The Crown Prince's gaze turned cold. "I could pretend this never happened, but if I hear such nonsense again, I cannot guarantee my own restraint." With that, the Crown Prince flicked his sleeve and departed.
King Min Nan, seeing Zhao Xiuzhu's pale face, said meaningfully, "Miss Zhao, selfish desires can harm many. You should consider carefully."
"Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness," Zhao Shiming replied.
King Min Nan turned and approached Song Xiuyuan. He walked closer and said, "Prime Minister, you are related to the Zhao family. You should advise them on this matter. After all..." His voice grew colder, "the Fifth Prince is gone. If people hear of this person again, some may find reason to target the Zhao family."
Song Xiuyuan bowed his head. "Thank you, Your Highness!"
King Min Nan waved his hand. "I am merely repaying a debt owed to Little Wu." He then glanced at Xue Xingyue behind Song Xiuyuan with a wicked smile and left.
"I shall not disturb you further. Farewell!" The Fourth Prince also departed with his guards.
"You may all leave," Zhao Shiming signaled to the maids and wet nurses.
At this moment, only Song Xiuyuan and Xue Xingyue remained, along with Zhao Shiming and Zhao Xiuzhu.
"Miss Xue, please..."
Before Zhao Shiming could finish, Xue Xingyue quickly said, "Alright, I will go find the Ninth Princess." She understood that Song Xiuyuan and the others likely needed to speak privately, and she was not suited to overhear their conversation.
She turned to leave, but Song Xiuyuan's hand tightened its grip on hers. She looked at him, her expression filled with confusion.
"It's alright," Song Xiuyuan said.
"But..." Zhao Shiming still looked at Xue Xingyue with some hesitation.
Song Xiuyuan ignored Zhao Shiming and walked up to Zhao Xiuzhu. "The Fifth Prince is gone. Why do you still cling to him?"
Zhao Xiuzhu trembled and looked up, her eyes darting, glistening with tears. "Cousin, I..."
"I think I should leave first." Before Song Xiuyuan could reply, Xue Xingyue turned and left.
Though Song Xiuyuan did not want her to leave, she felt it was better not to know certain things. After all, it was better to be safe than sorry.
However, Zhao Xiuzhu was indeed a bit reckless. The Crown Princess was a position many vied for, yet she refused it. While her refusal was her choice, such an open rejection of marriage could bring disaster upon the Zhao family. She wondered if Zhao Xiuzhu was truly foolish or merely pretending. Even if she intended to refuse, she should have done so with great caution.
Xue Xingyue did not return to the Ninth Princess and the other young ladies. She did not wish to see them, and likely they did not wish to see her either. So, she found a rock garden and sat down.
Suddenly, she sensed a strange presence approaching. She stood up, preparing to leave, when a voice from behind her said, "Miss Xue, leaving so soon?"
She paused, then turned to see a pair of narrow, peach blossom eyes fixed on her, utterly enchanting.
She had met the Empress Dowager and the Jade Emperor, but this King Min Nan bore no resemblance to either of them.
Though she had not fully understood the royal family of Yu Kingdom before, she knew that King Min Nan was the current Emperor's younger brother and the Empress Dowager's son. But why did he have no similarities with the other two?
"Greetings, Your Highness," she curtsied.
"Rise," King Min Nan motioned.
"Does Your Highness require something? If not, this humble one shall take her leave!"
"Miss Xue, do you not wish to know what your future husband said to Zhao Xiuzhu?" King Min Nan suddenly spoke from behind her.
"Your Highness, it is best not to speak such things carelessly. Prime Minister and Miss Zhao are cousins. Their conversation is natural. Why does it change in your words, Your Highness? Could it be that if I see Your Highness speaking with the Ninth Princess, I can also assume there is some ulterior motive?" She turned and looked at King Min Nan coldly.
King Min Nan laughed, his eyes narrowed, and he looked at her meaningfully. "Miss Xue, you have a sharp tongue. However, I do not believe you are not curious?"
"Your Highness, curiosity killed the cat, and I only wish to live well. I am not interested in royal secrets. Therefore, Your Highness has found the wrong person. It seems Your Highness is merely bored and seeks my company. Unfortunately, I am a blunt person, so I shall take my leave." She then prepared to depart.
Suddenly, she felt a gust of wind from behind her. She suppressed the urge to retaliate, as King Min Nan had already immobilized her.
"Your Highness, what are you doing?" she asked, feigning panic.
"You do not wish to see, but I insist you watch." King Min Nan embraced her waist and led her back the way she had come.
They stopped near a pavilion not far away. They stood behind the pillars of the pavilion. Since the pavilion was nestled among bamboo, even if someone from the front looked back, they might not be able to see them. This was the best place to hide.
Xue Xingyue saw Song Xiuyuan's tall, slender figure standing not far away, like a sturdy pine. He seemed to be saying something to Zhao Xiuzhu, who suddenly threw herself into his arms, weeping. At that moment, Zhao Shiming was not there, nor was anyone else. There were only Song Xiuyuan and Zhao Xiuzhu.
"Tsk, tsk, what a good show. I didn't expect to see this scene upon arrival," King Min Nan remarked with a click of his tongue.
Song Xiuyuan did not push Zhao Xiuzhu away. He simply allowed her to cry in his embrace. For some reason, a flicker of displeasure stirred within her.