Song Xu? Xue Xingyue's gaze deepened considerably, yet she remained unfazed. Song Xu had only seen her on the wall; who could prove she had left the manor?
"Is that so? Then perhaps the Ninth Princess can summon the Second Young Master to confront me."
The Ninth Princess observed Xue Xingyue's calm demeanor, feeling utterly bewildered. Could it be that she truly hadn't left the manor?
In truth, she and Zhao Xiuzhu had merely gone to Jade Pavilion to select jewelry. By chance, they encountered Young Master Liang pursuing someone. She and Zhao Xiuzhu stepped out of Jade Pavilion to watch the commotion, only to realize the figure strongly resembled the butcher's daughter. Initially, she hadn't recognized her, but Zhao Xiuzhu did. Upon closer inspection, she indeed saw it was the butcher's daughter.
She stopped Liang Yixing and clarified the situation. She felt this was a golden opportunity to expel this butcher's daughter from the Song Manor, to remove her from Xiu Yuan Ge's side.
"Xue Xingyue, I believe you won't shed tears until you see the coffin. Xia Chun, go and invite the Second Young Master at once!" the Ninth Princess commanded Xia Chun beside her.
"Yes, Your Highness," Xia Chun replied and departed.
The Ninth Princess sneered, "In a moment, I'll see how you present yourself."
"Miss, I'll have Feng Qing find Young Master Song..."
"No need," Xue Xingyue waved her hand. If she had to bother Song Xiuyuan for every matter, how would she differ from an invalid? Moreover, this was something she had never done. However, the fact that someone was using her appearance to do such things piqued her interest.
Who on earth was so bored as to specifically tarnish her reputation?
She surmised there was only one goal: to prevent her from becoming Song Xiuyuan's wife. But who was that person? The Ninth Princess?
She deemed it unlikely. It wasn't a matter of doubting the Ninth Princess's intelligence, but rather that if this were possible, the Ninth Princess would have done it long ago. Although the Ninth Princess was arrogant and overbearing, she wasn't inherently bad, just somewhat spoiled.
Zhao Xiuzhu? She did lean towards this possibility, especially given Zhao Xiuzhu's evident adoration for Song Xiuyuan. However, why she had suddenly agreed to marry the Crown Prince and become the Crown Princess was truly perplexing.
If it were her, then it would simply mean a descent into hatred born from love.
After a while, she saw a man in a dark green robe slowly approaching. It was Song Xu.
He stood tall and bowed slightly, "Greetings, Ninth Princess."
"Song Xu, tell me, did you personally see her return from outside?" the Ninth Princess asked.
Song Xu heard this, glanced at the Ninth Princess, and then at the woman beside her. He saw her pure and beautiful face bearing a look of calm, her gaze as clear as water. He wondered why, when facing the most important matter of reputation, she could still be so composed. Did she perhaps believe his words would surely help her? If she spoke words that aided the Ninth Princess, then everything would be greatly beneficial to the Ninth Princess. Was she not afraid?
Sensing Song Xu's gaze, she met his eyes. Her dark pupils held a hint of inquiry. She merely cast a casual glance at Song Xu.
Her clear eyes were as pure as a child's, shimmering with light, rippling gently.
For a moment, Song Xu seemed to hear a voice from the depths of his heart. He withdrew his gaze and bowed to the Ninth Princess, saying, "Replying to the Ninth Princess, when I saw her, Miss Xue was sitting on the wall. I do not know if Miss Xue had left the manor."
"Song Xu, are you certain you are telling the truth?" the Ninth Princess asked, staring coldly at Song Xu.
Song Xu replied, "Yes, I speak no falsehoods."
"Xue Xingyue, you are quite capable to make the dignified Second Young Master of the Song family make excuses for you. It seems you truly possess considerable charm," the Ninth Princess remarked sarcastically.
"Ninth Princess, I am merely speaking the truth. Is Your Highness perhaps asking me to lie? To frame Miss Xue?"
"You talk nonsense. When did I tell you to frame her?"
"It appears I misheard. Since there is nothing else, I shall take my leave!" Song Xu stood up and departed.
The Ninth Princess snorted, "He's just a mere concubine-born son, yet he dares to argue with me? Song Qitai, your concubine-born son is truly audacious, even daring to retort against me."
Song Qitai, upon hearing this, quickly bowed and said, "Ninth Princess, it is my wicked son who has displeased you. I will surely teach that wicked son a good lesson and vent your anger."
The Ninth Princess waved her hand, "Forget it. If this were to spread, people might think I am bullying others with my status."
Song Qitai repeatedly expressed his gratitude, but secretly thought, "Haven't you done enough bullying with your status?"
"Miss Xue, it really is you."
Xue Xingyue looked towards the doorway and saw a man striding quickly towards her. His face was refined, like a clear breeze and bright moon. He stepped forward, reaching out to grab her hand. She retreated a few steps, "Young Master, I do not know you."
Hearing this, the man's gaze flickered with a hint of grievance. "Miss Xue, I am Liang Yixing. I fell for you at first sight. I..."
"Young Master Liang, is it! When and where did you see me?"
Liang Yixing then began to recount how they met. It turned out Liang Yixing had also gone out of the manor to see the envoys from the Three Kingdoms. Unexpectedly, on the way, he encountered "her," whom he instantly fell in love with. Afterward, he inquired about "her" family background. She did not reveal it, only stating she had a fiancé. Later, to welcome the arrival of the envoys from the Three Kingdoms, the entire city was on high alert. "She" also took the opportunity to leave. He followed her the entire way, wanting to see which noble family's daughter she was. Unexpectedly, midway, she was stopped by the Ninth Princess and Miss Zhao. He had no choice but to instruct his servants to continue tracking her.
When the servants returned and informed him it was a young lady from the Song family.
If it were anyone else, he might have worried if his father would agree. But for a young lady from the Song family, his father would wholeheartedly approve. Thus, he first ordered his servants to retrieve Miss Song's dropped handkerchief from the Song Manor, then he would visit to express his gratitude, and finally, he would have his father propose marriage. His plans were already laid out in his mind, who would have thought it would turn into this situation?
"Miss Xue, I..."
Xue Xingyue heard this and seemed to grasp the general situation. Clearly, this Young Master Liang probably didn't know she wasn't the young lady of the Song family yet.
"Young Master Liang, do you know who I am?" she asked Liang Yixing.
Liang Yixing's eyes lit up, thinking this was Miss Xue testing him. He quickly said, "Of course, I know. Miss Xue is the eldest daughter of the Song family, Song Feng."
You're Song Feng, and your whole family are lunatics! Xue Xingyue felt a slight pain in her forehead. She looked at Liang Yixing and said, "Young Master Liang, I'm afraid you have mistaken me for someone else. Firstly, my surname is Song. Secondly, I am not the eldest daughter of the Song family. Thirdly, I have a fiancé, who is the current Prime Minister, Song Xiuyuan."
"What?" Liang Yixing stumbled back several steps, his refined face displaying shock. He shook his head, disbelieving, "Impossible, impossible."