"Miss, what are you talking nonsense about? How dare this maid like someone as noble as His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?!"
Startled by her miss's train of thought, Yu Zhu quickly explained.
But Yun Xi stood up, patted Yu Zhu on the shoulder, and said seriously with a straight face:
"Yu Zhu, you mustn't underestimate yourself! Although there's a bit of an age gap between you two, don't be discouraged. Maybe the Crown Prince prefers older women? Don't worry. For your happiness, this miss will definitely prepare ten carriages of dowry for you to ensure you have a grand wedding!"
Yun Xi said it so earnestly that Yu Zhu's cheeks flushed and her head felt like it was steaming. She quickly covered Yun Xi's mouth.
Begging repeatedly, she said:
"Oh, my miss! You're killing this maid with embarrassment! You're not ashamed, but this maid is! "
Wasn't the reason she encouraged her miss to go and see the Crown Prince because the Queen once intended to betroth her miss to the Crown Prince?
She thought that if the Crown Prince was really as rumored, then her miss's happiness for the rest of her life would be secured.
Who would have thought that her miss was just teasing her and doing it with such a sincere look on her face!
Yun Xi blinked and chuckled. Her bright, sparkling eyes seemed to have stars twinkling in them.
She pulled Yu Zhu's hand away.
"Let's go. Let's go and join the fun too."
Life in the women's academy wasn't exactly boring, but it was a bit dull.
Since there was something exciting to watch, it might as well be a way to relax.
The women's academy was located right next to the Imperial College, so the two were very close. And there was an open space at the back mountain that was shared by both institutions.
The men used it more often to practice horse - riding, archery, and charioteering, while the women only learned horse - riding and rarely came here.
The male and female students had separate study schedules, so they didn't usually run into each other.
But there were still some students who would secretly steal glances at each other, and some even developed feelings and exchanged love letters.
When the women's academy was first established, the royal family intended for this to happen and didn't interfere.
Yun Xi and Yu Zhu walked at the back. Almost everyone had gathered at the open space on the back mountain. From afar, they could hear the booming voices, indicating that the competition was in full swing.
"Miss, let's hurry up."
Yu Zhu was itching with curiosity and couldn't help but urge Yun Xi while holding her arm.
Yun Xi was not very interested. Her menstrual period had just ended, and she felt a bit tired. So she pushed Yu Zhu and said:
"You go first. I'll catch up later."
Saying that, she bent down and sat on a rock beside the bushes.
"I'm going to rest here for a while."
Looking at the visible open space where several horses were galloping and there were cheers all around, Yu Zhu hesitated.
"Go. I'll leave soon."
Yun Xi pushed Yu Zhu and urged her to go quickly.
After Yu Zhu left, Yun Xi sat there for a while longer. She turned around and surveyed the forest behind her.
She didn't expect the Imperial College and the women's academy to be so large that they surrounded a small mountain.
Now it was autumn, and the grass and trees were withered and falling. If it were spring or summer, this would be a great place for an outing or to escape the heat.
Seeing Yu Zhu waving at her from down the slope, Yun Xi got up and was about to leave. But just as she took a few steps, she suddenly heard a voice coming from the forest.
Because of the noisy voices at the open space, it was not easy to notice.
"Help! Help me! Mmm..."
Walking a few steps into the forest, Yun Xi was sure she wasn't hearing things wrong. She was suddenly shocked and instinctively wanted to run away.
But then she thought that this was the area of the Imperial College and the women's academy, and there shouldn't be any real danger.
"Please, let me go..."
Yun Xi was feeling very uneasy. She didn't want to get into trouble, but she also felt it was too cruel to just ignore someone in danger.
So, somehow, she summoned up her courage and carefully walked into the forest.
When she finally found the source of the sound, what came into view was a man who had his upper - body clothes torn off and was only wearing leather trousers.
He was hanging upside down from a big tree, and there were several obvious whip marks on his bare skin. Shivering in the cold wind.
A tall and slender figure stood with his back to her, facing the man, holding a whip in his hand.
"Save me! Save me!"
The moment he saw her, the man seemed to see a life - saving straw. His eyes lit up, and he looked at her with hope.
The man in black, with a majestic figure, slowly turned around. His deep, cold black eyes swept over her.
Yun Xi stiffened her back and got a shock.
Goodness! Why is it this guy again?
Remembering the imperial bodyguard from the royal hunt, Yun Xi immediately covered her face and quickly turned around.
She hated herself for being nosy at this moment and getting involved in such a troublesome matter.
"Uh... Sorry to bother you. You can continue."
After saying that, Yun Xi walked away on tiptoe with a pounding heart.
"Don't go! Save me! Mmm..."
Seeing Yun Xi leaving, the man immediately shouted for help at the top of his lungs, but was whipped hard by Qi Rong. He immediately fell silent in pain.
Yun Xi's head was sweating, and her palms were wet, but she didn't hesitate in her steps.
She thought that as long as she had anything to do with Qi Rong, it couldn't be a good thing. The most important thing now was to save her own life!
Looking at Yun Xi's back as she tried to sneak away, Qi Rong smiled.
In an instant, he stepped in front of her and blocked her way.
"You've come all this way. Aren't you going to save him?"
Qi Rong looked at Yun Xi's slightly pale face with a teasing look on his face, looking down at her from above.
She was clearly a coward, but she still loved to join in the fun.
She wouldn't learn her lesson if she didn't suffer a bit!
"Save him?"
Yun Xi swallowed hard. She gave the hanging man an apologetic look and forced a smile.
"I'm just a weak woman. It's unnecessary, I think."
Are you kidding me?
If she saved him, wouldn't she be the one who would end up in trouble?
Qi Rong was capable of anything! Running into him in the forest last time was already the worst luck of her life!
Looking at Yun Xi, who clearly hated him to the core but still forced a smile on her face.
Qi Rong suddenly leaned forward. Yun Xi was so scared that she quickly stepped back. Like a startled deer, her big black eyes stared at him warily.
Qi Rong sneered, and the coldness in his eyes instantly melted like spring snow.
"At least you're self - aware."
Then, his eyes swept over the unlucky guy behind him. He hooked his lips at Yun Xi and said:
"But if you beg this king nicely, this king might let him go."
Qi Rong's smile was sincere and gentle, but in Yun Xi's eyes, he was like a demon from hell. His smile was sinister and made her shiver.
"That... That would be too embarrassing."
Yun Xi looked scared. She stretched out a finger and gently pushed Qi Rong's chest which was too close. Then she walked around him.
"I still have to go and watch the horse race. Goodbye..."
Yun Xi tentatively took one step, two steps, three steps. Eh?
Finding that Qi Rong didn't stop her, she was overjoyed in her heart. Just as she thought she was about to escape successfully, the man behind suddenly roared:
"Qi Rong! You despicable villain! I advise you to let me go quickly! Otherwise, even if I'm half - dead when I get back, I'll make you pay!"
Seeing that his previous pleas had been fruitless and the only hope was about to disappear, the man was extremely angry. He immediately showed his true colors and threatened!
He was the nephew of the current queen and the cousin of the Crown Prince. He was a proper member of the royal family!
He didn't believe that Qi Rong would really dare to kill him!