"Situ Xunxiao..." Zong Zheng Xiaoting called softly to Situ Xunxiao beside him.

Situ Xunxiao, who was suddenly called, raised his sword-like eyebrows slightly and moved to the side of Zongzheng Xiaoting. Although he did not say a word, he nodded slightly, indicating Zongzheng Xiaoting to speak.

"Is there anyone who knows your background among these people?" Zong Zheng Xiaoting asked in a low voice.

"What?"

"Who is the one who is inviolable in your mind? Who do you want to protect?" Zong Zheng Xiaoting turned her head and blinked. "If there is no one, this princess will not be polite."

Looking at the pair of blinking eyes above the veil, filled with sly smiles, Situ Xunxiao smiled unconsciously, "It's up to you."

"That's what you said." Zong Zheng Xiaoting happily threw a wink, then turned to look at the empress dowager and others who had been staring at the two of them. In their eyes, in addition to displeasure, there was probably an additional sense of disgust that they felt for being impolite.

However...

Zong Zheng Xiaoting looked at the smile on Concubine Jing's face, which was well concealed but still couldn't escape the betrayal of her micro-expression. His guess was further confirmed in his heart that it was a reaction of jealousy!

"Is this Concubine Jing?" Zong Zheng Xiaoting said in a hoarse voice, raised his chin defiantly and looked at Concubine Jing.

"Not bad." Although Concubine Jing didn't like Zong Zheng Xiaoting, she didn't dare to be rude. She put a gentle smile on her face and nodded at Zong Zheng Xiaoting.

"Hmm." Zong Zheng Xiaoting's eyes wandered over Concubine Jing for a while, and he said in a long voice, "I guess Concubine Jing is not from a high family, right?"

As soon as these words came out, a low laugh came from Gong Yunluo, which also indirectly informed Zong Zheng Xiaoting that he had guessed correctly. Zong Zheng Xiaoting tutted his tongue several times, and then sighed, "But this is not something that can be taken into consideration. Everyone has a different status, and the things they come into contact with and their experiences are also different. Although it is said that Concubine Jing is now a concubine, I am afraid that she cannot change her nature. I am not surprised. Think about my Luozha country. There are many concubines in my father's harem who are of low birth. They rose to the throne by relying on my father's favor. For decades, it is still the case that it is easy to change the country but difficult to change the nature."

At this moment, the smile on Concubine Jing's face had already stiffened. Zong Zheng Xiaoting's ridicule of her between the lines was all indirect. Her background had always been a pain for her, but after she met Situ Xunxiao and Gong Yunyang, no one dared to mock her like that. But now? A princess who married into a foreign country was so unruly, which opened up her long-standing scars again.

Zong Zheng Xiaoting looked at Concubine Jing, feeling pleased in her heart but also being unreasonable, "I am a princess of a country. On the way to the marriage, no matter if I am wearing a veil or not, which soldier dares to look up and face me? Concubine Jing just said this. It's fine for our family to say this, after all, no one will gossip about it. If outsiders hear this, won't they say that Concubine Jing is so lawless when meeting other male relatives on weekdays?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Concubine Jing's smile completely collapsed. During all these years of being the most favored concubine in the harem, no one had ever made her so embarrassed. Even in the struggles in the harem, she had never lost face like this. But at this moment, she was like a huge joke, being laughed at in public.

Gong Yunluo was very pleased at the moment. Over the years, due to the support of his brother the Emperor and brother Xunxiao, he could only secretly mock Concubine Jing for her success and did not dare to go too far to directly confront her. Now, seeing Zongzheng Xiaoting's behavior, he felt happy that he had vented his anger.

Naturally, only someone as slow-witted as Gong Yunluo would be happy about Zongzheng Xiaoting's words at this moment. Gong Yunfei, who was sitting quietly on the side, was worried at this moment. With nail marks left by his fingertips digging into his palm, Gong Yunfei secretly looked at Situ Xunxiao. The phrase "one family" had already made the intimacy between him and Brother Xunxiao public. Brother Xunxiao was so smart, how could he not hear it? In this situation, what choice would Brother Xunxiao make?

However, under the gaze of several beautiful eyes, Situ Xunxiao slowly stood up. "You are always so unreasonable."

Those who were originally full of expectations felt sad in their hearts after hearing Situ Xunxiao's words that seemed to be accusatory but were actually doting.

Concubine Jing looked at Situ Xunxiao with a look of disbelief.

How could that be!

Did I hear it wrongly?

However, she quickly recovered from this shock. She knew that if she revealed her emotions, the emperor would have unfavorable thoughts in his mind. Today, emotions are secondary and there is no need to weigh their weight!

Zong Zheng Xiaoting watched Concubine Jing change her expression faster than turning the pages of a book, and couldn't help but admire in his heart. As expected, the women in the harem never distinguished by age. No matter whether they were the young and beautiful or middle-aged concubines in his father's palace, or the favored concubine of the young emperor who was less than 20 years old, they were all in the harem, and they wore the mask very skillfully. Even if the mask fell off, they could put it on again in a very short time. They should not be underestimated.

However, just from Gong Yunluo's facial expression and Concubine Jing's performance, it can be basically inferred that Situ Xunxiao and her probably have a considerable emotional entanglement.

Zong Zheng Xiaoting was so absorbed in his own thoughts that he forgot to answer Situ Xunxiao. Seeing her slightly absent-minded, Situ Xunxiao was inexplicably nervous. Seeing her glance towards him, Situ Xunxiao quickly changed the subject, "Is the princess feeling unwell?"

"Uh..." Zong Zheng Xiaoting came to his senses and laughed dryly a few times, "I feel a little confused."

"In that case, I will accompany the princess back to the Zhan Palace first." Situ Xunxiao took Zongzheng Xiaoting's hand intimately, and then turned to look at the Queen Mother and the Emperor, "The princess is not feeling well. Since the Queen Mother is fine, I will take my leave first."

After he finished speaking, Situ Xunxiao was about to leave.

"Wait a minute." Gong Yunyang looked at Situ Xunxiao, pursed his thin lips, and winked at Concubine Jing. After receiving the emperor's hint, Concubine Jing smiled again, "Prince Zhan, please wait a moment."

"What advice does Concubine Jing have?" She was holding Zongzheng Xiaoting's hand and did not let go during this conversation. Her face was so cold that people could not help but gasp.

Zong Zheng Xiaoting, who was standing aside, just curled the corners of his mouth, looking like he was enjoying the show.

Concubine Jing swallowed her saliva and then spoke slowly, "The Queen Mother was seriously ill a few days ago. The Emperor and I were at a loss. We not only asked the imperial physician to treat her, but also consulted the Qintianjian. The Qintianjian also said that the princess' birthday was not in line with the current astrology, which conflicted with the Queen Mother, so..."

"So my princess' marriage needs to be postponed." Zong Zheng Xiaoting took over Concubine Jing's words and took a few steps towards her.