Chapter 24: Does Me Listening to Music Bother You?

This slap came so suddenly that no one expected Yan Ning would actually slap him directly.

But...

Prince An and Yan Ze's first reaction was to hurriedly steady Yan Ning: "Be careful, watch out so you don't fall."

Di Leshan:???

He was practically going to die of anger!

This child actually dared to slap him in public, causing him to lose all face, yet the other two went over to show concern for Yan Ning instead!

Di Leshan was about to go crazy, "You, you are going too far! She just slapped me!"

Yan Ze: "Hmm..."

"Slap—"

Yan Ze said somewhat apologetically: "Sorry, I didn't control my hand well."

Having been slapped twice in a row, Di Leshan pointed at Yan Ze, stammering "You, you, you" for a long time, unable to squeeze out a single sentence.

Yan Ning asked: "Are you still going to talk or not?"

Di Leshan pursed his lips, not daring to say anything more.

Yan Ning felt a bit stifled and found this old man annoying, "Wouldn't it have been fine if you were like this earlier? You had to go on and on in front of us; does us listening to music bother you?"

Di Leshan gritted his teeth, "This official will certainly report this matter to His Majesty."

Yan Ning made a face, "Go, go, go, you go right ahead. We've done plenty of ridiculous things; one more won't make a difference."

Di Leshan glared at her viciously, pointing at Yan Ning and Yan Ze, "You, and you, you just wait."

Yan Ning nodded: "Alright, we'll wait."

Di Leshan was angered by her again, and almost bumped into the Folding Screen while walking.

Prince An rubbed Yan Ning's head: "Let your father do the hitting next time. Look, your hand is all red; doesn't it hurt to hit someone?"

Yan Ze: "I didn't think of it in the moment, that I could just slap him directly."

"But... I'll remember for next time."

Early the next morning, Yan Ning and the others bought out almost an entire street's worth of breakfast, and also carried some steamed buns with them to eat at noon.

After three days of travel, they finally arrived at the Nanyang Wang Mansion.

They hadn't encountered any roving bandits along the way; it was unclear if it was because they had too many people or if they had taken a detour to avoid them.

Yan Ning and the others arrived in the Nanyang Wang's jurisdiction, and Nanyang Wang Xiao Chengtian lived in this Ding'an City before them.

Yan Ning and the others brought several carriages, with three hundred guards following behind; the group entered Ding'an City in a grand procession.

Nanyang Wang soon heard that they had entered.

He hurriedly went out to welcome them.

Yan Ning and the others had just arrived at the inn and hadn't even had time to open their rooms when Xiao Chengtian arrived.

Yan Ning had met Nanyang Wang during the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration and knew he was a very kind uncle, so she greeted him: "Uncle Xiao, you came to pick us up?"

Xiao Chengtian brought his son, whose cheeks were flushed red, and said with a smile: "That's right, this is my son Xiao Huaijin. Hurry and greet your sister."

Xiao Huaijin was clearly a bit shy and only cupped his hands toward Yan Ning.

Then he scurried behind Xiao Chengtian.

Prince An was amused, "How is he even shyer than a young lady?"

Xiao Chengtian hadn't expected Prince An to escort them over, and he said happily to Prince An: "I heard there were roving bandits; thank you for escorting them here."

Prince An found it strange: "I'm escorting my nephew here, why are you thanking me?"

Xiao Chengtian laughed heartily, "We will soon become in-laws, so aren't we one family?"

Prince An didn't give him any face at all, "The heir is even shyer than a young lady; I certainly don't agree to this marriage."

Yan Ning listened to them bickering and found it quite interesting.

She took a few extra looks at Xiao Huaijin; he was truly beautiful.

That's right, beautiful. His features were very delicate; he was a budding beauty—ah no, a budding handsome man.

Seeing Yan Ning looking over, Xiao Huaijin even flashed a smile at her.

Even cuter.

Prince An was still arguing with Nanyang Wang, and Xiao Chengtian said with dissatisfaction: "My son is a bit afraid of meeting strangers, but he'll be fine once he gets familiar."

Both of them looked at Yan Ze.

Yan Ze originally really didn't want to acknowledge this marriage, but he watched the little heir and saw he was indeed good-looking, and he looked rather dull; this kind of "dumb beauty" was the easiest to handle—ah no, the most suitable to be his daughter's husband.

Yan Ze said with a smile: "Wait until Ningning grows up a bit more, and see if she is willing."

Prince An then stopped arguing.

They all rested at the Nanyang Wang Mansion that night, and Nanyang Wang looked at the carriages and said happily: "Ningning is truly capable; she was gifted so many things along the way."

Yan Ning just smiled.

The next day, Prince An left to return to the city, only saying that Yan Ning should come visit him when she had time.

In the span of a day, Yan Ning and the little heir had become familiar with each other. When Xiao Huaijin saw her again, he wasn't as shy, but he didn't know what to say and just smiled at Yan Ning.

He looked quite dull.

Nanyang Wang suggested they stay a few more days to finish processing the medicinal herbs, and then Nanyang Wang and the little heir would personally escort them over; they were idle anyway, and at this time of year, the fruits in Lingnan were all ripe.

Yan Ning picked a quiet courtyard and didn't ask for any maidservants; there was a little kitten in the courtyard.

So that afternoon, she kept saying "meow meow," though not a single sound was an actual cat's meow.

Yan Ning meowed for an entire afternoon, but that cat just kept lying on the roof, sunbathing comfortably, making one want to poke its little belly.

At this moment, a girl walked into her courtyard. The girl looked very delicate and was wearing a light green dress; judging by her attire, she didn't seem to be a maidservant of the mansion.

Yan Ning smiled and greeted her: "You are...?"

"Fang Qiuling, the Prince's cousin."

Yan Ning quickly felt that Fang Qiuling was a bit strange; it looked like she had come with ill intent.

Fang Qiuling waved at the kitten on the eaves: "Little Fatty, come here."

That orange cat, which Yan Ning had "meowed" at for an entire afternoon without being able to call over, heard Fang Qiuling's call, jumped down in an instant, and affectionately rubbed against Fang Qiuling's leg.

Fang Qiuling glanced at Yan Ning triumphantly, "See, if something isn't yours, don't covet it."

Yan Ning felt inexplicably annoyed.

Fang Qiuling continued: "My cousin and I grew up together; we learned horse riding and archery together, and went to the School together. You are nothing but a disgraced Princess who was exiled, how do you have the nerve?"

"Oh no, not a disgraced Princess; you aren't even a Princess anymore."

Yan Ning rolled her eyes, too lazy to pay her any mind.

If she were a bit older, she would have slapped her directly, but both of them looked to be twelve or thirteen years old, and Yan Ning truly found it hard to imagine people of this age acting jealous over a boy.

They were both still minors, after all!

Yan Ning couldn't be bothered to argue, but Fang Qiuling kept going.

"I'm telling you, you should take the initiative to make it clear to the Prince; you are simply not worthy of Huaijin."

Yan Ning's face darkened; she hadn't even intended to argue, but this person was making such a racket, which was extremely annoying.

Yan Ning pulled her forward directly, using so much strength that Fang Qiuling couldn't resist, and since the servants in the estate dared not intervene, she was dragged straight to the front courtyard by Yan Ning.

At this moment, her parents, the Prince, and the Princess Consort were gathered as a group of four playing mahjong, and her father and the Prince of Nanyang both had their faces covered in paper strips.

Seeing Yan Ning and the others arrive, they said happily: "Did you have a good time playing?"

But soon, Xiao Chengtian noticed that Yan Ning's expression was not very good, and Fang Qiuling also looked as if she hadn't wanted to come.

Xiao Chengtian asked: "What has happened to you two?"