Prime Minister.

Chapter 298, Section 297: [At the time, it seemed like nothing special]

The 20th year of Taihe, the fifth day of the seventh month.

Shen Garden, East Garden.

“Auntie is fine. It’s just a minor ailment caused by the change of seasons. She will recover after decocting a few doses of the medicine I prescribed. You don’t need to worry.”

Xu Zhiwei sat down next to Shen Qingluan and gently comforted her.

Shen Qingluan said apologetically, "I feel a little bad that you went to all this trouble, Sister."

"Why would we talk about this between us?"

Xu Zhiwei smiled and then said, "You should have told me when your aunt was feeling unwell. If Yun'er hadn't found me, I wouldn't have known about this. You can't do this again. I bothered Shen Garden for many days before, so you have to give me a chance to return the favor."

Shen Qingluan smiled and said, "Alright, since you say so, I'll definitely ask you for help if I need anything in the future."

"now it's right."

Xu Zhiwei looked around the room and suddenly thought of Lord Xue for some reason. So she asked curiously, "Qingluan, how far has your marriage with Lord Xue progressed?"

Shen Qingluan was taken aback, then said shyly, "Naji."

Xu Zhiwei asked in surprise, "Is the next step the tax collection?"

The betrothal ceremony, also known as the engagement ceremony, is the fourth step in the traditional Chinese wedding ceremony. It involves the groom sending betrothal gifts to the bride's family, then choosing an auspicious wedding date, and finally, the groom personally welcoming the bride.

"Ah."

Although Shen Qingluan and Xu Zhiwei were getting closer, she was still a young lady from a respectable family. She was inevitably shy when talking about marriage, and said as calmly as possible, "My father said that after the betrothal ceremony is completed, the date will be postponed."

Xu Zhiwei asked, puzzled, "Why is that?"

Shen Qingluan said, “Uh… Brother Xue’s wedding will definitely be held in the capital, since the Xue family ancestral hall and Aunt Xue are both in the capital. But he is currently in charge of Yangzhou, so he can’t just go back to the capital for the wedding and neglect the affairs of Yangzhou. If he does that, there will definitely be many people in the court who will impeach him.”

"I see."

Xu Zhiwei suddenly realized, then said with a hint of worry, "But if he can't return to the capital for several years, your marriage will have to be delayed indefinitely?"

"We are still young. As long as we get engaged, it won't matter if we wait two years."

Shen Qingluan said sincerely, "These two years are extremely important for Brother Xue, as they are related to whether he can gain a foothold in the court, so I am willing to wait for him."

"Silly girl, it's truly a blessing for Lord Xue to have met you."

Xu Zhiwei held her hand tenderly, then suddenly her expression changed slightly, and without saying a word, she began to take her pulse.

Shen Qingluan looked at her blankly.

After a moment, Xu Zhiwei breathed a sigh of relief and looked into Shen Qingluan's eyes, asking, "Have you not been sleeping well these past two days?"

Shen Qingluan had already witnessed her superb medical skills, so she didn't hide anything and nodded gently.

Xu Zhiwei withdrew her hand and said with concern, "Qingluan, is it because Princess Yun'an's carriage arrived at the dock outside the city today that you are so restless?"

Although she didn't know much about the love-hate relationship between the three, she had personally witnessed the undercurrents between Jiang Li and Shen Qingluan after the Xuan Yuan Sect attacked Shen Garden.

In her mind, a young official as outstanding as Xue Huai, even if he was extremely virtuous, would still have many women in the world who would be interested in him. If it were an ordinary person, he would not be able to threaten Shen Qingluan's position. However, that person was a princess of noble status, and was also extremely favored by the current emperor.

Now that Princess Yun'an has arrived in Yangzhou again on her return journey, it's no wonder that Shen Qingluan can't even sleep well.

Shen Qingluan shook her head and said frankly, "Sister, the princess actually arrived in Yangzhou a long time ago, and she has been staying in the East Garden these days."

Xu Zhiwei was stunned.

After Shen Qingluan briefly recounted the previous story, she couldn't help but frown and ask, "What exactly does this prince want to do?"

"She wanted to travel to Yangzhou with Brother Xue."

Shen Qingluan didn't keep him in suspense and slowly said, "Brother Xue sent someone to tell me yesterday that he will be doing his duty as a host and accompany the princess to visit several places in the next few days, so I don't need to worry."

"This……"

Looking into Shen Qingluan's still clear eyes, Xu Zhiwei finally couldn't help but ask, "Are you really not worried?"

"Worry."

Shen Qingluan nodded and said, "I'm worried that Brother Xue might offend the princess. You know he's outwardly accommodating but inwardly principled and upright, while the princess is a noblewoman of noble birth. What if a conflict arises from a single word or two that doesn't hit the mark?"

Xu Zhiwei hesitated before speaking, then said, "You're actually worried about these things? I thought..."

Shen Qingluan smiled and said, "What do you think, sister? Actually, I know even if you don't say it, but I'm really not worried about that matter. Anyone in this world, except my parents, could lie to me, but I firmly believe that Brother Xue wouldn't do that. If we don't even have this much trust, how can we talk about knowing each other, staying together, and growing old together?"

Xu Zhiwei remained silent.

She knew that Xue Huai was a rare and good official, but was he really as good as Shen Qingluan thought?

Perhaps it's just a case of beauty being in the eye of the beholder?

However, at this moment, she could not bring herself to say what was on her mind.

……

The sun was high in the sky; outside the city, on Shugang Hill.

In midsummer, the lush forests of Shugang are filled with the incessant chirping of cicadas, yet the coolness of the mountains cannot be concealed. The winding stone steps extend upwards, disappearing into the verdant landscape.

Xue Huai lagged half a step behind, following beside Jiang Li, maintaining a just-right distance.

Su Erniang and several maids who were skilled in martial arts followed far behind, giving the two enough space. They were not too worried about safety, because the guards of the princess's mansion had already set up sentry posts in the area, both visible and hidden, and there were also imperial guards on the outer perimeter. Any slight movement would trigger an alarm.

Today, Jiang Li has shed her elaborate palace attire and changed into a moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with a matching gauze half-sleeved garment over it. Her black hair is loosely tied up with a simple white jade hairpin, with a few strands falling down her neck, making her look exceptionally refreshing and neat. She has lost some of her haughty and aloof demeanor and truly resembles a wealthy young lady going out for a spring outing.

Xue Huai remained dutiful throughout, and when he noticed her gaze lingering ahead, he promptly introduced, "Your Highness, the Guanyin Temple lies at the steepest point of the mountain ahead. It is said to be an ancient temple from a previous dynasty, and its incense offerings are still quite good. Climbing to the platform behind the temple, you can overlook the city of Yangzhou and the southern scenery."

"Ah."

Jiang Li continued climbing the steps, her pace slow, as if she were somewhat distracted.

After climbing for a while, Jiang Li's breathing became slightly rapid, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

Along the way, Xue Huai had noticed that she had secretly wiped her face with her sleeve several times. This action was a bit clumsy for a young girl and a reserved manner that she did not want others to notice. It was completely different from the dignified and self-possessed Princess Yun'an on weekdays.

When you reach a relatively gentle bend halfway up the mountain, there are stone tables and benches for people to rest, and a clear mountain spring flows nearby.

Jiang Li stopped and gazed at the clear spring, her eyes brightening slightly as she asked, "Xue Huai, is this spring water drinkable?"

"Your Highness, this is spring water from the mountains, clear and sweet. Locals often use it to brew tea, but it is not suitable for drinking directly."

Xue Huai replied, and seeing that Su Erniang and the others had also caught up, he said, "Your Highness is a little thirsty."

Su Erniang immediately took out a water pouch from her bag, opened it, and respectfully handed it to Jiang Li.

Jiang Li felt a surge of excitement and wanted to taste the spring water, but she knew that Su Erniang would definitely not agree, so she took the water bag and took a sip.

Xue Huai noticed her slightly furrowed brows and his heart stirred. He then took the bamboo water bottle from his waist and said gently, "If Your Highness doesn't mind, you can try this herbal tea. It's made with dried plums and a few mint leaves, and it's perfect for relieving the summer heat."

Jiang Li's gaze fell on the simple bamboo tube, then she looked up at Xue Huai, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded.

Seeing this, Su Erniang took out a white porcelain bowl from her bundle, then opened the bamboo tube that Xue Huai had handed over, poured out a small half bowl of cool tea, and handed it to Jiang Li.

Jiang Li took a small sip, and a unique tea aroma with a hint of plum tartness and the coolness of mint filled her mouth. Her eyes brightened a little, and she held the white porcelain bowl and sipped it slowly, as if savoring it.

At this moment, the imposing royal aura she once possessed almost completely vanished, leaving only the curiosity of an eighteen-year-old girl towards new things.

A moment later, Jiang Li handed the porcelain bowl back to Su Erniang, raised an eyebrow slightly at Xue Huai, and asked in a slightly lighter tone, "Did you brew this tea?"

Xue Huai answered truthfully, "This herbal tea was brewed by Mo Yun; I merely provided the recipe."

"Oh."

Jiang Li responded, a hint of disappointment in her voice, and looked towards the Guanyin Temple higher up, saying softly, "Let's keep going and see the scenery you mentioned."

For the rest of the journey, Jiang Li seemed to have unloaded some invisible burden, no longer deliberately maintaining distance, and her steps became much lighter.

When she encounters a steep section, she will subconsciously reach out to hold onto the nearby rock wall or tree trunk, her actions naturally revealing the vitality of a young girl.

Occasionally, when she sees a cluster of wildflowers in full bloom by the mountain roadside, or a squirrel leaping in the treetop, her eyes will light up with surprise, and she may even pause for a moment, a childlike smile curving her lips.

Xue Huai followed silently behind, watching her slender yet stubborn figure weave through the mountain path, sometimes pausing, sometimes moving forward. The girl's brightness and the princess's nobility intertwined in her, creating a unique charm.

About fifteen minutes later, the two climbed onto the platform behind the Guanyin Temple, where the view suddenly opened up.

In the distance, Yangzhou city resembles a miniature sand table, with houses standing side by side and the Grand Canal winding around the city like a jade belt, shimmering in the sunlight.

The mountain wind whistled, fluttering the hem of their clothes.

Jiang Li stood at the edge of the platform, gazing into the distance.

The strong mountain wind tousled her hair, but she didn't care. Instead, she tilted her head back, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.

The fresh scent of mountain grass and trees, mixed with the aroma of sunshine, filled my lungs, as if it could cleanse all the pent-up emotions in my heart.

"Xue Huai".

Jiang Li didn't turn around. Her voice drifted in the mountain breeze, yet carried an unprecedented ease as she murmured, "The wind here blows so nicely."

Xue Huai stood a few steps behind her, looking at her relaxed expression, and was slightly touched.

He remained silent, simply standing quietly to the side, watching the picturesque landscape with her.

After a long while, Jiang Li turned around, her face flushed slightly from the mountain breeze, and her eyes were surprisingly bright.

She looked at Xue Huai, a sly smile playing on her lips, and said lightly, "This trip to Shugang was worthwhile; you did a good job as a host."

Xue Huai smiled and said, "I'm glad Your Highness likes it."

Jiang Li paused for a moment, as if she had made a great decision, and said to Xue Huai, "The plum and mint tea is good. If I have the chance next time, I would like to try the one you brew yourself."

Xue Huai saw a hint of unease in her eyes, which was completely different from the Princess Yun'an he knew.

Seeing that he remained silent, Jiang Li felt a pang of sadness and teased, "Is Lord Xue so stingy?"

Xue Huai sighed inwardly, but smiled slightly and said, "Your Highness has given the order, how dare this humble official disobey?"

Jiang Li's brows relaxed, and she smiled sweetly, "Okay."

(End of this chapter)