The exam papers were readily available, and servants brought out inkstones, brushes, and ink, instantly transforming the reception hall into an examination room.
The ladies and gentlemen were all asked to wait in a side hall, and each of them looked anxious.
Song Yaozhu yawned and returned to Tingxue Courtyard with Xie Liwei. Xie Liwei glanced at her and, seeing her looking so lazy, poked her on the forehead.
Song Yaozhu reacted quickly and immediately grabbed his mischievous finger.
"What are you doing?" She raised her eyes, her gaze sharp and wary, more like the questioning tone of someone who had caught a mischievous child.
Xie Liwei was a little annoyed. He pulled his hand away from hers, sat down, and poured himself a cup of tea.
Do you know what happened in the palace last night?
Upon hearing this, Song Yaozhu immediately leaned over, looking at him with expectant eyes.
He just silently drank his tea without saying a word, which made Song Yaozhu a little annoyed. She took his arm and said in the sweetest tone, "Your Highness, please speak!"
Xie Liwei almost choked on his tea.
I can't stand it, I can't stand even a little bit.
Although it was affected, it was still pretty... well, I'd like to listen to it again next time.
Xie Liwei cleared his throat and recounted the First Prince's romantic escapades and Song Si's disappearance in the palace last night.
Song Yaozhu rested her chin on her hand, "You just deposed a prince so easily?"
"Not so easy." Xie Liwei swirled his cup, his eyes flashing coldly. If it were that easy, the First Prince would have died countless times over.
In previous years, Gao Ping kept a close eye on her son, and the eldest prince himself was also cautious, so she failed to succeed several times. But this year, perhaps Gao Ping's attention was all on Song Yaozhu, and the eldest prince knew that the emperor might appoint him as crown prince after the new year, so he became complacent and fell into her trap.
"So, you see, it's always better to be safe than sorry." Song Yaozhu curled her lips in a mocking smile; she had misplaced her trust. "The same goes for Your Highness; you can't completely trust even your closest confidants. And don't trust me either."
Xie Liwei placed the teacup on the table, making a slight clinking sound. He was a little bewildered. If Song Yaozhu was someone who wanted to hurt him, she would have definitely tried every means to gain his trust.
"I cannot agree. If there is no trust between the two sides, how can anything be accomplished? If everyone is self-interested, then the concepts of family and country are nothing but a joke."
"Has Your Highness ever been betrayed?"
Xie Liwei's fingers, which were covering the cup, tightened around it, until his fingertips turned white. Song Yaozhu saw his pupils contract slightly, a sign of defensiveness.
What has he experienced?
He actually experienced it!
He recalled what Granny Qin had said about his near-assassination attempt, how he had almost lost his life. But he always had the bodyguards he had provided, who were more than capable of protecting him even if he encountered assassins. Yet he was still seriously injured; clearly, it was someone close to him who had attacked him...
"I was too talkative."
Song Yaozhu learned another lesson from him. After experiencing betrayal, she became cautious and even a bit stubborn, unwilling to open her heart to others again. But Xie Liwei still believed in the goodness of people and was willing to trust others.
With such a strong inner self, even if he is riddled with wounds inside, new flesh and blood are still growing.
Xie Liwei wanted to scold her for being too talkative, but then he saw that the woman's eyes were filled with tears, and the tears were falling silently onto the back of her hand.
His brain, which hadn't rested all night, was paralyzed again.
"What have I done to offend you?" he said impatiently, while his hand had already pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe her tears.
Song Yaozhu leaned on his shoulder and cried her heart out.
Xie Liwei: "......"
His new clothes this year... are the first time he's worn them... and he's going out to meet guests later.
Never mind, as long as she stops crying, that's fine. The main thing is that he can't stand seeing women crying.
After crying her fill, Song Yaozhu went inside to wash her face, and Caijin helped her put on makeup again.
"Are you alright last night?" Song Yaozhu wondered, guessing that she had probably been drugged as well.
Cai Jin shook her head. "The physician applied some cooling balm to my face, and I regained consciousness."
Song Yaozhu: Uh... she'll have to carry a small jar with her whenever she goes out from now on!
Xie Liwei changed his clothes, and Song Yaozhu redid her makeup. Qin Mama came in with a list and asked with a smile, "These gifts are acceptable for our trip back to the Grand Tutor's mansion with the Princess tomorrow?"
Song Yaozhu didn't even look at it, and said, "Does Your Highness's personal visit not show any respect to the Song family?"
It means they don't want to give a single penny.
Granny Qin said helplessly, "After all, that's your maternal family!"
"I didn't eat much of their rice either. If that's the case, then Granny, you should prepare some rice, grains, and meat and send them over."
Granny Qin stared blankly at Xie Liwei, who nodded: "I'll listen to the Princess."
Qin Mama paused for a moment, thinking to herself, "So this is where the wife starts to follow the husband's lead?"
After sending someone away, Xie Liwei asked her, "Why were you crying just now?"
"Oh, I just remembered something sad."
"......"
Granny Qin came in again, smiling, and asked, "Your Highness, how about this old servant has someone move your things to Tingxue Courtyard?"
Song Yaozhu then remembered that she had slept here last night. A feeling of embarrassment crept into her heart, though she didn't show it on her face, her gaze hesitantly glancing at Xie Liwei.
Unfortunately, with the mask on, no expression could be seen.
But he probably doesn't want her to move in, right? So she kept quiet and waited for Xie Liwei to refuse.
Unexpectedly, Xie Liwei didn't speak, and the room fell silent for a few moments. Song Yaozhu looked at Xie Liwei again, and his indifferent attitude annoyed her.
Brother, this is your problem! Why are you leaving it all to her?
Granny Qin glanced at the Princess Consort, then at the Prince, and began to fabricate a story: "Your Highness, the imperial physician said last night that the Princess Consort's medicine requires a balance of Yin and Yang. How about I pack her things and bring them to Tingxue Courtyard? The Princess Consort's health is the most important thing!"
Upon hearing Qin Mama's words, Song Yaozhu's heart tightened. Was the medicine she had been given really that strange?
Harmonizing Yin and Yang? Doesn't that mean she and Xie Liwei have to consummate their marriage?
Ah, no, no, no!
Although it wasn't her original body, she couldn't get over it psychologically!
She was about to speak when Xie Liwei mumbled two words from his throat: "Whatever!"
Then he got up and left.
Watching his departing figure, Song Yaozhu's eyes widened in disbelief.
This guy doesn't actually want to sleep with her, does he?
"Granny, what medicine did I take? Could it really be...?" Did it put Xie Liwei to sleep...?
Granny Qin beamed with joy, "Your Highness, I've done everything I could to get you and the Prince to live together! A couple's relationship can only last if they live together! You can't let this old servant down!"
Song Yaozhu understood; the "yin-yang harmony" was just an excuse.
"The prince can't agree to that either."
"The fact that His Highness didn't object means he agreed!"
"......"
She didn't hear a thing in either ear!
As soon as Granny Qin gave the signal, servants carrying her things rushed into the room and began to fill in her belongings.
Good heavens, Granny Qin actually acted first and informed me later!
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