The news that the Grand Princess had swaggered into the Marquis Mansion with a retinue spread throughout the capital within half a day.
Everyone was curious about what the only Grand Princess of the Great Yue Dynasty was doing in the Marquis Mansion.
Before she came out, someone saw several matchmakers from the capital, known for their silver tongues, entering the mansion.
Some people then recalled the rumor that had circulated when the Prince of Qin first arrived in the capital.
Suddenly, they had an epiphany. So, the Prince of Qin had truly taken a fancy to the eldest legitimate daughter of the Xie family!
This news was confirmed after the matchmakers left the Xie Mansion.
The matchmakers sent by the Grand Princess were not only glib but also garrulous. In no time, everyone in the capital knew that the eldest legitimate daughter of the Xie family was going to be the Grand Princess's daughter - in - law!
When this news reached them, Sun Jiming was in the Supreme Court with the Crown Prince, inquiring about the case of the Wang family.
The emperor had not excluded the Crown Prince but had asked him to assist the Second Prince in handling the case together with Sun Jiming.
Several constables who were moving documents in the Supreme Court were discussing the news they had just heard on the street.
"I didn't expect the first thing the Grand Princess did after coming back was to go to the Xie Mansion to propose marriage."
"You don't know this. The young lady of the Xie family is said to be a beauty. It must be that the Prince of Qin was afraid someone else would get ahead of him!"
"Have you ever seen her? Beauty or not?"
"How could I see a young lady from a noble family? I've just heard about it."
"Then... Ah, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
The two were chatting so vigorously that they almost bumped into the Crown Prince. They quickly knelt down to plead for forgiveness.
Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince didn't even look at them. "Just now, you said who went to the Xie Mansion to propose marriage?"
The two men on their knees stole a glance at each other. One of them looked up uncertainly. "Your Highness, it was the Grand Princess who went to the Xie Mansion to propose marriage. It is said that they even exchanged the birth - year horoscopes. I heard it with my own ears from the matchmaker who went to the Xie Mansion. It's..."
Before he could finish his sentence, he felt a gust of wind pass by. The person who had been there just now had disappeared.
The two were completely confused and didn't know whether they should get up.
Before they could figure it out, they felt a shadow fall over them. Looking up, they quickly bowed and said, "Greetings, Young Master Sun!"
Sun Jiming glanced in the direction the Crown Prince had gone and waved his hand at the two men. "Get up, both of you."
"Thank you, Young Master!"
Sun Jiming's eyes swept over their faces, and he said in a calm tone, "Just now, forget what the Crown Prince said. Do you understand?"
Although it was just a calm statement, it made the two men shiver with an inexplicable chill. They quickly promised, "We were just passing by, just passing by!"
"Yes, we didn't see His Highness the Crown Prince."
Sun Jiming withdrew his gaze, grunted, and said, "Go and get back to work."
The two men felt as if they had been pardoned and quickly ran away. They no longer dared to wonder why the Crown Prince had asked them that question. Some things were better left unknown; otherwise, it could cost them their heads!
Sun Jiming watched the direction the two men left, then looked at the gate. After thinking for a while, he turned and walked towards the public office of the Minister of the Supreme Court.
She had never needed him. Now that she was engaged, all he could do was not to cause her trouble and prevent others from doing so!
In the past, he could silently guard her. But in the future, even if the journey was full of hardships, that man probably wouldn't allow him to keep guarding her like this!
It seemed that it was time for him to get married!
On the other hand, at the Women's Academy.
Regardless of how the rumors were spreading outside, the Women's Academy was very quiet. When it was time to dismiss.
Xie Fengran walked out with Sun Yuelan and the Fourth Princess. The incident of the Wang family had little impact on the Fourth Princess.
The queen didn't want the Fourth Princess to get involved, so she still sent her to the academy as usual every day.
As soon as the three of them stepped out of the main gate today, they immediately felt the servants from various mansions waiting at the gate looking at them in unison.
The three looked at each other, feeling rather puzzled.
"Could something else have happened that we don't know about?"
Sun Yuelan scanned around and was sure that these people were all looking at them. She looked back and asked hesitantly, "Did something happen to your half - sister again?"
Xie Fengran shook her head. "She came to the academy with me today. It can't be her."
"Then is it the Third Princess?"
The Fourth Princess shook her head. "Qin Zhaoyang has been closely watched by the imperial concubine recently. She wouldn't dare."
The three couldn't figure it out. At this time, the Fourth Princess noticed that her elder brother had come.
"Brother!"
She called out, and only then did she realize that the Crown Prince was already in front of them.
"Miss Xie, could I have a word with you?"
Only then did the Fourth Princess notice that her elder brother looked haggard, with a trace of blood in his eyes. She had never seen her brother like this before. Feeling a bit uneasy, she called out, "Brother..."
The Crown Prince ignored her and stared directly at Xie Fengran, stubbornly waiting for her answer.
Xie Fengran scanned the increasing number of gazes around and didn't want to be treated like a monkey for people to watch. After thinking for a while, she nodded.
The Crown Prince let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief and pointed to the carriage behind him. "Please get in the carriage, miss!"
Xie Fengran didn't agree this time. "I'll take the Xie family's carriage. Don't worry, I'll do what I've promised."
The Crown Prince looked at her, nodded, didn't force her, and got into the carriage.
At this time, Xie Yunxi came over. She called out "Sister" and saluted the Fourth Princess and Sun Yuelan.
Xie Fengran said bluntly, "Yuelan, please take her back to the Marquis Mansion."
"Okay. Be careful!"
Sun Yuelan had noticed the Crown Prince's abnormality, but she didn't stop Xie Fengran on the spot.
Xie Yunxi wasn't happy. She had a hunch that Xie Fengran was going to see the Crown Prince, and she wanted to go too.
"Sister, it would be too much trouble for Sister Sun. I'll just go with you. I promise I won't bother you!"
Xie Fengran looked back at her with a warning look. Just as she was about to speak, Xie Yunxi was dragged aside by Sun Yuelan. "Miss Xie, it's not any trouble at all. Come with me, sister."
Xie Fengran twitched the corner of her mouth and wasn't worried anymore. She said goodbye to the Fourth Princess and then got into the carriage!
The Fourth Princess still felt that her elder brother's state was a bit off. After getting into the carriage and listening to the eunuch, she found out that her aunt had come back and made a big splash as soon as she entered the capital!
"Sister Xie is engaged to cousin! How could the Crown Prince brother be willing? No!"
The Fourth Princess didn't dare to go to her cousin about this. Given her cousin's temper, he might even fight with the Crown Prince brother.
After thinking for a while, she instructed the coachman, "Go to the Supreme Court!"
Soon, the Fourth Princess's carriage stopped at the gate of the Supreme Court. The eunuch got off the carriage to find Sun Jiming.
"Greetings, Fourth Princess!"
Sun Jiming saluted the Fourth Princess at the carriage door. The Fourth Princess didn't get off the carriage. She lifted the curtain and poked her head out, quickly stopping him. "Brother Sun, you don't need to be so polite. I'm here to tell you that the Crown Prince brother just picked up Sister Xie at the academy gate. I don't know where they've gone. I'd like to ask Brother Sun for a favor. Could you send someone to check?"