Miss Xu rubbed her reddened forehead, stumbled and almost fell into the Seventh Prince's arms again, but Princess Jia Hua caught her quickly.
"girl?"
After regaining her balance, Miss Xu blushed shyly and said, "No, it's alright. Is Your Highness alright? It was my fault. I bumped into Your Highness because I wasn't standing properly. I apologize to Your Highness."
Her sweet, delicate voice sent shivers down my spine.
The faint, sweet fragrance under her nose made it itch. Princess Jiahua let go of her hand and silently picked up a handkerchief to rub her nose.
"Your Highness." Miss Xu seemed not to see Princess Jia Hua at all, her eyes were glued to the Seventh Prince the whole time.
The Seventh Prince clenched his fist and coughed lightly twice: "It's alright, Miss Xu, please don't walk so fast next time."
After saying that, he got up to leave, but was stopped by Miss Xu: "Your Highness, I, I am not feeling well, could you please escort me back to my residence?"
The Seventh Prince frowned.
"Someone, prepare the carriage," Princess Jiahua replied, giving the order to Xiushu.
"yes."
Miss Xu then noticed Princess Jia Hua. After a long pause, Princess Jia Hua cleared her throat and explained, "I am the Seventh Prince's Consort."
Miss Xu stared at Princess Jiahua with a gloomy expression, her eyes clearly filled with envy and resentment, as if she had stolen the other's beloved possession.
"The carriage has arrived, Miss Xu, this way please." Princess Jiahua helped Miss Xu up.
Miss Xu looked at the Seventh Prince.
"Men and women should not touch each other. It is inconvenient for Your Highness. Let me escort you."
Miss Xu withdrew her hand, turned around, took the maid's hand, thanked her, and walked towards the carriage, turning back every few steps.
The seventh prince was somewhat helpless.
"Your Highness, please go back first. I'll be right back," said Princess Jiahua.
"Okay, I'll go back to the manor and wait for you."
Even after getting into the carriage, Miss Xu couldn't help but peek out from under the curtain until the Seventh Prince's figure disappeared from sight. Once inside, she kept looking left and right, unable to get enough of the sight. Her gaze finally fell on Princess Jia Hua.
Miss Xu mustered her courage and suddenly knelt down in front of her; "Seventh Prince's Consort, I wish to enter the Seventh Prince's residence to serve His Highness, please grant my request."
Princess Jia Hua had seen countless men, but she had never seen such a proactive girl. She helped her up and said, "There are so many good men in the world. You don't necessarily have to have him. Besides, you are the eldest daughter of the Xu family. If you enter the prince's mansion, you can only be a concubine. Is it worth it?"
"No man in the world is worse than His Highness, and I only want His Highness!" Miss Xu said confidently, "I would be willing to serve His Highness even as a maid."
She knew that no amount of persuasion would help this kind of person.
"Get up for now. This isn't up to me." Princess Jiahua said, spreading her hands. "I'm just a princess sent for a political marriage. I don't have the power you think I have."
Miss Xu then asked, "Everyone says His Highness is extremely obedient to you, as long as you speak..."
“We are not related, why should I speak up for you?” she retorted. “Miss Xu, is this the first time we’ve met?”
Miss Xu blushed, and after a moment of choking, she said, "I can guarantee that if I have a son in the future, I will give him to you to raise. I will never compete with you for him. I will give you half of the dowry I brought, as long as you can help me persuade His Highness."
Princess Jia Hua looked utterly helpless.
"Seventh Prince's Consort, if it wasn't me, it would have been someone else. The vast Prince's residence can't possibly have only you. I'm obedient and won't compete with you. Please consider it."
After saying that, Miss Xu called for the carriage to stop, lifted the curtain, and got off.
Her brisk and swift movements didn't seem at all like someone who was frail and unable to walk.
"Master, Princess Xiangzhu sent you a letter." Xiushu came in and handed over the letter she kept close to her: "Someone just slipped this letter to me on the street, saying it was from Princess Xiangzhu."
Princess Jia Hua's expression changed slightly. She quickly opened the letter, and after reading it, her heart sank: "Return to the manor immediately."
The letter said that Xiangzhu had been under house arrest since the Third Prince's wife's baby-giving banquet. She was not allowed to see her child and was inexplicably coughing up blood. Her health was deteriorating day by day, and the mansion did not even allow them to call a doctor. They just kept her under house arrest.
The letter was crumpled and smelled of vegetable leaves, so it must have been secretly sent out.
Upon returning to the Seventh Prince's residence, she went directly to the Seventh Prince and pleaded, "I would like to see Xiangzhu; she is my cousin from Northern Chu."
The seventh prince nodded without hesitation: "I'll think of a way."
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