Perhaps he thought I had agreed to give him a chance, with the condition that he ascend to the throne of Qi. If Xia Zhiyuan acted rashly because of this, ultimately thwarted by Xia Zhichun and Yan Or and forced to flee in disgrace, he might now believe I was in league with them, with the intent of luring him in. In that case, I would be the person he hates most.
Because of this, he would try every means to find me in Nanrui. Whether for revenge or other purposes, he would not let it go.
It was difficult to express my current state of mind. The Crown Prince could be a beautiful yet venomous snake, a fox skilled in disguise, or a mysterious black widow—not simply a foolish person who fell for confusion.
I anxiously guessed when he would arrive in Nanrui and how he would appear before me. However, everything remained calm on the surface.
She smiled bitterly. “Indeed, I have gained something, and not a small amount.”
“If that’s the case, why do you seem so troubled recently?” I asked. “Have you encountered some other troubles?”
She avoided my gaze and shook her head. “It’s nothing serious. By the way, I heard that General Shen proposed to the Xiao family recently?”
“That’s right, and thanks to your hint at the time,” I replied with a smile.
“The wedding is set after the Mid-Autumn Festival. You must come and have a celebratory drink then.” My family was jubilant as my younger sister found a good husband. My mother was especially overjoyed, currently helping her prepare the wedding dress.
“Of course,” she smiled. “I never thought General Shen would finally come to his senses. He is indeed a good man, and Xiao Ya will not suffer by marrying him.”
“I think so too. This sister has been my biggest worry, and now I can finally relax.” I leaned back in the chair. “Would you like to listen to another play?”
“No need,” she replied. “I heard a new qin player has arrived and plays quite well. Why don’t we invite him to entertain us?”
I readily agreed and sent someone to invite the qin player. Shortly after, my elder brother brought him to our room along with several fresh, unique small dishes.
