The Empress was in high spirits. Seeing Song Tangxue's dazzling performance, the other young ladies of the official families dared not step forward to show off anymore, and all of them lowered their heads.

After the hunting party ended, Song Tangli returned to the carriage in a depressed mood. Even her father didn't dare to come forward to greet her. Song Tangxue stood alone outside the palace. Cuixi couldn't help but feel a little angry: "Those people went too far. You are, after all, the Crown Princess. They left you here all alone."

Not long ago, Li Zhaoxian left the palace and took Song Tangli far away, completely forgetting about Song Tangxue.

"Alright." Song Tangxue didn't seem to have any particular thoughts. "You go back first, I'll wander around by myself."

“Miss.” Cui Xi was a little worried. The capital was too chaotic. Not long ago, a young lady from an official family was kidnapped by a lecherous thief and has not returned. “I will stay with you.”

Xie Qianzhong walked out of the palace gate, winked at her, and mouthed that he should wait for her. Song Tangxue quickly said, "Don't worry, I'll be fine. I'll go now, you should go back soon!"

Before Cui Xi could even speak, Song Tangxue hurriedly slipped away and rushed to a nearby alley. Xie Qianzhong, dressed in black, was incredibly attractive, and the moonlight shining on him made him look as if he were plated with gold.

Song Tangxue's breath hitched. The man turned around at the sound, his deep eyes meeting hers first. He smiled faintly and said, "Miss Song, since you're here, why didn't you call me?"

Song Tangxue realized that she had been mesmerized by him and awkwardly looked away.

"It's nothing. The moonlight is so beautiful that I didn't want to disturb Lord Xie's moon-viewing." Today is a rare full moon, and it is said that people who gather together during a full moon will never be separated in this lifetime.

Xie Qianzhong laughed out loud. This person was even more handsome than the moonlight. Although his clothes were the most ordinary, he looked different from others.

"No matter how beautiful the moonlight is, it can't compare to Miss Song's beauty." What's wrong with Xie Qianzhong today? He keeps saying things that make people blush and their hearts race. She quickly changed the subject. If this continued, her feelings might be discovered. "Lord Xie asked me to come find you after the banquet. May I ask what brings you here?"

Xie Qianzhong took out a house deed and placed it in her hand: "This is something that Miss Song told me about not long ago. I have already taken care of it. Please check it, Miss."

This deed is for the pancake stall on the street. I didn't expect him to take it over so quickly. It must have taken him a lot of effort.

"Thank you very much, sir. I owe you a favor."

Xie Qianzhong suddenly leaned closer, and at that close range, Song Tangxue could clearly see the stars in his eyes and her own reflection. She instinctively took a step back and said, "Lord Xie..."

Xie Qianzhong draped the cloak over her shoulders. The sandalwood scent emanating from him was exceptionally pleasant. Song Tangxue's first thought was that she was now completely captivated by him.

"How do you plan to repay this favor?"

How could she repay him? Could she offer herself in marriage? But now she was a dignified Crown Princess, and to say such a thing would be extremely immoral. But apart from that, she really didn't know what else she could do.

"I can give you half of the shop." Song Tangxue managed to say this, but Xie Qianzhong was clearly not satisfied. He sighed and said, "Fine, let me tell you the conditions for my victory in today's hunting competition."

"From now on, you are not allowed to call me Lord Xie when no one is around." Xie Qianzhong was extremely serious, as if this was the most important thing to him.

If I don't call him Lord Xie, should I call him Qianzhong? That would seem a bit too intimate. Should I just call him by his given name?

Song Tangxue was struggling with what to call him, while Xie Qianzhong waited patiently. Just then, the voices of several guards talking came from not far away.

"Let's hurry up and patrol. It's freezing cold. This is the last place we'll go. I'm going to go back and cuddle with the palace maid Xiao Lü."

"That's right. Although the world is in chaos, no thief would dare to cause trouble in the palace."

Xie Qianzhong pushed Song Tangxue into a small hut next to him. This was a storeroom, filled with goods that made it difficult for the two of them to stand up. They were pressed tightly against each other, leaving no space between them.

They were so close they could feel each other's breath. Song Tangxue blushed and tried to move back, but he pulled her back.

"Shh, they'll be gone soon, don't move."

Song Tangxue dared not move now and could only pray that the two guards would leave quickly, otherwise she would faint.

Finally, the voices of the two guards faded into the distance, and Xie Qianzhong realized that they were too close, so he quickly went outside.

"I'm sorry, Miss Song, I was in a hurry just now..." Before he could finish speaking, Song Tangxue interrupted, "Qianzhong, since you won't let me call you Lord Xie, will you also stop calling me Miss Song?"

This time it was his turn to be in a dilemma. After a long while, his voice was finally heard: "Ah Xue..."

Song Tangxue's heart tightened. This wasn't the first time someone had called her Ah Xue. Even in her past life, countless people had called her that. But when she heard him call her that, her heart started pounding uncontrollably.

Song Tangxue was glad it was nighttime, otherwise he would have noticed her flushed cheeks.

It was getting late, and Xie Qianzhong offered to escort Song Tangxue home, but she refused: "I'll go home by myself. It wouldn't be good if I ran into someone on the way. After all, I am the Crown Princess, and you are Lord Xie of the court. It would damage your reputation if word got out."

Xie Qianzhong clenched his hands tightly. If only she weren't the Crown Princess, he could express his feelings openly.

On the other side, Song Tangxue had not returned for a long time, and Li Zhaoxian had some suspicions in his heart. He had deliberately left her alone outside the palace today to teach her a lesson and make her remember her identity as the Crown Princess, and not to get close to other men, especially Xie Qianzhong.

"Has the Crown Princess not returned yet?" Li Zhaoxian couldn't help but ask again. This was the tenth time within an incense stick's time, which made Song Tangli even more resentful.

When did Li Zhaoxian become so concerned about Song Tangxue? Even when he was right next to her, he couldn't attract her attention. He wished she would never come back!

"Your Highness, my sister and Lord Xie are very close. Perhaps she was having a pleasant conversation with him and forgot the time." Song Tangli's words further fueled Li Zhaoxian's anger, and he angrily smashed the cup on the ground.

Has she forgotten whose concubine she is?

"Isn't that Song Tangxue's personal maid, Cuixi?" Li Zhaoxian pointed to the maid who was slowly returning to her room not far away.

“That’s right. But all the personal maids have returned, so it’s impossible that you haven’t come back yet. Even if you’re slow, you should be here by now.” Song Tangli slowly touched his arm with her slender hand, trying to distract him and have a romantic night together.

"Call her over for questioning." Unfortunately, Li Zhaoxian's attention was not on her, and he did not even hear what she had just said.