Chapter 25 This is what he likes.

The Seventh Prince pondered for a moment, then nodded, feeling that nothing good could happen if those two got together.

So the two children, taking advantage of the palace servants' inattention, secretly slipped out of the main hall and followed them.

On the quiet corridor.

"Second Prince, please wait." A hurried and melodious female voice rang out.

Lin Ruoxue, her face covered by a white veil and dressed in a moon-white dress, walked briskly towards them, the layers of her skirt resembling blooming wild lilies.

When Tuoba Hong turned around and saw this scene, he was stunned. What a pure and holy beauty, untainted by the mud.

He put on a perfectly timed smile, thinking he looked incredibly handsome from this angle and was sure to win the heart of the beauty.

"Is something the matter?" Tuoba Hong asked.

Lin Ruoxue stopped in front of him. "Second Prince An, I won't beat around the bush. I've been asked to come and inquire whether you have a suitable marriage partner. If not, I have a good candidate here."

Tuoba Hong's eyes lit up. Was this little beauty here to recommend herself?

"It is the second young lady of the Xie family who was playing the zither in the hall just now. She has long admired the second prince and hopes that the second prince will grant her wish."

Thinking about how Xie Mingyi would be married off to that barbaric land that devours people without spitting out bones after the deed was done, Lin Ruoxue became more and more excited as she spoke, her eyes filled with laughter, trying her best to persuade the second prince.

"Oh? That woman?" Tuoba Hong immediately lost interest. He didn't want to talk about the extremely boring woman or her zither playing skills.

Lin Ruoxue said meaningfully, "Miss Xie is exceptionally talented and beautiful, and comes from a prestigious family. Her father is the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner of the Great Zhou Dynasty, in charge of all shipping throughout the country."

Now the Second Prince must understand, right? Marrying Xie Mingyi means having the opportunity to penetrate deep into the heart of the Great Zhou. What good things can't be brought back to the Northern Rong?

Tuoba Hong seemed not to hear what Lin Ruoxue was saying, and just stared at her with a dazed look in his eyes.

The pure white moonlight shone on the beauty, as if she were veiled in a hazy white gauze, like a fairy who did not eat the food of the mortal world. Lin Ruoxue was the kind of beauty that the second prince liked.

He said dreamily, "You must be a saintess."

Lin Ruoxue was confused, but still explained, "The Great Zhou Dynasty does not have the position of Holy Maiden. I am just a female official of the Imperial Observatory... Ah!"

Tuoba Hong gently lifted Lin Ruoxue's veil with his hand, "Little beauty, how about you marry me?"

Lin Ruoxue was so frightened that she took a few steps back and covered her face with her hands. Her face, which was hidden by the veil, became ferocious. What a blunder! She deliberately wore a veil to prevent the second prince from being attracted to her beauty. Who knew that he would like this kind of thing!

She tried to compose herself, "Second Prince, you jest. Let's get back to Miss Xie, she..."

"Forget about everyone else, let's talk about you. Come back with me, and I guarantee you'll live a life of luxury."

Tuoba Hong interrupted her, grabbed her hand, and looked at her with infatuation.

Behind the pillar, the Seventh Prince quickly covered Xie Mianmian's eyes with his hands. Xie Mianmian angrily tried to pry them open, but couldn't. She wanted to see what this wicked woman was up to, daring to slander her second sister.

The Seventh Prince whispered in her ear, "Don't move, listening is just as good." If he didn't want to know how things would develop next, he would have covered Xie Mianmian's ears.

The seventh prince's ears turned red. He thought to himself, "Why do adults always have to talk about love when they get together? Will they die if they don't love each other for a little while?"

Xie Mianmian stopped moving and listened attentively.

Lin Ruoxue struggled but couldn't pull her hand back. In her haste, she came up with another idea.

She feigned weakness, pressing her hand to her chest. "To be honest, Ruoxue has long admired the Second Prince, but she doesn't want to compete with Miss Xie for him."

Ah, she is so kind and gentle, he loves her so much.

Tuoba Hong pulled Lin Ruoxue into his arms. "Don't be afraid, this prince will definitely choose you."

"That's great! I'll go and explain it to Miss Xie right away. The Second Prince is waiting for me in the first room on the left in the east wing hall, okay?"

Lin Ruoxue raised her head and gazed at the man with deep affection.

"Good!" Tuoba Hong was extremely excited about the beauty's initiative. He released Lin Ruoxue and wanted to kiss her.

Lin Ruoxue raised her hand and pressed it hard against Tuoba Hong's mouth, pretending to be shy but actually retching fiercely, "Second Prince, go quickly, I'll be there in a moment."

He wasn't annoyed that he couldn't get close to the beauty; instead, he became even more excited. "This prince is waiting for you. Come quickly!"

Lin Ruoxue turned and left, rubbing her handkerchief vigorously in her palm with disgust. Although there were some twists and turns, things were finally going according to her plan.

She had previously spent a large sum of money to bribe a palace maid to spill wine on Xie Mingyi, and then led Xie Mingyi to a side room in the east wing, the same room she had sent the second prince to.

The palace maids had already lit hibiscus incense in the side room. The hibiscus incense itself was fine, but when mixed with the aroma of Bixiang wine, it would become a strong aphrodisiac.

Lin Ruoxue covered her mouth and smiled. The wine they drank at the banquet tonight was Bixiang wine. If they were caught cheating, the two of them wouldn't be able to deny it.

The corridor was completely empty.

Xie Mianmian finally pulled her hand off her eyes.

The child asked worriedly, "What should we do? Shall we go check the east side hall?"

The Seventh Prince rubbed his fingertips together. "No need. Her target is your Second Sister. We just need to keep an eye on her."

The seventh prince belatedly realized that he had actually said "we," a word he had never had before, as he had always been a loner.

He unconsciously curled the corners of his mouth, feeling that things were not bad.

"Great!" Xie Mianmian looked at the Seventh Prince with admiration. It's good to have brains.

"Oh, the Seventh Prince smiled, it's so beautiful." Xie Mianmian stared at his face as if she had seen something amazing.

"No...no, you must have mistaken me." The Seventh Prince quickly straightened his face and changed the subject, "If you don't go find your second sister now, it will be too late."

Startled, Xie Mianmian grabbed the Seventh Prince and started running.

I ran through a garden and startled a flurry of fireflies.

The impatient child had no time to appreciate the beautiful scenery.

A firefly flew slowly to Xie Mianmian's side and made a faint sound, "Mianmian, the Third Prince is going to poison your second sister."

Upon hearing this, Xie Mianmian stopped running.

She looked around and finally spotted a yellowish-green fluorescent light.

"Fireflies are nice, but how did that person drug my second sister?"

The firefly fluttered twice. "He's going to put it in the cup and have your second sister drink it."

Xie Mianmian: ! There's always someone trying to harm my second sister.

"Thank you so much, you are the brightest firefly Mianmian has ever seen."

The child pulled the seventh prince along as they ran, talking about fireflies.

The two children had just stepped into the main hall when they saw Xie Mingyi holding a glass cup, about to drink from it.

Xie Mianmian rushed over and knocked the cup away.

Having just changed her clothes, Xie Mingyi got them wet again, so she quickly used a handkerchief to wipe them dry.

"Xie Mianmian, you'd better give me an explanation for your new clothes."

The child clung to Xie Mingyi's arm, saying, "There's been something poisoned in your drink, Second Sister, don't drink it."

Xie Mingyi was truly impressed by the child's occasional whimsical ideas. "I've already had several drinks, and I'm perfectly fine." She gently tapped the child's forehead.

Xie Mianmian turned to look at the Seventh Prince. Could it be that the medicine hasn't been administered yet?