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Xia Zhen nodded indifferently, while Xia Zheng was even more indifferent, not giving her a glance and still holding Lin Yuan’s hand, playing with it lowered.

Yao Hanai’s face showed a brief embarrassment, but fortunately Tian Hui spoke up in time, grabbing her hand and saying, "Miss Yao, it’s been a long time. What brings you out today?"

Yao Zhilan also followed her sister, performing the necessary courtesies. Hearing Tian Hui’s question, she immediately jumped in, saying, "We went to the Drunken Immortal Tower..."

Yao Hanai glanced at her half-sister lightly, and with a hint of apology, said, "You flatter me, Princess. Hanai just took my little sister out for a quick visit."

In saying so, everyone felt that Yao Zhilan was young and ignorant, and Yao Hanai had taken her out for a treat.

Princess Anle smiled, and it was Tian Hui who sincerely added, "Miss Yao’s affection for her sister is quite rare."

Yao Zhilan was born illegitimate, and the great households of the Capital city valued birthright above all else, next to legitimacy. Many families had illegitimate siblings, but few like Yao Hanai continuously kept an illegitimate sister by their side.

Yao Hanai smiled faintly, her bright eyes turned, and she looked at Lin Yuan held by Xia Zheng, revealing a puzzled look: "This lady looks unfamiliar?"

When she asked, Tian Hui hurried to introduce, "This is Lin Yuan; she is, she is..."

What exactly was she, Tian Hui hesitated for a long time unable to speak out. Should she say that Lin Yuan was Xia Zheng’s fiancée before they were officially betrothed? But the two were not yet formally engaged, wouldn’t that tarnish Lin Yuan’s reputation?

Princess Anle smiled and took over from Tian Hui, saying, "This is Old Master Lin, Madam Lin, they are good friends of mine, and also the new owners of this residence. Miss Yao will be neighbors with them from now on, so I hope you will look after them."

Who was Princess Anle, to use the word "please" lightly?

Yao Hanai was intentionally testing their relationship with Princess Anle. Now hearing this, she immediately dismissed the idea, bowing her head very humbly, and quickly said, "You are too kind, Princess. To be neighbors with Old Master Lin and Madam Lin is our fortune."

And wasn’t it a fortune? They had just been graciously received by Princess Anle herself! And that little one was led by the princess personally!

At this point, Yao Hanai, being quite self-aware, took her leave at the right moment. Princess Anle nodded, leading everyone into the courtyard.

Lin Yuan walked at the back, glancing at Yao Hanai, who had already boarded the carriage at her own doorstep, and asked, "Sister Hui, is this road well-traveled from east to west?"

Tian Hui blinked, nodding, "It is well-traveled. The road we came by was already wide, but the road over there is even wider. It’s just a bit roundabout for us living on this side to use that road."

Similarly, the Yao family lived on the other side, and it would be out of their way to pass here. But Yao Hanai’s carriage had come from this side, Lin Yuan didn’t believe it was a coincidence!

"What’s wrong?"

Looking at Tian Hui’s clear eyes, Lin Yuan chuckled and waved it off, "Nothing, just asking. The road is so wide, it’s nice knowing we won’t get lost going out, haha."

Only the kind-hearted Tian Hui would believe such a clumsy excuse.

Xia Zheng raised an eyebrow, holding Lin Yuan’s hand, "Don’t bother with her. She’s just curious about you, but this is good, saves me the trouble of announcing it to the entire Capital city."

Lin Yuan laughed and shook off his hand, teasingly saying, "Announcing it? I thought you wanted to hide me from all your other love interests!"

Xia Zheng made a pained face and hurriedly pleaded, "That’s unfair. I don’t have any other love interests! I only have one destined love interest, and that’s you!"

Lin Yuan rolled her eyes, deliberately keeping a straight face and ignoring him.

While not able to hear their conversation clearly, Tian Hui couldn’t help but feel envious of the couple’s affectionate banter.

With affection-filled eyes, she sneaked a glance at the stern Xia Zhen beside her, and blushed as she bit her lip.

At the doorstep of Yao Mansion, the two Yao sisters got off the carriage.

Yao Zhilan, not pleased, glanced at Lin Yuan’s side and complained to Yao Hanai, "Sister, that Lin family is clearly from the countryside; how could they be friends with the princess?

Why would you lower yourself to speak with them voluntarily? "

What an embarrassment!

Yao Hanai regained her composed demeanor, looking at her senseless half-sister coolly, thinking that if it weren’t for showing off her magnanimity, she would never keep this foolish stepsister around.

"Whether the Lin family is from the countryside or not isn’t for us to say. As long as the princess says they’re her friends, then they are. Would you dare to question the princess?"

Yao Zhilan obediently closed her mouth. She didn’t even dare to question her elder sister, let alone the princess. But that little girl tightly held by Xia Zheng was truly infuriating! She looked so ordinary; how could she be worthy of being held by Xia Zheng?

It’s no wonder she was irate; after all, Xia Zheng was the dream man of every girl in the Capital city! If he were really taken by Su Qiuyu, then so be it, as none of them could match the status of this Prime Minister’s daughter. But what about that little country girl? What made her so special!

Yao Zhilan’s thoughts naturally mirrored what was going through Yao Hanai’s mind, or else she wouldn’t have intentionally made this detour for a chance encounter.

Su Qiuyu had returned to the Capital city with an off demeanor and often visited the General Mansion to curry favor with Princess Anle.

Could it be that she had learned about this girl and felt threatened?

Ha, now that this girl had arrived in the Capital city, it remains to be seen if Su Qiuyu will cause a significant upheaval upon finding out.

Lost in thought, Yao Hanai’s beautiful brows furrowed as she saw a carriage brazenly entering the Lin family’s gate. Judging by the coachman’s actions when speaking to someone inside the carriage, there must be someone sitting there.

Who could just enter the courtyard without dismounting from the carriage? Not even Princess Anle had done so!

Biting her red lips, Yao Hanai wondered, could there be another Beautiful Delicate Lady hidden in that carriage?

How many women had Xia Zheng brought back to the Capital city?