It was Xie Qianzhong. This realization made Song Tangxue's heart beat a little faster.
Xie Qianzhong, dressed in black, slowly stepped down from the carriage.
Song's mother hurriedly went to greet him: "What brings you here, Lord Xie?"
Song Tangli cried, her face streaked with tears, and knelt on the ground, looking delicate and frail. She wasn't in a hurry to get up, hoping to pique Xie Qianzhong's pity.
"I heard a commotion inside, so I came to check." Xie Qianzhong stepped past Song's mother, who had come to greet him, and stood steadily beside Song Tangxue.
A heat source stopped beside him, and the cold wind outside subsided slightly.
Xie Qianzhong glanced coldly at the scene at the gate and gave a slight bow: "Your subject greets the Crown Princess."
Song Tangxue was somewhat taken aback, and gently waved her hand: "Lord Xie, there's no need for such formalities."
Xie Qianzhong's face showed no emotion, he only said: "Propriety cannot be disregarded. You are His Majesty's personally acknowledged Crown Princess, and it is the duty of a subject to be respectful and attentive."
A single, seemingly casual remark felt like a slap across the face of the Song family, leaving a burning pain.
They completely disregarded Song Tangxue, the Crown Princess, even resorting to crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide, treating her merely as a young lady whom the Song family could manipulate at will.
"I wonder what you all are talking about here?" Xie Qianzhong followed Song Tangxue by a step, his eyes sweeping over the people in the courtyard.
Seeing that Madam Song's complexion was not good, he kindly said, "Madam Song is not feeling well, you should take the imperial decree to the palace to invite the imperial physician."
Madam Song is in excellent health; what she just did was merely an act. If the imperial physician were to come, at the very least, it would be considered a lie, and at worst, it would be a crime of deceiving the emperor.
A thin layer of sweat appeared on Madam Song's back. She forced a smile and said, "Thank you for your concern, sir. I'm fine; it's just some old ailments."
"If there's nothing serious, why make things difficult for the Crown Princess?" Xie Qianzhong brought the topic back, and this time all the Song family's reasons were untenable.
Madam Song's smile was about to fade: "When did we ever make things difficult for the Crown Princess?"
"A bunch of people are crying and making a scene here, so it wasn't to cause trouble after all?" Xie Qianzhong's gaze was steadily fixed on Song Tangli, a mocking smile flashing across his lips.
"The Crown Princess is a legitimate daughter, and she has the imperial family behind her. Your Song family is truly showing a lack of respect for hierarchy." Xie Qianzhong's voice was soft, but he made sure that everyone present could hear him.
Even those watching the spectacle from outside said: "We urge the Song family to uphold the proper conduct of a subject."
"Since there's nothing else, I'll be going now." Xie Qianzhong finished his business efficiently, as if he were just passing by, and turned to get into the carriage without stopping.
The blue carriage slowly drove away from the alley and disappeared from everyone's sight.
The Song family members had different expressions. Song Tangli even dug her nails, painted with henna, deep into her flesh, gritting her teeth and enduring the pain.
Xie Qianzhong's gaze fell on her as if she were some low-class trash, and she could see the contempt in his eyes.
Song Tangxue stepped out of the Song family gate, facing these gazes, and looked at her embarrassed mother: "Mother, I'll be heading out now."
With the Crown Princess's status set in stone, the Song family wouldn't dare cause any more trouble this time. They could only swallow their anger and pray that she wouldn't turn around and make them kneel in obeisance.
Having distanced herself from the Song family and seeing that they were no longer in sight, Song Tangxue breathed a sigh of relief, feeling much lighter in her heart.
Haitang happily chattered, "The expressions on the faces of the Song family's masters are truly awful."
Around the corner, a familiar patch of blue peeked out, and Song Tangxue's heart skipped a beat.
Lowering her eyes, Song Tangxue pretended not to notice and continued walking with Haitang. When they passed the carriage, the coachman reached out to stop her: "Miss Song, my master invites you to the carriage to talk."
Song Tangxue concealed the flutter in her heart and feigned composure: "It is the way of a subject."
The coachman hesitated for a moment, and a soft hum came from inside the carriage. Song Tangxue chuckled and stepped into the carriage, while Haitang was pulled by the carriage to sit next to him.
This kind of magical unfolding was beyond her brain capacity.
Stepping into the carriage felt like entering another small world. The carriage walls were carved with subtle patterns, silk hung around the perimeter, and a set of exquisite tea utensils was placed on a small table.
The person inside the carriage looked up, their gaze melting like a glacier, silently watching her.
Before Song Tangxue could even sit down, the carriage outside had already started moving. Song Tangxue's step forward suddenly swayed, and her body involuntarily tilted and fell down.
A refreshing fragrance wafts towards you, mixed with a faint aroma of tea.
The woman in his arms raised her head, her eyes moist, gazing at him through teary eyes, a blush rising on her cheeks, making her radiant and captivating.
Xie Qianzhong's Adam's apple bobbed, his fingers curled, and he gently pushed Song Tangxue away.
Song Tangxue sat down to the side, watching Xie Qianzhong pick up the white jade cup, and said with a smile, "Thank you for troubling me again, Lord Xie."
Xie Qianzhong's ears twitched suspiciously: "It was nothing."
"But for me, it is an immense favor. I am penniless and have no way to repay it, except..." Song Tangxue's eyes brightened slightly, her gaze clear.
The burning sensation soothed Xie Qianzhong's heart for a moment.
"I have no choice but to repay you with my body." Song Tangxue leaned against the carriage wall, feigning weakness and fragility. "Anyway, I'm just a pitiful wretch who was kicked out of the Song family. I have no one to rely on outside. Why don't you take pity on me and take me in?"
Xie Qianzhong placed the teacup on the small table with a soft clatter, and frowned at her: "When did you become so weak?"
Song Tangxue chuckled and sat up straight again: "I learned it from Song Tangli."
Xie Qianzhong gave a barely perceptible smile: "Perfectly insightful."
“However, I do have a vacant house that I can sell to you.” Xie Qianzhong’s well-defined hands lightly touched the table as he poured Song Tangxue a cup of tea.
Song Tangxue reached out and lifted the carriage curtain, revealing a desolate atmosphere outside: "Are we going to that house?"
"Hmm." The teacup was pushed in front of her: "Go see if you like it."
"I'll definitely like it." Song Tangxue's eyes sparkled, reflecting the boundless spring scenery outside the window, shimmering with light. If they were tinged with water, they would surely be even more stunning.
Xie Qianzhong looked away and gently tapped the bottom of the small table with his hand.
The rumbling of the carriage was like raindrops pattering on white marble, leaving a long, elegant, and flowing shadow on the ground as it slowly disappeared into the deserted alley.
After getting off the carriage, the house, located in the south of the city, came into full view before us.
Two stone lions stand guard at the main entrance. The main gate is tall and spacious, with exquisite patterns carved on the lintel and bluestone slabs paving the entrance.
Upon entering, a small courtyard with carved beams and painted rafters is nestled in this world. A stream flows gently in the front yard, and a secluded corridor stretches and widens the view.
Haitang touched the huge red pillar, which was too big for one person to hug, in shock: "This is too gorgeous."
His gaze fell on Xie Qianzhong with utmost respect: "Your Highness treats Miss so well!"
Xie Qianzhong lowered his eyes slightly and turned to look at Song Tangxue beside him: "Are you satisfied?"
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