On the way, seeing him not speaking, I carefully asked, “Hey, you’re not angry, are you? I didn’t mean to interrupt your conversation. It’s all that damn Lan Qiye’s fault, insisting on pulling me to the pavilion. I was really forced!”
As a result, he only coldly threw two words at me: “Shut up!”
I looked aggrieved. Qi Chenxuan spoke again, “Why were you with that guy?”
“Who?” I looked up stupidly.
Qi Chenxuan ground his teeth, “The king of Jing Yue Kingdom!”
“Oh, him?” I frowned, looking very innocent, “I don’t know either! I was hiding on the side, wanting to see your progress, but who knew he would suddenly appear behind me, first saying a bunch of nonsensical words, and then forcibly pulling me to the pavilion!”
Qi Chenxuan’s frown deepened, asking coldly, “What did he say to you?”
“Nothing, just some nonsense! Who would remember all that?”
I shrugged indifferently, then asked, “By the way, how are things progressing with that Miss Qinghan? You seemed to be getting along quite well!”
He evaded the answer, “Nothing!”
I persisted, “Hey, what do you mean by ‘nothing’? Explain clearly! Only then can I help you develop the most effective pursuit strategy!”
“You have too many questions!” He impatiently interrupted me.
I unwillingly pouted, “What’s wrong with that? I’m just trying to help you. How can I know what to do next if I don’t understand your progress?”
Unexpectedly, he didn’t appreciate it at all, throwing out a cool sentence, “I’ll handle my own affairs. I don’t need anyone’s help, especially not yours!”
I immediately puffed out my cheeks defiantly and said, “Hey, what kind of talk is that? Have you forgotten about our previous bet? Whether you two can be together is directly related to my freedom!”
Qi Chenxuan suddenly turned around and glared at me fiercely: “Are you that eager to leave me?”
I couldn’t help but curl my lips and raise my eyebrows in confusion: “Why are you being so aggressive? You were the one who forced me to marry you back then. It’s only reasonable that I want to leave now!”
Qi Chenxuan said with a gloomy expression: “Tell me honestly, do you want to leave because of that guy with the surname Lan? What’s so good about him that makes everyone like him so much?”
I couldn’t help but frown: “What are you talking about? What do you mean, because of the guy with the surname Lan? You don’t think I want to leave because of Lan Qiye, do you? Please, don’t joke around. I hate that guy to death. How could I possibly like him?”
But he seemed to have said “also” and “you all,” which means…
Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but raise my eyebrows and ask: “Hey, isn’t your Miss Han in love with him?”
“
Qi Chenxuan’s face darkened and he didn’t respond, which usually meant only one thing – I was right again!
I couldn’t help but pat his shoulder: “Don’t be too discouraged. To be honest, you’re not that much worse than him. Maybe Miss Han doesn’t like you just because she met him first.”
Qi Chenxuan’s gaze fell on my hand, his expression serious: “Remove it!”
I didn’t understand for a moment and asked: “What?”
He glared at me: “I’m telling you to take your hand off me!”
Under his fierce gaze, I couldn’t help but withdraw my hand: “I was just trying to comfort you. Was that necessary?”
He responded with disdain: “This prince doesn’t need it!”
“Fine, then don’t!”
I retorted back. What kind of person is this? I was trying to comfort him, and he’s acting unappreciative. Really…
After returning to the Prince’s residence, he gave me the cold shoulder and deliberately didn’t eat with me. Now we have a bet, and for my freedom, I must take the initiative.
Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but raise my voice and shout outside: “Zi’er, Zi’er?”
“Yes, madam?”
A small head curiously poked in, it was the Shui’er girl, smiling foolishly: “Zi’er and Drunk’er are making desserts for you. If you have anything, just tell Shui’er!”
“You? Are you up for it?”
I looked at her suspiciously: “Forget it, you’d better go find Zi’er or Drunk’er!”
Hearing this, the little maid pouted, looking unhappy: “Madam, saying this will really hurt Shui’er’s feelings!”
“Huh?”
I was stunned and asked in confusion: “Why would you be hurt?”
The little maid looked aggrieved: “Why can Zi’er and Drunk’er do things, but not Shui’er? Does madam not trust Shui’er, or not like Shui’er?”
I put on a smile to comfort her: “No, no! I just think they’re more suitable for this task. I didn’t mean anything else, don’t overthink it!”
The little maid’s eyes turned red, almost crying: “No, madam definitely thinks Shui’er is too stupid and doesn’t want to entrust her with anything. Since madam doesn’t trust Shui’er, Shui’er will go find the housekeeper and be assigned other tasks…”
She was about to leave…
Sweating, I could only sigh and quickly call her back: “Okay, okay, I’ll let you go, alright?”
“Really?”
The girl immediately turned around, her face lighting up with joy and eagerness: “Madam, quickly tell me what it is! Shui’er promises to handle it perfectly!”
I couldn’t help but click my tongue, then instructed: “Actually, it’s nothing special. Go and keep an eye on the Prince’s movements. If he’s going to the palace or leaving the residence, make sure to tell me immediately!”
The little girl first blinked in confusion, then said mysteriously with a smile: “I know, madam must be afraid that the Crown Prince will go find other women, right?”
Although I wanted to know if Qi Chenxuan had met other women, it was completely different from what she thought.
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes and scolded her: “You ask too many questions. Just go when I tell you to, what’s with all this nonsense?”
“Got it!”
The little girl pouted reluctantly and then moved towards the door…
“Wait a moment!”
I remembered something and called her back, instructing her with concern: “Remember to be clever when you go, act carefully, and don’t let the Crown Prince discover you!”
The little girl immediately patted her chest confidently and guaranteed: “Don’t worry, madam! I know what to do!”
But what else could I do?
I couldn’t possibly follow her myself, could I?
Fei Xiaoran, for the sake of your freedom, you must take the initiative and work harder!
With this in mind, I had an idea. I must go to the palace to meet Miss Qinghan and clarify her attitude towards Qi Chenxuan. Is she truly in love, or indifferent? Is it as he said, that she already has someone she likes, and that person is Lan Qiye?
I rolled my eyes in annoyance and glared at him: “What are you doing here?”
Lan Qiye shrugged, with a matter-of-fact expression: “This is where I live. Isn’t it normal for me to appear here? Instead, why are you here? Don’t tell me you came specifically to find me?”
“As if!”
I gave him a contemptuous look: “Who would want to find you? I’m here specifically to look at beautiful women!”
“Beautiful women?”
Lan Qiye raised an eyebrow slightly: “You mean Qinghan?”
“That’s right!” I answered impatiently.
Lan Qiye couldn’t help but touch his chin, examining me: “You seem particularly interested in our Jing Yue Kingdom’s Holy Lady. Could it be because of your country’s Crown Prince?”
Worried about being seen through, I panicked and retorted: “Who says it has to be for someone else? I admire her beauty and want to see her and learn some beauty secrets. Is that not allowed?”
Lan Qiye seemed unfazed by my warning, a smirk playing on his lips. “I’m not easily intimidated. In fact, I find your stubbornness quite amusing.”
Frustration bubbled inside me as I retorted, “You think this is funny? I’m serious!”
He leaned back, arms crossed, a cocky glint in his eye. “And I find your seriousness a bit boring. Why not lighten up?”
