Zhu Xiuxiu took her hand, led her to a nearby pavilion to sit, and said with a laugh, "Seventh Young Master is not young anymore. I’m sure Mother is anxious about his marriage. However, he’s always coming and going unpredictably, with no chance to meet any young ladies or go on matchmaker-arranged dates. Since you happen to live in our Mansion, as the saying goes, ’the pavilion near the water gets the moonlight first.’ If you put a bit more effort into it, Seventh Young Master will surely see your good qualities!"
Xie Pan’Er’s small face flushed red with shyness. She lowered her head, too embarrassed to speak.
"You understand others’ emotional affairs so well, so why is there still no resolution between you and Third Master?"
The speaker was Huo Xing’Er. Hearing her voice, both Zhu Xiuxiu and Xie Pan’Er jumped in fright and hurriedly stood up to greet her.
"Second Mistress!" Xie Pan’Er was extremely embarrassed. She kept her head down, not daring to look at Huo Xing’Er.
Zhu Xiuxiu frowned. "Second Sister-in-law, what do you mean by that? Can the matter between me and Third Master Ji be compared to the issue between Seventh Young Master and Pan’Er?"
"Why can’t they be compared? As the saying goes, ’If you cannot set a proper example yourself, how can you teach others?’ Your own marriage is a complete mess, yet you’re here trying to advise and prod others on? Do you even know Seventh Young Master’s temperament? If Mother finds out you’re recklessly playing matchmaker like this, what will she think?"
Hearing Huo Xing’Er’s words, Zhu Xiuxiu inexplicably flared up. "Second Sister-in-law, did you eat gunpowder today? Usually, you don’t say much and appear so demure. Why are you suddenly here, harping on about me regarding Seventh Young Master and Pan’Er? Seventh Young Master is my brother-in-law. What’s wrong with me considering his lifelong prospects and wanting to help him find a wife?"
"What’s wrong? Zhu Xiuxiu, let me tell you, I have no objection to you helping Seventh Young Master find a wife. But find a girl from another family. Don’t you dare get any ideas about Pan’Er!"
Being loudly questioned by Zhu Xiuxiu, Huo Xing’Er’s temper flared too. She directly stated that Pan’Er could not be paired with Seventh Master Ji.
It would have been better if she hadn’t said it. Once the words were out, not only was Zhu Xiuxiu stunned, but Xie Pan’Er also looked on the verge of tears. Covering her mouth with a handkerchief, she ran off, sobbing quietly.
Zhu Xiuxiu was completely dumbfounded and didn’t react for a long while. By the time she snapped out of it, Xie Pan’Er had already run far away.
"Second Sister-in-law, you went too far today!" Zhu Xiuxiu, incensed, snapped at Huo Xing’Er and then stormed off.
Huo Xing’Er stood rooted to the spot, rubbing her temples.
Thinking back on what just happened, she also felt she might have gone a bit overboard. After all, Xie Pan’Er was a young girl, and rather thin-skinned. If she made Pan’Er misunderstand that she looked down on her family background, that would truly be a transgression!
What a mess! That Seventh Young Master, that rascal! He’s by His Majesty’s side all day. Could he really not have noticed the somewhat unusual way His Majesty occasionally looks at Pan’Er?
These things weren’t actually the most important. The most important thing was that Pan’Er and His Majesty were fated to be husband and wife!
If Seventh Young Master really married Xie Pan’Er, the Great Han would probably be without an Empress!
Huo Xing’Er returned to her room, took out the letter she had written to Ji Youyuan, burned it, and wrote a new one. Then, she went directly to find Ji Youcheng. However, she discovered that Ji Youcheng was not in the Guest Courtyard. It seemed he had been called away for some urgent matter.
「Late at night.」
Huo Xing’Er was meditating in Xiaosuisui’s room, watching the girl’s soundly sleeping face. Huo Xing’Er couldn’t help but sigh.
This little girl, she’s certainly carefree enough. Does she even realize that before long, she might be forced by those old bald pates from the Buddhist sects to shave her head bare?