Suddenly, Zhao Xiuzhu fainted. Song Xiuyuan picked her up and walked in one direction. He paused for a moment, his gaze turning towards the pavilion. Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively lowered her gaze. When she looked up again, he was gone.
At this moment, she found she could move. Prince Min Nan emerged from behind her and sat on a stone chair in the pavilion, saying incredulously, "I never expected Prime Minister to be so considerate towards Zhao Xiuzhu?"
He then looked up at her and asked, "Miss Xue didn't expect this either, did you?"
Xue Xingyue walked into the pavilion and sat down, pouring herself a cup of tea. "This commoner simply didn't expect that Your Highness was fond of Miss Zhao. This commoner only just learned."
Prince Min Nan was taken aback, then burst into laughter. "Miss Xue, you are truly an interesting woman. You think this King likes Zhao Xiuzhu? Is my taste that poor?"
"Does Your Highness say that out of self-deprecation? Miss Zhao is the most beautiful woman in the Jade Kingdom. If Your Highness calls his taste poor, does that mean Your Highness likes ugly women?" she retorted.
Prince Min Nan laughed heartily, his gaze suddenly deepening. "It is you that this King likes, Xue Xingyue."
She trembled all over but quickly regained her composure. "Your Highness, you jest. This commoner is merely a vulgar person and perhaps not worthy of Your Highness's affection."
"If you are not worthy, then who is?" Prince Min Nan stood up and walked towards her. She was calculating in her mind, wondering what her chances of success would be if she attacked Prince Min Nan now.
But as she extended her hand from her sleeve, she retracted it. There were unknown hidden guards near the pavilion, possibly Prince Min Nan's or someone else's, so she still could not act rashly.
She slowly stood up, appearing to take one step back, but in reality, she retreated several steps. "Your Highness, this commoner has been out for too long. I imagine the Ninth Princess will be looking for me. This commoner shall take her leave."
"You wish to leave after you've arrived? That depends on whether this King agrees." Prince Min Nan took a step forward, intending to embrace her waist.
Seeing this, her eyes turned cold, and a dagger slid into her palm. Just then, a voice was heard, "Imperial Uncle, why are you still here? I've been looking for you for a long time."
Prince Min Nan withdrew his outstretched hand and looked at the approaching person.
A young man in a black brocade robe walked over, handsome with sharp brows, his gaze clear and cold. This was the Fourth Prince, Yu Qi Xi, who had already departed.
"So it's Little Four," Prince Min Nan said, hands behind his back, watching Fourth Prince Yu Qi Xi approach.
Fourth Prince Yu Qi Xi came before Prince Min Nan and said with some surprise, "Imperial Uncle, why are you here?"
He glanced at Xue Xingyue and then asked, "Isn't this the Prime Minister's fiancée?"
"This King happened to meet the Prime Minister's fiancée. This King was speaking a few words with her here." Prince Min Nan turned to look at Xue Xingyue, a wicked smile playing on his lips.
Xue Xingyue curtsied slightly and said, "Greetings, Your Highness Fourth Prince."
Fourth Prince Yu Qi Xi waved his hand and then looked at Prince Min Nan, saying, "Imperial Uncle, the Crown Prince is still looking for you. Please accompany me."
"The Crown Prince is looking for this King?" Prince Min Nan looked at Fourth Prince with deep meaning.
Fourth Prince said, "Yesterday, the Crown Prince's game with Imperial Uncle had not concluded. Therefore, the Crown Prince is eager for the outcome of this round."
Upon hearing this, Prince Min Nan smiled. "Since the Crown Prince is so concerned about the outcome, then this King shall grant his wish!" With that, Prince Min Nan strode away.
Fourth Prince turned to look at Xue Xingyue. "Miss Xue, you should leave this place quickly!" Saying this, he turned to leave.
"Your Highness Fourth Prince, thank you!" Xue Xingyue bowed gratefully.
Fourth Prince paused upon hearing this, said nothing more, and continued to leave.
If it weren't for Fourth Prince, she might have had to go through a lot of trouble to shake off Prince Min Nan. However, although this Fourth Prince and the Ninth Princess were born of the same mother, their personalities were vastly different. The Ninth Princess was so spoiled and willful, while Fourth Prince was steady and composed.
Due to Zhao Xiuzhu's fall into the water, the birthday banquet was canceled. Sitting in the carriage returning to Song Mansion, Song Minghui, like when they arrived, had her eyes closed and remained silent. Song Xue, however, asked her some questions.
For instance, about what happened after they left. She vaguely replied and then feigned tiredness, falling asleep.
Seeing this, Song Xue asked no more.
Upon returning to Song Mansion, she went straight to her room. Mei'er was not there. She lay on the bed and suddenly remembered what she had seen hiding behind the pavilion pillar. She felt a stuffiness in her heart, a very unpleasant feeling that made her unhappy.
As soon as she closed her eyes, she could recall Zhao Xiuzhu falling into Song Xiuyuan's arms.
Perhaps too much had happened that day, and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.
In her dream, she was still in a wedding dress, but there were two grooms. One was Song Xiuyuan, and the other, whose face she could not see clearly, but vaguely remembered as familiar. They both pressed her, "Marry me, marry me."
Suddenly, Song Xiuyuan's body slowly became transparent and finally transformed into a beam of light, flying into the person whose face she could not clearly see. Instantly, a massive ball of light enveloped this person, and then the light gradually diminished until it disappeared completely. The person, initially familiar but unclear, suddenly took on Song Xiuyuan's appearance. However, though identical to Song Xiuyuan, she knew this person was not Song Xiuyuan.
He looked at her, his smile wicked. "My dear, let us go to the bridal chamber!"