"Princess Third, Grandmother did say that."
Xie Fengran said it calmly, but it caused quite a stir among the crowd.
"She actually admitted it!"
"Is the Xie Family so arrogant? How dare she say such things on the Sun Family's territory. She's so bold!"
"Exactly. With Princess Third here, she dares to say anything."
...
Everyone looked at Xie Fengran as if they were seeing something extremely rare, their eyes shifting between Xie Fengran and Princess Third.
They all thought that Xie Fengran was courting death by daring to say such things in front of this ill - tempered princess today.
Princess Third also didn't expect Xie Fengran to say this. She had already prepared herself for Xie Fengran to deny it, but unexpectedly, the other party simply admitted it. She said excitedly, "So, you admit it?"
Xie Fengran nodded, but then changed the subject and counter - questioned, "But does Princess Third know to whom Grandmother said this?"
Princess Third was taken aback. "Who?"
Then everyone saw this eldest young lady of the Xie Family straighten her back and say word by word, "The late Emperor Dezong!"
Emperor Dezong was the only female emperor in the Great Yue Dynasty, the founder of the Women's College, and the mother of the current emperor.
As soon as these words were out, everyone was stunned. Princess Third subconsciously retorted, "Impossible!"
"Why is it impossible?" A faint smile played on Xie Fengran's lips as the corners of her mouth curled slightly upwards. "Grandmother and the late Emperor Dezong were close friends in their boudoir days. Grandmother was even Emperor Dezong's reading companion. The Women's College was Emperor Dezong's long - cherished dream, and she once told Grandmother about it."
"But due to the family's teachings, Grandmother didn't understand Emperor Dezong's ideas. When they talked, Grandmother commented that it was immoral and heretical. After Emperor Dezong established the Women's College, she specially sent someone to ask Grandmother if the Women's College was immoral. That's how this remark spread."
"Princess Third, this was originally a private conversation between two close friends in the boudoir. Emperor Dezong didn't care about it when she was alive. Grandmother was just admonishing and exhorting as a friend. After the Women's College was established, Grandmother never stopped the women of the Xie Clan from entering the Women's College. For Princess Third to say that the Xie Family looks down on the Women's College is simply nonsense."
After hearing this explanation, everyone suddenly understood.
They originally thought that the old lady of the Xie Mansion was arrogant, but they didn't expect there to be such a story behind it.
Moreover, it was really unexpected that the old lady Xie and Emperor Dezong were close friends in the boudoir.
You know, the Marquis of Dingguo's Mansion was a century - old noble family with strict rules. It was also one of the few old - fashioned noble families in the capital that imposed strict restrictions on women.
These two were close friends in the boudoir?
Xie Fengran ignored the whispering of others and only looked at Princess Third.
The princess's face was ashen, but she couldn't say a word.
If Xie Fengran had come up with another explanation, she might have been able to argue her way out of it, but she didn't dare to criticize Emperor Dezong at all.
So she could only say, "How would I know if what you said is true or false?"
As if expecting her to say this, Xie Fengran nodded and said, "It's normal for the princess to have such doubts. Actually, this matter wasn't told to me by Grandmother, but I saw it in a manuscript of Emperor Dezong's. This manuscript was given to Grandmother by Emperor Dezong. If the princess doesn't believe me, I'll send someone to deliver the manuscript to the princess after I return home. I just hope the princess will return it after reading it."
Princess Third's complexion changed. "No, no need." Who would want to read Emperor Dezong's manuscript? There were piles of such things in the palace. What was there to see!
Princess Third saw that her attempt to make things difficult for Xie Fengran had been easily defused, and Xie Fengran had even secretly elevated the status of the old lady Xie.
Presumably, no one would use this to attack the Xie Family in the future.
She had tried to steal a chicken but ended up losing the rice. She was extremely depressed.
So she didn't want to stay any longer. She took Sun Yuelan's hand and said, "Yuelan, Crown Prince Brother is still waiting downstairs. You accompany me downstairs."
Sun Yuelan thought for a while. She couldn't refuse Princess Third, but...
"Princess, since everyone has finished their works, let's go downstairs together!" Then she ordered the servants to put these things away and send them to the back courtyard for Sun Hanlin.
She also invited everyone to go downstairs together.
Princess Third just wanted to take Sun Yuelan with her, but since Sun Yuelan had said so, Princess Third didn't want to brush her off. So she led a group of girlfriends downstairs in a grand manner.
Xie Fengran still stayed at the end, trailing behind everyone.
Xie Yunxi closely followed Princess Third.
The young ladies present all had their own thoughts after seeing this scene, but one person was rather depressed.
She had stood up for Xie Yunxi, angrily confronted Xie Fengran, and even offended Sun Yuelan.
But now Xie Yunxi only had eyes for Princess Third. How could she not be depressed?
In the garden, the young gentlemen were still waiting for the works of the young ladies upstairs.
Unexpectedly, they saw Princess Third leading everyone downstairs.
The Crown Prince frowned slightly. When Princess Third led Sun Yuelan in, he irritably tapped Princess Third on the head. "You're being naughty again."
Although the strict separation of men and women wasn't as strict as before, causing such a commotion in the Sun Family's garden, especially on the occasion of the reopening of the Women's College, would not sound good if it spread.
Princess Third just wanted to get rid of Xie Fengran and didn't think so much. She stuck out her tongue. "Brother, I won't dare to do it again." Then she pushed Sun Yuelan forward. "Brother, this is my good friend, also the younger sister of Young Master Sun, Sun Yuelan."
Sun Yuelan was suddenly pushed out and let out a sigh. She respectfully curtsied. "Greetings to Your Highness the Crown Prince."
The Crown Prince still had a gentle smile on his face. "Miss Sun, you're being too polite."
After the greeting, Sun Yuelan sensibly took a few steps back and stood at the edge.
The Crown Prince originally wanted to stay a while longer to see those poems, but after Princess Third's commotion, he no longer had an excuse to stay.
So he said goodbye to Sun Jiming with some regret. "Jiming, let's meet again another day."
"The student is looking forward to it."
Sun Jiming saw the Crown Prince out of the pavilion. Princess Third took a step back and quietly walked beside Sun Jiming. She looked up at Sun Jiming. "Young Master Sun, we meet again."
Sun Jiming quietly moved aside and respectfully replied, "The student greets Princess Third."
Unexpectedly, the just - now high - and - mighty Princess Third quietly blushed. She whispered, "Young Master Sun, Yuelan and I are good friends. You don't have to be so polite to me."
"Etiquette cannot be discarded."
Princess Third secretly glanced at Sun Jiming's profile. The more she looked, the faster her heart beat. She covered her face and secretly asked, "Then would Young Master Sun be willing to..."
But before she could finish her words, a voice suddenly interrupted from the side. "Princess Third, are you leaving?"
Seeing this, Sun Jiming quickly said, "Since Princess Third has something to do, I'll take my leave."
With that, he took a few steps back and avoided them.
The blush on Princess Third's face faded. She coldly turned her head and looked at this inopportune person.