The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

Chapter 183 Xiao Xie Meets

The General's Mansion, Lotus Pond.

Jing Anle had intended to discuss Aunt Cao's matter with Qin Xu again, but after some consideration, she decided not to speak.

Therefore, she is now strolling with Mu Ping and A Fang by the lotus pond.

"Princess," Mu Ping said in a low voice.

Too many things have happened recently, and Jing Anle only felt a headache coming on. Suddenly, Mu Ping spoke up, pulling her back to reality.

"Ok?"

"Just now, while I was waiting outside the door with Afang, Qin Hu told me that a few days ago, I entered the general's study one night. But I have no recollection of it, so there must be something fishy about it."

Jing Anle stopped and asked, "You mean someone is impersonating you?"

"Indeed, the study is a very important place in the general's mansion, and naturally contains many secrets. I'm afraid..."

"Hmph!" Jing Anle snorted coldly, "Now it seems, who else could it be but her?"

Afang, listening from the side, was completely bewildered. She looked left at Jing Anle and right at Muping, and muttered, "They're playing riddles again."

Just then, Afang suddenly became excited, "Princess, look!"

Hmm? Jing Anle was a little puzzled. Following Afang's gaze, she saw two people walking side by side under the banana tree not far away.

The man on the left is dressed in a blue robe. He has handsome features and a smile. If it weren't for his tall stature, one might mistake him for a beautiful woman from a distance.

The man on the right was dressed in dark clothes, with a handsome face and a tall, upright figure. Although he was also smiling, he was much more robust than the man beside him.

How did they end up together? Jing Anle wondered.

Mu Ping also looked up at Jing Anle and said, "It's strange enough that Crown Prince Xiao came to the General's Mansion, but why is he with that young master from the Xie family?"

Before Jing Anle could react, the two men had already noticed her and were walking towards her.

"Greetings, Princess Anle." Xiao Heng and Xie Bailing bowed simultaneously.

"Everyone, get up."

Xiao Heng raised his head, a smile still playing on his lips. Jing Anle suddenly remembered that night, his lips, and for some reason, her heart skipped a beat and started beating faster.

"I wonder why Crown Prince Xiao is at the General's Mansion?" After saying that, Jing Anle turned to look at Xie Bailing, "Young Master Xie comes here often, so why are you with Crown Prince Xiao again?"

Xie Bailing looked up and saw Jing Anle wearing a cloak, with a long neck and expressive eyes. She was dressed in the usual attire of a young lady from a noble family, yet she had a unique charm.

"Your Highness, I am obsessed with chess. I came here today to play chess with General Qin, but he had to leave for a while. I had to wait, but I didn't expect to run into Crown Prince Xiao here."

Xiao Heng continued, "What a coincidence, I've also come to see General Qin today." As he said this, his eyes were fixed on Jing Anle.

"Oh?" Jing Anle asked, somewhat curious.

"I have long admired General Qin's reputation on the battlefield. We parted hastily at the Princess's residence last time, and I have come today specifically to seek your guidance, but unfortunately, it is not at the right time," Xiao Heng said.

Xie Bailing chuckled softly, "It seems General Qin will be quite busy today."

The atmosphere was somewhat awkward as the three of them gathered together.

“That’s not necessarily true,” Xiao Heng suddenly said. “Since General Qin has things to attend to, perhaps…”

Jing Anle felt uncomfortable under Xiao Heng's intense gaze. Almost instantly, she interrupted, "I have something important to discuss with my cousin, so I won't disturb you two any longer."

She turned to leave, then suddenly turned back, a subtle smile on her face. "I've long heard that Crown Prince Xiao is proficient in all six arts. Why don't you condescend to play a game with Young Master Xie? That way, waiting for someone won't be too boring."

Afang looked at Jing Anle in surprise. Prince Xiao was the crown prince of the country, while this Young Master Xie was just the son of a fourth-rank official. How could this be allowed?

What surprised Afang even more was what happened next. Instead of feeling dissatisfied, Crown Prince Xiao said, "The princess is right."

Xie Bailing, standing to the side, simply lowered his head and smiled, appearing compliant.

After saying that, Jing Anle headed towards Qin Zhihua's courtyard.

Misty Courtyard.

Tea and snacks had already been prepared inside.

“Cousin.” Jing Anle took Qin Zhihua’s hand, her eyes filled with joy. The girl was wearing a silk dress embroidered with crabapple blossoms, looking beautiful and elegant.

Qin Zhihua was also overjoyed, as the two had not seen each other for some time since their last parting at the Princess's residence.

"My cousin looks much better."

Qin Zhihua felt a warmth in her heart, understanding Jing Anle's meaning. She pulled Jing Anle to sit on the couch with her and said with a smile, "I've thought a lot these days. Father and grandmother are right. He is the legitimate son of the Empress, and if nothing unexpected happens, he will be the one to inherit the throne in the future."

As a woman herself, Jing Anle knew how bitter Qin Zhihua must have felt when she said these things. In her past life, when Jing Anle was infatuated with Murong Peifeng, she couldn't bear to see any other women around her, so she could understand her perfectly.

“Cousin, the Emperor’s decree is hard to disobey, but the Emperor has feelings for you. As for Miss Chu, she was just caught up in the Emperor’s decree.” Jing Anle didn’t say directly that Chu Mingyue also had feelings for Jing Fengyao. She had previously thought of getting Chu Mingyue to back out and stop the marriage, but now it seems that it’s not that simple.

Qin Zhihua understood Jing Anle's meaning perfectly. She nodded and said, "I know Brother Feng's feelings. Since he has feelings for me, I will not let him down."

"By the way, I ran into Young Master Xie in the garden just now. He said my cousin was called away unexpectedly. Did something happen?" Jing Anle asked.

At this point, Qin Zhihua smiled more easily, "Oh, it's for Grandmother's birthday banquet. Time is tight, and the whole household has been busy with this matter recently."

A birthday banquet?

Jing Anle was stunned. How come she hadn't thought of this at all? She repeated, "Is it my maternal grandmother's birthday banquet?"

Seeing this, Qin Zhihua felt a little embarrassed. After all, Jing Anle and the General's Mansion were not very close before, so she naturally did not know about Old Madam Qin's birthday banquet. Therefore, she could only smooth things over, "Princess has been attending classes recently, so it is understandable that she is tired. Grandmother is turning seventy this year."

“Normally, my father always tells us to keep a low profile, but this year, he said to take good care of things.”

To change the subject, Qin Zhihua added, "Actually, Grandmother's birthday celebration this time is partly for the occasion, and partly for the purpose of finding a suitable wife for my brother among the prominent families in the capital."

Seeing that Jing Anle was still stunned, Qin Zhihua sensed that something was wrong and gently called out, "Princess?"

Jing Anle felt that Qin Zhihua's voice was sometimes near and sometimes far, as if there was a gap in her memory. She tried to remember, but her head hurt more and more, and her expression became painful.

"Princess? Princess! Princess, what's wrong?"

Jing Anle felt a sudden darkness before her eyes and then lost consciousness.