"Oh, okay..." Princess Zhaoping, embarrassed and speechless after being rebuked by the magpie, finally came to her senses and fled in a panic.
Before leaving, she couldn't help but glance longingly at Shang Xiye, who hadn't looked up at her the entire time.
This man was renowned and incomparably handsome.
She grew up listening to his various legendary stories, and her heart was filled with deep affection for him;
Ever since she learned that the Empress Dowager intended to marry her to him, she regarded him as her only husband in this life.
Even though everyone said he was disfigured, and even though he was now unable to walk properly, she didn't believe a single word of it.
Princess Zhaoping walked along, head bowed, trying to comfort herself: Didn't Brother Xiye initially refuse to marry that bandit?
Look at him now, isn't he being very gentle and kind to that bandit?
She was, after all, a proper princess, far superior to that crude bandit in terms of status, education, and upbringing.
Perhaps he will treat her well after they get married.
With this in mind, Princess Zhaoping rallied and devoted herself to preparing soup for the Empress Dowager.
Because the Empress Dowager disliked her, Ji Fengyao didn't stay long after the acupuncture treatment. She quickly greeted Shang Xiye and returned to her own mansion's ship.
"Did you remember?" The Empress Dowager glanced indifferently at the Imperial Physician Gao, who was still waiting beside her.
"Your Majesty, I have memorized the Ninth Princess's acupuncture sequence and techniques," Imperial Physician Gao replied confidently.
"Okay, then you can go and rest first," Hou Tai nodded with satisfaction, but her expression was still not relieved.
After the imperial physician had gone far away, she dismissed the remaining palace maids in the room, sighed softly, and said to Aunt Sun, "Zhaoping is too impatient. Men are born with a cheap heart; when you rush to offer something to them, they won't even give it a second glance."
"The princess is still young, Your Majesty should give her some more guidance," Aunt Sun advised softly.
"She's still young? That bandit is about the same age as her, and I can tell he's much more cunning than her. Though his methods are crude, they're still better than hers. I've raised her all these years, giving her rank and honor, picking out the best for her in every way, all hoping she could get close to the Ninth Prince..."
At this point, the Empress Dowager suddenly stopped talking, realizing that she had said too much today.
Seeing that she had suddenly stopped talking and was only serving silently, Aunt Sun stopped talking and said no more.
Ji Fengyao and Shang Xiye boarded the light boat of the returning ship. They glanced back and saw Princess Zhaoping holding a bowl of soup, standing on the dragon boat and gazing at Shang Xiye from afar.
The evening sun was already showing signs of rosy clouds, gently shining on the young girl in her palace dress, making her look extremely beautiful.
"Your Highness, your cousin seems to have a thing for you. She's looking at you right now, and the way she's giving you that look..."
Before Ji Fengyao could finish speaking, Shang Xiye suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms.
She leaned against him, her hands pressed against his chest, her clear, phoenix-shaped eyes widening in surprise: "What are you doing?"
“She is the Emperor’s and Empress Dowager’s person. She is watching us, so we naturally have to put on an act.”
The same beautiful sunlight shone on Shang Xiye, making his golden mask shine with a dazzling silver light. Under the strong halo, his two slightly white lips and chin looked extremely handsome.
Ji Fengyao instinctively narrowed her eyes, but before she could react, he lowered his head and kissed her.
"What……?"
Her two rows of thick, long, curled eyelashes trembled slightly, her face filled with bewilderment:
He was only glanced at by Princess Zhaoping, and he still had to put on an act?
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