Rebirth and Reversal of Fortune

Chapter 7 Getting to Know the Prince of Yan

When Su Jinxiu went out to offer incense, her carriage was unexpectedly startled. The normally docile horses seemed to be greatly frightened, neighing and galloping wildly. The coachman tried his best to control the situation, but to no avail. The carriage veered wildly through the street, and passersby scrambled to get out of the way in fear.

At the critical moment, Prince Yan, Xiao Ling, happened to pass by. He was agile and quick-witted, leaping to the front of the carriage and tightly gripping the reins. With his great strength and superb horsemanship, he managed to subdue the frightened horse.

The carriage finally came to a slow stop. Su Jinxiu, who had just experienced a harrowing ordeal, was slightly pale, but she quickly regained her composure. With the help of her maid, she stepped down from the carriage and bowed gracefully to Xiao Ling: "Thank you for your help, young master. Jinxiu is deeply grateful."

Xiao Ling looked at the woman before him. Although she still seemed somewhat shaken, her eyes revealed determination and composure. Her bow and thanks were graceful and poised, without the usual fragility and panic of a woman. He couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity and admiration for her: "You're too kind, young lady. It was nothing."

"If it weren't for your timely help, young master, the consequences would have been unimaginable. May I ask your name, young master?" Su Jinxiu thanked him again, her clear eyes looking at Xiao Ling.

"My name is Xiao Ling," Xiao Ling replied.

Su Jinxiu was slightly taken aback. She had naturally heard of the illustrious reputation of Prince Yan, Xiao Ling, but she never expected to receive his help today: "So it is Your Highness Prince Yan. Jinxiu is sorry for her disrespect."

Xiao Ling waved her hand: "You flatter me, Miss. I'm just glad you're alright."

At this moment, the surrounding crowd gathered around, praising Xiao Ling's heroic actions.

Seeing this, Su Jinxiu said, "Your Highness saved Jinxiu today, and Jinxiu will certainly repay you. I wonder if Your Highness would do me the honor of hosting a banquet to express your gratitude?"

Xiao Ling was about to refuse, but looking at Su Jinxiu's sincere eyes, he nodded as if possessed: "Then I'll have to trouble you, Miss."

The two agreed on a date, but after Su Jinxiu returned to the Marquis's residence, she could not calm down for a long time.

"Miss, that's His Highness Prince Yan! Are you really going to host a banquet to thank him?" the maid Xiao Cui asked, both excited and worried.

Su Jinxiu smiled slightly: "A drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring of gratitude, let alone a life-saving grace."

A few days later, Su Jinxiu meticulously prepared a banquet at the Marquis's residence. Xiao Ling arrived as promised, and Su Jinxiu personally greeted him at the gate.

"Your Highness's presence is a great honor for Jinxiu," Su Jinxiu said with a smile.

Looking at the elegantly arranged banquet and Su Jinxiu dressed in her finest attire, Xiao Ling felt a strange sensation in his heart: "Thank you for your trouble, Miss."

During the meal, Su Jinxiu and Xiao Ling had a very pleasant conversation. Su Jinxiu's talent and insight impressed Xiao Ling, while Xiao Ling's heroic deeds and wise views earned Su Jinxiu's admiration.

"I have heard that Your Highness has repeatedly distinguished yourself in battle on the frontier, protecting the country and its people. You are truly a hero," Su Jinxiu said.

Xiao Ling smiled slightly: "As a prince, this is my duty."

After several rounds of drinks, Xiao Ling rose to take his leave: "Thank you for your hospitality, young lady. I have important matters to attend to, so I must take my leave now."

Su Jinxiu escorted Xiao Ling to the gate of the mansion. Watching his departing figure, she felt a pang of reluctance in her heart.

On his way back, Xiao Ling kept reminiscing about the moments he had spent with Su Jinxiu, and became increasingly interested in this extraordinary woman.

Since then, Xiao Ling and Su Jinxiu have had more and more interactions.

Once, Su Jinxiu was invited to a flower appreciation party. At the party, her poem describing the beautiful and graceful flowers won everyone's praise.

Upon learning of this, Xiao Ling specially sent someone to deliver a pair of precious jade hairpins as a congratulatory gift.

Su Jinxiu was delighted to receive the gift and wrote a letter to express her gratitude.

As time went by, their feelings for each other quietly grew stronger without them even realizing it.

However, their relationship was not without its challenges.

In the capital, many powerful and influential people are eyeing Xiao Ling covetously, and they see Su Jinxiu as a thorn in their side, wanting to sabotage their relationship.

Su Yue was consumed by jealousy when she learned that Su Jinxiu was getting close to Prince Yan, Xiao Ling.

"Su Jinxiu, what makes you think you can win the favor of the Prince of Yan? I will not let you succeed!" Su Yue said bitterly in the room.

So Su Yue began to spread rumors in the Marquis's mansion, saying that Su Jinxiu was shameless and had climbed the social ladder by clinging to the powerful, and that she was trying to use the Prince of Yan's power to suppress the other people in the Marquis's mansion.

Su Jinxiu was not affected by these rumors after learning about them.

“I have nothing to hide, so let her be,” Su Jinxiu said.

But the rumors still reached the old lady's ears, and she summoned Su Jinxiu to her side.

"Jinxiu, are those rumors outside true?" the old lady asked seriously.

Su Jinxiu said frankly, "Grandmother, that was just malicious slander by someone with ulterior motives. Jinxiu and His Highness Prince Yan are just friends."

The old lady scrutinized Su Jinxiu and, seeing that her gaze was firm and she didn't seem to be lying, said, "Alright, you just need to know your limits."

Xiao Ling scoffed at these rumors and decided to publicly defend Su Jinxiu at a banquet.

At the banquet, a large crowd gathered. Xiao Ling said in front of everyone, "Miss Su is exceptionally talented and of impeccable character. I absolutely do not believe those malicious slanders against her."

Su Jinxiu looked at Xiao Ling with gratitude, her heart filled with warmth.

But this only emboldened those who wanted to sabotage their relationship to plot even more recklessly.

Not long after, during a royal hunt, someone deliberately arranged for Su Jinxiu to be put in danger.

A ferocious wild boar charged towards Su Jinxiu. Just at the critical moment, Xiao Ling arrived in time, shot the boar dead with an arrow, and saved Su Jinxiu.

"Jinxiu, are you alright?" Xiao Ling asked with concern.

Su Jinxiu shook her head: "Thank you, Your Highness, I'm fine."

After this incident, Xiao Ling and Su Jinxiu understood each other's feelings even more, and they decided to face the various difficulties and challenges of the future together.