Xiao Chengyu's face flushed: "What secret is there..."

"Really?" Qi Mingxuan took a step closer, his gaze intense. "Then why did I hear someone say... that they have admired me for a long time?"

Xiao Chengyu's ears turned bright red, and she scolded, "You must have misheard!"

Qi Mingxuan chuckled softly, "Then I will tell Your Highness every day until Your Highness admits it." He then whispered in her ear, "I have been devoted to Your Highness since the first time we met."

Xiao Chengyu's heart pounded like a drum. Just as he was about to speak, a young eunuch rushed over: "Princess! Prince Consort! Something terrible has happened! Miss Xie has jumped into the lake!"

The two were shocked and rushed to Taiye Pond. They found Xie Ling'er had already been rescued, soaking wet and shivering.

"Why is that?" Xiao Chengyu asked urgently.

Xie Ling'er sobbed uncontrollably, "Father... Father is forcing me to marry the sixty-year-old Minister Li as his second wife... I don't want to..."

It turns out that Scholar Xie was willing to sacrifice his daughter's happiness in order to curry favor with the powerful.

Qi Mingxuan angrily said, "This is outrageous! I will go find Grand Secretary Xie right now..."

"No need," Xiao Chengyu said coldly. "How can my people be manipulated by others?" She helped Xie Ling'er up. "From today onwards, you will stay in the palace and serve as my lady-in-waiting."

Xie Ling'er was moved to tears: "Princess Xie..."

Afterwards, Xiao Chengyu said to Qi Mingxuan, "I know you pity Ling'er, but I handled this matter more properly."

Qi Mingxuan smiled and said, "Your Highness is wise." He then gently put his arm around her. "However... Your Highness has not yet responded to what I just said."

Xiao Chengyu leaned against him and whispered, "You didn't hear wrong that day."

A gentle breeze blew by, and the twin lotus blossoms quietly opened. However, no one noticed that a pair of eyes were lurking in the shadows, staring venomously at the beautiful couple.