time with Xia Qingyan, Zhao Shuning knew that he was always proud of the story of his father and mother. In his heart, he believed that a man should have only one wife.
One could tell from the longing look on his face every time he mentioned his mother.
However, this matter started when he entered the Changkong Academy. So, it meant that he had known about it for a long time.
Since he had known about it for so long, and his father had violated his bottom - line, why could he still smile so innocently?
Why could his smile still be so pure when he faced her?
Previously, when the Changkong Academy gave the freshmen a one - month vacation, Zhao Shuning thought that Xia Qingyan didn't want to go back because his home was too far away and no one came to pick him up.
Now it seemed that it was just an excuse he made by taking advantage of the loopholes in the academy's management.
In fact, he simply didn't want to come back.
At noon today, when he came to tidy up the yard, he seemed like nothing had happened, and his words to her were so innocent.
Zhao Shuning always felt that she had forgotten something.
Yes, she had.
The Changkong Academy only gave the freshmen that one - month vacation. For the next three years, students who entered the Changkong Academy had to focus on their classes in the academy.
She had always ignored this.
Vacation was a privilege that freshmen didn't have.
So, did Xia Qingyan come back specifically because his father was going to take a side wife?
The answer was obvious.
Zhao Shuning could hardly imagine.
Xia Qingyan was such a gentle and elegant young master. How could he keep so many things in his heart and still talk and laugh with others as if nothing had happened?
Zhao Shuning ran back to the mansion.
At that time, Xia Qingyan was directing his subordinates to move things.
"Your Highness." Zhao Shuning called softly.
Xia Qingyan turned around. After seeing Zhao Shuning, a habitual smile appeared on his face.
He was always like this.
"Are you back? Did you see her?"
Zhao Shuning didn't answer this question. Instead, she asked point - blank, "Why did you come back?"
"Ah? I'm the young prince of the Kingdom of Hailing. The grand councilor is going to hold a birthday banquet in the mansion. Naturally, I have to come back to offer my birthday greetings. Moreover, you're here too."
"Xia Qingyan, you know that I've spent little time in the Changkong Academy, and I'm not a rule - abiding disciple. But I can still recite one or two of the regulations of the Changkong Academy."
The smile on Xia Qingyan's face faded a little.
"Why are you suddenly asking these questions?"
Zhao Shuning replied, "I just want to know the truth. Your Highness, I regard you as a friend. I don't want you to lie to me. I also hope that if you have anything to say, don't hide it from me. Don't push your friends further and further away."
Xia Qingyan's expression looked a bit strange.
Zhao Shuning said to the people who were tidying up beside them, "You may leave first. I still have something to talk to the young prince."
"Leave." Xia Qingyan said, and only then did those people put down the things in their hands and walk out of the mansion.
Zhao Shuning walked into the pavilion, took out two teacups, and sat down. Not long after, Xia Qingyan also walked in.
He put his folding fan on the table and then sat down.
"Go ahead."
Xia Qingyan said with a bitter smile, "There are so many things to say that I don't know where to start."
"Then I'll ask questions, and you answer. If you have something to add, you can continue."
Xia Qingyan rarely showed a smile and replied, "Miss Luo, when you say it like this, I always feel like you're interrogating me."
Zhao Shuning said, "Why did you come back from the Changkong Academy?"
"You should already know. My father is going to take a side wife. For a man in the Kingdom of Hailing, this is a big deal. I have to come back."
"Last night, I also saw Wu Xuan from the Kingdom of Tianli. Why did she come here too?"
"The secret guards of the Qin family from the Kingdom of Cangwu went to the Changkong Academy to ask Elder Ling Ruo for justice. Although there's no direct evidence proving that Wu Xuan killed Gu Xingran, she's still somewhat suspected. Under pressure, Elder Ling Ruo asked Wu Xuan to drop out of school."
So that was it.
"Then when did you know that your father was going to take a side wife?"
"I've known for a long time."
"Was it after you entered the Changkong Academy?"
"Even earlier."
In fact, three years after his mother's death, Prince Xia, whom everyone thought was deeply in love with his wife, already had a new love interest.
That woman was a maid who came with his mother as a dowry.
In terms of both looks and etiquette, she was far inferior to his mother.
Even Xia Qingyan didn't understand how his father, who always said that he only loved his mother in this lifetime, could change his heart so easily.
But fortunately, although his father had fallen in love with that woman, due to his reputation and the fact that Xia Qingyan was still a minor, he never made this matter public.
Now, that woman couldn't hold back anymore, and her belly was already quite big. So, his father had no choice but to follow her wishes.
"Xia Qingyan, so you came to attend my grandfather's birthday banquet?"
"One reason is that I really wanted to see you. The other reason is that if I'm busy, I don't have to go back to that hateful home and don't have to see my hypocritical father and that coquettish woman."
"So, you even supervised such a small thing as moving things personally?"
Xia Qingyan nodded.
"I just had nowhere else to go."
Zhao Shuning then said, "I still want to ask you a question. Did Luo Qiu, who was Luo Feiyan at that time, participate in the matter of killing Gu Xingran?"
Xia Qingyan's face changed slightly.
Zhao Shuning already knew the answer.
"You don't need to say anything."
"I'm sorry."
"There's nothing to be sorry about. Everyone has many faces. It's my fault for being too superficial and stupid not to understand you all."
"I didn't mean that."
"Xia Qingyan, your name is really special. Your mother's name is Gu Qingqing, your name is Xia Qingyan, and your father's name is Xia Yan. It can be seen how much your father loved your mother back then."
"So what? Mother is gone, but he still found a new love, didn't he?"