"Your Highness, this is probably not appropriate! Miss Jiang just broke off her engagement with the Marquis of Chang'an's family, and accepting gifts from Your Highness might damage your reputation!"
Hong Xinyue said, suppressing her displeasure.
Xiao Qi closed the box. "What does it matter? It's just a hairpin. I'm just apologizing to Miss Jiang for my brother's sake. What can anyone say?"
Xiao Qi, using Xiao Zhan's name, appeared to be genuinely concerned for Xiao Zhan's well-being, but in reality, he consistently displayed his own gentle and humble nature.
Xiao Zhan was nothing more than a reckless brute who knew how to fight.
"Your Highness is too kind. It was just those young ladies who made wild guesses without knowing the whole story, which almost caused me and the Prince of War to suffer an injustice. How could I dare to accept Your Highness's apology? I cannot accept such a valuable gift without having done anything right." Jiang Wei finished speaking politely.
"If Your Highness has nothing else, I shall take my leave." Jiang Wei bowed and prepared to depart.
Xiao Qi blocked her way, grabbed Jiang Wei's wrist, and handed the box to her with a smile, saying, "If I say you can accept it, then you can accept it."
Xiao Qi was determined to take things further with her.
Jiang Wei tried to break free from Xiao Qi's hand, but he held on very tightly, and Jiang Wei couldn't escape.
Suddenly, a hand appeared out of thin air, pulled Xiao Qi's hand away, and then took the box from Jiang Wei's hand and handed it to Xiao Qi.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. But since it is my matter, I will handle it myself. I will not trouble you any further."
Xiao Qi never expected to run into Xiao Zhan here. He rubbed his aching hand and suppressed his anger.
Today, Xiao Zhan's black hair was tied up with a silver crown inlaid with white jade. He wore a purple round-necked, right-fastening, narrow-sleeved robe. Tall and elegant, he was noble and self-possessed. The majesty he had acquired from years on the battlefield made people dare not offend him.
This was the first time Jiang Wei had seen Xiao Zhan like this; he actually had a touch of the peerless gentleman.
The clothes Xiao Zhan is wearing today are the ones Jiang Wei bought for him that day.
Jiang Wei marveled at her own good taste, but also felt that Xiao Zhan's good stature and good looks were to blame.
Xiao Zhan noticed at first glance that the clothes he was wearing today were the same as the clothes Jiang Wei was wearing.
They actually matched quite well. Jiang Wei was wearing light purple, and he was wearing purple, so they were in the same color family.
He could no longer see anyone else, but then he heard an unpleasant voice.
Xiao Qi laughed and said, "Fifth brother, what are you saying? As the elder brother, it is only right that I consider my younger brother's feelings more."
"Then I thank you, Your Majesty. Although I do not know what I have done wrong, if you want to apologize, I can apologize myself." Xiao Zhan's face showed no extra expression.
"Miss Jiang, please! Pick whatever you like." Xiao Zhan extended a hand in a gesture of invitation.
Jiang Wei: "…………" In order to leave this place and to avoid embarrassing Xiao Zhan in front of others, she followed him as if possessed.
Xiao Qi stood behind them, lost in thought.
"Your Highness?" Hong Xinyue called out softly.
Xiao Qi came to his senses and took out the five-colored phoenix flying tassel hairpin from the box.
He placed it on Hong Xinyue's head, saying, "Come, let me put it on you. Only you deserve such a magnificent thing." It was as if he wasn't the one who was about to give this hair ornament to Jiang Wei.
Hong Xinyue lowered her head shyly. Although she felt happy, she couldn't help feeling a little uncomfortable because Xiao Qi had clearly intended to give the hairpin to Jiang Wei.
"Didn't Your Highness intend to give it to Jiang Wei? Why are you giving it to me now? Am I only fit to receive something that others don't want?"
Hong Xinyue's tone revealed disappointment and a hint of anger.
Upon hearing her words, Xiao Qi laughed loudly.
"Is Yue'er angry? I was just worried that my fifth brother, who has been stationed at the border for so long, might not know proper etiquette and be laughed at. I just happened to have this one thing on hand, why are you getting angry?" Xiao Qi casually made up an excuse to fob off Hong Xinyue.
Xiao Qi coaxed her, "If Yue'er doesn't like this hair ornament, I'll take her to choose some other ones."
Hong Xinyue thought Xiao Qi had feelings for Jiang Wei!
As expected, Xiao Qi didn't care about Jiang Wei at all, and she could choose whatever she wanted from the Linlang Pavilion.
Hong Xinyue's mood improved, and she touched the tassels on her hair ornament.
"No need. Yue'er just felt it was a pity that you gave such a fine hairpin to Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei is of low status, how could she use this phoenix?"
"This hair ornament is Yue'er's favorite. This phoenix hair ornament is so lifelike, it must look beautiful when worn." Thinking that Xiao Qi had just put it on her in public, Hong Xinyue's face unconsciously blushed.
She lowered her head shyly, "Your Highness, let's go!"
The two then boarded the carriage together.
Jiang Wei and Xiao Zhan entered the Linlang Pavilion.
The guests and staff inside couldn't help but cast admiring glances; the handsome man and beautiful woman were a feast for the eyes.
Jiang Wei walked to the window and looked out for a while, only to find that Hong Xinyue and the others had already left.
She walked up to Xiao Zhan and said, "General Xiao, let's go! They've already left."
Xiao Zhan: "???" Did she think that he only brought her in to deceive Xiao Qi?
Jiang Wei walked to the shop entrance, glanced back at Xiao Zhan, and wondered why he was standing still.
"General Xiao, aren't you leaving?"
Xiao Zhan took a few steps closer to Jiang Wei and said, "The Crown Prince is right. I should buy some gifts to give to Miss Jiang. Please feel free to choose whatever you like."
He didn't say it wasn't an apology; he said it was a gift of thanks.
As for what to thank her for, Xiao Zhan himself couldn't say. He just wanted to take this opportunity to give her something.
"Thank me? Thank me for what?" Jiang Wei asked curiously. She didn't remember ever having anything that Xiao Zhan needed to thank her for.
When she bought clothes that day, she made it very clear that she was thanking him for saving her life.
"General Xiao, let's go! Everything here is very expensive." Jiang Wei blurted out her true feelings as if possessed.
Does this girl think he's poor and can't afford the things here?
Xiao Zhan approached Jiang Wei and whispered in her ear, "Are you worried that I'm too poor to afford it? Or are you concerned that I don't have the money to buy it?"
A breath brushed against Jiang Wei's ear, and she felt extremely embarrassed. "Is there any difference? No, I just don't know what General Xiao should thank me for. Logically, I should be the one thanking General Xiao."
Jiang Wei: "......" What did she say?
He quickly added, "General Xiao went to the battlefield in his youth, displaying exceptional bravery and skill. He was renowned throughout the army, single-handedly defeating the Northern Barbarian army. He was a true hero. Despite his princely status, he ate and lived alongside his soldiers, showing no concern for formalities. He even used his own military pay to subsidize the families of his soldiers..."
Xiao Zhan wanted to hear how she would praise him, but she kept repeating the same things he had overheard outside.
"Fine, just say I have no money, say I'm poor." Xiao Zhan walked out.
Jiang Wei was baffled; no matter how she praised him, he remained unhappy.
How did she get the idea that he was broke?
Jiang Wei: "......" Are you not satisfied with the hug?
Xiao Zhan turned around, his eyes bright. "Why aren't you leaving yet? Are you having second thoughts?"
His expectant expression was evident, as if he had received some benefit and was waiting for Jiang Wei to choose.
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