Chapter 25: A Disgraced Princess in Exile

Yan Ning said directly, "I didn't know before that the young lord and this young lady were childhood sweethearts, two little innocents, and when Great-Grandmother set the engagement, she also didn't know that Miss Fang and the young lord were in love; this engagement might as well be called off."

"I cannot break them apart, and Great-Grandmother will also understand."

After these words were spoken, Fang Qiuling's mind went blank, and for a moment, she couldn't even manage to speak.

Yan Ning chattered away, "Thanks to Miss Fang's words for waking me up, I am not any princess now, and I am simply not worthy of the young lord."

Yan Ze and Ji Lan's expressions sank instantly.

Xiao Chengtian slapped the table: "Nonsense!"

Fang Qiuling finally remembered to defend herself: "No, it's not like that, I, I..."

Her aunt and uncle had always been very good to her, so Fang Qiuling had always assumed they viewed her as their future daughter-in-law; otherwise, why would she live in the mansion and have better food and clothing than the mansion's own concubine-born sons?

Moreover, she had heard from her mother that she had an engagement with the Nanyang Wang family, a childhood betrothal made when the old men on both sides were still alive.

Fang Qiuling wanted to say something, but seeing Xiao Chengtian's face turn livid, it seemed as if he would throw her out the next moment.

Nanyang Wangfei was usually a gentle and good-tempered person, but on this matter, her expression was stern.

The Wangfei said with a dark face, "Qiuling, pack your things; I will have someone send you back to your home, and do not mention Huaijin ever again."

Fang Qiuling gritted her back teeth; she was not reconciled!

Qiuling's eyes immediately turned red, "But doesn't Huaijin like me very much? We have been childhood sweethearts since we were small; Huaijin, say something, don't you like me more?"

Xiao Huaijin: "I only think of you as a sister."

As he spoke, he blushed slightly and looked at Yan Ning, "I like her."

Fang Qiuling only felt a "Boom—" explode in her head, and her mind went completely blank.

She glared viciously at Yan Ning, only to see Yan Ning smiling and eating melon seeds, as if she were watching a play.

How could she have no reaction at all?!

Shouldn't a disgraced princess who had been exiled be desperately clinging to the thigh of the Nanyang Wang?

Fang Qiuling clenched her fists tightly.

"Yan Ning has only been here for a few days, but I have been accompanying you since we were children."

Xiao Huaijin, however, said, "I went to the palace before and got lost; it was she who led me to Cining Palace and even taught a lesson to those people who were bullying me."

Yan Ning was stunned; she carefully recalled it, and it seemed there was such an incident, but she hadn't taken it to heart. After so many years, she had long forgotten it completely, but she hadn't expected Xiao Huaijin to have remembered it all along.

No wonder after she came to the Nanyang Wang Mansion, Xiao Huaijin had been sending her things.

There were bamboo-woven little dragonflies, carved little clay figures, and he would even get up early to queue up to buy pastries for her to eat.

Her family had already been exiled; logically speaking, there was nothing to curry favor with, and Yan Ning only now understood that the little young lord was repaying a debt of gratitude.

Yes, Yan Ning only took this as repaying a debt.

Yan Ning was twelve years old this year, and the little young lord was only fourteen; what kind of liking or disliking could two minors have?

Fang Qiuling watched the two of them exchanging glances, and coupled with Xiao Huaijin saying he liked Yan Ning more, Fang Qiuling broke down.

She said to the Wangfei in a fit of pique: "Aunt, I once heard that I had a childhood betrothal with the little young lord."

Yan Ning widened her eyes once again; how could there be more gossip?

Yan Ze was a bit angry: "You had an engagement long ago; why didn't you say so when the Empress Dowager issued the marriage decree?"

Xiao Chengtian was both anxious and angry.

What kind of niece was this, knowing only how to cause trouble day after day.

Xiao Chengtian hurriedly explained to Yan Ze: "If Jin'er had an engagement, how could I have agreed to the Empress Dowager? Jin'er has never had a childhood betrothal."

Fang Qiuling gritted her back teeth, staring fixedly at Yan Ning.

After a good while, she said: "Aunt, are you denying the childhood betrothal between me and Brother Huaijin because of Yan Ning? I heard it with my own ears!"

As she spoke, Fang Qiuling looked at Yan Ning, "You have all been exiled, and the place of exile is still in Lingnan; if you don't call off this marriage, I will have my father teach you a harsh lesson in Lingnan."

"Slap—"

The Wangfei swung a slap onto Fang Qiuling's face.

She did not hold back even a bit of strength, directly hitting Fang Qiuling until the corner of her mouth bled, and losing her footing, she fell to the ground.

Fang Qiuling looked at the Wangfei in disbelief; this was the aunt who loved her the most!

Fang Qiuling's eyes filled with tears instantly, "Aunt..."

But the Wangfei no longer paid her much mind.

The matter had blown up too big, so the Wangfei notified Fang Qiuling's parents, also so that they could apologize in person, to avoid Yan Ze being dissatisfied.

If one were to ask why their family valued Yan Ze so much, firstly, it was because he was capable; he usually didn't act, but when he did, it was always a brilliant idea, having resolved many crises for the Emperor in the past. And a blockhead like the Crown Prince, even if the Emperor valued him and groomed him, that was nothing more than carving flowers on dung. Who knew when the Emperor might recall them.

Secondly, the Empress Dowager was still alive and well, and it was said she was in robust health, so living for another few years was not a problem. Moreover, next year was the Empress Dowager's eightieth birthday, which was bound to be a grand celebration; by then, they could let Yan Ze's family return to celebrate the birthday, and after returning to the Capital, perhaps they wouldn't have to come back.

So seeing Fang Qiuling being so ungrateful, the Wangfei was simply furious.

She must not let them drag the Nanyang Wang Mansion down with her.

The Wangfei confined Fang Qiuling to a small courtyard, with guards watching to ensure she could not come out.

Xiao Chengtian gave a bitter laugh and explained to Yan Ze: "I don't know where this girl heard it from; my Huaijin truly does not have a childhood betrothal. His Highness, do you believe me?"

Yan Ze nodded: "I believe you."

Xiao Chengtian and the others also breathed a sigh of relief.

Xiao Chengtian had someone go to Yanyu Pavilion to buy some dishes back, and before long, a large table was set, and the two families ate in harmony.

But Fang Qiuling was not so lucky.

When Fang Qiuling's parents arrived, Yan Ning's family of three was still strolling in Ding'an City.

Ding'an City had abundant fruit, such as mangoes, lychees, and other southern fruits; Yan Ning hadn't eaten lychees for a long time, so as soon as she saw them, she bought a large crate, preparing to put them in her space to eat slowly.

The lychees in ancient times were not as big as those in later generations, but the taste was about the same.

Yan Ning whispered: "Dad, if my Cold Storage is unlocked, how about you trade with that big brother for some more lychees?"

Speaking of that eldest brother, Yan Ze sighed: "He terminated the trade, and now the new trading partner hasn't refreshed yet; it will take at least two months."

"So, Father, does that mean your Trading System is completely unusable for these two months?"

Yan Ze nodded, "Next time there are items, we must exchange and buy them as quickly as possible."

Yan Ning added a sentence: "We can make a list of the things we want to trade for, write them down whenever we think of them, and then buy them all once it refreshes."

The three of them returned to the Wangfu and saw two people dressed in brocade standing beside the Prince of Nanyang.

As soon as they entered, someone shouted: "His Highness, I heard that my daughter offended you, so we have come to apologize."