Chapter 169 Did she misunderstand Xiao Jinxuan?
Xie Zhuoning walked forward slowly and pulled Xie Zhiqing behind him unnoticeably.
Looking up at Princess Jing'an, she calmly apologized, "I was used to being unruly at home, and when I saw the princess, I treated her like an elder, so I lost my sense of propriety. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."
Since everyone has been told that although Xie Zhiqing is a concubine's daughter, she is loved by her family and is no worse than a legitimate daughter.
He also narrowed the distance between himself and Princess Jing'an, saying that she was like an elder and it was not appropriate to blame Xie Zhiqing for her misbehavior.
Just two casual words rescued Xie Zhiqing from dire straits.
Jiang Yao couldn't help but sigh, "Could it be that Miss Xie has a seven-detail exquisite heart?"
"Why, do you have any opinions?" Xiao Jinxuan asked coldly.
Jiang Yao waved his hands with a smile on his face, "No, no, I was just complimenting her."
He didn't even dare to think about it. If these two cunning people really got together in the future, who could defeat them?
After hearing what Xie Zhuoning said, the princess smiled faintly and said, "It's not a big deal, why blame me? I think your sister is quite honest and lovely."
Xie Zhiqing felt a burning pain on her face.
She doesn't think this is a compliment to her.
Seeing Xie Zhuoning and the eldest princess chatting and laughing, everyone immediately started talking.
"Why is Xie Zhuoning here too?"
"A person whose engagement was broken off has the nerve to attend such a banquet?"
"She doesn't think His Royal Highness Prince Xuan will still be interested in her, right? It's so funny. Who would marry a woman who can't have children?"
Hearing everyone's discussions, Xie Zhiqing felt a strange sense of balance in her heart.
Even my eldest sister, the former Crown Princess and the most beautiful woman in the capital, would suffer such criticism.
Compared with this, the little injustice I had suffered seemed nothing.
She looked guilty and said timidly, "I'm sorry, big sister, for dragging you into this."
Xie Zhuoning glanced at her lightly, his eyes as clear as snow, as if he could see through everyone.
"It's just some idle chatter, don't take it to heart."
Xie Zhiqing widened her eyes in shock.
How could she not care at all when what they said was so unpleasant?
Xie Zhuoning didn't care, but there was someone who cared more than her.
With his five fingers clenched into fists, Xiao Jinxuan had a pair of narrow, long phoenix eyes, clear and bright, with a cold color in his pupils.
He raised his voice and spoke to everyone for the first time, "Rumors stop at the wise. You are all young ladies from various families in the capital. Don't you really not understand even this simple truth?"
His Royal Highness Prince Xuan finally opened his mouth to speak, but his words were full of rebukes.
Everyone's faces turned pale and red, feeling embarrassed and awkward.
Xie Zhiqing pinched her palms with her nails, and her expression was uglier than anyone else's.
When she was being talked about and criticized, everyone present remained indifferent.
But when it came to his eldest sister's turn, even Prince Xuan spoke up for her.
Why? Why?
Is it because I am a concubine's daughter and don't have the same family background as my older sister?
Seeing the situation was at a standstill, Jiang Yao immediately stood up to smooth things over. "Next to the Chrysanthemum Garden is a horse ranch. How about we go compete in horseback riding and flag-grabbing? I remember when my little uncle was fifteen years old, he participated in a military competition and swept away ninety-nine flags in a row!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a woman stood up and said, "I think this is a good idea. We've had enough of admiring the flowers, and we can also stretch our muscles."
People couldn't help but murmur, "She, Wang Qi, has been raised as a son by Lieutenant General Wang since she was a child, so of course she thinks this proposal is good."
Wang Qi turned his head to look at them and said unyieldingly, "You all grew up on farms or in the countryside. Let alone riding a horse, have you ever ridden a donkey or even a cow?"
Everyone choked at once.
If they dare to say no, then the tragic experiences they fabricated before would be blatant lies.
Princess Jing'an saw the commotion and said, "In that case, let's have a horse-riding competition to seize the flag. This shackle was given to me by the late emperor, so I'll use it as the prize for this competition."
She took off the ruby-colored double-phoenix and kingfisher-inlaid hairpin from her head and placed it on the tray.
He looked up at Xiao Jinxuan again, "Brother Xuan, why don't you also take out something as a prize?"
Xiao Jinxuan actually pulled out a private seal from his waist and threw it on the tray, "Then use this as a prize."
Everyone: “!!!”
If Princess Jing'an's kingfisher brocade hairpin is just heart-stirring, then the private seal of His Royal Highness Prince Xuan is something that makes people salivate and crave for it!
The private seal is such an important thing, yet His Royal Highness Prince Xuan took it out as a prize.
Can we indirectly assume that the one who obtains the private seal will be the future Princess Xuan?
The young ladies who were hesitant just now immediately became more hesitant than the other.
"I just wanted to stretch my legs."
"Nothing else, I've loved riding horses since I was a kid."
"I will definitely get the position of Princess Xuan!"
Xie Zhiqing tilted her head and asked Xie Zhuoning, "Big sister, do you want to join?"
Xie Zhuoning turned around and left, "I'm not going to participate."
It’s not like she hadn’t obtained the private seal before, but she didn’t want it anymore, so she returned it to Xiao Jinxuan.
That thing is a hot potato, whoever wants it can go!
"Hahaha, little uncle, it seems Miss Xie is not interested in your lottery!" Jiang Yao laughed so hard that tears were about to come out.
Xiao Jinxuan glanced at him coldly, "Are you happy?"
Jiang Yao: “…”
No, it was clearly Miss Xie who didn't appreciate it, so why is he the one who suffers?
Xie Zhiqing quickly caught up with Xie Zhuoning and asked, "But the prize is the private seal of His Royal Highness Prince Xuan, aren't you tempted, big sister?" Xie Zhuoning paused, frowned and turned back, "Do you want to participate?"
Xie Zhiqing lowered her head and whispered, "With such a good opportunity right in front of us, who wouldn't want to..."
With his brows furrowed even deeper, Xie Zhuoning warned, "Riding a horse is not that easy. If you fall off, it's no joke."
Xie Zhiqing asked anxiously: "But what if I win?"
Hearing this, Xie Zhuoning couldn't help but laugh.
Where does she get the confidence from? She thinks riding a horse is just a game!
"what ever."
Xie Zhuoning was too lazy to care about her, and he had just helped her out, which was the most he could do.
"Sister Ning!" Princess Yunheng suddenly rushed over and pulled her away, "Hurry up, follow me!"
Xie Zhuoning was confused by her, "Where are you taking me?"
"Just come."
After winding along the way, we arrived at a secluded courtyard.
A man was standing in the yard with his hands behind his back. Who else could it be but Xiao Jinxuan?
"Young uncle, you have fulfilled your mission!" Princess Yunheng winked at Xiao Jinxuan and immediately left.
Xie Zhuoning: "..."
Well, she should have guessed it.
She raised her eyebrows with a smile, and said in a teasing tone, "Why did His Royal Highness Prince Xuan ask me to come here instead of going to watch the competition to select a princess?"
"The Chrysanthemum Appreciation Conference was my sister's idea. I came to participate because I knew you were among the invited guests."
Xiao Jinxuan, explaining to her.
Xie Zhuoning's heart skipped a beat, and he was stunned for a moment.
Did she misunderstand?