It was already noon when the two went to a restaurant. The first floor was packed with people, so they went into a private room on the second floor and ordered a pot of tea and a few side dishes.
"How did you know I left the palace?" The Thirteenth Prince was very surprised, but clearly very happy.
"I asked Fourth Master beforehand and waited there early on." He Yue looked at him with a smile, not hiding anything.
The thirteenth prince was taken aback, looking intently at her smiling face. As if remembering something, his face darkened: "You know? Did you come here to pity me?"
He Yue glanced at him with the look of someone looking at an idiot, and scoffed disdainfully, "Do you think I'm the kind of person who's overly compassionate?"
Under the thirteenth prince's wide-eyed gaze, which seemed to ask, "How could you be so direct?" He Yue proudly raised her chin, her face neither blushing nor skipping a beat: "Who told you to give me dates before? The dates missed you, so I came to find you."
How could he say something like that? The Thirteenth Prince was speechless.
But I felt a sweet feeling inside.
Heyue was indeed not a person overflowing with compassion, except for the thirteenth prince in front of her.
I was worried he would be discouraged, but it seems I was overthinking it.
With the Fourth Prince around, the Thirteenth Prince can easily pull himself together.
Heyue didn't mention Consort Min's matter because she didn't want to cause him any more trouble.
When you're out and about, it's always best to be happy.
"Anyway, I'm very happy that you came. Besides Fourth Brother, you're the only one I can talk to." Thirteenth Prince smiled sincerely, but picked up a cup of tea and gulped it down.
He Yue rested her chin on her hand, watching his dejected yet forced smile. With her other hand, she lightly tapped the table with her fingers and snorted unhappily, "You've even started drinking. Luckily, it wasn't alcohol. I'm happy to listen to your complaints, but I'm not good at comforting people. Don't expect me to comfort you. I don't like saying those empty words. Today, I'm giving you that right. Say whatever you want, and I'll listen."
"Your method of persuading people is truly unique, it seems so cold." The Thirteenth Prince frowned, somewhat annoyed: "Why can't you comfort people with gentle words like those women?"
His tone was somewhat resentful and a little disappointed.
"Which women?" He Yue raised her eyebrows slightly, thinking to herself, "He always seems so innocent, how could he say something like that?"
Indeed, he is already fourteen years old this year. In this era, in a royal place, he should already have a woman by now.
Ha, just like a man! He Yue gritted her teeth inwardly.
How dare she compare herself to other women!
The Thirteenth Prince, completely oblivious to the impropriety, continued, "Naturally, it's the women from Fourth Brother's household. Not to mention that Consort Li and Consort Song have always been gentle and considerate towards Fourth Brother, even Fourth Sister-in-law is extremely virtuous and obedient to him. Never before have they been as..." vicious as you.
As he finished speaking, the Thirteenth Prince seemed to realize what he had said. His voice became noticeably softer, and he glanced at her cautiously. He shrank back, pursed his lips tightly, and didn't utter the last two words, afraid that she might hit him again in a fit of anger.
He secretly regretted it. How could he be so forgetful? How could he have said those words?
Heyue wasn't annoyed by the two words he hadn't uttered. She just glared at him dismissively: "I don't need to please any man. Why should I lower myself? People only lower themselves when they want something. I'll just be myself."
Even so, it cannot be denied that her mood improved a lot because of the Thirteenth Prince's words.
Hmm, is this considered possessiveness towards her belongings?
It's certainly not pleasant for your future husband to say you're fierce in front of him and compare you to other women.
Regardless, the young man before her was her future husband in name only. Even if the future was uncertain, in Heyue's heart, the young man before her was still her possession, and she would not allow those messy women to lead him astray.
“I believe you that Consort Li and Consort Song have something to ask of you, but Fourth Sister-in-law is Fourth Brother’s primary wife. She doesn’t lack anything, so what could she possibly want?” The Thirteenth Prince clearly disagreed with her words. In his heart, Fourth Sister-in-law was a virtuous woman and the sister-in-law he respected most. How could she be compared to other women? He was quite surprised by He Yue’s bold words and felt somewhat uncomfortable.
He Yue rolled her eyes at him, leaned closer, and lowered her voice: "Are you stupid? It's true that the Fourth Prince's wife is the primary wife, but don't forget, the Fourth Prince's wife is also a woman."
Otherwise, why would they go to such lengths to bring the eldest princess to their side?
Li is just a mere princess, how could she possibly be a hindrance to her? Why should she need to go to such lengths?
Isn't it just a common problem among women?
However, although the Fourth Prince's wife had taken advantage of her, Heyue didn't care much, since the Fourth Prince's wife was still very kind to her.
"Then aren't you a woman?" the Thirteenth Prince retorted, his brows furrowed and his tone sarcastic.
He Yue chuckled coldly, crossed her arms, and glanced at him sideways: "It's true that I'm a woman, but I don't like to spoil men. If it were me, I would definitely beat them until they obeyed!" She waved her fist, her eyes flashing with murderous intent.
The thirteenth prince shrank his neck, and looking at her like this, he inexplicably felt a chill on the back of his neck.
“You, a woman, should be gentle and understanding. Men don’t like women who are so fierce.” He straightened his back and subconsciously retorted, unwilling to show weakness.
He Yue rested her chin on her hand, her gaze casually falling on a spot, and smiled indifferently: "I don't care. At worst, I'll just live my own life. Who cares if he likes it or not? Asking me to please him is absolutely out of the question!"
Indeed, it's absurd for the world to accept a woman like herself, but is she someone who cares about that?
Even if her future husband doesn't like her, Heyue believes she can still live a good life.
It's impossible for her to be a virtuous woman like the Fourth Prince's wife.
Asking her to love a man and compromise herself for him is pure fantasy.
For some reason, when the Thirteenth Prince looked at He Yue's indifferent gaze and listened to her light-hearted words, he suddenly felt that she was very far away from him, and his heart suddenly panicked.
He gripped the teacup tightly with both hands, lowered his head, and took a sip of tea to calm his rapidly beating heart.
“Then you…” He wanted to say that without her husband’s respect or affection, a wife is nothing, but before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a knock on the door.
The thirteenth prince swallowed the words he was about to say, let out a soft sigh, and called out, "Come in."
Then his attendant Li Shun'er came in and reported, "Master, Ninth Master and Tenth Master have arrived."
The Ninth Prince and the Tenth Prince did not accompany the imperial tour to the border regions and remained in the palace.
The Thirteenth Prince frowned deeply, his face full of displeasure. Before he could say anything, the Tenth Prince had already pushed aside Li Shun'er, who was blocking the doorway, and swaggered in.
"So this is where Thirteenth Brother is! I've been looking for you!" The Tenth Prince's loud voice rang out without any restraint as he strolled in with the Ninth Prince.
Upon seeing Heyue there, the Tenth Prince's voice faltered, his smile froze, and then he grinned broadly again: "So Heyue is here too. Thirteenth Brother, you're not being fair. You and Heyue are here together without even telling me."
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