"Wait, wait for what? Wait for my benefactor to see me out of the palace, or wait for us to meet the Crown Princess together to discuss—our marriage?"
As Rong Ying spoke, Xiange stopped in her tracks and turned back to ask a question with anticipation.
Rong Ying was slightly stunned. When he saw Xiange walking towards him step by step, he subconsciously took two steps back and blocked with his palm.
"Miss Xian Ge, have you always spoken so freely without any taboos? I have only met you a few times, yet you speak so casually about marriage. Aren't you afraid of damaging your reputation?"
"What I care about is what Miss Xiange just said, what she meant by deceiving me, and what she meant by only the Crown Princess knowing."
"You need to know that the Crown Princess is the Crown Princess of my Jing Kingdom. She is not someone you can easily fool. If you influence the Crown Princess and she is instigated to do something irreversible, it will affect not only your small Cheng family, but also both Jing and Yue Kingdoms."
He subtly reminded Xiange of the consequences of any underhanded actions, and that if the Yue Kingdom wanted peace, it shouldn't try to maintain a facade of marriage while secretly harboring ulterior motives.
Rong Ying's words were sharp and full of warning, which also showed that he was angry. Xiange was very satisfied with this situation.
At least his emotions were affected.
"What my benefactor said is truly frightening. A weak woman like Xiange can't even hide the person she likes in her heart, how could she dare to bewitch the Crown Princess?"
"Besides, Xiange is not someone who doesn't know the dangers of words, but when she met her benefactor, she couldn't help herself and couldn't even pretend, so she told him what she liked."
"After my benefactor reminded me, I was filled with dread. Would this ruin my reputation? If liking my benefactor makes me indecent, not only will I be shameless, but I will also lose my reputation as a virtuous woman."
Although she scoffed at her own words, her eyes welled up with tears of frustration as she looked at Rong Ying with a heavy heart.
"Xiange lost her word in front of your benefactor, and her reputation has been ruined by your hand. Shouldn't your benefactor be even more responsible for Xiange? If you don't take responsibility, wouldn't your benefactor become a heartless and fickle person?"
Rong Ying: "..."
He inexplicably became a heartless man.
"Miss Xiange has a sharp tongue, but I am not afraid to be ruthless. Miss Xiange, please don't waste your energy on me."
"I only ask Miss Xiange to tell me what you lied to me about just now, and how the Crown Princess knows why you went to the Cheng family. What does this mean?"
"Do I really have to tell you?" Xiange wiped away her tears and pressed for an answer.
Rong Ying: "I can also tell Your Highness that you will not allow Miss Xiange to enter the Eastern Palace in the future."
Xian Ge vehemently refused: "That won't do. I finally have the Crown Princess as a good friend. I'm vain, and if I tell people that I'm close to the Crown Princess, everyone will think more highly of me. That's my confidence."
“How could you be so kind as to belittle me? I have no family. The Crown Princess is the only person who has been kind to me when I first arrived here. Without the Crown Princess, I find it very boring to stay in the Cheng family every day.”
"The girl with the stringed song is really honest..."
A cunning person.
Rong Ying couldn't help but laugh, but the second half of her sentence got stuck in her throat.
He stared at Xiange's smiling face, and suddenly old memories surfaced in his mind.
The woman from the Moon Kingdom he knew in his childhood memories was so gentle, polite, and patient.
Even though she hadn't been treated sincerely, she was still very good to him.
Later, when he faced death, he was so free-spirited, vibrant, and fearless.
Unfortunately, her simple wish—to live a good life—was ultimately thwarted.
Rong Ying often regrets that if she had treated her as family earlier, perhaps her life would have been different.
“My benefactor, my benefactor, what are you staring at? If you’re going to praise me, then don’t. Do you have a change of heart? Your thoughtfulness makes me think you care about me.”
Xian Ge lowered her head, displaying a shy expression.
Rong Ying was instantly pulled from his reverie. How could he think of an old friend because of Xiange? Clearly, Xiange's motives were impure.
"Since you have such a good relationship with the Crown Princess, why did you go to the Cheng family?"
Xian Ge smiled and gestured forward, "My benefactor, if you want to ask me directly, I have nothing to hide from you, so please don't bother the Crown Princess."
"You escort me out of the palace, and I'll tell you everything slowly..."
Before Xiange could finish speaking, hesitation appeared in Rongying's eyes.
Xian Ge pretended not to notice and walked ahead towards the outside of Yichun Palace.
“My benefactor, the Cheng family’s purpose is closely related to the Crown Prince. If you don’t send it, I won’t say anything, so as to save me from revealing the secret.”
Before the song had even faded, Rong Ying's footsteps followed.
Xiange smiled secretly ahead. After the two left Yichun Palace, Xiange said she wanted to see the magnificent buildings in the palace, so Rongying specially chose a road with tall roofs all around to lead her.
As she walked along, she was constantly amazed by the carved beams and painted rafters, while Rong Ying followed behind, watching her dance with delight.
The palace servants and guards they encountered on the way all saw a woman behaving ostentatiously in the palace.
However, these people only glanced at Xiange's actions a few times before turning away. Their greatest curiosity was focused on Rong Ying, and every palace servant who passed by couldn't help but steal glances at him.
Rong Ying was also aware of this situation. He had been in the Eastern Palace for many years and had entered and exited countless times. Many people in the palace knew him.
It would be quite strange to suddenly find someone following closely behind a flamboyant woman.
No, it was Xian Ge who deliberately tried to get involved with him.
As they approached the palace gates, Rong Ying couldn't help but speak.
"We're about to leave. Miss Xiange, aren't you going to tell us what the Cheng family's intentions are toward the Crown Prince?"
Xian Ge turned her head slightly, pointed to a magnificent carriage outside the palace gate, and made a request.
“My benefactor, the footstool I used to get onto the carriage is broken. Please help me up.”
Rong Ying: The footstool was fine when it arrived, but it was broken before we even used it.
Would he believe that?
Rong Ying, having already made concessions, personally escorted her to the carriage with Xiange.
Fortunately, Xiange's coachman had a whip in his hand, so he borrowed it and let Xiange hold on to it to avoid any improper contact between them.
"The Crown Princess said that Miss Xiange is a guest, and the Eastern Palace should take good care of her. I'll see Miss Xiange off."
Rong Ying's voice was clear and loud; anyone looking in her direction could hear it.
As Xiange was about to step into the carriage, she heard his deliberate remark and entered the carriage without saying anything.
As soon as she settled down, there was a knocking sound at the carriage window. When Xian Ge looked out, she saw Rong Ying waiting for her to answer her questions.
"Girl, can you speak now?"
Sitting in the carriage, Xiange looked down at Rong Ying, her eyes filled with amusement: "My benefactor, aren't you a strategist in the Eastern Palace? Is the secret that made you personally escort me out of the palace meant to be heard in front of everyone like this?"
Rong Ying glanced around a few times. The area outside the palace was indeed not a place to talk, especially since the people who came with Xiange were all from the Cheng family.
As he considered the timing, Xiange leaned out the window and beckoned to the empty seat next to her: "My benefactor, come up here and I'll tell you a secret that will definitely surprise you."
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