The thought had just crossed Ye Xi's mind when she immediately suppressed it.
Previously, Yi Yuan had made it very clear that he told her not to have wild hopes. He had also already stated that he only valued her "Fate - Reading" technique.
So why should she trap herself? She was afraid that if she got close to Yi Yuan later, he would just drive her out again.
Her eyes gradually cleared, and Ye Xi smiled at the corners of her lips.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. But I, as a girl from the Ye family, have never had the right to make decisions. Even if Your Highness were to give Miss Lingyan to me out of generosity, I'm afraid she still wouldn't be able to enter the Ye family."
Seeing Ye Xi's aloof attitude, Yi Yuan felt displeased.
She accepted Hun Yuan's gifts so happily and affectionately, but when it came to him, she used the excuse of "generosity" to decline?
A trace of dimness flashed across his cold and aloof phoenix - like eyes. Yi Yuan said,
"You don't need to worry about the Ye family. Lingyan will hide herself and stay by your side. When you leave the Ye family, she will follow you openly."
Lingyan also chimed in,
"Your Highness is right. Miss, don't worry. I will hide myself well."
"In that case, thank you, Your Highness."
Ye Xi didn't hesitate anymore. After all, this was related to her own life, and it was always better to be cautious.
As she said, Ye Xi gently patted Lingyan's fair hand.
"Then I'll have to trouble you from now on."
Lingyan respectfully lowered her head.
"It's my duty, Miss. You're being too polite."
[She touched me! She touched me!]
Ye Xi:?
What was this excited cheer all about?
Because the Ye family had been so good at acting before, Ye Xi was now used to reading the minds of people around her first. She wanted to see if they had any ulterior motives. If they were of bad character, she could prepare in advance.
But Lingyan's cheer... It seemed that she really liked her?
Ye Xi wanted to listen more, but it wasn't appropriate to keep holding someone's hand, so she had to stop for the time being.
With Lingyan this time, it was very easy and smooth for Ye Xi and Saixing to return to the courtyard.
It was just that when Lingyan put her arm around Ye Xi's waist and jumped over the high wall, the cheers in Lingyan's heart really shocked Ye Xi -
[She smells so good! And she's so soft!]
[How can her waist be so thin? It feels like it would break with a gentle squeeze...]
[She's so light! She's as light as a kitten. Tsk~ I have to watch Miss eat more.]
In just a short moment, countless similar words flashed through.
But Lingyan still had a cold and expressionless face.
Ye Xi almost suspected that there was something wrong with her mind - reading technique.
The next day -
Because Ye Xi needed training, Yi Yuan specially sent Steward Chen to the Ye Mansion in the name of Yi Yaofeng to inform them that Ye Xi would need to stay in the mansion for a while longer every day.
Thinking that Ye Xi staying a bit longer would also give them more time to visit the prince's mansion, Ye Jueyao and Qian Fangxue readily agreed.
So in the next few days, Ye Xi still went to the prince's mansion to teach Yi Yaofeng first, and then started training under Yi Yuan's guidance.
"Straighten your back, that's right. Hands, raise your hands higher..."
True to his word, since it was more convenient to practice horse - riding in the suburbs, Yi Yuan first taught Ye Xi archery meticulously.
After being a young lady in the boudoir for more than ten years, after these few days of training, Ye Xi's hands were so sore that she couldn't even lift them.
"Your Highness, let's take a break."
There was already a lot of fine sweat on Ye Xi's temples, and a lot of the thick powder on her face had smudged.
"Okay, take a break for a moment."
There was no such thing as achieving something overnight. Yi Yuan knew well the principle of combining work and rest and making progress step by step.
The two sat in the pavilion beside to rest.
The sun was getting stronger, and the air was gradually getting hot. From time to time, a cool breeze blew through the pavilion, carrying the sweet and faint fragrance of the flowers nearby.
Taking a sip of the cold licorice ice water, Ye Xi squinted her eyes contentedly.
Suddenly, she thought of the garden that Yi Yuan had given her. She wondered what it looked like.
Just as she was thinking, she heard Steward Chen come to report.
"Master Cao Sheng from the State Uncle's Mansion sent a message. He said that he had wanted to invite Miss Ye Er to the State Uncle's Mansion to play a few days ago, but unfortunately he was sick. These two days, seeing that Miss Ye Er is looking much better and can come to the prince's mansion every day to comfort and teach the young heir, he wants to invite Miss Ye Er to the State Uncle's Mansion to play tomorrow."
Ye Xi had forgotten about this after her "scene - making" at the State Uncle's Mansion.
Now hearing Steward Chen's report, Ye Xi suddenly remembered.
Not only the matter of the State Uncle's Mansion, but also the last time she had made up a story at the State Uncle's Mansion. Qian Fangxue and Ye Jueyao at home had urged Saixing, who was pretending to be the Immortal Maiden Xing, many times to ask her to help check Ye Jueyao's fate.
Ye Xi: Suddenly I feel so busy...
Yi Yuan's face darkened.
He had sent people to investigate the assassination attempt on Ye Xi last time, and it was Master Cao Sheng's kind mother who did it. Although they didn't know that Ye Xi was the Immortal Maiden Manping, an official's wife who could hire a killer behind the scenes couldn't be a good person.
"Are you going?"
Yi Yuan stared straight at Ye Xi, waiting for her answer.
"Yes," Ye Xi pondered for a moment and replied. "Last time when I went to the State Uncle's Mansion, I had already hinted in the identity of the Immortal Maiden Manping that my marriage with Cao Sheng would hinder his future."
"Except for Grand Tutor Cao, the Cao family didn't really approve of my marriage with Cao Sheng. Now that they know I'm a stumbling block to the development of the Cao family, Lady Cao will be even more reluctant. This time when they invite me, they probably want me to make a fool of myself in front of Grand Tutor Cao. It would be even better if I could lose my virtue and ruin my reputation."
"Then she can smoothly break off this engagement. If she plays her part well, she can also boost her son's reputation."
A sneer curled up on her lips, and a cold glint flashed in Ye Xi's almond - shaped eyes.
"Anyway, in the end, it won't be her son's reputation that will be damaged."
"So you're going," Yi Yuan picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea. "To pull a fast one on Lady Cao and cut off her foundation."
"But if you go alone, I'm afraid you won't be able to protect yourself."
The teacup filled with fragrant tea was placed in front of Ye Xi, blocking her original cold licorice ice water.
Staring intently at the slightly trembling tea soup, Ye Xi showed a smile.
"I can protect myself."
Faint glimmers of light danced in her watery eyes, filled with unwavering confidence. Her willow - like eyebrows were gently raised, and a smile played on her lips.
Somehow, Yi Yuan had the urge to kiss those delicate lips. He wondered if they were as soft as they looked.
Suddenly, the pavilion fell silent, only the chirping of birds remained.
Seeing that Yi Yuan didn't say a word for a long time and seemed to be in a daze, Ye Xi looked at him in confusion.
"Your Highness?"
Yi Yuan suddenly came back to his senses.
The tips of his ears quietly turned a suspicious red. Yi Yuan almost awkwardly avoided Ye Xi's clear eyes.
"It's good that you're confident."
His voice, which should have been calm and aloof, was tinged with a trace of embarrassment. Yi Yuan shifted his body so that Ye Xi couldn't see his expression and then said,
"Actually, Grand Tutor Cao is not a muddle - headed person. If both you and Lady Cao want to break off the engagement, it should be a win - win situation."
"But if you suddenly talk about breaking off the engagement for no reason, first, there is no evidence for the secret affair between Cao Sheng and your elder sister. Second, it's hard to explain the affectionate feelings that you and Cao Sheng showed before..."
After a pause, Yi Yuan stole a glance at Ye Xi, who was seriously thinking beside him, and casually asked,
"Speaking of which, Miss Ye once gave her whole heart to Cao Sheng. I wonder if you're really letting go now by insisting on exposing the affair between Cao Sheng and your elder sister to break off the engagement? Or... are you just seeking revenge?"