Jiang Jinzhao's brows were instantly furrowed, and the expectation in his heart suddenly sank: "Your Highness... doesn't want to?" His tone could hardly hide the disappointment and a hint of questioning.
Xinyi Daoyi's gaze flickered over the bandage covering Jiang Jinzhao's arm, where traces of blood still shone. His voice was silent, yet he articulated the cause and effect clearly: "You were injured while protecting the emperor. The arrow wound is severe, and I'm afraid you'll miss this year's imperial examination. I owe you a favor for this." His gaze returned to Jiang Jinzhao's face, a look of both commitment and distance from a superior. "But I have no intention of accepting a disciple. No matter who it is, including Jiang Songyi, the Princess of Jiaqing County."
Jiang Jinzhao's heart sank, and a wave of irritation at being slighted surged. He straightened his back, his tone hardening slightly, "Your Highness, you've misunderstood! Jinzhao was injured to protect his sister. This is only natural and has nothing to do with Your Highness! I wouldn't dare use this as a pretext for repaying a favor!" He took a deep breath, staring intently at Xinyi Daoyi with the unwavering firmness of a brother. "Since Your Highness is unwilling to accept Songyi as your disciple, Jinzhao begs Your Highness to... stop being so close to her!"
His voice was low, but every word was clear, carrying the weight of stone: "A woman's reputation is more important than her life! Songyi is still young and simple-minded, and may not understand these taboos. But Your Highness is older than her and of nobler status, so he should know the limits! This will damage her reputation!"
"I know."
Xinyi Daoyi finally responded, his voice still calm, without any hint of anger or approval. He only said these three words.
However, his next action contradicted this brief response. He lowered his head slightly and carefully pulled up the two loose robes covering Jiang Songyi, especially his own, which had slipped down a little. He carefully wrapped her up more tightly, ensuring that the cold wind could not get in even a little.
After doing all this, he raised his eyes again, his gaze calmly meeting Jiang Jinzhao's gaze, which was filled with anger and confusion. From beginning to end, he did not try to move the girl who was sleeping soundly on his lap.
He just sat there, as if guarding a tranquility that could not be disturbed, allowing the night rain outside the cave to isolate the cave into a subtle and private little world with only the warmth of the campfire and the girl's shallow breathing.
Cold raindrops, blown sideways by the wind, rustled against the roof of the simple shelter. In the center, a small bonfire flickered, trying to dispel the damp chill of the night's rain. In the firelight, Jiang Jinzhao's brows knitted tightly into the shape of a "川" character, his eyes sharp as a knife, directed directly at Crown Prince Xinyi Daoyi, who was holding his sister Jiang Songyi across from him.
"Your Highness," Jiang Jinzhao's voice was low, filled with obvious repression and dissatisfaction, like a taut bowstring. "You and my sister are not related in any way. If you don't have feelings for her and don't want to marry her, you shouldn't be so close to her!" He looked at his sister sleeping peacefully in the prince's arms, feeling irritated and worried. This prince had gone too far!
Xinyi Daoyi, who had been looking down at the peaceful sleeping face of the girl in his arms, slowly raised his eyes upon hearing her words. The light of the bonfire danced in his deep eyes. The corners of his lips curled slightly, and a soft laugh escaped his throat. The laughter was particularly clear in the rainy night, and it also carried a hint of elusive meaning: "Who said...I don't want to marry?"
These words were like thunder out of the blue!
Jiang Jinzhao was startled, his entire body frozen. He couldn't believe his ears! What did the prince just say? Want to marry?!
Immediately, a surge of offended rage shot straight into Jiang Jinzhao's head! He clenched his fists, his knuckles white, and his chest heaved violently. If he hadn't been concerned about his sister still sleeping, he would have almost shouted at her on the spot! He forced down the curse that was about to burst out, his eyes instantly turning icy cold, full of vigilance and scrutiny. He stared at Xinyi Daoyi intently, and his voice seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth: "So... Your Highness is deliberately seducing my sister?!"
The doubts in his heart were finally cleared up—no wonder! No wonder this dignified prince, who looked like a decent person, allowed his sister to get close to him everywhere, and his behavior was not at all abhorrent! So this was his plan!
Xin Yidao faced this straightforward question with a calm expression, without the slightest embarrassment of being exposed. Instead, he admitted it frankly: "I guess so." His attitude seemed as if he was talking about a very ordinary matter.
Jiang Jinzhao felt a surge of blood rushing to his head. He laughed in anger, his voice as cold as ice: "Oh! My sister is full of admiration and respect for Your Highness, and regards you as a teacher and a elder, with all her sincerity! But Your Highness has such improper thoughts about her? Your conscience... doesn't it hurt?!" He felt sorry for his sister. This pure trust was actually exploited in this way!
Upon hearing this, Xin Yidao actually raised her hand, and gently pressed her left chest with her slender fingers to feel it. Then she looked at Jiang Jinzhao and said in a calm tone: "No." These two words made Jiang Jinzhao feel stuffy in his heart.
"Your Highness!" Jiang Jinzhao took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and tried to bring the topic back to a rational track. "If Your Highness wants to form an alliance with the Yongding Marquis' Mansion and seek the support of the Marquis' Mansion, there is no need to target my sister! Your Highness only needs to show enough sincerity and convincing strength, and the Yongding Marquis' Mansion, as a minister, will naturally support the royal orthodoxy!" He tried to point out the interests involved.
However, his tone suddenly changed, and his voice became extremely tough, with every word ringing loudly: "But! My sister, Jiang Songyi, is definitely not a pawn that Your Highness can use to form an alliance! Our Yongding Marquis Mansion owes her a lot, and now all we ask for is that she can live the rest of her life in peace and peace, as she pleases! Whether she gets married or not, and who she marries, the Marquis Mansion will not force her! But there is one thing - the Marquis Mansion will never use her marriage to exchange for any benefits! Let alone allow anyone to use her! No one!" These words were firm and decisive, and were the brother's most resolute defense of his sister.
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