When a young lady from a noble family goes out, she usually takes an extra set of clothes. So Yun Xi wasn't bothered by her dirty dress. She simply took out a water - red dress from the carriage and changed into it.
The dress made Yun Xi's skin look as smooth as congealed fat and her face as rosy as a peach blossom, adding a lovely touch of spring to the dull and desolate winter!
Those who were used to seeing Yun Xi in plain - colored dresses couldn't help but be impressed.
However, it didn't take long for Yun Xi to regret her choice.
She would rather have worn the dirty dress than be wearing a dress in the same color family as Qi Rong's and be teased about being a perfect match with him!
A perfect match with Qi Rong? Yuck! She felt like she was going to vomit blood!
Here's how it all happened.
On the day of the girls' academy's fundraising event, the Imperial College was on a break. Hearing that there would be a food - appreciation session this time, many high - ranking officials and students from the Imperial College came.
They wanted to see the cooking skills of the female students and enjoy themselves while eating and drinking.
The Crown Prince had come to the girls' academy early at the invitation of the Princess Dowager to prepare for the arrival of the Empress Dowager.
Qi Rong, surrounded by a group of playboys, entered the girls' academy and walked straight to the donation box managed by Yu Xueming and Yun Xi's group.
Qi Rong had changed his usual black clothes and was wearing a maroon brocade robe with dark cloud patterns. His hair was tied up with a golden crown, making him look heroic. His handsome face always wore a cynical smile.
When the young ladies saw him, their hearts raced and their faces blushed, but they were afraid of his bad reputation and only dared to watch from afar.
The moment Yun Xi saw him enter, she immediately turned her head and stood behind Zhen Bao.
She was afraid that Qi Rong would see her and cause more trouble.
However, just as she turned her head, Qi Rong spotted her sneaky and hiding figure.
A mischievous thought crossed his mind, and he deliberately walked up to their donation box.
"Brother Rong, you're here too!"
Unlike other girls, Yu Xueming's eyes lit up and she immediately stepped forward to greet him.
Yu Chengyang, her elder brother who was with Qi Rong, seeing that his sister only had eyes for Qi Rong and didn't even glance at him, gently tapped Yu Xueming on the forehead.
"Hey, your brother is right here. Can't you see me?"
Reminded, Yu Xueming gave Qi Rong an embarrassed smile and pouted at her brother.
"I saw you a long time ago! Did you bring any silver with you?"
Then, Yu Xueming stepped forward and whispered in Yu Chengyang's ear.
"Our girls' academy has a secret competition. The group that raises the most money can present the food they've made to the Empress Dowager later."
So, although the girls' academy was divided into ten groups, each group of female students worked very hard, wracking their brains to raise more money.
They came up with all kinds of novel ideas to interact with the donors.
Under Yu Xueming's suggestion, her group made two screens full of riddles.
Those who donated only needed to solve one riddle and could make a small request, and the group members would help them fulfill it.
"Riddles?"
Qi Rong glanced at the riddles on the screen and suddenly raised his eyebrows.
"Does Brother Rong want to play?"
Seeing that Qi Rong was interested, Yu Xueming immediately turned to him with a smile and gently explained.
"If Brother Rong solves the riddle correctly, he can make a small wish to any of our group members or to me. Of course, the request can't be too high and should be within the other person's tolerance."
Yu Xueming looked up at Qi Rong's handsome face. Her almond - shaped eyes sparkled with admiration and expectation.
Qi Rong didn't look at her eager eyes. His black eyes casually swept over the water - red figure, and he curled his lips.
"Do I have to take out silver and solve your riddles? How boring! How about this: I'll set the riddles and you solve them. That'll be more fun."
Rather than being passive, Qi Rong preferred to take the initiative.
Yu Xueming naturally understood Qi Rong's personality. To not dampen his enthusiasm, she was happy to cooperate and said with a big smile.
"Sure! Brother Rong, you set the riddle. I'll solve it!"
Because her mother, Lady Yu, and the late Empress were close friends before marriage, Yu Xueming often went to the palace with her mother when she was a child.
At that time, she was innocent and didn't understand the hierarchy. She always liked to play behind her brother and Qi Rong, calling Qi Rong, who was then the Seventh Prince, "Brother Rong".
It wasn't until Qi Rong's downfall that she realized she had fallen in love with him.
During the political upheaval in the palace, everyone was in danger. Her parents, for self - preservation, didn't dare to help Qi Rong.
She secretly went to the marketplace to find him many times, but he always drove her away coldly.
It wasn't until he became the Prince of Xian that she and her brother rekindled their childhood friendship with him.
But things had changed, and they could never go back to the past.
"As long as Brother Rong solves the riddle, I'll agree to any of your requests."
So, even if there was the slightest chance to get closer to Qi Rong, she wouldn't give it up!
Seeing the usually steady Yu Xueming say such things in public, Yun Xi couldn't help but secretly admire her. She thought:
Yu Xueming must be the only one who likes this despicable man so openly!
If Yu Xueming could successfully subdue this troublemaker, it would be a good deed, and she wouldn't have to keep hiding.
Seeing his sister, a young lady, go so far in public to please the man she liked, Yu Chengyang couldn't help but frown.
He didn't want his sister to be so humble and leave a bad impression on others in the future. He gently pulled his sister's arm.
He joked with a smile.
"Even if you're very confident in yourself, our Prince of Xian's intelligence is beyond the reach of ordinary people. Be careful you'll regret it!"
Hearing this, everyone's surprise turned into understanding. A few playboys sized up Yu Xueming's elegant temperament and put their arms around Yu Chengyang's neck and teased.
"Hey, Chengyang, your sister is known as the most talented in the capital. How come you're so ordinary?"
"Get out of here! You're far inferior to me! Does your family in the Ministry of Rites lack a mirror? I'll send you one some day!"
Yu Chengyang's scolding with a smile made everyone laugh. At this moment, Qi Rong pointed at Yun Xi in the crowd and said.
"I want her to answer my riddle!"
As soon as he said this, everyone looked in the direction of his finger. Yun Xi was also struck like a thunderbolt and stood still.
Yu Xueming's face froze. Looking at Yun Xi who was desperately pretending to be an ostrich with her back turned, she maintained a smile and said.
"She's very shy. I'll do it instead."
"No, I want her!"
Qi Rong was firm in his attitude and smiling recklessly. Even the playboys around him couldn't help but look curiously at Yun Xi's back.
"Why does Your Highness choose her?"
Qi Rong curled his lips slightly and suddenly smiled. His clear voice was like a gurgling stream.
"Because only her clothes match mine best today."