Song Tangxue followed behind him absentmindedly. This trip was an excellent opportunity for her; with so many people around, there would be more chances to escape.
Seeing that she had no interest, Winston moved closer to her and said, "I know you're still thinking about escaping. I advise you not to waste your energy. I've sent secret guards, and they will notice immediately if you leave."
Song Tangxue sighed. It seemed that this path was not feasible. Since she couldn't escape, she might as well have some fun. The identity of the Crown Princess had bound her too much. It had been a long time since she had abandoned everything and thought only of the present.
It must be said that there are many interesting things in the countryside. Along the way, she had quite a few things in her hands. Wen Sizhi completely forgot that he was a prince and had a great time.
Song Tangxue slowly smiled. This feeling... seems pretty good?
Winston placed a sugar figurine shaped like a rabbit in her hand: "I just saw those young ladies asking their husbands for sugar figurines. I know you wanted one too, but you were too shy to ask. Here, I'll just buy it for you."
Song Tangxue held the sugar figurine, somewhat at a loss. She had been obsessed with this little toy when she was a child, but she hadn't bought it since she grew up. No one else knew that the Crown Princess liked such a commoner's item.
"Thank you." Song Tangxue said sincerely. Regardless of whether he wanted to use her or not, she did feel much better at the moment.
"You're such a sweetheart, you're so easy to please. A sugar figurine makes you happy."
They then explored the entire street. The hidden guards shook their heads helplessly. It was the first time they had ever seen Winston so happy. In the court, there was so much intrigue and backstabbing that a moment's carelessness could lead to utter ruin.
"My lady, thank you for keeping me company today. This Crown Prince is quite interesting. I delivered the message over a day ago, but he hasn't reacted at all. Are you really the Crown Princess?"
"I've already told you, it's no use bringing me back. His true love is the Crown Princess." Song Tangxue sighed. "Then can you send me back now?"
"Don't be sad. He doesn't like someone as interesting as you. It's just that the Crown Prince has poor taste. Why don't you come with me to the Western Regions? Our Western Regions are much better than here."
Unlike ordinary princes, Wen Sizhi was magnanimous and not as dull as others. But in Song Tangxue's mind, another person slowly emerged. That person was dressed in black, with a gentle breeze and bright moon, and a pair of clear eyes that would captivate you at first glance.
"Hey." Winston waved his hand in front of her eyes. "You wouldn't be thinking about other men in front of me, would you?"
Song Tangxue blushed, and Wen Sizhi confirmed what he had just said. Somewhat dissatisfied, he dropped his pretense and sat down silently.
"Thank you for your kindness, but I already have someone I love. I will only love him in this life, and I only wish to be with him for life." Song Tangxue said this with unusual seriousness, making a lifelong promise in the absence of that person.
Winston had seen countless young women in his life who vowed to marry no one but that one man, but this was the first time he had ever seen someone make such a solemn promise. He suddenly felt a little envious of that man.
"Could it be that man in black?"
Song Tangxue nodded: "That's right, Your Highness, please don't spread this matter, after all, my identity..."
At this point, her expression turned somewhat forlorn. Even if there were feelings involved, what could they do? Their social statuses were too far apart. If these feelings were exposed, the consequences could be severe, even leading to the execution of their entire family.
"What do you take me for? Don't worry, I won't tell anyone." Winscher felt a little annoyed, and he himself didn't know why he felt this way.
"I will send someone to take you back tomorrow." With that, he left in a hurry, not even giving Song Tangxue a chance to say anything to him.
On the other side, Li Zhaoxian sat at his desk without moving for a long time, and the page in front of him hadn't been turned even after an incense stick had burned; it was clear that his mind was elsewhere.
"Your Highness, it's late, why don't you rest early?" Song Tangli brought him a cup of tea and gently massaged his shoulders.
Li Zhaoxian placed his hand on hers; the dark circles under his eyes proved that he hadn't rested for a long time.
"I'm thinking about whether to exchange ten thousand taels of gold for the Crown Princess." Although ten thousand taels of gold is a large sum, it's nothing to the Crown Prince's residence.
However, if he takes out this gold, it will prove Song Tangxue's place in his heart, and Ali will definitely be jealous. But if he doesn't take it out, where will he put his face if word gets out?
"Even though my sister bullied me in the Song residence before, I still hope that she can return safely. Your Highness, why don't you agree to that person's conditions?"
Not long ago, a man in black brought them a letter saying that the Crown Princess had been captured and that if they wanted her to return unharmed, they had to hand over ten thousand taels of gold. The Crown Prince's residence had been entered and left without anyone noticing, and the identity of that person had not yet been discovered, which had already caused him great distress.
The threats in the letter showed that he was not treated as His Highness the Crown Prince, nor did he take the country seriously!
Song Tangli lowered her head with a pitiful look, which made Li Zhaoxian feel even more sorry for her: "Tangli, I plan to not pay the money first, and teach her a lesson."
Song Tangli was secretly delighted, but her face still showed concern: "Wouldn't this be a bad idea? After all, what if word gets out..."
What can Song Tangxue do to compete with me! His Highness the Crown Prince is only thinking about me, she has nothing to do with him.
"What's there to be afraid of!" Li Zhaoxian said disdainfully. "I am the Crown Prince. What do those people dare to say?"
Song Tangli nestled in his arms, a ruthless glint in her eyes. She was determined to make Song Tangxue suffer eternal damnation. She was just a legitimate daughter; she was better than Song Tangxue in every other way!
......
After saying those words, Wen Sizhi never appeared again, not even when Song Tangxue boarded the carriage.
Song Tangxue looked back at the direction of the inn again, and all she could see were passersby.
"Your Majesty, let's go." The guard's call brought her back to her senses. She pulled the curtain back. "Alright, let's go."
On the second floor of the inn, Winslow watched the carriage below gradually disappear into the distance and sighed with melancholy.
“Your Highness, if you want to go and deliver it, why don’t you go down?” Guard Aruo couldn’t help but say. He had served the prince for many years and had never seen him with such an expression.
"Who said I wanted to deliver it?"
His words seemed like an attempt to cover up the truth. Aruo silently rolled her eyes. She knew perfectly well what the prince was thinking; he clearly cared about the empress but refused to admit it.
The carriage remained at the Crown Prince's residence, and Song Tangxue went straight back to her own place, much to Cuixi's delight.
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