When they returned to Prince Yi's residence, it was already late at night, and even Xie Zhichen was fast asleep. The residence was quiet, with only the lanterns in front of the gate casting a faint glow.
Xie Yizhi was already waiting at the gate of the mansion. When he saw the carriage slowly approaching, he immediately stepped forward and carefully looked Jiang Luoluo up and down. His tone was filled with worry: "Luoluo, did Mother make things difficult for you?"
Jiang Luoluo smiled gently, her expression indifferent: "No."
As she spoke, she deliberately twirled around playfully, her skirt fluttering gently, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "Your Highness, look, I'm perfectly fine, aren't I?"
Xie Yizhi was amused by her appearance, and the gloom in his eyes instantly disappeared. He reached out and took her hand: "Okay, let's go inside."
Upon entering the main hall, the food inside was still steaming, clearly having been repeatedly kept warm by the kitchen in preparation for her return.
Xie Yizhi pulled her to sit down, personally ladled out a bowl of hot chicken soup, placed it in front of her, and said in a soft voice, "Luo Luo has worked hard today, drink some hot soup to warm yourself up."
Jiang Luoluo took the bowl, took a small sip, and felt the warm soup flow down her throat into her stomach, but her heart remained terribly cold.
She slowly put down her bowl, looked up at Xie Yizhi, and said in a calm and low voice, "Your Highness, do you know why Empress Dowager Du summoned me to the palace?"
Xie Yizhi's expression remained unchanged as he calmly said, "She wants Lu Anrou to enter the manor and become my concubine."
His words were so calm, as if he were talking about something trivial, but Jiang Luoluo smiled bitterly: "Yes, Your Highness, that is the matter."
Xie Yizhi remained calm, with even a hint of certainty in his eyes: "I suppose Luo Luo has already refused on my behalf."
He spoke casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, but a complex emotion welled up in Jiang Luoluo's heart.
Jiang Luoluo raised her eyes and looked steadily at Xie Yizhi, her tone gentle yet firm: "Your Highness, I have already promised Empress Dowager Du."
"What?"
Xie Yizhi's hand trembled, and the chopsticks clattered to the ground with a crisp sound.
He stared blankly at Jiang Luoluo, his eyes filled with shock, disbelief, and even a hint of anger.
"You agreed on my behalf? You want Lu Anrou to be my concubine?"
Jiang Luoluo forced a smile and nodded, "I agree."
Xie Yizhi suddenly stood up, his eyes seemingly burning with blood-red flames, his voice trembling slightly: "Luo Luo, did you agree for me?"
He gave an incredulous, self-deprecating laugh, a bitter smile on his lips. "We've only been married a short time, and you're already eager to bring other women into the household? Are you in such a hurry to hand me over to someone else?"
He shook his head, his voice low and sorrowful: "Jiang Luoluo, do you even have a heart?"
Today, I have already refused this matter in front of the Empress Dowager, but what about you?
You actually agreed on my behalf...
How could you so easily arrange and decide for me?
Jiang Luoluo felt a tightness in her chest, as if something was blocking her throat, and for a moment she didn't know how to respond.
She had never seen Xie Yizhi so out of control, and she never imagined that this incident would have such a huge impact on him.
She opened her mouth, her voice hoarse, "Your Highness, this is just a delaying tactic..."
Xie Yizhi slowly closed his eyes, his eyelashes trembled slightly, and a single tear slid down from the corner of his eye.
He opened his eyes and stared straight at her, his gaze as cold as a lake in the dead of winter, chilling her to the bone. He said, word by word, "What a delaying tactic."
He gave a bitter laugh, his voice hoarse: "Jiang Luoluo, your friend is injured, you'll worry, you'll be sad..."
But what about me? Have you even for a single moment wanted to protect me?
Jiang Luoluo's breathing became slightly sluggish; the usually quick-witted girl couldn't utter a single word at this moment.
What could she say?
Is it really possible to tell him that they are just cannon fodder in the book, and that she is making a last-ditch effort?
Xie Yizhi stared at her, and when she remained silent, his gaze gradually dimmed, like a candle burning out its last bit of light.
He slowly raised his hand, clenching it into a fist. Due to excessive force, blood seeped through the gauze from his cut palm, dripping onto the ground, as if dripping onto Jiang Luoluo's heart, dull and piercing.
Jiang Luoluo's heart tightened, and she quickly stepped forward to apply the medicine to him.
Xie Yizhi turned slightly to the side, coldly withdrawing his hand, his tone indifferent: "I'm tired, I'll go down and rest first, I won't have dinner with Luo Luo."
After saying that, he turned and strode away, his back view lonely and indifferent.
Jiang Luoluo stood at the threshold, watching his departing figure gradually blur into the night and snow.
Dingdang stood quietly beside Jiang Luoluo, keeping her company. It seemed the prince and princess had quarreled.
Jiang Luoluo looked up at the sky. The snow was falling unusually heavily tonight, and she felt chilled to the bone.
She came from another world, originally just a passerby, but here, she gained a brother and friends, and gradually developed a sense of belonging.
So, what about Xie Yizhi?
Is he an ally? A lover? Or the husband with whom one can spend a lifetime?
She dared not think about it.
She knew that Xie Yizhi would die sooner or later, and what she had to do was protect her family and reverse her own fate.
She dared not be moved.
Because once she falls in love, she can't afford to lose anymore.
If she didn't love him, and he died, she could at most collect his remains, shed a few tears, and it would all pass eventually.
But what if she really falls for him?
Can she bear Xie Yizhi's death?
She couldn't handle it.
Jiang Luoluo closed her eyes, letting the tears silently slide down her face.
Dingdang quickly took out a handkerchief and gently wiped away her tears.
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