“Then why?” Hearing what Xiao Anning said, Princess Yong An’s mind was finally put at ease.
“I just, I don’t want to hold her up. If she doesn’t want to marry me, we should bring it up right away. This will allow us to handle the matter more appropriately. Since we’ve been betrothed to each other, if the marriage is going to be called off, regardless of which party is the one to do it, Miss Ji’s reputation will be ruined. So if we really want to break off this marriage engagement, we have to come up with a foolproof plan,” Xiao Anning said in a deep voice.
“My son, you are just so kind. The woman you end up marrying will be truly blessed to have you as her husband,” Princess Yong An sighed gently. It should be a good thing that her son was so kind, but she was afraid that he would get hurt because of his kindness.
“Which is why I think it’d be best for you, Mother, to ask Miss Ji what she really wants,” Xiao Anning said.
“All right. I’ll ask her myself. After all, the prime minister is one person I don’t really trust.” Princess Yong An thought about it and came to such a decision. She certainly thought favorably of Ji Liruo. The Empress had also complimented Ji Liruo for her genteel, generous, and sensible disposition. But what Princess Yong An valued more was Ji Liruo’s gentleness and kindness. For someone of his character, Ning’er definitely needed a gentlewoman who would stand firmly by his side. She had seen all the ladies of noble families in the capital and had found Ji Liruo to be the best candidate.
Hearing what his mother said, Xiao Anning’s mind was put at ease.
Princess Yong An soon came up with an idea and said, “How about this? In a few days’ time, I will invite Ji Liruo and her mother to Xuan Ling Nunnery outside the capital to offer incense and pray for blessings. I will ask her myself then.”
Xuan Ling Nunnery was the most well-known nunnery in the capital. Many ladies of the capital’s noble families liked to go there to pray for blessings. The abbess was a nun who had profound cultivation and great virtue. Even the late Empress Dowager had liked to listen to her sermons. So it wasn’t surprising that this abbess was quite highly reputed among the noble families.
Two days later, Princess Yong An went out very early in the morning and headed to Xuan Ling Nunnery, while Xiao Anning continued taking Tian Miao around the capital to shop for all kinds of good food and fancy clothes.
At noon, Xiao Anning and Tian Mia were just about to dig into their food at the House of Gourmand when they suddenly heard a noise outside the door.
“What is it?” Xiao Anning asked.
“It’s Miss Ji’s personal maid. She’s saying that she has something important to report,” replied the guard outside the door.
“Come in, then.” Xiao Anning was a little puzzled as to why Ji Liruo’s maid was looking for him.
“Young Marquis.” There was an anxious look on the maid’s face. After entering, she first bowed in salutation and then said, “The princess has twisted her ankle. She was afraid that you’d be worried, so she didn’t send anyone here to report this matter to you. My lady is afraid that if treatment is delayed any further, the princess’s injury will get worse, so she sent me here to report to you, so that you, Young Marquis, can persuade the princess to quickly return home and seek treatment from the imperial physician…”
“What?!” The moment Xiao Anning heard this, he leaped to his feet. Given his mother’s character, this was definitely something she would do. Afraid that he would worry about her, she wouldn’t willingly tell him that she was injured. She also wouldn’t tell him whether her sprain was serious or not.
“In that case, you should quickly go and take a look.” Tian Miao sat calmly and peacefully in the same spot. She didn’t even raise her head to look at the maid, who was standing to the side and stealing glances at her.
“All right. Then my apologies, Miss Tian. I’ll excuse myself for now. I will get back to accompanying you around when I return.” Xiao Anning left in a hurry, bringing his guards with him as they made haste for Xuan Ling Nunnery outside the capital.
Silently, the maid also retreated and left the room.
Only Tian Miao was left in the cabin-like room, where she sat alone in a chair. Kong Hou and Dong Xiao, who had been standing behind her, stepped forward to serve her the dishes.
Kong Hou looked wistfully at Tian Miao. The look on her face was so inquisitive that Tian Miao had a good laugh just from looking at her.
“Ask whatever you want to ask.” Tian Miao ate a slice of roasted duck and said helplessly, “Your eyes look ready to pop out of your skull from all that staring.”