After becoming pregnant, the cold-hearted nobles all went mad.

After all, Shen Lingyi was deeply in love with Xu Yanqing in the past, even abandoning her own reputation to throw herself into his arms.

It's impossible that I would suddenly stop liking it in just half a month.

Unfortunately, she was destined to be disappointed.

Shen Lingyi didn't react at all, but was quite interested instead. "I overheard that the Crown Prince was going to choose a consort, but the candidate wasn't someone who really wanted to be the Crown Princess. I wondered who had the ability to do that, but it turns out it was her."

She immediately became interested in this princess.

Later, Shen Lingyi specifically inquired and found out that she was in the same Jiazi Academy as Princess Ning.

However, she did not often go to the schoolhouse. The academy allowed Princess Ning to live outside the courtyard because she was in poor health and often needed the presence of a royal physician.

When Pei Qingrong was around, she would usually be reading in the pavilion behind the academy.

Just then, when Shen Lingyi arrived, she saw a beautiful figure in the distance, gazing intently at the pavilion.

After winter sets in, the lake surface here freezes over.

The crystal-clear ice reflected the woman's gentle features, making her appear as serene as a figure in a painting.

As Shen Lingyi was looking around, she suddenly noticed a familiar figure quietly approaching. It was Linlang, who had come to deliver something to Shen Tingjiao that day.

"Be careful!"

Shen Lingyi's voice startled Linlang, who panicked and, not having time to cover herself, and too eager to complete the task, simply pushed Pei Qingrong from behind.

"what!"

Pei Qingrong screamed and fell into the water.

Shen Lingyi wanted to grab Linlang, but at this moment, the person was struggling underwater in the breaking ice. It was so cold, and Pei Qingrong was not in good health.

If we don't rescue them quickly, something terrible could happen.

After quickly glancing around at the empty surroundings, Shen Lingyi made a tough decision, took off her fox fur coat, and jumped down to save the person.

The frozen lotus pond carried a faint chill, which was not easily noticed at first, but had already penetrated to the bone by the time one realized it.

Shen Lingyi managed to pull the person out of the water, but she herself was freezing cold.

Wrapped in a fox fur coat, it kept shaking as it sat by the charcoal brazier.

Xie Chichun shoved the hot water bottle he had just finished making into her arms and said irritably, "You're being too reckless."

"It would be better to call someone than to jump in and save someone yourself. Look at you now, you should be thanking the Bodhisattva for not getting seriously injured from the cold."

"How is Pei Qingrong?"

"Luckily, she was rescued in time." When Xie Chichun mentioned this kind-hearted princess, he stopped cursing. "But she was already weak, and now that she had fallen into this cold pool, even the imperial physicians had to be called out, and the Empress Dowager was furious."

After a slight pause, he asked, "What exactly happened? How did you and Princess Hening both fall into the water?"

You should know that although the lake in the academy is frozen, the ice layer is not thick at all, only a thin layer.

When some teachers were bored, they would wear a straw hat and take a fishing rod to fish.

The students knew that place was unsafe, and even when they went there, they would stay far away from the lake. Logically speaking, Pei Qingrong and Shen Lingyi should not have been so careless.

Shen Lingyi's eyes darkened. She didn't say that she had seen Linlang, but only said, "...When I saw the princess accidentally fall into the water, I didn't have time to think about these things."

Xie Chichun had no doubts.

Pei Qingrong's imperial physicians are still working hard to revive her, but Shen Lingyi's health has improved to the point where she can get out of bed and walk again.

Upon learning the news, the Empress Dowager immediately sent someone to inquire.

Shen Lingyi explained the same thing to Xie Chichun to the palace servants.

After all, there was no one else besides her and Pei Qingrong at that time, and Pei Qingrong was attacked from behind by Linlang. If she were to sue Shen Tingjiao, she would probably be bitten back. It was better to leave it at that for the time being.

After the palace servants were sent back, the Empress Dowager sent a generous gift.

Pei Qingrong was ultimately lucky, but she fell seriously ill after the incident.

By the time she was able to walk, the Lantern Festival was almost here.

The Lantern Festival in the Great Wei Dynasty is quite different from other places. While other places hold it around the warm spring month of March, here it is held closer to the end of the year.

The academy was closed for the day, and the students, who had been working hard for a week, could finally go home and relax.

night.

Shen Lingyi finally managed to escape from home and, with Shaoyao in tow, headed to a restaurant with a clear purpose.

"Are you sure Shen Tingjiao arranged to meet the Crown Prince here?"

Peony nodded firmly, "No mistake! This servant personally witnessed Linlang delivering the letter to the East Palace."

Seeing Shen Lingyi's imposing and confident demeanor, as if she were about to catch someone in the act of adultery.

She hesitated again.

"Miss, are we really going? Madam forbids you from going out. We've already angered Madam enough by sneaking out, what if we cause more trouble?"

Shen Lingyi gave her a look, shook her head and said, "Why do you become so timid when you're with your young lady?"

Peony, with a bitter face, wanted to complain, saying that it was all Shen Lingyi's fault for bravely saving people the other day.

When Jiang learned that she had jumped into the water in the dead of winter, she was terrified and detained her for several days after returning home.

Shen Lingyi is not someone who can be trapped.

They seized the opportunity and immediately ran out.

Shen Lingyi walked towards the restaurant without looking to the side.

Little did she know that her figure had fallen into the eyes of someone to the side, causing that person to pause.

Seeing that Pei Heng had suddenly stopped, Fu Quan lowered his voice and asked, "Your Majesty, are we not going to the General's Mansion?"

Pei Heng glanced at him indifferently and scoffed, "Who said I was going to the General's Mansion?"

This time, it was Fuquan's turn to be stunned.

Seeing his emperor's indifferent expression, he hesitated to speak.

He clearly made an excuse to leave the palace banquet early in the morning, and went straight to the general's mansion after leaving the palace.

Now they're saying they're not going...

"That restaurant looks nice," Pei Heng said, putting down the hairpin he was halfway through looking at, and walking forward with his hands behind his back. "Let's go take a look."

Shen Lingyi entered the restaurant, which was even more lively during the Lantern Festival.

Waiters were serving dishes everywhere, and waiters were also very hospitable. The steaming hot dishes were served while still bubbling away.

"Oh dear, young lady, what would you like to order? There's only one private room left on the second floor. If you want it, you'd better hurry," the waiter said, running over to Shen Lingyi who was looking around.

Shen Lingyi casually gave him a silver ingot, saying, "Give me a private room, and don't follow me."

After saying this, he went upstairs with his maid.

The waiter was so engrossed in receiving the money that he realized she hadn't even ordered yet, and the woman was already gone.

In a private room on the second floor, Xu Yanqing was led inside, but saw nothing, and couldn't help but frown.

Just as he was about to ask Linlang, the maid who had led him here, a woman carrying a zither slowly walked out from behind the gauze curtain.

Shen Tingjiao wore a veil, revealing only a pair of tender and affectionate eyes.

"Your Highness."

She slowly bowed, holding her zither.

Xu Yanqing recognized Shen Tingjiao, but was momentarily dazed. "You are... Jiaojiao? Why are you dressed like this?"