In the blurry bronze mirror, the girl had black hair and a beautiful face, except for a bloodstain the size of a fingernail on her forehead.
Xie Yuan wiped away the dried bloodstains, dipped an eyebrow pencil in cinnabar, and drew a half-open peony, perfectly covering the wound.
Xie Yuan picked up the fan beside him, held it in front of him, and walked out.
The oxcart was simple and swayed all the way to the palace.
"Princess Consort Yue, the Eastern Palace is just ahead. We are not allowed to enter. We must go there ourselves."
The officials from the Ministry of Rites fled the Eastern Palace as if they were being chased by dogs.
A cool summer breeze blew by, and in the desolate courtyard, only the bride in her wedding dress remained.
Xie Yuan, holding a fan in one hand and lifting the hem of his robe with the other, slowly walked up the steps.
She pushed the closed palace door hard, and with a creak, the hinges made a soft sound.
In the vast main hall, only a few candlesticks were lit, making the light somewhat dim.
Xie Yuan saw a person sitting in the room, with a tray on the table containing a brand-new bright red dress.
The man was not wearing formal attire, but only a worn-out brocade robe, and his hair was not tied up but left loose.
Xie Yuan's footsteps were very light, but they still made a rustling sound.
It could be heard very clearly in the quiet night.
The man remained motionless, sitting cross-legged like a clay figure.
"This concubine, Xie Yuan, greets Your Highness, the Prince of Yue!"
Xie Yuan entered the hall, holding up a silk fan with both hands, and slightly bent his knees to give a salute.
"Xie Shi A Yuan? That old scoundrel Xie Ze has indeed changed his person."
The deposed crown prince finally reacted, raising his head sharply and looking coldly at Xie Yuan.
Xie Yuan slowly put down her fan, revealing a bright yet elegant face.
Especially the peony flower decoration between her eyebrows made her even more beautiful and radiant.
A hint of amazement flashed in the deposed crown prince's sinister eyes.
The deposed crown prince was backlit, so Xie Yuan couldn't see his expression.
However, Xie Yuan detected anger in the deposed crown prince's tone.
The deposed crown prince suddenly softened his tone, "However, this matter should have nothing to do with you. You were also a sacrifice pushed out by Xie Ze!"
“Xie Shi A Yuan, I am not one to take my anger out on others, and I would never force an orphan girl.”
"So, I'll give you a chance to choose. Are you willing to marry me?"
"If you are unwilling, I can write a letter of divorce and let you go home; if you are willing, then you can only come with me to Yuezhou!"
When the deposed crown prince said this, a strange light flickered in his eyes.
Xie Yuan raised her head and solemnly said, "Your Highness, I was indeed threatened by Xie Ze with my younger brother and family property, and had no choice but to agree to marry in place of Xie Rou."
"However, I am willing to marry Your Highness and accompany you to Yuezhou!"
Her tone was sincere, and her acting was even more explosive than when she filmed her own videos.
The deposed crown prince curled his lips into a smile, his gaze towards Xie Yuan softening considerably.
Very well, this Xie Yuan is quite different from shameless villains like Xie Ze.
I will spare your life.
Xie Yuan had no idea that he had just narrowly escaped death.
If she dared to answer "no," given the deposed crown prince's current state of resentment and near-distorted mentality, he might kill Xie Yuan.
As for Xie Ze, the deposed crown prince will also return a "big gift" to him before leaving the capital!
Xie Yuan's "I'm willing" made the deposed crown prince completely separate her from Xie Ze and the Xie family.
He wouldn't easily consider Xie Yuan as one of his own, but he was willing to let her be the nominal Princess of Yue.
"Are you really willing?"
The deposed crown prince spoke gently, but his question still carried a hint of sarcasm: "Do you know where Yuezhou is? What kind of place is it?"
Xie Yuan nodded, "I know! Lingnan is a wild and remote place."
The deposed crown prince paused for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, your father, Xie Yuan, is a renowned scholar who has traveled the world and is very knowledgeable."
"As Xie Yuan's eldest daughter, you have naturally gained some knowledge from what you have seen and heard."
The deposed crown prince's opinion of Xie Yuan improved slightly—he knew what Yuezhou was like, yet he was still willing to go with him.
Whether it was from the heart or not, the fact that she could say such things made the deposed crown prince think more highly of Xie Yuan.
"Very well, Lady Xie, from now on you will be my queen consort, and I will give you the honor of being my principal wife."
At this point, the deposed crown prince changed his tone, his voice turning cold, "However, don't take your favor for granted. Remember, you are only the Princess Consort of Yue!"
Instead of Helian Jue's wife.
Xie Yuan: ...Thank you so much for thinking so highly of me.
Xie Yuan couldn't stand the arrogant and narcissistic nature of the deposed crown prince.
She couldn't help but mutter a few complaints to herself, but dared not show them. Instead, she feigned gratitude and said, "Thank you, Your Highness. I will obey your command!"
The deposed crown prince was quite satisfied with Xie Yuan's performance, and his aura was no longer so cold.
But at that moment, a clamor of drums sounded outside the palace gates—
"By imperial decree! Prince Helian Jue of Yue and Princess Xie of Yue, receive the decree!"
The cold face, which had just melted away from the snow, froze again upon hearing this voice.
Xie Yuan could clearly feel the intense cold pressure emanating from the deposed crown prince.
With a thud, the deposed crown prince stood up and walked out of the shadows step by step.
A stunningly beautiful face instantly entered Xie Yuan's retina—
Deep-set eyes, high nose bridge, and slightly thin lips.
His eyes shone like stars, his eyebrows slanted upwards to his temples, his posture was upright and his bearing was imposing—what a handsome young man, a refined gentleman in this turbulent world.
His noble and aloof demeanor made Xie Yuan's heart flutter like a deer.
It was worth it. Just for that face, Xie Yuan felt like he had gotten a good deal.
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