“But, even if the end would still be the same, it’s good that you haven’t married.” When he had heard what An Er’s news was, he was a bit astonished. After all, he had no good feelings towards the Prime Minister’s estates and its residence. A man who would place his concubine above his legal wife wasn’t anyone he thought was worth praising. If not for the fact that that old man was loyal to his brother, the Emperor, he would have sent him to his death by now.
Although he didn’t hold aspirations for the throne, he still cared about survival.
“Prince’s attitude is quite to my taste.” XunMi gave a small smile, her eyes curving into half moons. “Do you want to hear my story?”
Zongzheng Mufeng rested his hands on the table, giving off a lazy leisurely pose. “Of course.”
XunMi casted a sidewise look in his direction before slowly speaking. “I am Wenren XunMi, the Prime Minister’s Second Miss, as well as the infamously ugly legitimate daughter that they were gossiping about. I don’t know when it started but suddenly things turned into this. My father stopped doting me, stopped showing my little brother attention, even making mother give up the right to manage the estate’s court. I had never been outside of the estate. If not for the fact that my servants often discuss the world outside, I wouldn’t even have known how my reputation had fallen so low.” XunMi gazed far off into the distance, as if entering a memory.
“Last year, father came to my courtyard. I thought that father had finally remembered me. I didn’t know that he was there to inform me of my marriage to the crown prince. I know that this is part of the duty that I must undertake as the daughter of the prime minister, so I agreed. But I didn’t think that this was all just a plot humiliate and destroy me. Staring from that day, rumors spread that I had stolen my elder sister’s lover away, saying that heinously jealous of my sister’s talent, beauty...” She let out a cold laugh to cover the disdain from her face. “I couldn’t understand. If they were in love, then why would he propose marriage to me? Only later did I realize how alluring power could be to people. As the legitimate daughter of the prime minister, I had a more respectable status. Even now with my bad reputation, my status is still higher than that of a concubine’s daughter. Moreover, the emperor would never agree to let the crown prince marry someone incompatible with him. So that’s where I came in. I actually am quite impressed by my sister and crown prince for so bravely going in and out of the estate together. Hehe, I don’t know those people are blind or just brainless to think that those two don’t have a relationship. Where is all their talk about virtue, about morality, about chastity? Instead, they turned to criticize me. In these two years, I’ve become numb. But they dared to scheme against my mother. So, since my big sister wants to marry the crown prince and to get her hands on the phoenix pearl, I might as well help her.”
XunMi lowered her eyelashes, concealing her inner pain. BaoBao had just told her that Xiao Jing was here. Her husband had yet to discover him. She of course had to exploit such a good opportunity. Simultaneously, she turned her husband’s attention to focus solely on her while allowing Xiao Jing to hear her story.
Zongzheng Mufeng sympathetically grabbed her into his arms. His eyes were dark. An Yi and An Er hidden away in the distance watched with interest.
That prime minister’s eldest daughter sure was scheming. First, she ruined the legitimate daughter’s reputation. Then, if she killed the mother, her own concubine mother could successfully get a promotion. Tsk tsk tsk, women were all dangerous snakes.
“Belle, don’t worry. I’ll help you take revenge.” He lightly patted XunMi’s back in consolation. If they dare bully his person, then they should be prepared to have it returned a thousandfold.
XunMi raised her head, her eyes still filled with dampness, “Prince believes me? You aren’t afraid that I am purposely weaving a story to deceive you?”
“Your eyes are the most beautiful on this world. They could bewitch everyone.” Stroking her silky smooth hair, his heart was content. Squatting on a nearby rooftop, Xiao Jing also nodded his head in agreement. He wouldn’t ever forget those clear bright eyes.
Originally, he had wanted to thank his benefactor. Yet, before he even made his way out of the alley, he saw his benefactor being carried away by a man. Xiao Jing followed them in secret, not expecting to hear such a secret in the progress. If he hadn’t personally seen the implicated party, he just might have believed the stories himself.
After all, the entire capital city knew that Eldest Miss of the Prime Minister was brilliant, unmatched in her beauty, and kindhearted. So he would naturally be more biased towards the Eldest Miss. But now, he could only think of how scheming that Eldest Miss was. The beauty of his benefactor was worth more than even two Eldest Misses. Moreover, his benefactor had that contagious aura. No one could compete with her, so why would she be jealous of someone that was not on her level? The difference between the Eldest Miss and his benefactor was obvious to the eye. So that woman dared hurt his benefactor? He must do something for his benefactor.
Being by that prince’s side was the best choice for his benefactor right now. As Building 1’s owner, Xiao Jing knew this An country’s XiaoYao wang very well {T/N: Xiaoyao meaning carefree, a title given to Zongzheng Mufeng.} He looked back once more at the woman that had made his heart beat fast, before turning and disappearing into the night.
In response to the man standing in front of her, XunMi lightly smiled as she nestled into his embrace. “Having someone that believes me is really nice. Prince, can I believe you?” She knew that the answer was ‘yes’ but she still wanted to ask.
Zongzheng Mufeng tightened the arm around her waist, overbearingly declaring, “You can. In this world, you can only trust me.” He lowered to rub his mouth near her ear, “Belle, I’ve said it before. Once you’ve entered my estate, you’ve already become my person.” He bit down, giving a small lick, only letting go when he saw her ear redden.
“Tomorrow, I’ll accompany you to meet Mother-in-Law.” As for father-in-law, that old thing, he didn’t deserve a greeting. He hasn’t even gotten payback for treating his person so badly.
XunMi reached out her hand to Zongzheng Mufeng’s head, rising out his embrace. “Would Prince like to act out a show with me?”
She had even prepared bedcovers, how could she let it all go to waste?
Grabbing her small hand and placing it to his lips, he said, “Your wish is my command. It’s late now, belle. Let’s go eat dinner.” Picking up XunMi, he walked with large strides toward the dining room, not caring how many people he shocked along the way.
They had already been shocked seeing their prince bringing home a woman wearing a muslin. Seeing this sight now, they still hadn’t yet adapted to the new situation. As their eyes traveled down to woman’s face, however, they couldn’t help but inhale. Such a beautiful woman, is this a fairy?
After XunMi and her man discussed tomorrow morning’s plans, they returned to their rooms to catch some sleep before a big day.