Nan Qianyue was rendered speechless by Qin Yi's words. She believed that if she refused again, Qin Yi would definitely do something outrageous in front of everyone.
"Qianqian, you can refuse if you don't want to. Prince Anzheng can't force people with his status, can he?" Xie Yanzhou's last sentence was directed at Qin Yi, and the sarcasm in it couldn't be clearer.
Nan Qianyue glanced at him and gave Qin Yi a plausible reason, "I suppose Your Highness has some important matters to instruct you on, so it is reasonable for you to send me back along the way."
"Let's go, Your Highness." She smiled and winked.
Only Qin Yi knew that her eyes were a warning to him to stop talking nonsense.
Qin Yi nodded obediently, but while words may be unnecessary, actions must be taken.
So he took Nanqianyue's hand and left.
Xie Yanzhou's face turned angry, and he was about to make a move to stop him when he was stopped by the woman in green. "Grandson Xie, how have you been?"
Xie Yanzhou suppressed his anger and growled, "Get out of here."
The man in green glanced at the Prime Minister of the South who had rushed over behind Xie Yanzhou, then clasped his hands and said, "Alright."
"Qianyue!" The Southern Chancellor arrived too late, watching helplessly as Nan Qianyue was dragged away by Prince Anzheng.
Xie Yanzhou clenched his fists, his anger blazing with nowhere to go. Seeing the Prime Minister approaching, he hatched a plan. "Prime Minister, I am willing to help you bring your daughter back."
Nan Xiang glanced at him, how could he not know what he was thinking? He clearly wanted to find a legitimate reason to snatch Qian Yue from him. Humph, they're all so cunning.
"No need to trouble Grandson Xie." The Prime Minister refused quickly, then turned to the guard commander Lin Fei and ordered, "Lin Fei, hurry up and protect the eldest young lady."
Lin Fei nodded, "Yes!"
The crowd, who were pretending to chat but actually peeking, were greatly shocked. Was Prince Anzheng now going to pursue the Poet Immortal? This was going to be quite a show.
The poet had many suitors, including the Crown Prince of Nanjing, the Prince of Anzheng of Dongling, Xie Shisun, and many other young masters from prominent families. Such a fervent situation was no less than that of the Prime Minister's wife back then, who also had many suitors.
They truly are mother and daughter.
Inside the carriage, Nan Qianyue looked down at the cherry at her lips, but had no appetite. She looked up at Qin Yi and said, "I can't eat anymore."
Qin Yi's expression visibly dimmed. "You seemed to be enjoying your meal just now."
This time, he didn't eat it himself because Nanqianyue refused; he insisted that she eat it.
Nanqianyue saw his persistence, her eyebrows lifted helplessly, and she slightly opened her mouth to eat the cherry.
Whether Qin Yi did it on purpose or not, he fed her cherry with his finger.
"What is it? Speak up." Nan Qianyue awkwardly moved a little distance away.
Qin Yi pinched his fingertips, as if still savoring the softness he had just touched. He caught a glimpse of her moving away out of the corner of his eye, and annoyed, he immediately moved over and pressed himself tightly against her.
"I had someone replace that portrait with a woman from the Song family, and I also had someone put Caiyu on her. I know that the person who harmed you at the palace banquet was Qin Yuedie, but if Caiyu is put on her, the old emperor will definitely think that someone deliberately damaged the royal dignity. In order to protect the face of the royal family, he will send people to investigate carefully. At that time, the lie of the eldest prince of Xiqiu will be exposed."
"But the old emperor will definitely consider the face of the eldest prince of Xiqiu and find a scapegoat for him. And you are the one he wants most. It is not impossible for the old emperor to push you out for the sake of both sides' face."
Nan Qianyue was stunned for a moment, then said, "Didn't you say that once I gained recognition from the literary circles of Dongling, no one would easily touch me?"
A hint of tenderness flickered in Qin Yi's eyes. He touched the top of Nan Qianyue's head and said slowly, "This is just the worst-case scenario. I won't let that happen, Yue'er. Don't worry, I won't let anyone who dares to touch you get away with it, including the royal family."
Why has this person suddenly become so gentle again?
His eyes were filled with tenderness, and every word he spoke was brimming with genuine affection. The hand that rested on the top of her head was gentle and warm. Nan Qianyue felt her heartbeat slow down, and her eyes darted away unnaturally.
But I felt much better. Why? That's strange.
"I... I feel like the story the First Prince of Xiqiu told is true?" She changed the subject and took his hand away.
A glint flashed in Qin Yi's eyes. The hand that she had taken reached behind her, and he hugged her gently, just encircling her. "There's truth to it and falsehood to it. Two years ago, Lady Song accompanied Grand Commandant Song to the north. She was poisoned by snake venom and was rescued by the passing Prince of Xiqiu. As for the exchange of tokens, that was fabricated by the Prince of Xiqiu."
"The truth is that he wanted to take liberties with Lady Song. After Lady Song desperately escaped, she told Madam Song about it. The mother and daughter kept it a secret from Grand Commandant Song. Otherwise, Grand Commandant Song would not have conspired with the Crown Prince of Xiqiu to harm you."
Nan Qianyue frowned and nodded, "So you knew about this beforehand, which is why you put Caiyu on her and even changed the portrait to hers."
That makes sense.
Qin Yi shook his head, "I don't know everything either. Before the palace banquet, I only knew that she had been to the north. I found out about her relationship with the Crown Prince of Xiqiu last night by sending someone to the Grand Commandant's mansion to eavesdrop."
"Oh." Nanqianyue suddenly lost interest again.
She was extremely annoyed by these things. In her later life, although her family was rich and powerful, she had seen a lot of dirty things after entering the entertainment industry. If she hadn't had a powerful backer, she probably would have been...sigh.
Therefore, she dislikes people who resort to underhanded tactics; they find them annoying.
"Moon, if I don't explain, will you blame me?" Qin Yi's voice was still tender and gentle.
He was close by, and Nan Qianyue could clearly feel the heat emanating from him. "Why...why should I blame you?"
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