freenovelworld Chapter 120 When I say no, that means no.
Chapter 120 When I say no, that means no.
"Why don't you ask the Grand Tutor to speak for himself?"
Xiao Hengzhi looked at him mockingly.
After a long silence, Duan Zhi'an patted his sleeves and said, "I'm not here today to compete. If Your Highness wants to settle old scores, you can sit down and have a proper talk. I also happen to have many questions to ask you."
Xiao Hengzhi sensed the hidden meaning in his words and his expression turned serious.
The two walked towards the study.
Jiang Mian didn't follow, but instead quickly pulled Wen Qian away.
"Were you frightened just now? Come inside and sit for a while."
Wen Qian's face turned pale as she followed Jiang Mian into her room.
"Sister Wan, the prince I met at the Jiang residence before is completely different from the one I see now. When did he become like this?"
Jiang Wan poured her a cup of hot water and replied, "That's just his personality; you just haven't seen it before."
"How does the prince treat you? Are you afraid living under the same roof like this?"
After a moment's thought, Jiang Mian realized that Xiao Hengzhi seemed to have always been quite patient with her.
It could even be described as being completely obedient.
I just don't know if I anger him, he'll still torment me like before.
She said, "As long as we don't anger the prince, there won't be any problem."
Wen Qian stared at her with an expression of pity: "Sister Wan, why don't you go to the Prince's residence? Anyway, the Prince doesn't come back often these days, and I'm often alone."
"Don't come home often? Haven't you told him you're pregnant yet?"
Wen Qian shook her head: "I was going to say that, but recently the Emperor has been summoning the Crown Prince to the palace to discuss matters, and a few days ago he sent him to Miaoxia to manage the snow disaster."
Jiang Mian nodded. She remembered that it was during this snow disaster control effort that Li Zhijing encountered the generals of Miaoxia Pass abandoning their troops and fleeing.
He stepped forward in the face of danger and, in the name of the Marquis of Pingnan, bravely defended the area.
With fewer than three thousand soldiers, he resisted the foreign enemy.
When the news reached the palace, the emperor was furious.
Those who abandoned their troops and fled were punished along with eight generations of their families, while Li Zhijing was appointed as the Left Guard General.
From then on, Li Zhijing practically lived in the military camp, never caring about his family.
Jiang Mian snapped out of her thoughts and glanced at Wen Qian again.
However, things are different this time. Wen Qian is pregnant, and by the time Li Zhijing returns from this battle, Wen Qian should be showing.
A family of three must be exceptionally happy.
She then asked, "By the way, why did you come with the Grand Tutor?"
Wen Qian took a small sip of water and replied, "Today I made some pastries and sent them to Duming Garden. When my uncle learned that I was coming, he came with me, saying that he had something to discuss with the Prince."
Jiang Wan nodded, but her expression was somewhat puzzled.
Duan Zhi'an is looking for Xiao Hengzhi?
The way the two of them were so tense just now didn't seem like they could talk things out calmly.
Just as she was wondering whether she should go over and check on the situation, Wen Qian grabbed her sleeve.
"Sister Wan, would you like to try some of my pastries?"
Mo Ping opened the food box, inside were several pieces of red and green pastries, shaped like flowers.
"Exquisitely crafted."
Jiang Mian picked up a piece at random, took a bite, and her brows furrowed involuntarily.
"How does the red bean and mung bean powder I specially ground taste?"
Wen Qian blinked, looking at her with anticipation.
Jiang Wan hesitated for a moment, but still said truthfully, "Are the beans burnt? Why do they taste a little bitter?"
"Bitter? How could it be bitter?"
Wen Qian was a little confused. She picked up a piece and tasted it: "It's clearly sweet. Mo Ping, you should try some too."
Mo Ping took a bite: "It is indeed very sweet."
Jiang Mian took another piece to taste, and still found it bitter and astringent.
She put down the pastry and shook her head: "Maybe it's my own problem. Lately, I don't know why, but my mouth always feels bitter, and even sweets taste bitter."
Wen Qian's smile faded, and her tone carried a hint of worry: "Could it be that you've fallen ill?"
"Sick?" Jiang Wan chuckled. "No, apart from a bitter taste in my mouth, I'm perfectly fine. How could I be sick?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly sneezed, giving him goosebumps.
"Did you catch a cold?" Wen Qian asked.
"I don't know either. It's actually warmer today, but I still feel so cold that my teeth are frozen."
"You should see a doctor, lest you develop a serious problem."
Jiang Wan looked at the pastries in the box and sighed, "That makes sense. I'll ask a doctor to take a look another day."
"Let's not postpone it. Let's go to the clinic today, and then the two of us sisters can go for a stroll tonight."
She spoke with great enthusiasm, and Jiang Mian was pulled to her feet.
As he approached the front gate, before the servant outside could even ask, Xiao Hengzhi peeked at her from the study.
"Jiang Mian, where are you going?" He walked over to this side.
Wen Qian glanced at him and subconsciously leaned closer to Jiang Mian's back.
Jiang Mian looked up at him and said in a light tone, "I would like to go for a walk with the Crown Princess. We will return later."
"No."
He pulled her over decisively.
"If Your Highness is worried, you may come along."
"I say no."
Jiang Wan frowned, trying to break free: "Why not? I said I would reply, and I will."
Xiao Hengzhi did not answer, but gripped her wrist, a hint of tension on his face.
Jiang Mian also challenged him, and the two were deadlocked.
He softened his tone somewhat with a hint of helplessness: "Alright, if you want to go out for a stroll, I will accompany you tomorrow, but not today."
Why not today?
"When I say no, that's final!"
Duan Zhi'an also came out at this moment, and said lightly, "Your Highness is really keeping a close watch on things. Are you so afraid that someone will run away?"
"Grand Tutor, you should keep a close eye on your own people," Xiao Hengzhi said, glancing at Wen Qian.
Wen Qian, who was already frightened, went blank when he looked at her like that, and took a step back.
Seeing this, Duan Zhi'an stepped forward to block her, and clicked his tongue lightly: "Your Highness, tone it down. You're a prince now, why do you still have such a fierce aura?"
Xiao Hengzhi's eyes flashed, but he did not refute.
Duan Zhi'an raised an eyebrow and said, "Alright, it seems I shouldn't stay any longer. Please remember what you promised me today, Your Highness."
"As long as the Grand Tutor keeps his promise, I will naturally keep my word."
Duan Zhian said no more and led Wen Qian into the carriage.
Jiang Wan asked, "What did Your Highness say to the Grand Tutor?"
I'll tell you in a few days.
Xiao Hengzhi pulled her into the house.
The carriage slowly drove away from the Prince's mansion. Wen Qian lowered her head and remained silent.
Duan Zhian glanced at her and smiled, "What's wrong? Are you unhappy?"
Wen Qian shook her head and said in a muffled voice, "No, it's just that I feel the prince is being too harsh on Sister Wan."
"Mistreatment?" Duan Zhi'an shook his head and laughed. "Why do you think he mistreated her?"
"Such beautiful weather, you can't even go out for a stroll? Besides, Sister Wan is sick and wants to go to the clinic. Isn't this being too harsh?"
"Is she sick?" Duan Zhian frowned. "What's wrong with her?"
"I don't know either, but she said her mouth has been bitter lately, even the sweet cakes I make taste bitter to her, and she's also feeling cold, I wonder if she's caught a chill..."
Wen Qian was still muttering to herself, but Duan Zhian's brows furrowed even deeper.
He recalled Xiao Hengzhi's nervous appearance earlier, and then remembered that today was the fifteenth...
It seemed like they had guessed something, but they didn't say anything.
He simply lifted the sedan curtain and looked at the round moon that was faintly appearing on the horizon.