I regret it. I really regret it.
If Nan Wusi had known that she would run into Crown Prince Xiao Mu while strolling in the garden, she would never have wandered off alone. She would rather endure being surrounded by a group of noble ladies.
"Sister Si." Xiao Mu smiled slightly at her and nodded in acknowledgment.
That call of "Sister Si" gave Nan Wusi goosebumps. Originally, she didn't know who this handsome and extraordinary man in front of her was, but this unique and exclusive form of address for Crown Prince Xiao Mu was something Nan Wusi knew from reading novels.
She complained more than once while reading the novel, feeling uncomfortable at the thought of the incredibly handsome male lead calling an ugly woman in such a cheesy and mushy way.
Of course, now that she's the one who transmigrated, she feels even more uncomfortable. It's not because she's insecure or anything, but simply because knowing how the plot unfolds makes her feel disgusted.
The Crown Prince was also a cunning and scheming man. He could call the seemingly demonic Nan Wusi such nauseatingly sweet words, and he kept pretending to be deeply affectionate, completely deceiving the original Nan Wusi. Presumably, the original owner of this body never knew until her death that Xiao Mu was the one who caused her death. Her infatuation and devotion seemed utterly ridiculous.
"Your Highness." Nan Wusi's deep voice carried a hint of coldness and aloofness as she gave a proper bow. She had already inquired with Ye Zi about the proper way to greet him over the past two days.
Xiao Mu frowned upon hearing this form of address, then was surprised that Nan Wusi would bow so formally: "Why don't you call me Crown Prince Brother as usual?"
"That's so cheesy, I would never call you that," Nan Wusi thought to herself, but on the surface she maintained a polite demeanor: "It was I who overstepped my bounds in the past."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Mu's handsome eyebrows almost furrowed into a knot. He felt that Nan Wusi was acting very strangely today. "Could it be that General Xiao noticed something and said something to her?" Xiao Mu couldn't help but wonder.
He'd been in a bad mood these past few days. He'd thought that given Nan Wusi's infatuation with him, getting engaged would be a simple matter. But he hadn't expected Nan Tianba to be so adamant, openly stating in court that he needed to consult his daughter's opinion on such a significant matter.
Based on Nan Wusi's past behavior of always sticking close to him whenever she saw him, and his occasional displays of affection for her, he was confident that Nan Wusi would be overjoyed upon hearing the news of the arranged marriage and would immediately agree.
However, after the morning court session this day, the Emperor summoned Nan Tianba to the Imperial Study to inquire about the matter. Unexpectedly, Nan Tianba refused, saying that his daughter thought he was still too young to marry and wanted to serve her parents for a few more years. This angered the Emperor, who smashed several antique vases and then severely reprimanded him, saying that he couldn't even control a woman.
Xiao Mu also genuinely believed that Nan Wusi was ungrateful. It was a blessing for her, an ugly woman, to marry a prince like him. How dare she refuse? Where would he put his face if word got out?
Thinking of this, his expression grew even more unpleasant. However, remembering his purpose for today, he immediately put on a smiling face and asked gently, "Sister Si, didn't you always say that you wanted to marry the Crown Prince? Why now..." Xiao Mu looked at Nan Wusi with deep affection, a hint of grievance showing in his eyes.
Standing opposite Xiao Mu, Nan Wusi watched his ever-changing expressions and thought to himself that the Crown Prince must be out of his mind. Fearing he would be implicated, he was just about to take his leave when he witnessed Xiao Mu's performance, leaving him feeling utterly exasperated.
She patiently replied, "Your Highness, I was too young and ignorant in the past, so I offended you. I hope Your Highness will forgive me and not take such a joke seriously." As she spoke, Nan Wusi even bowed in a perfunctory manner.
"I am feeling unwell, so I will not disturb Your Highness's enjoyment any longer. I will take my leave." Nan Wusi bowed and quickly departed.
The veins on Xiao Mu's forehead throbbed, and his fists clenched and unclenched. He never expected Nan Wusi to become so shameless, even telling him not to take jokes seriously. If it weren't for the General's Mansion behind her, would someone of his status allow such an ugly woman to act so arrogantly in front of him?
Although Xiao Mu was furious, he still knew where he was and forcibly suppressed his anger.
After Nan Wusi left, a group of noble ladies quickly gathered around Xiao Mu. Previously, they hadn't dared to approach and speak with Crown Prince Xiao Mu, because in the past, anyone who dared to flirt with the Crown Prince in front of Nan Wusi had met a terrible end. Nan Wusi's soft whip at his waist had lashed countless women who wanted to pounce on the Crown Prince. Today, they found it strange that Nan Wusi hadn't lingered with the Crown Prince, leaving so quickly, giving them the perfect opportunity to show their faces in front of him.
Xiao Mu chatted and laughed among the group of noble ladies, quickly dispelling the gloom in his heart.
As the banquet was about to begin, everyone had taken their seats.
At this moment, Prime Minister Ouyang arrived late with two women, immediately attracting everyone's attention.
Nan Wusi also looked at the group and saw two women following behind Prime Minister Ouyang, one on each side. The woman on the left was tall and slender, with exceptional beauty, especially her eyes, which seemed to hold a hidden depth. She wore a gorgeous orange dress, and her headdress and clothing were all in this year's trendy styles, further highlighting her youthful charm. Her gait was graceful and elegant, clearly showing that she had received excellent upbringing. In contrast, the woman on the right, although her features were delicate upon closer inspection, her bowed head and submissive demeanor were unpleasant. Dressed in plain clothes, she was completely unremarkable, like a pearl covered in dust.
"The woman on the left must be the original heroine, Ouyang Jiangli. What a beauty, the most beautiful woman in the capital! She's still young and hasn't fully grown up, yet she already has such an air about her. One can only imagine how beautiful she will be in the future. And on the right, her elder sister, Ouyang Xinxi, is even more beautiful than I expected, something that wasn't mentioned at all in the original text. However, her temperament is far inferior." Nan Wusi pondered to himself.
At this time, Prime Minister Ouyang was mourning the loss of his wife. As Ouyang Jiangli was not entitled to attend the palace banquet due to her status as an illegitimate daughter, her presence here must have required considerable effort from her aunt. Of course, this was also related to Prime Minister Ouyang's favoritism, as could be seen from the two women's attire and their positions.
A concubine's daughter, only a few months younger than her legitimate sister, and with such a renowned reputation, it's obvious to anyone with eyes to see the shady dealings involved.
Prime Minister Ouyang greeted his colleagues with a smile and apologized for arriving too late.
A voice came from outside the hall: "His Majesty the Emperor has arrived! His Majesty the Empress has arrived!"
Everyone stood up and bowed to the emperor, saying, "Welcome Your Majesty, long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress! Long live the Empress!" Nan Wusi also followed suit and bowed.
"Haha, my beloved ministers, rise." After Emperor Xiao Teng took his seat, he slowly said, "Today's banquet is to celebrate General Nan's victorious return. Everyone, please drink and have a good time, there's no need to be too reserved."
After the emperor and empress arrived, the palace maids quickly set out a variety of delicious dishes on the table.
Meanwhile, the musicians and dancers each performed their duties and began to present wonderful performances.
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