Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 295 Cousins

Xiao Wenyi said slowly, "What's there to look at? Hasn't he already taken a liking to Ning Ci?"

Xiao Qu was so startled that his hand trembled, and he almost dropped the teacup.

"When did you find out?!"

"I may be old, but I'm not blind yet."

The way Xiao Wang looked at Ning Ci just now was definitely not innocent. Coupled with how he had been running around trying to exonerate Ning Ci these past two days, neglecting his meals and sleep, if Xiao Wenyi still couldn't figure out the inside story, then he would have wasted his sixty years of life.

Xiao Qu tried to calm himself down. He put down his teacup and asked cautiously, "Then do you think there's any possibility between Liu Lang and Ning Ci..."

Xiao Wenyi's expression was quite complicated.

He had a good impression of Ning Ci. In terms of both personality and appearance, Ning Ci and Xiao Wang were quite a good match. However, he still did not know Ning Ci's true background. In addition, her ambiguous relationship with the Sage made him very worried.

"Marriage is a serious matter, no need to rush, let's wait and see," Xiao Wenyi could only say.

Xiao Qu could tell that his grandfather didn't approve of the two of them, and couldn't help but ask, "Grandfather, is there something you dislike about Ning Ci?"

"She's a good person, it's just a pity..."

Xiao Wenyi didn't finish speaking. He stood up and slowly walked outside.

Xiao Qu was stunned for a moment, then immediately chased after him. He helped his grandfather step over the threshold, wanting to ask his grandfather what the unspoken meaning in his words was.
But no matter how he tried to subtly probe, Xiao Wenyi didn't respond.

Meanwhile, Yan Ciwan and Jiang Tingyue strolled in the garden, admiring the flowers.

Jiang Tingyue chatted about her family's recent situation and inquired about Yan Ciwan's family circumstances.

Yan Ciwan directly stated that both her parents had died and she had no siblings, so she could only rely on her grandmother for survival.

Jiang Tingyue saw that she was poised and generous in her speech and manners, and that she was open and composed in her dealings with others, so she assumed that she must have a good background. She never expected that her fate would be so bumpy.

It is truly remarkable that someone can maintain such an optimistic attitude after experiencing so much misfortune.

Jiang Tingyue not only looked at Yan Ciwan with newfound respect, but also felt a pang of pity for her.

Is your grandmother also in Chang'an?

Yan Ciwan shook her head: "Not at the moment."

Jiang Tingyue noticed her choice of words and asked, "Does that mean Grandma will come to Chang'an in the future? If so, that would be wonderful. Then we can go on a spring outing and enjoy the scenery with Grandma."

Yan Ciwan thanked the other party for their kindness, then glanced at the distance.

Jiang Tingyue followed her gaze and saw Xiao Wang's figure. She immediately understood: "Ayun should be awake by now. I need to go check on her. Please wait here for a moment. I'll be right back."

"it is good."

After Jiang Tingyue left, Yan Ciwan said to Qiu Shuang, who was following her, "I'm going to say a few words to Xiao Liulang. You wait here." Qiu Shuang glanced at Xiao Wang not far away. She could clearly see Xiao Wang and Yan Ciwan from this distance, so she nodded and replied, "Yes."

Yan Ciwan walked over to Xiao Wang and asked.

Did you come here specifically to see me?

“Hmm, I’d like to speak with you alone.” Xiao Wang glanced at Qiu Shuang not far away and noticed she was watching him. He felt she was spying on him and Yan Ciwan, so he asked in a low voice, “What is the background of that maid named Qiu Shuang?”

Yan Ciwan did not hide anything and said frankly, "She was originally a palace maid. The emperor sent her to take care of me and monitor my whereabouts."

She knew very well that both Qiu Shuang and Dong Li were spies planted around her, and their duties were not only to protect her but also to monitor her.

Xiao Wang frowned: "The distant relative you just mentioned, could it be the Sage? And was Qingping Residence also a gift from the Sage?"

"Ah."

Many speculations immediately arose in Xiao Wang's mind, but he quickly suppressed those chaotic thoughts, tried his best to remain calm, and asked seriously, "Why does the Sage value you so much?"

The reason was so dramatic that Yan Ciwan didn't know how to start the conversation.

Seeing that she seemed hesitant to speak, Xiao Wang assumed that his question had made her feel awkward, and immediately said, "If you don't want to talk about it, just pretend I didn't ask. You don't have to force yourself."

Even so, he really wanted to know the truth. He was afraid that Yan Ciwan had been favored by the Sage. In terms of status alone, the difference between him and the Sage was like heaven and earth. What if Yan Ciwan chose the Sage over him?
Yan Ciwan said awkwardly, "It's not what you think. I'm just a little embarrassed to talk about it because it involves the old relationship between my mother and the Emperor."

Xiao Wang was stunned: "What does this have to do with your mother?"

Yan Ci stepped forward and approached him, lowering her voice to recount the events that occurred twenty-five years ago between her mother and the Fifth Prince, Li Baizhou.

She heard everything from others, and she didn't know many of the details, so when she spoke, her tone was hesitant. She concluded at the end.

"Now that I've become the saint's illegitimate daughter, that's why he takes such good care of me."

Xiao Wang was greatly relieved to learn that her relationship with the Sage was not romantic, but he quickly realized what was happening and his face turned extremely ugly.

"If you are truly the daughter of a saint, then wouldn't you and I be cousins?"

This devastating news struck him deeply, leaving him in a daze. He even began to secretly regret asking such a question. Now, his beloved had become his cousin. What was he going to do? Reason told him that there was absolutely no possibility between him and Yan Ciwan. He could no longer have any feelings for her and could only treat her as an older brother. But the question was, could he really do that?
Yan Ciwan remained calm: "You're overthinking it. We're definitely not related by blood."

Xiao Wang forced a smile, his voice very low: "It's not necessarily true, after all, I can't be sure that I am the child of Crown Prince Renxian."

Qiu Shuang kept looking at the location where Yan Ciwan and Xiao Wang were. The distance between them was not far, and Qiu Shuang could clearly see that the two were standing very close and looked quite intimate. However, because the two were speaking in low voices, even if she strained her ears, she could not hear what they were saying. Only when the wind blew by would a few words be carried over.

"Mother...bloodline...child..."

Qiu Shuang's ears twitched slightly, and a bold guess popped into her mind: Could it be that Yan Ciwan was pregnant with Xiao Wang's child?!
She tried hard to listen, but then Yan Ciwan and Xiao Wang's voices became even lower, and even the wind couldn't help; she couldn't hear a single word.

She could only open her eyes wide to see. Yan Ciwan said something, and Xiao Wang was stunned at first, then showed a look of surprise and delight.

Qiu Shuang couldn't help but think that it looked like the reaction of someone who had just learned they were going to be a father.