Chapter 143 Taking advantage of the situation
Ah Ying was riding in a carriage, and when she arrived at the door, she stopped the coachman.

Su Jian was startled, and quickly asked with concern: "Miss, what's wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable?"

Ah Ying's eyes were gloomy, "Let's go back."

Su Jian asked in confusion, "Walk back to Songheyuan? It's still a long way! Aren't your legs uncomfortable?"

Aying said nothing and continued to get off the carriage.

Seeing that the girl had a solemn expression and walked slowly, and did not deliberately force the pain in her legs, Su Jian suddenly understood the girl's intention.

There was snow on the road, making it difficult to walk. Moreover, Aying had suffered so much in the snow that she walked very slowly.

As soon as Xie Chengyi, who had just returned to the Marquis' Mansion from the Shangshutai, entered the Mansion, he heard Zhan Li slowly pulling the reins, "Whoa--"

"Prince, Miss Aying is in front." Zhan Li's voice came.

Xie Chengyi was slightly startled. Didn't Ah Ying go to the Princess's Mansion to copy Buddhist scriptures? Why did she come back just now?
I quickly drew open the curtain, and saw Ah Ying's limping back. Her footsteps made a slight "crunching" sound as she stepped on the snow. Occasionally, snowflakes floated down from the branches and gently landed on the ends of her hair. However, Ah Ying seemed to be indifferent to all this. She would occasionally stop, rub her knees, and then continue walking.

This scene made Xie Chengyi very confused.

"Aying?" Xie Chengyi called out.

Ah Ying paused for a few seconds, without looking back, and said to Su Jian calmly: "Keep going."

Although Su Jian didn't understand what was going on, she continued walking according to A Ying's instructions.

Xie Chengyi's face darkened and he quickened his pace.

Just when Aying asked Su Jian to rub her knees again, Xie Chengyi caught up and grabbed Aying. Aying lost her balance and was pulled into his arms.

Ah Ying's face flushed. When she saw that it was Xie Chengyi, she only said lightly, "Prince."

"Why don't you say anything when I call you?" Xie Chengyi asked immediately.

Seeing that Ah Ying seemed to be a little unsteady, Xie Chengyi was confused, "What happened? Didn't we go to the princess's mansion?"

"Prince! Our girl—" Su Jian was about to speak, but Ah Ying shouted at her, "That's enough! Stop talking!"

Su Jian pursed her lips with a look of grievance.

Xie Chengyi immediately guessed, "Did Jiyao embarrass you?"

Ah Ying smiled faintly, sober and distant, "No, I just can't stand the cold."

"It's obvious that the princess is deliberately trying to make things difficult for you, forcing you to copy Buddhist scriptures in the snow in the yard and feel cold!" Su Jian said bluntly with a look of dissatisfaction.

Ah Ying's expression did not show any obvious grievance, "She is a princess, and everything she does has a reason."

Upon hearing this, Xie Chengyi's face was already gloomy. He stretched out his hand and picked up A Ying, "I'll take you back!"

"No need! I can bear it." Aying pushed Xie Chengyi away slightly with both hands.

Xie Chengyi tightened his grip, "Don't move!"

Having said that, he walked towards the side hall.

Along the way, Aying never leaned on Xie Chengyi's neck, nor did she make any eye contact with him.

But Xie Chengyi only felt that A Ying was distancing herself from him, and he didn't want this feeling.

Arrived at the side hall of Songheyuan.

Ah Ying was still as casual as ever, but her tone was a little more light, "Thank you for your concern, my lord. Go back, I'm fine..."

However, before she could finish her words, Ah Ying fell down softly.

Xie Chengyi quickly embraced her again and called out, "Aying! Aying!"

When I touched Aying's forehead, I was surprised to find that Aying's head was very hot.

"Go and tell Xu Kuang!" Xie Chengyi said sternly.

When he anxiously put Aying on the bed, Xie Chengyi carefully asked Aying what she had experienced in the princess's mansion.

After a while, Xu Kuang arrived.

After examining Ah Ying with a serious expression, Xu Kuang breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Miss Ah Ying, the cold has entered your body. You need to rest and don't catch a cold again."

Su Jian looked at Xie Chengyi's expression, which was almost as black as charcoal.

"Take good care of her!" After a long time, Xie Chengyi, holding Aying's hand, whispered.

Su Jian responded, "Yes."

Perhaps she was really tired, for Ah Ying slept for two full hours and woke up at almost midnight.

"Water." Ah Ying called softly. Su Jian was stunned and hurried to get some water. "Miss, here comes the water, here comes the water."

Only then did Aying slowly half sit up.

Looking at the busy Su Jian, he asked, "What time is it?"

"It's midnight, and you've slept for two hours."

Ah Ying took the cup of water that Su Jian handed to him, took a sip, and his bitter and dry mouth finally felt better.

"Where is the prince?" After gradually becoming clear-headed, Aying looked at Su Jian.

Su Jian let out a long sigh, and said with a very relieved expression: "You don't know how ugly the prince's face was when he saw you fainted. Oh, it was so scary. I stayed here quietly with you for an hour and then left. I just said that I would take good care of you."

Ah Ying nodded slowly, her expression calm. She was not the kind of person who would willingly accept being tortured. Since she was being put in a difficult position, why couldn't she try her best to protect herself? The prince had one very good point: he never turned a blind eye to her grievances.

"Girl, do you think Princess Jiyao will make things more difficult for you because of this?" After all, Su Jian was still a little worried about Aying.

Ah Ying smiled faintly, her face slightly pale, "It depends on whether the prince is determined."

As my thoughts were flying, a maid came in and said, "Miss, someone has sent you a letter."

Su Jian hurried to answer it.

He looked at it with some doubt, then handed it to A Ying, "Girl, take a look."

Ah Ying was very curious when he received the letter. After opening it, he saw only one sentence written on it: Don't go to the princess's mansion tomorrow.

Ah Ying's face froze. Who was this? Why did he inform her?
Did Xiao Jiyao come up with some new means of torture? Ah Ying had no choice but to go, she couldn't disobey the order. Now, Ah Ying could only take a gamble, betting on Xie Chengyi's feelings for her and Xiao Jiyao's unwillingness.

Just when she was wondering who would send her a letter, suddenly, a masked man flashed in her mind. However, it was impossible because she didn't even know this person.

However, Ah Ying always felt that the eyes were so familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had seen them before...

***
The next day.

Early in the morning, after packing up, Aying was ready to go out.

The guard at the door bowed and said, "Miss, the prince has ordered you to rest."

Ah Ying said lightly: "I'm fine now, you can go back and report."

Su Jian said anxiously, "Miss, since the prince has such an idea and doesn't want you to go, why don't you just not go?"

Thinking back to last night's letter of admonition, Su Jian felt that the princess's mansion today was a den of dragons and tigers.

"Then doesn't that prove the crime of disrespecting her? The royal family, how can I resist it?" Aying sighed.

"But your illness hasn't been cured yet?" Su Jian asked worriedly.

"It's just a minor illness."

Seeing Aying so persistent, Su Jian followed her.

Same time, same place.

The difference is that the door is open.

When Ah Ying stepped in, he saw the masked man from afar and was a little surprised. This man was so strange.

Only when Ah Ying slightly raised her head and walked inside calmly did the man slowly turn around.

Ah Ying took a glance and couldn't help but ask herself: Is this another romantic luck?
"Miss Aying, good morning." Xiao Jiyao's face became noticeably rosy and radiant, and she looked very energetic.

On the other hand, Aying's face was a little pale and he looked a little sick.

Ah Ying did not lower her eyebrows, but met her gaze with grace and grace: "Greetings, Princess!"

"Look, the sky is clear and the air is fresh. It's really a good day." Xiao Jiyao looked at the sky with great relaxation.

Ah Ying nodded slightly.

"By the way, you don't have to copy Buddhist scriptures today. Take a rest first. We have invited a troupe to sing. You can come and listen." As he said that, Xiao Jiyao walked along the corridor to the theater.

Ah Ying followed behind, not quite sure what Xiao Jiyao was trying to do.

The next moment, many noble ladies from aristocratic families appeared in Aying's eyes.

Seeing Ah Ying was somewhat surprised, Xiao Jiyao showed a hint of contempt in her eyes and said slowly: "These are all noble ladies in the capital. You should meet them. Maybe you will meet them in the future."

Ah Ying tried not to be too conspicuous, so she responded, "Yes."

But just as Ah Ying sat down at the seat as guided by the maid, a woman next to him covered her mouth and nose as if avoiding the plague and said, "Where did all these crazy bees and butterflies come from? This smell is so foul..."