The atmosphere instantly turned awkward. All that could be heard was Chun Tao's soft laughter and the almost palpable contempt from those around. The woman pinched her palm hard. She wanted to glare at Shen Mingzhu but remembered that the person before her was the eldest princess. So, she could only suck in a breath of cold air, bite her lips, and say with red - rimmed eyes, "Your Highness, I'm Liu Minmin, Cousin Xie's cousin."
As Liu Minmin spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill at any moment. She looked so pitiful.
Shen Mingzhu had grown up in the palace and had watched many shows. This Liu Minmin was really not up to par. Her acting was too amateurish.
"Alright, Liu Minmin," Shen Mingzhu looked at her and said calmly, "What are you doing here at my place so early in the morning?"
Liu Minmin didn't expect Shen Mingzhu to be so direct. After all, she was a girl who had grown up in the inner courtyard. The look in her eyes when she looked at Shen Mingzhu was even blatantly greedy, and she couldn't hide her desire at all. "Your Highness..."
"Does Your Highness not like me?" Liu Minmin shed tears and continued looking at Shen Mingzhu, "But Cousin and I grew up together. I..."
Shen Mingzhu burst out laughing. Looking at Liu Minmin, who had come to amuse her, she finally showed a bit more patience. "Xie Lang didn't even grow up in the Xie Mansion. Where did you two grow up together?"
Liu Minmin finally showed a bit of sense and didn't refute Shen Mingzhu. Instead, she continued on her own, "Cousin has a bit of a bad temper. I just hope Your Highness will be tolerant."
Shen Mingzhu took a deep breath and looked at Liu Minmin. "Miss Liu."
Liu Minmin looked up, looking pitifully at Shen Mingzhu.
"Are you in love with Xie Lang?"
Shen Mingzhu's question was so straightforward that it caught Liu Minmin off guard. She stood there stunned for a moment. After a few moments of silence, she lowered her eyes and said, "Cousin he..."
Shen Mingzhu looked at Liu Minmin and could see the insincerity in her eyes.
Maybe what she was after was just Xie Lang's status. There was more to Liu Minmin than just herself. There was also the Liu family that Shen Mingzhu had never seen.
From Mrs. Liu, Shen Mingzhu could catch a glimpse of the Liu family. If the family was well - off, why would Mrs. Liu have married General Xie, who at that time had an ordinary family background and already had an eldest son, as his second wife?
Moreover, Mrs. Liu's greed for wealth made people instinctively wary. Liu Minmin came to provoke her but her words didn't make sense. Maybe she was indeed insincere.
Shen Mingzhu looked at her quietly, raised her eyebrows, and smiled. "If you really like Xie Lang, you'd better approach him directly. It would be much better than coming to me."
"Miss Liu," Shen Mingzhu let out a soft laugh and continued, "Aren't you afraid that I'll be so angry that I'll just throw you out of the Xie Mansion?"
The color drained from Liu Minmin's face. She bit her lips and glanced at Shen Mingzhu. The tears in her eyes were now completely replaced by panic.
"Do you like Xie Lang or the Xie family behind him?" Shen Mingzhu said. Seeing the increasing panic on Liu Minmin's face, she continued, "Or is it not you who likes Xie Lang?"
The implication in Shen Mingzhu's words was too strong. Liu Minmin's heart tightened instantly. She forced a smile at Shen Mingzhu and said, "What is Your Highness talking about? Minmin doesn't understand."
Shen Mingzhu looked at her with a half - smile.
Chun Tao, who was standing beside, understood Shen Mingzhu's intention. The look in her eyes when she looked at Liu Minmin was also a bit surprised. She was shocked by Shen Mingzhu's words and deeds at this moment. It seemed that Shen Mingzhu was going to give Liu Minmin a hand.
"Don't you really know?"
Shen Mingzhu continued to smile and said to Liu Minmin, "I'm the eldest princess. I have fiefs and countless gold and silver treasures. If you really want these things, isn't it easier to approach me than Xie Lang?"
"Your Highness..."
The expression on Liu Minmin's face froze instantly. She seemed to doubt her own ears.
What was Shen Mingzhu talking about? She had clearly come here under her aunt's order to sow discord between Shen Mingzhu and Xie Lang! What on earth was she up to?
"I believe Miss Liu is a smart person," Shen Mingzhu said with a soft laugh, "A smart person should have smart ways."
As she said this, Shen Mingzhu winked at Chun Tao and said with a smile, "I remember that last time I brought a hairpin out of the palace. It's very suitable for this young lady."
Liu Minmin's eyes widened. She stood there and was silent for a long time. Then she looked up at Shen Mingzhu and hesitated, "What does Your Highness want me to do for you?"
Seeing that the fish had taken the bait, there was a hint of a smile in Shen Mingzhu's eyes.
If she really wanted to get back at the original Xie Lang from Mrs. Liu, it would naturally be most convenient to do it from their own people.
...
When Xie Lang arrived at the military camp outside the city, it was still early.
General Xie was dealing with affairs, so there was only the out - of - breath Liu Zhiyu beside.
Both of them were sitting on their horses. Xie Lang was good - looking, and his face wasn't covered in sweat like Liu Zhiyu's. He was calm and handsome, instantly making Liu Zhiyu beside him look like a useless person.
"You..." Liu Zhiyu gasped for breath, his nostrils flaring. He looked extremely embarrassed. "You..."
He couldn't get the words out for a long time.
Hearing this, Xie Lang looked at him with a smile. A hint of a playboy's expression appeared on his face. "What does cousin want to say?"
Seeing Xie Lang's calmness, Liu Zhiyu got even angrier. He gritted his teeth and asked, "Why is cousin so calm? Could it be that cousin is not as much of a playboy as the rumors say?"
Xie Lang didn't answer his question. He looked at him for a few times, smacked his lips, and continued, "It's not like that."
"After all, I'm a well - known playboy in the capital," Xie Lang said with a faint smile in his eyes. "Horse - riding is a must - have skill for a playboy. Otherwise, how can he wander around?"
Hearing Xie Lang's nonsense and feeling the contempt from the person in front of him, Liu Zhiyu couldn't help but show a bit of anger.
No, he couldn't be so impulsive!
Liu Zhiyu suppressed the emotions in his eyes and continued to say to Xie Lang, "Since that's the case, since the general hasn't come yet, why don't we have a competition?"
Seeing the provocation in his eyes, Xie Lang was even less interested. He yawned and said, "Forget it. After all, I really don't know anything."
Liu Zhiyu: "..."
How could someone admit the fact that they were useless so readily!
Liu Zhiyu got even angrier, and Xie Lang found it amusing.
"Could it be that cousin is afraid?"
"Yeah."
Xie Lang answered very quickly. Liu Zhiyu glared at him fiercely and then continued, "Cousin, just have a competition with me. Consider it a welcome gift for me."
If Xie Lang really lost to him, it would indeed be a welcome gift. But...
Hearing this, Xie Lang smiled and looked at him. "Are you sure?"
Liu Zhiyu said, "Of course. How about we just have a simple archery competition?"
Xie Lang hooked his lips, dismounted from his horse, and said, "Sure."
Liu Zhiyu finally let out a sigh of relief. But then he saw Xie Lang's elegant and handsome demeanor. His face was so good - looking. Instantly, he felt uncomfortable.
If he had such a face, wouldn't the princess take a fancy to him at first sight? Xie Lang was really lucky!
Thinking like this, Liu Zhiyu dismounted his horse awkwardly and didn't notice the mockery in Xie Lang's eyes at all.