Lu Anrou strode over arrogantly. Seeing her imposing manner, Jiang Luoluo immediately tugged at Xiao Yunwei's sleeve and whispered, "Sister Yunwei, trouble is brewing!"
The two quickly rose, bowed respectfully to Lu Anrou, and said in unison, "Greetings, Princess!"
Lu Anrou glanced at Jiang Luoluo with a hint of disdain in her eyes and said in a sharp tone, "You're the Jiang Luoluo who was jilted by General Gu and disgraced all the noble ladies in the capital?"
Jiang Luoluo smiled slightly and calmly replied, "Princess Anrou, you are mistaken. It was I who took the initiative to propose annulment of the engagement that day."
Jiang Luoluo glanced meaningfully at Yao Shiyu standing behind Lu Anrou, "My cousin and General Gu are deeply in love. How can I be the one to break them up?"
Then Jiang Luoluo looked at Lu Anrou with a half-smile and said, "Princess Anrou, do you agree or disagree?"
Lu Anrou thought that these words would anger Jiang Luoluo, but she did not expect the other party to respond so calmly.
The punch felt like it had landed on cotton, instantly freezing Lu Anrou's smug expression. She was so angry that she stammered, "You...you?"
Seeing this, Lu Anrou's face darkened. She quickly walked to the table, grabbed a glass of fruit wine, and raised her hand to splash it on Jiang Luoluo's head.
Xiao Yunwei reacted quickly and reached out to pull Jiang Luoluo, intending to shield her behind her and face Lu Anrou's provocation head-on.
Just at this critical moment, a crisp crack rang out, and the wine glass slipped directly from Lu Anrou's hand, falling to the ground and shattering into pieces.
A gust of cold wind swept by, and before Jiang Luoluo could react, a tall, slender figure in black, like a cold star streaking across the night, stood firmly in front of her.
Lu Anrou stared blankly at the man before her, whose features were sharp and cold. Her anger suddenly faltered, and her wrists throbbed with pain, feeling so numb that she could barely hold on.
Lu Anrou cried out in grievance, "Your Highness Prince Yi? You...?" She stomped her foot in anger, her tone filled with resentment and accusation, "How could you help this fickle woman?"
A hint of coldness flashed across Xie Yizhi's brows, and his voice was like a sharp blade being drawn from its sheath, "Princess Anrou, you truly have excellent manners!"
He gave Lu Anrou a cold glance, his eyes seeming to gleam with a sharp, chilling light that sent a shiver down her spine. Lu Anrou immediately fell silent, her face turning bright red.
Xie Yizhi turned to look at Jiang Luoluo, the coldness in his eyes completely gone, replaced by gentle concern. He asked in a low voice, "Luoluo, are you hurt?"
Jiang Luoluo smiled slightly, her eyes filled with gentle tenderness. She shook her head gently, her tone calm yet reassuring: "Your Highness, I'm fine, don't worry."
Their tender conversation exploded like a thunderclap in everyone's ears.
Xie Yizhi, the Prince Yi who is known for his tyranny, bloodthirstiness, and aversion to women, would treat a woman so gently, especially Jiang Luoluo, who was once rejected in marriage and has a bad reputation.
The young ladies and gentlemen were drawn to the commotion and couldn't help but gather around, their eyes shifting between Xie Yizhi and Jiang Luoluo, filled with surprise and curiosity.
Lu Anrou's face suddenly turned ashen, and a heavy weight pressed against her chest, making it almost impossible for her to breathe. She recalled what Yao Shiyu had said to her earlier, and her resentment grew even stronger.
“Xie Yizhi’s feelings for Jiang Luoluo are very unusual,” Yao Shiyu said with a hint of disdain. “Back in Yunchuan, that woman threw herself at His Highness Prince Yi many times, flirting with him and practically pressing her face against his body.”
At that time, Lu Anrou merely sneered and didn't take it to heart. In her eyes, she was the most talented woman in the capital, surpassing Jiang Luoluo in every aspect, whether it was appearance, talent, or family background.
"She's just a woman who got dumped; Xie Yizhi wouldn't even give her a second glance!" she said confidently at the time.
But right now, Xie Yizhi is clearly standing next to Jiang Luoluo, his eyes gentle as water, his words tender and touching.
Lu Anrou's confidence was shattered instantly, and jealousy and resentment surged in her chest, almost causing her to lose her composure.
With a loud shout from the eunuch, "The Empress Dowager has arrived!" the clear voice instantly shattered the silence of the Imperial Garden, interrupting the silent contest between Jiang Luoluo and Lu Anrou.
Everyone turned to look in the direction from which the sound came, and the tense atmosphere eased somewhat.
Taking the opportunity, Lu Anrou suppressed the resentment that welled up in her heart and quickly regained her dignified expression, as if the confrontation just now had never happened.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here for you!" Xie Yizhi's deep and firm voice reached Jiang Luoluo's ears, like a ray of warm sunshine in winter, dispelling all the unease in her heart.
Jiang Luoluo looked up at him, a hint of warmth flashing in her eyes, and nodded gently, as if she had found solace in everything.
Xie Yizhi nodded slightly to Jiang Luoluo, then turned and strode towards the men's seats. His upright posture and sharp aura attracted the attention of many people.
Xiao Yunwei watched him leave, a hint of joy unconsciously appearing on her face. She had originally worried that the royal family's infighting was too complicated, and that if Jiang Luoluo followed Xie Yizhi, she would be bullied and wronged by others.
However, what she saw today put her at ease. Xie Yizhi stood up for Jiang Luoluo in public without any hesitation, and even the arrogant and domineering Lu Anrou couldn't gain the slightest advantage.
Such a decisive and protective man might truly be someone Luo Luo can rely on.
Jiang Luoluo gently tugged at Xiao Yunwei's sleeve. The two exchanged a tacit glance, their eyes calm and indifferent, as if nothing had happened.
Immediately, they quietly retreated to the back of the crowd, trying to minimize their presence.
Everyone stepped forward to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager, who gently waved her hand and said kindly, "No need for formalities. Today is a flower appreciation banquet, so please be at ease."
For a moment, the atmosphere in the room became slightly more relaxed, and the guests stood up and took their seats.
Lu Anrou, however, remained furious, her face dark and gloomy.
Seeing this, Yao Shiyu quietly approached and whispered a few words in her ear.
Lu Anrou's gaze changed instantly, first flashing with a hint of coldness, then a meaningful smile appeared on her lips, clearly indicating that she already had a plan in mind.
However, Lu Anrou was not the only one harboring displeasure. Jiang Yunjiao, holding her teacup, frequently glanced at Xie Yizhi, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.
She had clearly seen Xie Yizhi publicly defend Jiang Luoluo, and it felt like a stone had suddenly pressed down on her heart, making her feel extremely suffocated.
Jiang Yunjiao originally thought that she was dressed up impeccably today and was confident that she could outshine everyone at the flower viewing banquet and even attract Xie Yizhi's attention.
She was filled with anticipation, hoping to receive even a single look of appreciation from Xie Yizhi.
To everyone's surprise, Xie Yizhi didn't even glance at her once, as if she didn't exist at all.
Jiang Yunjiao gripped the handkerchief in her hand, feeling both wronged and angry. Her gaze unconsciously fell on Jiang Luoluo, who was not far away.
Thinking of how Xie Yizhi had stood up for Jiang Luoluo just now, her chest felt even tighter, and her fingertips trembled slightly with resentment.
During the banquet, amidst overlapping floral shadows, an undercurrent was quietly surging beneath the surface.
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