Chapter 10 Chapter 10 He repeatedly touched her inappropriately...

Xie Zhuo didn't keep her in suspense. Meeting Princess Yongning's bright eyes, he said casually, "The engagement was arranged by my father, but later a villain interfered and forced my fiancée to break off the engagement, so it's no longer valid."

Everyone present was stunned. Xue Mingyao asked in surprise, "Why? Why is this villain humiliating you like this?"

"Then we'll have to ask the villain herself," Xie Zhuo said.

This was what he didn't want to say, Xue Mingyao thought to herself. But the reason wasn't hard to guess. Most likely, a villain had taken a fancy to his fiancée and forcibly took her away. Xie Zhuo was powerless and had no choice but to suffer in silence. It was no wonder he had an eccentric personality; such a blow at a young age could easily lead to psychological distortion.

"What happened to General Xie's fiancée?" Chen Zhelan asked timidly.

She remarried many years ago.

Chen Zhelan was still uneasy, "Did the general see her later?"

Xie Zhuo shook his head.

Chen Liangzheng gestured to his younger sister to stop asking questions, then patted Xie Zhuo's shoulder thoughtfully, "General, was it because of this matter that you were unwilling to be humiliated and subservient to others, and thus joined the army in anger?"

"Yes." Xie Zhuo's gaze swept over Xue Mingyao. "I can't swallow this."

Xue Mingyao laughed and said, "Now that the general has overcome all his hardships and achieved great success, he can go and seek revenge on the villains who stole his wife back then and vent his anger."

Chen Liangzheng said loudly, "I think the general is a magnanimous person. Times have changed and things have changed. He may not be willing to get entangled with petty people anymore."

"Brother Liangzheng, you overestimate me." Xie Zhuo raised his cup to Chen Liangzheng and said with a slight smile, "I am actually very vengeful. I once swore that one day I would find that villain from back then and give him a taste of his own medicine."

"Why would you treat him?" Xue Mingyao grinned, revealing a set of pearly teeth. "General, are you perhaps planning to take away the traitor's wife?"

"Yaoyao!" Zhao Ying pinched Xue Mingyao's arm.

Xue Mingyao chuckled dryly, pointed to the wine jug containing plum wine beside her, and said, "I'm drunk, just talking nonsense, General, don't take it seriously."

Xie Zhuo's eyes flickered, and he smiled it off.

After sitting for a while, Chen Liangzheng suggested going to the depths of Qingyuan to enjoy the scenery. Xie Zhuo and Chen Zhelan happily set off, but Xue Mingyao was not in much interest. In addition, she had drunk some wine and was feeling a bit dizzy, so she told Zhao Ying that she would not go.

"You guys go ahead, I'm sleepy, I want to lie down in the pavilion for a while," she said to Zhao Ying, yawning.

Zhao Ying frowned. "How can you lie here? Go sleep in my room."

"No, I want to sunbathe. The winter sun is so precious. Go on, don't worry about me. I'll take a nap and then leave. I'll come back to see you another day."

Xue Mingyao had visited Zhao Ying many times and knew the layout of the place very well. She could come and go freely without needing servants to guide her.

Zhao Ying couldn't do anything with her. Xue Mingyao had been willful since childhood, always doing whatever she wanted, like a child who never grew up.

"Oh, right, remember to use that crimson silk to make the little clothes, just make them the style I told you to make, and also hand over the things I brought to Chen Liangqing..." Xue Mingyao rambled on.

Zhao Ying pinched her cheek. "I know, my little girl. Don't sleep too long, you'll catch a cold."

The Qingyuan Garden was secluded and private, and servants were not allowed to enter without permission, so Xue Mingyao could rest peacefully there. However, in Zhao Ying's opinion, it was still somewhat unseemly, and before leaving, she instructed Lüzhi, who was waiting outside the pavilion, to keep an eye on the princess.

A soft brocade cushion was laid on the balustrade, and Xue Mingyao lay back on it, pulling her cloak over herself. The precious winter sunlight shone on the mink coat, reflecting a shimmering silver light.

Xie Zhuo glanced back several times; the woman's figure was faintly visible among the slanting plum branches.

The four walked deeper into Qingyuan Garden, where pink and white plum blossoms intertwined and released their fragrance along the path. Zhao Ying and his wife deliberately left Xie Zhuo and Chen Zhelan ahead, while the two of them followed behind at a distance.

Zhao Ying craned her neck to observe carefully, while Chen Zhelan occasionally looked up to talk to Xie Zhuo. Xie Zhuo kept his eyes forward, neither looking at the plum blossoms nor at anyone else.

Chen Liang was standing behind her, picking a bright pink plum blossom and quietly gesturing it towards Zhao Ying's thick, dark hair.

“My lord, General Xie doesn’t seem to have any interest in Zhelan.” Zhao Ying suddenly turned around.

Chen Liang was busy taking out the flower branch, his hands casually clasped behind his back. "Princess, marriage is ordained by fate and cannot be forced by human will. General Xie has already met Zhelan. If he is interested, he will come to propose marriage. If he is not interested, we cannot force him."

......

Bathed in the warm sunlight, Xue Mingyao fell into a deep sleep amidst the cool fragrance of winter plum blossoms.

Old dreams quietly return.

She also planted several plum trees in her house in Xichuan. Because she wanted something unusual, she planted neither winter plum nor white plum, but the rare green plum. They bloomed proudly in winter, defying snow and frost, their color like jade, filling the courtyard with a pure fragrance. On snowy days, she would build snow lions under the plum trees, pulling Xie Qinglang along with her.

Although Xie Qinglang had arrived, he only recited some pretentious poems to the plum blossoms, praising their purity, integrity, and unwavering loyalty.

Xue Mingyao could easily hear the sarcasm in his voice. She grabbed handfuls of snow and threw them at him. Xie Qinglang dodged awkwardly, eventually hiding behind the snow lion that had already taken shape. He threatened her that if she continued to throw snow, he would kick her snow lion to pieces.

Xue Mingyao was furious and smashed even harder. Xie Qinglang dodged while picking up snow to fight back, but did not touch her snow lion.

Suddenly feeling a cool sensation on her face, Xue Mingyao opened her eyes groggily and touched a fallen yellow plum blossom on her cheek.

My eyelids felt heavy, and my lower back felt sluggish; I slept for quite a while.

Xue Mingyao sat up, propped herself up, and let out a long, contented hum, her voice languid and slightly coquettish.

"Green Branch, what time is it—ah!"

Xue Mingyao looked at the familiar figure in surprise, "General Xie, what are you doing here?"

Xie Zhuo sat a foot away from her, holding a flower branch in his hand. His dark eyes were lowered as he quietly watched her.

Xue Mingyao opened her palm and glanced again at the plum blossom petal she had plucked from her face.

"I'm here—" Xie Zhuo slowly uttered two words, "to admire the plum blossoms."

"Princess, it's early afternoon now." Green Branch ran over to comb her slightly disheveled hair, secretly glaring at Xie Zhuo. Was General Xie admiring the plum blossoms? He was clearly admiring her master.

"Where are the others?" Xue Mingyao asked Xie Zhuo, clutching her mink coat, looking bewildered.

"Since Madam Chen has returned to the Chen residence, the princess and her husband should also be visiting their elders there."

Xue Mingyao was puzzled. "They left you here? That doesn't make sense. These two are such polite people, why would they abandon their guest?"

Xie Zhuo remained calm. Of course, the princess and her husband did not abandon him. However, after they escorted him out of the mansion, he quietly returned.

He didn't answer her question, but only whispered, "You've been sleeping too long."

It took so long that he had to find a way to wake her up.

Xue Mingyao felt a chill run down her spine. "How long have you been here?"

Xie Zhuo didn't answer her question. He got up, looked up at the sky, and said, "Princess, don't sleep in anymore. Go back early."

His tall figure loomed over her, and Xue Mingyao once again felt the oppressive aura emanating from the general. She stood up in anger, raising her slender white neck, "I need to tidy my appearance. Please stay away from me, General."

Xie Zhuo said nothing and retreated outside the small pavilion. The soft light of the approaching dusk outlined his tall and handsome figure, making him stand out from the crowd at first glance.

Xue Mingyao turned her back to him angrily. Xie Zhuo had behaved normally all afternoon, and her impression of him had improved slightly. But he was acting strange again. What was he up to?

As Green Branch smoothed her hair, she whispered in her ear, "General Xie arrived half an hour ago and has been sitting here watching you the whole time."

Xue Mingyao felt a chill run down her spine. "Why don't you kick him out and just let him watch over your master?"

Green Branch said aggrievedly, "I talked to him once, but he ignored me. Princess, I'm so afraid of him. I feel like he could snap my neck with one hand."

Xue Mingyao: "...What use are you?"

Green Branch let out a soft moan, "This servant is useful; I can comb your hair beautifully and scent your clothes..."

Xue Mingyao sighed, straightened her clothes, turned around and looked at Xie Zhuo, her eyes filled with coldness.

"General Xie, give me a reasonable explanation, or we'll go see the princess and her husband together and let them judge the matter!"

The young woman stood on a high platform, dressed entirely in a snow-white mink coat, with gold ornaments gleaming in her hair. She exuded an imposing aura, like an arrogant general, dominating and acting with impunity.

Xie Zhuo's heart was pounding. He tilted his head slightly and said in a steady and powerful voice, "I have something I want to say to the princess, which is why I was waiting in the flower pavilion. I have no ill intentions whatsoever."

Xue Mingyao sneered, "What do you want to say to me?"

Xie Zhuo said, "Princess, let's go out of the manor together and talk as we walk."

Xue Mingyao was about to lash out again, but remembering his rude behavior of grabbing her sleeve last time, and knowing that he seemed to be the kind of person who wouldn't give up until he got what he wanted, she hesitated for a moment.

Finally, Xue Mingyao glared at him, then arrogantly walked down from the flower pavilion with her head held high, heading towards the exit of Qingyuan Garden.

Xie Zhuo naturally followed beside her, his sleeve occasionally brushing against Xue Mingyao's cloak.

Xue Mingyao strode forward, her tone indifferent, "General, you can speak now, can't you?"

A man's quiet voice came from the side, "The princess smells of Beauty Intoxication today."

Since Xue Mingyao had a new "Gentleman's Pursuit" fragrance made, she casually instructed Green Branch to use it to scent her clothes. The fragrance was very faint, and Xie Zhuo, who was still wearing a mask, could still smell it.

"Didn't General Xie say he disliked this kind of incense? I use it so much that I want to keep the general away from me."

Unfortunately, it backfired.

"The general's actions are unpredictable," Xue Mingyao said coldly. "He is not someone that ordinary people can fathom."

Before she could finish speaking, Xie Zhuo grabbed her left wrist and dragged her behind a pillar without giving her a chance to explain.

Two servants passed by the spot they had just been in.

After the person disappeared, Xie Zhuo released his hand.

Xue Mingyao realized Xie Zhuo's intention and retaliated again, "Thanks to the general, this princess has to sneak around and hide from people."

Xie Zhuo remained calm and composed, saying, "It's better to avoid trouble."

Xue Mingyao scoffed, quickened her pace, and led him to a secluded path leading out of the mansion.

"General Xie, you have repeatedly laid hands on me. Shouldn't you apologize to me?" Xue Mingyao said through gritted teeth, making sure no one was around.

Xie Zhuofeng's nonchalant reply drifted over, "Oh, sorry, I thought the princess liked it."

"You like it?" Xue Mingyao looked at him in disbelief. "Do you think I'm a promiscuous woman who craves a man's touch so much?"

"Isn't she a princess?"

Xue Mingyao laughed angrily, "Yes, I am. But I only love to be touched by men I like. I would avoid someone like General Xie like the plague. Humph, even if all the men in the world died, it wouldn't be your turn."

Green Branch, walking behind, flinched. Her princess was known for her provocative nature. General Xie didn't respond, but she felt the murderous aura emanating from him intensify. He didn't even need a hand; a single finger could snap her neck...

As they approached the gate of the mansion, Xie Zhuo, who had been silent for half the journey, suddenly said, "I actually wanted to thank the princess. Last time, when the poison flared up in the brothel, I was fortunate to have the princess's carriage to escort me. Otherwise, I'm afraid I wouldn't be standing here today."

"The general's thanks are truly unique," Xue Mingyao scoffed. "It doesn't sound like a thank you; it sounds like he's here to cause trouble."

"It was Xie's inappropriate words and actions that caused the princess to misunderstand. Xie hereby sincerely apologizes for all the things that have offended the princess, and asks the princess not to take them to heart."

After Xie Zhuo finished speaking seriously, he actually bowed to her.

Xue Mingyao was skeptical, wondering what he was up to. But then she thought, she didn't need to know.

She crossed her arms and accepted his greeting with a perfectly normal smile, saying, "General, you seem very sincere, but whether it's thanking me or apologizing, you can't just talk the talk."

"What does the princess wish to do with me?"

Xue Mingyao glanced at the Xue family carriage next to the stable and had an idea. "It is only proper to give and take. Since the general thanked me for riding in my carriage, why not repay me in the same way?"

Xie Zhuo stared intently at the young woman, whose smile was radiant, and playful dimples appeared on her cheeks.

"If you act as my driver and drive me home, I'll believe in your sincerity!"

A note from the author:

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