Perfect performance
Xu Lanxin followed the maid at a leisurely pace.
Her habit of turning back every five steps to make sure she hadn't lost him amused Xu Lanxin.
"Qingyu, do you believe that once you go in, she'll find an excuse to send you away?"
With her gaze fixed on the maid, Lan Xin tilted her head and moved closer to Qingyu. Qingyu seemed to dislike people getting too close and moved back a little.
"If she asks you to go with her, then go, and then find a chance to dump her and come back to me."
After passing through the covered corridor, the number of servants became increasingly smaller. Entering the moon gate, one finds a courtyard devoid of any human presence.
The maid pushed open the door but didn't go in; instead, she turned around and looked over.
"Miss Xu, please come in and rest for a while. I will take your maid to fetch your clothes."
Lan Xin looked at Qing Yu and winked at her: "Go with this older sister!"
How boring! Couldn't the ancients come up with more novel ideas? Guessing what kind of fragrance is inside? Is this despicable method really so enduring?
She held her breath and went inside; the door was immediately closed.
After their footsteps faded away, Lanxin immediately got up and walked to the door. Just as she closed the door, she seemed to remember something, so she walked to the window and climbed out.
She quietly went to the corner of the house and waited.
Before long, a servant helped a man dressed in blue brocade robes inside, and then the servant left alone.
Two maids emerged from the flower bushes on the other side of the courtyard. One of them smirked smugly and said, "Go and tell the princess that the sixth prince has gone in."
The Sixth Prince? Isn't that the one Xu Zhilan has been obsessed with and can't seem to get along with?
Lost in thought, I didn't realize there was someone behind me.
"Qingyu, you're amazing! You shook her off so quickly?" Xu Lanxin said in a low voice.
"Do you know who's inside?" Seeing Qingyu shake her head blankly, he beckoned her to lower her head.
“My second younger sister is quite infatuated with this sixth prince. I’m going to give her a big gift today. Come closer and listen.”
Not long after, Qingyu carried Xu You over, leaping across the eaves and walls.
"Big sister, what are you doing?"
"Shh," Lan Xin made a shushing gesture, then said, "Third sister, don't say that your sister didn't think of you when she had something good to say. The Sixth Prince is in here. If you want to fight for your future, your sister will help you."
If you want the Feng family to arrange a marriage for you, then pretend nothing happened today and leave immediately.
Xu You frowned and pondered for a moment, her eyes gradually hardening as she looked up at Lan Xin.
"I'll listen to my sister."
Xu Lanxin smiled: "What do you mean by 'listen to me'? This is your own life, and you decide for yourself. If you decide to step into it, whether your future is blessed or cursed is also your own choice. If you want something, you have to fight for it yourself. I'm just giving you a chance."
"That's all, understand?"
"I understand." After making up her mind, Xu You pushed open the door and went inside.
After hearing sounds coming from inside, Xu Lanxin left with Qingyu.
Thinking that it would be a while before I finished my business, I wandered around aimlessly, but I felt a bit thirsty.
Did he accidentally inhale the medicine?
Following the memory I had of coming here, I arrived at a small waterway.
Xu Lanxin squatted down and splashed water on her face. The cool water made her feel refreshed.
"Girl, you..."
Two voices rang out simultaneously.
A blue fish came from behind her; this was the first time she had ever shown concern for her.
And another way.
She looked up behind her. The discomfort from the water getting into her eyes made her vision a little blurry, but it didn't stop her from seeing the figure of a man behind Qingyu.
He took the handkerchief from Qingyu, wiped his eyes, and finally saw the person who had come.
The man was truly handsome, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes. His black hair was tied up with a golden crown, and he wore a round-necked robe with dark blue patterns and a gold belt inlaid with white jade around his waist.
"Miss, this is the Third Prince."
When Qingyu's voice sounded from behind her, she realized that she had been somewhat impolite. She stared at the person who had come for a long time before bowing respectfully.
"Greetings, Third Prince. I was rude just now."
She would never admit that she was attracted by his good looks; Cen Yan was the most handsome man in her heart.
Her wet hair clung to Xu Lanxin's face, making her smooth, moist skin appear even more like solidified cream, or a magnolia flower glistening with dewdrops.
"The Third Prince?"
Zhao Yi was somewhat lost in thought, only snapping back to reality upon hearing Lan Xin's voice.
"Young lady, is there anything wrong? Please feel free to ask if you need help."
Lan Xin smiled, pondering to herself, "This sixth prince has committed a crime, I wonder if his brother can handle it?"
"Third Prince, I have just gotten separated from my sister and am not very familiar with this place. I wonder if the Third Prince could help me find her?"
"But where did you and your sister get separated?"
Lan Xin led Qingyu ahead and winked at her.
"Third Prince, please come with me."
Xu Lanxin led him through a maze of turns to the courtyard they had previously visited.
"I got separated from my sister here," she said, just as the courtyard was bustling with activity.
She pretended not to know, exchanged a bewildered glance with him, and the two walked into the courtyard.
The courtyard was surrounded by people, and they just happened to hear Princess Qingya sending someone to push open the door and enter.
Lan Xin followed behind the crowd, standing aside to watch the excitement.
Zhao Yi looked at Xu Lanxin, who was beaming with excitement, her bright eyes sparkling, and she even smiled at him.
He knew he was in the game.
Princess Qingya's maidservant called out to the man and woman on the bed, "Miss Xu, how can you be so shameless? How can you face Lord Cen?"
The male protagonist of the accident, who was the first to be awakened, rubbed his head in annoyance and became angry.
"You bastard, how dare you shout here!"
"Sixth Prince? Sixth Prince, please forgive me."
The maid immediately knelt down, her face filled with terror.
I must say, they put on quite a convincing act.
Then Xu Zhilan rushed out. When she saw that it was the Sixth Prince on the bed, she immediately flew into a rage.
"Big sister, you're so shameless!"
He went up to the woman on the bed and pulled her up.
Upon recognizing the person, she exclaimed in surprise, "Third Sister, how could it be you?"
Xu You didn't say a word, but large tears still streamed down her face.
"Hey, what's going on here? It's quite a scene."
Xu Lanxin didn't care at all about the gazes directed at her.
He calmly made his way through the crowd to the bedside where the accident had occurred, and began his masterful performance.
"Third sister, how could you..."
She quickly pulled the sheet to wrap her up, pointed at the man on the bed, and angrily cursed, "You audacious scoundrel, how dare you commit evil deeds in the princess's residence and even humiliate my sister!"
"Someone, Yan'an, Yan'an."
Yan'an was already in the crowd, standing there like a statue. He was worried that something had happened to Xu Lanxin, but when he saw her standing there unharmed, his face showed shock mixed with relief that she had finally survived.
Only when Xu Lanxin called out to him again did he step over.
"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, you're alright, that's great! You scared me to death."
The worry on his face reassured Lanxin, so she smiled at him as if to comfort him.
"Yan'an, quickly send someone to report to the authorities and arrest this man. Justice must be served for my sister today."
"Damn it, let's see who dares to do that." Although the Sixth Prince Zhao Jing was furious, he was not quite clear-headed.
The kneeling maid was also shocked and asked in disbelief, "Miss Xu, what are you doing here?"
"Oh, I couldn't find my way back to the waterside pavilion. I ran into the Third Prince on the way and happened to see this courtyard bustling with activity, so I came to take a look. Right, Third Prince?"
Lan Xin glanced at Zhao Yi, who was watching the show in the crowd, and winked at him.
Only then did everyone realize what was happening, and bowed to the Third Prince behind the crowd.
Zhao Yi had no choice but to step out from behind the crowd.
Her surname is Xu, and Yan'an calls her sister-in-law. It's likely that Cen Yan proposed to her, what a pity.
Since I'm already in this situation, I'll help her this once, which will be considered as doing Cen Yan a favor.
"Yes, I just ran into Miss Xu who got lost. I was going to take her back to the waterside pavilion, but I didn't expect it to be so lively here."
"Guards, please invite all guests to the waterside pavilion to continue admiring the lotus blossoms."
He looked at Zhao Jing and said coldly, "Sixth brother, what do you have to say? If you do something so absurd and it gets to Father Emperor, you know the consequences."
Zhao Jing's anger subsided instantly upon hearing him mention the emperor.
"Miss Xu, this matter shouldn't be blown out of proportion, you see?"
Zhao Yi looked at her, and before he could finish speaking, he asked her a question.
"Family scandals should not be aired in public. I suppose the Sixth Prince also admires my Third Sister, but his pursuit is a bit too much. I still need to ask my Third Sister."
Lan Xin turned around and stared at Xu You, who was still secretly shedding tears under the thin blanket.
Third sister, are you alright?
Xu You stopped crying and looked over, feigning ignorance.
"This has already happened. The only way now is for you to marry the Sixth Prince. Are you willing?"
"You'er will listen to her elder sister."
"If the Sixth Prince is willing to marry my Third Sister, then this matter can be dropped."
As she said this, Lan Xin looked at Zhao Jing opposite her.
"Impossible," Zhao Jing strongly objected, noticing everyone staring at him and his unpleasant expression, he explained:
"I am already engaged to the daughter of the Minister's family, how can I marry her!"
"That's easy to handle. My sister is a concubine, so it won't affect Your Highness's decision to marry a principal wife."
Zhao Yi chimed in, "Then Sixth Brother should hurry back to the palace and ask Father for permission!"
"Then my sister and I will return to the manor to wait. If the eunuch does not deliver the decree before sunset, I will take my sister to the government office to beat the drum and appeal for justice!"
Zhao Jing was caught in a dilemma, and left with a look of reluctance.
Everyone had left, and Lan Xin, having finished her act, looked at Zhao Yi.
"Thank you very much, Third Prince, for today."
"Miss Xu, you're too kind. How do you intend to thank me?"
Xu Lanxin was speechless at his question. Was this person still asking for a thank-you gift?
The man chuckled mockingly.
"I was just joking, don't take it seriously."
He then changed the subject:
"I will ask Cen Yan for this thank-you gift."
"Third Prince, please come and take it!"
A familiar voice reached her ears, and Lanxin found the source of the voice.
As if on cue, Cen Yan strode in, followed closely by Yan An.
It seems he was the one who notified Cen Yan to come over.
Cen Yan's cold gaze betrayed his displeasure. His eyes swept over the Third Prince and then fixed on Princess Qingya behind him.
He came to Xu Lanxin's side, bent down, and hugged her around the waist. She was already in his arms, and the scent of his agarwood filled her nostrils.
I immediately felt at ease.
Lan Xin wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled at him, but he glared at her, scaring her so much that she shrank her head into her chest.
"Yan'an, escort Miss Xu back to her residence."
Passing by Qingya, Cen Yan stopped and said, "Princess Qingya, you should do this."
Qingya could only glare angrily at Xu Lanxin, her lips tightly pressed together, her hands clenching her handkerchief tightly.
Zhao Yi, standing to the side, gave them a meaningful look.
"Oh no, oh no, sister-in-law, you'd better pray for yourself!" Yan'an said gloatingly from the side.
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