Regarding Fang Wantang's reluctance to marry, Madam Cui had a detailed discussion with her. After confirming her wishes, she stopped trying to find a husband for her and agreed to her choice.
Fang Wantang was so happy that she cried and laughed, and that very night she almost emptied her savings and put it all into Fang Ruotang's storeroom.
However, Fang Ruotang, who has always been somewhat greedy, did not take it, not because she looked down on Fang Wantang's things.
Instead, among her sisters, apart from the younger eighth and ninth sisters who were still growing up, Fang Wantang's storeroom was the smallest.
On the surface, they had all the clothes and jewelry they needed for all four seasons, but their different birth mothers destined them to be at odds.
The next day, the Crown Prince arrived at the Prime Minister's residence leading a white horse.
Upon hearing the news, Fang Ruotang was so happy that she ran out of the yard, ran through the garden, and headed straight for the front yard.
The Crown Prince watched the little girl running towards him from afar. His cold aura vanished, and he slightly opened his arms, waiting for Fang Ruotang to jump into his embrace.
Fang Ruotang rushed in front of him, ducked down, slipped under his armpits, and grabbed the horse's neck from behind.
"Little White, I miss you so much! Do you miss me?"
A sticky, gooey sound came from behind him. The prince's mind went blank for a moment, but he calmly put his hands down.
"Did you name it Xiaobai?"
"Yes! It's all white, so it should be called Little White."
The crown prince neither agreed nor disagreed.
Fang Ruotang exclaimed in surprise, "Brother Crown Prince, did you make this saddle for me?"
"Yes, do you like it?"
The saddle and stirrups for the custom-made horse were not finished when Xiaobai was delivered at the last minute. Yesterday, I took Xiaobai back and installed all of these.
“I like it. I also like the big red gem on this riding whip.” Fang Ruotang looked at the riding whip that the Crown Prince was holding with a smile.
It's flashy and colorful, which suits her aesthetic perfectly.
Even the saddle and stirrups were inlaid with gemstones and pearls, making the little white horse seem exceptionally valuable.
"Does your leg not hurt anymore?"
Seeing Fang Ruotang run over like this, the Crown Prince figured she shouldn't be in pain anymore, but he still asked a question.
"It doesn't hurt anymore, will you take me horseback riding, Crown Prince?" Fang Ruotang asked expectantly.
The crown prince also wanted to.
But then I thought of the five hungry wolves in the capital.
"How about we ride around the manor for a bit today? Once you're used to riding, I'll take you to the estate."
The Crown Prince's suggestion dampened Fang Ruotang's enthusiasm by half, but having something to do was better than having nothing at all.
Then, the entire Prime Minister's residence witnessed an astonishing scene.
The usually aloof and unsmiling Crown Prince, under the sunlight, wore a faint smile as he led the little white horse and Fang Ruotang around the garden again and again, making her beam with joy.
"Oh! You seem quite happy!"
The harmonious atmosphere between the two did not last until the end, because Huo Zhige arrived, squatting on the wall with a menacing look on his face.
As he arrived, the sounds of fighting could be heard outside.
"The Crown Prince is really good at using his power to intimidate people," Huo Zhige said sarcastically, before scaling the wall and entering.
Fang Ruotang's face flushed slightly as she excitedly said, "You're so amazing! You jumped down from such a high wall in one go. Could you fly up to that rooftop?"
Huo Zhige paused, looked at the eaves, and then, with a light, agile step, stepped onto them.
"Wow, you're so amazing!" Fang Ruotang clapped enthusiastically, her face beaming with excitement as she directed Huo Zhige to jump up the tree.
Under Fang Ruotang's sweet talk, Huo Zhige jumped around like a monkey performer, and amidst Fang Ruotang's repeated praises, an uncontrollable silly grin appeared on Huo Zhige's face.
"Stupid dog!" the prince muttered under his breath.
Seeing how Huo Zhige had made Fang Ruotang so happy, he felt a little displeased. He almost said something like, "He can do that too."
But in the end, the prince, who was too concerned about his image, didn't say it.
I didn't participate in this childish competition for favor.
"Shall I take you out to play? I know a lot of fun places." Huo Zhige jumped in front of Fang Ruotang, his eyes sparkling as he looked at her, his joy almost overflowing.
Fang Ruotang was deeply moved.
She tilted her head, clasped her hands together, and pitifully begged, "Crown Prince, please let me go out and play, okay?"
Huo Zhige's expression changed instantly, and he asked angrily, "Why did you ask the Crown Prince when you went out to play? What right does he have to tell you what to do?"
Fang Ruotang blinked, not understanding why Huo Zhige was suddenly so loud, and answered honestly.
"Because my brother, the Crown Prince, will protect me!"
Huo Zhige froze for a moment, thinking of the intelligence he had received and Fang Ruotang's special circumstances.
But he remained unconvinced, saying, "I can protect you; I'm stronger than him."
The Crown Prince scoffed softly, so softly that Fang Ruotang, sitting on horseback, didn't hear it, but Huo Zhige, whose martial prowess was unparalleled, heard it clearly.
"You! Do you have the guts to fight me? Whoever loses will withdraw." Huo Zhige raised his chin arrogantly and issued the challenge.
The Crown Prince is indeed a well-rounded warrior, but compared to Huo Zhige, who specializes in only one area, he is slightly inferior in terms of martial prowess.
"Xiao Liu, General Huo has told me that I will never see you again. Do you agree?"
Fang Ruotang's eyes widened in surprise. "Why?"
"Because he challenged me to a fight, and I can't beat him. If I lose, I won't be able to see you anymore," the prince stated frankly, without any hint of grievance.
But Fang Ruotang didn't think so. She pointed at Huo Zhige condescendingly and scolded him: "You're bad. You bullied the Crown Prince and won't let us meet. I hate you."
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