The imperial carriage stopped at the entrance of the academy. A eunuch from the queen's palace jumped off the carriage, walked up to the Fourth Princess, and bowed. "Princess, it's time to return."
The Fourth Princess turned around and waved to Xie Fengran. "Sister Xie, Sister Sun, I'm leaving! Remember what I said!"
"Take care, Princess!"
The eunuch bowed to Xie Fengran and the other girl, then served the Fourth Princess into the carriage.
After the Fourth Princess got into the carriage and noticed that the eunuch didn't follow, she lifted the curtain and asked, "Why aren't we leaving yet?"
The eunuch said carefully, "The Third Princess came to the academy with you today. Her Majesty asked the Third Princess to go back with you!"
The Fourth Princess was a bit displeased, but since it was an order from her mother, she endured it and ordered, "Go and see why she hasn't come out yet!"
Inside the academy, the Third Princess came out with several young ladies. She spotted Xie Fengran standing there at a glance, her eyes flickering. She dismissed the young ladies and walked over.
"Miss Xie, long time no see!"
The carriages of the Marquis of Dingguo's Mansion and the Sun Mansion hadn't arrived yet. Xie Fengran and Sun Yuelan were standing there talking about going out of the city to play together when the academy was on holiday.
Suddenly interrupted, Xie Fengran turned around and saw the Third Princess walking slowly over. She bowed and said, "Greetings to Your Highness the Princess."
The Third Princess smiled, took two steps forward, paused when passing by Xie Fengran, and tilted her head to look at her. "Miss Xie, are you surprised that I'm out?"
Xie Fengran smiled. "Congratulations to the Third Princess."
"Don't be so hasty to congratulate me. I'm in this state all thanks to you. Just wait!"
With that, the Third Princess greeted the approaching eunuch and got into the carriage.
"What does she mean by that? Threat? Intimidation?"
Sun Yuelan watched the slowly moving carriage and complained, "After being under house arrest a few times, why has she become even crazier?"
At this time, the carriages of the Marquis's Mansion and the Sun Mansion arrived. Xie Fengran walked towards the carriage. "Even if she's crazy, she has to be able to act crazy. Just wait and see." After saying that, she waved her hand. "Go back quickly!"
She didn't take the Third Princess's threat to heart at all, but it was still necessary to be careful. Who knew if this crazy person would do something that would hurt both sides without a care.
However, if she dared to act like before again, then...
"Miss, look, isn't that Teacher Wang?"
Hexiang lifted one side of the curtain and happened to see Teacher Wang coming out of the Imperial College next door, following a servant-like person and hurrying out.
It was the time when the students of the Imperial College and the Girls' Academy were leaving. Maybe the Wang family's carriage couldn't get in, so Teacher Wang walked, and Hexiang saw him clearly.
On the way, some people recognized Teacher Wang and bowed one after another, but Teacher Wang just walked forward with a gloomy face and ignored them all!
Xie Fengran motioned for Hexiang to put down the curtain. She was also a bit curious.
That Teacher Wang was usually arrogant but extremely concerned about his image. When had he ever been so hasty and rude?
After thinking for a while, she told Zhuqing sitting outside. Zhuqing nodded in response and jumped off.
Before they reached the Marquis's Mansion, Zhuqing came back, followed by Qingye.
Xie Fengran lifted the curtain and wondered, "Why are you here?"
Qingye bowed respectfully and explained, "Back to the young lady, it's the master who sent this subordinate here to inform the young lady that if the young lady wants to know about the Wang family's affairs, she can ask him at any time."
Xie Fengran suddenly realized. "So your master is handling things. I understand. You can go back."
Qingye didn't move. He quickly looked up at Xie Fengran and then lowered his head. He asked hesitantly, "Does the young lady have any message for our master?"
"Message? What message?" Xie Fengran shook her head.
Qingye was a bit disappointed. "Then, this subordinate will take his leave."
"Wait a minute!"
Xie Fengran suddenly remembered. "Tell your master that if there's any fun to watch, don't forget to tell me!"
"Yes, this subordinate will definitely convey it!"
"Okay, go!"
Xie Fengran put down the curtain. Qingye stood by the roadside with his head down and waited for the carriage to pass before leaving.
Neither of them noticed that a carriage across the road had been observing them for a long time!
The guard sitting at the carriage door asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, they've left."
Inside the carriage, the Second Prince put down the curtain of the window with a tired look and said, "Go to Jingyueju." After a pause, he added, "Come in!"
"Yes!" The eunuch climbed in on all fours and knelt on the seat by the door. He asked in a low voice, "Does Your Highness have any orders?"
The Second Prince half-closed his eyes and tapped his fingers on his leg. "Are you sure? Is that person really someone beside Prince Qin Junxing?"
"Your Highness, don't worry. This servant saw clearly. That person is the guard who has always been with the prince. That carriage is from the Marquis of Dingguo's Mansion. The second young lady of the Marquis's Mansion hasn't been to the academy recently, so the one inside must be the eldest young lady of the Marquis's Mansion!"
The Second Prince opened his eyes, and a glint of interest flashed in them. "I didn't expect that my good cousin is really interested in Xie Fengran."
The person closest to him was respectful to Xie Fengran. It seemed that their relationship was quite close.
After thinking for a while, he said, "Tell someone to keep an eye on these two people. Be discreet and don't startle the snake."
"Yes." The eunuch agreed. After a moment, he looked up again with a worried look on his face. "Your Highness, this Miss Xie is going to marry the Crown Prince. If she has an affair with the prince, could there be some ulterior motive?"
The Second Prince shook his head and said firmly, "My cousin and the Crown Prince will never cooperate." Others might not know, but he knew a thing or two.
The hatred of killing one's father is irreconcilable. How could it be so easily offset?
This was also the reason why he had approached Qin Junxing.
Seeing this, the eunuch stopped talking.
Not long after, they arrived at Jingyueju.
The Second Prince was dressed in the clothes of an ordinary scholar and was welcomed to the second floor.
There was already a person waiting in the room. The Second Prince quickly went over to apologize. "Sorry to keep you waiting, cousin. It's my fault!"
This person turned around, sized up the Second Prince for a few times, and a smile curled up on his lips. "This outfit of yours, Second Highness, is quite rare!"
That familiar tone. Who else could it be but Qin Junxing?
"Cousin, don't make fun of me. I'm just afraid of being caught by you to be a son-in-law of the Qi family!"
The two looked at each other and smiled, each with their own thoughts, then sat down.
The Second Prince got straight to the point first. "I invited you here today, cousin, because I want to cooperate with you. I have some evidence against the Wang family, but they're all insignificant. However, my people can cooperate with you to impeach the Wang family!"
Qin Junxing smiled and tapped the teacup. "What do you want in return for helping me? The throne?"
The Second Prince nodded. "Born into the royal family, who doesn't have some thoughts about that position? If the Crown Prince's position were unshakable, I'd be willing to be a carefree prince. But now it's different!"
His father obviously wanted to deal with the Wang family. This was really a great opportunity.
Qin Junxing glanced at him but didn't say a word.
The atmosphere in the room gradually became quiet.