Chapter 29 Isolation
On this day off, the sky was somewhat overcast.
“Miss, it looks like it’s going to rain. We didn’t bring an umbrella when we came out. Why don’t we go back early today?”
Bihui looked at the overcast sky with some worry.
"Okay, sure."
Xiao Yuxuan looked at the scenery outside the carriage, somewhat absentmindedly, thinking about the people she would meet later.
In her previous life, she had a bad relationship with Xiao Min, so he naturally never invited her to any poetry gatherings. However, this poetry gathering left a deep impression on her because Xiao Yuyao was brought back by the Fourth Prince on horseback.
It was from then on that Xiao Yuyao's relationship with the Fourth Prince gradually improved, and in everyone's eyes she was the Fourth Prince's destined wife. Not long after she came of age, she was betrothed to him.
She was just an ordinary daughter of an official, and had never met the Crown Prince before. It would be too risky to befriend him rashly, so she should prepare for the worst.
On the one hand, the Crown Prince's life must be protected; on the other hand, it would be best to prevent Xiao Yuyao from becoming the Fourth Prince's consort.
She recalled the likes and dislikes of the Fourth Prince: he loved beautiful women and was fond of extravagance, and Xiao Yuyao certainly fit all his preferences.
She touched her face. As for her appearance, she had improved after taking care of herself for so many days. She did have a bad idea though... but then she thought better of it and decided against it. It wasn't worth making such a big sacrifice.
Lost in these random thoughts, the carriage slowly came to a stop.
The Qingyang Poetry Gathering was held in Zhuangshan on the outskirts of the capital. As Xiao Yuxuan alighted from the carriage, she heard Xiao Yuyao's charming voice from ahead:
"Second brother, will the fourth prince really come today? I borrowed his book last time and was thinking of returning it to him today."
Xiao Min's voice held a hint of disapproval:
"You already have so many books in your home and the girls' school, why do you still need to borrow books from the Fourth Prince?"
Although Xiao Jin is now the fourth prince's study companion, Xiao Min, like most scholars, supports the legitimacy of the imperial power. With the crown prince already established, if the Xiao family gets too close to the fourth prince, it will inevitably attract criticism.
"Second brother, that rare book can only be found in the imperial library. I only managed to borrow it by asking my third brother for help. Don't worry, second brother, I know what I'm doing."
Xiao Yuyao explained it clearly, as if she had no choice but to get involved with the Fourth Prince, which made Xiao Yuxuan want to laugh.
She used this feigned indifference to make the Xiao family believe that she was the most innocent, naive, and obedient one. Little did they know that after becoming Empress, she told them that she had decided to become the Fourth Prince's consort long before she came of age, and that it was all part of her plan.
However, Xiao Yuxuan was very clear-headed. Xiao Yuyao was no good person, nor were the Xiao family members. If they had just used their brains more and not believed others' words so easily, they wouldn't have been fooled by Xiao Yuyao.
"Fifth Sister, come here quickly, don't dawdle."
Xiao Min still remembered what his elder brother had told him about the temple fair that day, and for some reason, he felt a little scared after hearing it.
Fifth Sister was only fourteen years old and had only one maidservant by her side. If something happened to her at the temple fair, not to mention how heartbroken her father and mother would be, even her eldest brother, who had always disliked her, would probably regret it to the core.
Regardless of whether Fifth Sister was being willful and ran away that day, he thought that such a thing must not happen again today.
"They're here."
Xiao Yuxuan responded, lifted her skirt, and followed the two people who did not slow down at all.
The poetry gathering took place halfway up the mountain, with a winding stream where guests would float wine cups on the water. Each young man and woman who came had to show their invitation and take their assigned seat.
Along the way, the brother and sister encountered several familiar young men and women, and they walked together in twos and threes, chatting happily.
Occasionally, someone would look curiously at Xiao Yuxuan behind her, wanting to ask who she was. Xiao Yuyao would casually change the subject, and after a few words, the other person would forget that there was someone following behind her.
"Yuyao, Young Master Xiao, you've arrived! Come on in, we've been waiting and are playing a game of Flying Flowers."
Qi Wenyue saw Xiao Min and Xiao Yuyao from afar, stood up excitedly, and waved to them.
"Second brother, let's go over there. Don't keep the princess waiting."
Xiao Yuyao smiled, took Xiao Min's hand, and quickened her pace.
Xiao Min quickened his pace when he saw several familiar faces on Qi Wenyue's side.
But as I was walking, I suddenly realized something was wrong.
"Brother Xiao Min, hurry up, we're just waiting for you!"
His friend was calling him, and Xiao Min shook his head, smiled, and quickly walked over.
No one noticed that while Xiao Yuyao was chatting and playing games with the familiar young men and women, she was secretly paying attention to the lone figure not far away.
A sense of pride welled up inside her, and her smile grew even brighter.
Did you think that just being able to attend the poetry gathering meant you'd entered the world of these young masters and noble ladies? Xiao Yuxuan, this is only the beginning.
Behind their lively scene, Xiao Yuxuan stood still, watching the group of vibrant young men laughing and joking, a strange feeling welling up in her chest.
The same feeling of isolation, which she would have felt wronged and cried about at fourteen, now only makes her feel naive.
These methods are no longer enough to deal with her now.
No one dared to meet Xiao Yuxuan's gaze, nor were they willing to speak to her before Qi Wenyue, Xiao Min, and Xiao Yuyao took the initiative to introduce themselves.
Xiao Yuxuan was happy to have some free time, so she walked several dozen steps to a quiet place and found a secluded pavilion on a high place to drink tea.
The view from here is excellent; if the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince arrive, she will be able to see them immediately.
Before the person she was waiting for arrived, a voice suddenly came from the other side of the path:
"You mean my cousin? She's an ugly duckling! How could I possibly marry her? I'm going to marry my cousin Yuyao!"
The boy's voice sounded like a broken gong or a rutting drake—very unpleasant, but somewhat familiar.
Xiao Yuxuan recalled that the only person who could call Xiao Yuyao her cousin should be her uncle's second son, Lin Chuanxu.
"You said your arranged marriage was with your cousin, but now that your real cousin is back, the person you're betrothed to has naturally changed," the young boy who was with him teased.
"Impossible! I've only ever been committed to Cousin Yuyao. That ugly hag shouldn't even think about it!"
Lin Chuanxu was very angry, but also a little scared. What if that ugly woman saw how handsome he was and had evil intentions, and insisted on marrying him?
He had already said that he would be with his cousin Yuyao for life, and he would never let her down!
"What does your cousin look like? How ugly is she?"
Lin Chuanxu was taken aback. He had never seen it with his own eyes, but he had heard from the maids who served Yu Yao in the Xiao family that Xiao Yuxuan had rough and sallow skin, and since she was not as pampered as Yu Yao from childhood, she was naturally very ugly and vulgar.
"In short, he has small eyes, buck teeth, an upturned nose, is dark-skinned and ugly, and loves to swoon over girls!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he seemed to be startled by the image of Xiao Yuxuan that he had imagined, and he shuddered.
"Really? People like Lord Xiao and Madam Xiao can have such a daughter? That's really strange."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com