In terms of eloquence, Gu Xiao was no match for Ning Yuwang.
In terms of martial arts, he was no match for Yan Zhao either.
Moreover, he had only said a couple of words about Ning Yuwang, and the displeasure in Yan Zhao's eyes was all too obvious.
"Humph! We're not kids anymore. You two always have to be glued to each other. Aren't you guys annoying?"
"If you know you're annoying, why don't you leave?"
Ning Yuwang had gotten up late and hadn't eaten yet.
Lianye and Lianzi had already brought over warm lily and lotus seed congee.
Yan Zhao fed Ning Yuwang slowly, not even sparing a glance at Gu Xiao.
Gu Xiao's lips moved, but finally, he left in a huff.
When Ning Yuwang wasn't around, his cousin still had a bit of the air of an elder brother.
But as soon as Ning Yuwang showed up, his cousin would act like a lovesick fool and stick to her.
He had even driven away his long - lost cousin!
Married men were all the same!
Thinking of his own father and mother, Gu Xiao curled his lips without a hint of envy.
But deep down, a thought welled up. If only...
If he could marry the girl he loved as his cousin did!
People can't help but miss those they love.
Just a few steps away, Gu Xiao saw the woman he had been longing for day and night, An Xingzhi.
"Miss An!"
By the small pavilion at the end of the corridor, both Chu Nian'an and An Xingzhi were there.
It wasn't that they had made an appointment in advance. They just happened to run into each other.
Chu Nian'an still harbored a bit of resentment towards An Xingzhi in her heart and didn't really want to get close to her again.
But since she was a princess, it wasn't up to her to avoid An Xingzhi.
Unexpectedly, An Xingzhi took on a cautious and obsequious attitude and shamelessly stayed behind her.
"Is cousin still angry with me?"
Even though Chu Nian'an only showed her a side profile, An Xingzhi still reddened the corners of her eyes and looked extremely pitiful. "It's my fault. I should have apologized to you earlier. But I was unwell some days ago. I had a serious illness and had to stay in bed for three months."
She was always good at playing the victim, whether it was towards Ning Yuwang or Chu Nian'an.
In the past, they were bosom friends and also cousins.
Chu Nian'an had never thought too much about it. Even though she was half a year younger, most of the time, she protected An Xingzhi.
But since she found out about An Xingzhi's underhanded tricks, such as hoarding things for herself and being a sore loser, Chu Nian'an had long lost the closeness she once had with her.
Even when they met, she just treated her like an ordinary noble lady and greeted her politely.
"I can't bear your apology, cousin."
Qiumei, her mother's senior maid, had only passed on a few words, but her brother had decided that she had bullied An Xingzhi and had her dragged away for a beating.
If Chu Nian'an didn't believe that An Xingzhi had fanned the flames, she was a fool.
She didn't want to accept An Xingzhi's apology only to have An Xingzhi go and complain to Chu Heye later, thus driving a wedge between her and her brother.
Even though she showed weakness and claimed to be ill, Chu Nian'an still wasn't as friendly as she had expected.
In the past, as long as An Xingzhi pretended to be angry, Chu Nian'an would be the first to coax her.
An Xingzhi secretly bit her lips. "Cousin, we've grown up together and know each other's personalities well. I've never been a sneaky person. If you won't talk to me anymore just because of one mistake, will all our years of friendship just disappear like that?"
As she spoke, a few clear tears fell from her cheeks. She looked so pitiful.
Especially Gu Xiao, who was looking at the pavilion from afar. If he hadn't needed the princess's permission to approach and if there weren't the strict rules between the monarch and his subject, he would have really liked to hand over a silk handkerchief and wipe away An Xingzhi's tears himself.
A flicker of emotion crossed Chu Nian'an's eyes. She recalled the days when they grew up together.
Her fingertips gradually relaxed, and the imposing manner on her body was far less aggressive than before.
"I just want to give the best to the princess," An Xingzhi said, motioning for the maid behind her to hand over a brocade box. This box was even bigger and more luxurious than the one she had brought to apologize at the heir's mansion the other day. There were precious gemstones inlaid on it, making it look extremely gorgeous and delicate.
The maid was smart and cooperated with her, saying, "This is a set of headdress jewelry that Linglong Jewelry Shop spent half a year collecting famous treasures for. It was personally made by the master craftsman there, just to give the princess a unique honor. For this set of jewelry, the whole shop even closed for three months before it was finally completed. This shows how much our young lady cares about the princess."
The headdress was truly exquisite.
The ruby headdress on Chu Nian'an's forehead today was still the one from yesterday.
But the set An Xingzhi presented now was a set of dark purple jewelry, mysterious, noble, and eye - catching!
Dark purple gemstones were not common, especially a whole carved one inlaid on the hair crown. One could see the thoughtfulness in it.
Combined with An Xingzhi's and the maid's words, Chu Nian'an softened her heart.
Calculating the time, this set of dark purple jewelry was even older than the pearl and cloud - patterned tassel she had given to Ning Yuwang.
Could it be that An Xingzhi hadn't given her the pearl and cloud - patterned tassel that day because she thought the tassel was not as gorgeous as the dark purple jewelry and had just kept it a secret?
Thinking of this, Chu Nian'an felt guilty. She had blamed An Xingzhi wrongly.
Originally only showing her side profile to An Xingzhi, now she faced her directly.
An Xingzhi gently wiggled the tip of her little finger. The maid who received her signal continued, "Our young lady still missed the princess when she was ill. If it weren't for her weak body and the scolding from the senior official in the family, she would have come to tell the princess the truth earlier."
"Ying'er, stop talking..."
Only after the maid had said everything did An Xingzhi pretend to scold her. "Everything I did was from the bottom of my heart, nothing else. I don't want to make the princess feel embarrassed or worried."
What a good move of retreating to advance!
But unfortunately, neither Chu Nian'an nor Gu Xiao in the distance could see through it.
One, feeling guilty, grabbed An Xingzhi's hand. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
The other sighed and shook his head. Miss An was just too kind - hearted!
An Xingzhi secretly laughed in her heart. She and Chu Nian'an had grown up together, and she had long understood Chu Nian'an's personality.
That was why she hadn't been in a hurry to make up with her in the past three months.
Because Chu Nian'an was easy to coax!
Chu Nian'an stammered, "I don't blame you for this matter anymore."
She had been too petty and thought An Xingzhi had been hiding the best things.
"However, Xingzhi, now that cousin - in - law and cousin Yan Zhao are living in harmony and love, I hope you can let go of your old feelings."
Chu Nian'an still remembered the time when An Xingzhi couldn't accept defeat in public.
An Xingzhi wiped the corners of her eyes and pursed her red lips. It seemed that she had taken it to heart. "Seeing the heir and his wife so happy, I've already let go. It was just a long - held obsession in the past that made me do something wrong. But my apology afterwards is sincere!"
Although she sounded obedient, the thoughts in her lowered eyes were completely the opposite.
Let go?
Impossible!
She wished she could stir up trouble between Yan Zhao and Ning Yuwang and make them get divorced soon!
Even if she couldn't have Yan Zhao, she would ruin his happiness.
"Then in the future, you, me, and cousin - in - law will truly turn hostility into friendship!"
Chu Nian'an believed her and happily tried on the dark purple jewelry.
She was as close to An Xingzhi as before.
Although she was a princess and had a bit of a temper, she never held grudges against those close to her.
An Xingzhi had just grasped her personality, and one move had solved the problem.