Xie Fengran walked to one side of the private room and glanced downstairs at the lobby.
She noticed that there were servants from the Zhang family guarding both the corner of the staircase on the first floor and the entrance.
Xie Fengran pondered the probability of walking past these servants without being recognized. It seemed almost impossible.
On that day at the Guanlin Study, there was also a crowd around Zhang Yao. If she was recognized, there would surely be another disturbance.
After weighing the pros and cons, Xie Fengran happily accepted Young Master Wang's invitation. "Since the young master is so kind, I'd be rude to decline. But there's no need for an apology!"
The woman who had just been sitting on Young Master Wang's lap now stood gracefully behind him. She picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for Xie Fengran.
Xie Fengran took a sip, then looked up at Young Master Wang. "Young Master Wang, could you please send someone to fetch my maid?"
As she spoke, she pointed at Hexiang, who was looking around blankly in the hall.
"Easy enough." Young Master Wang said as he tapped on the table. Soon, a young servant entered. Young Master Wang pointed at Hexiang below and said, "Go and bring her up."
The young servant quickly went downstairs. Xie Fengran felt relieved. Anyway, she had to wait for Zhang Yao to leave first.
Young Master Wang noticed that Xie Fengran was simply sipping her tea calmly, as if she wasn't the one trapped here.
He rolled his eyes and asked curiously, "Miss Xie, is the person you were hiding from just now Miss Zhang?"
Xie Fengran's hand holding the teacup paused. She looked at Young Master Wang with a look as if he were a fool. "Let's not beat around the bush, Young Master Wang. Why ask when you already know the answer?"
Wasn't it better for people to be more honest with each other?
Young Master Wang seemed to realize he had asked a stupid question and coughed lightly. "Then, did Miss Xie come to find the Prince of Qin today?"
Xie Fengran was taken aback and retorted, "Why would I look for him?"
Young Master Wang was also stunned. He thought to himself, how would I know why you're looking for him?
Xie Fengran glanced at his expression and knew what he was imagining. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes and said, "Young Master Wang, I'm not familiar with the prince at all."
"Hehe!" Young Master Wang forced a laugh and picked up his teacup to hide the doubt at the corner of his mouth.
His expression practically screamed "I don't believe you", which made Xie Fengran feel a bit frustrated.
She took a big sip of tea to calm herself down and then seriously explained, "I really am not familiar with the prince. If you hear anyone talking about our relationship in the future, please help me clarify."
Young Master Wang was a bit confused. He didn't even get to hear a juicy bit of gossip, yet he was assigned a task?
"This, it's not very appropriate! After all, I don't know the situation. I don't know!" He just wanted to have a taste of the hot gossip. He didn't want to get involved in the love - hate relationships of big shots.
But Xie Fengran didn't want to let him off easily. Did he really think her jokes were so easy to laugh at?
She curved her eyes and said with a smile, "If I really had a relationship with the prince, I wouldn't have hidden in your private room, nor would I have interrupted your good time." As she spoke, a meaningful smile appeared on her face. "Right, Young Master Wang?"
The words "interrupted your good time" almost made Young Master Wang spit out his tea.
Wasn't it said that this eldest miss of the Xie family was the leader of the noble ladies in the capital and the most etiquette - conscious one?
But all he saw was a girl with a sharp tongue who was good at setting traps for people.
Could a person's personality be swapped?
Young Master Wang couldn't figure it out, but he had to yield to Xie Fengran's threat and promised that he would help clarify if he had the chance next time.
Xie Fengran nodded in satisfaction. At this moment, there was a sudden commotion upstairs, and soon there were footsteps going downstairs.
Xie Fengran leaned on the railing in the room and looked down. She saw Qin Junxing walking in front, and Zhang Yao chasing after him while lifting her skirt.
She couldn't help but sigh, "The prince is really lucky. Although Miss Zhang is a bit domineering, she has a charming appearance and is truly a charming beauty."
Young Master Wang also walked over. He covered his face with his folding fan and said, "Miss Xie is right. But it's very likely that the Prince of Qin won't marry the daughter of Prime Minister Zhang."
"What's wrong with marrying Prime Minister Zhang's daughter? This father - in - law is one in a hundred. If the prince becomes the prime minister's son - in - law, he will surely benefit. Would Prime Minister Zhang watch his son - in - law being troubled by the emperor?"
"Miss Xie's words are reasonable. But now the emperor is the ruler, and Prime Minister Zhang is his subject. If the ruler wants to trouble someone, it's not up to the subject to interfere. If Prime Minister Zhang really marries his only daughter to Qin Junxing, it will be the emperor who will be uncomfortable."
The two people downstairs had already left the teahouse. Xie Fengran finished the tea in her cup in one gulp, put down the cup, and showed her disagreement with Young Master Wang. "As the saying goes, it's easy for a girl to pursue a boy. Young Master Wang should bless Miss Zhang to catch up with the prince soon!"
Young Master Wang coughed lightly and turned his head, pretending not to hear.
The Prince of Qin himself went to the imperial study to tell the emperor that he wanted to marry Xie Fengran. His father heard it with his own ears, so it couldn't be false.
If he blessed the prince and Zhang Yao, he was afraid he wouldn't see the sun tomorrow.
He was afraid of the prince's revenge!
Xie Fengran was very happy to see Young Master Wang looking embarrassed. Then she left with Hexiang.
Young Master Wang quickly saw them off. From now on, he would avoid this young lady whenever he saw her.
Now that he thought about it, he wondered where he got the courage to stop this young lady's carriage back then.
Xie Fengran took Hexiang straight to the third floor and found the private room she often came to with ease. She saw Sun Yuelan lying on the railing, stretching her head to watch the excitement below.
Xie Fengran walked over quietly and pulled her down.
"Ah! Xie Fengran, are you crazy!" Sun Yuelan was startled. She pinched Xie Fengran's arm. "Why did you come so late?"
"I just met Zhang Yao when I came up. I had to hide for a while."
At the mention of this, Sun Yuelan immediately got excited. She leaned over and said, "Hey, I heard that you had a big fight with Zhang Yao for the Prince of Qin at the Guanlin Study. You're hiding from her now. Did you lose the fight?"
"Pfft!" Xie Fengran spat out a mouthful of tea all over Sun Yuelan's face.
After realizing what she had done, she fumbled to take out a handkerchief and wiped Sun Yuelan's face.
Sun Yuelan snatched the handkerchief angrily and gave Xie Fengran a sideways look. "Did you do it on purpose!"
"No, no, definitely not. It's just that what you said really surprised me. Quickly tell me how this matter is being spread?"
"You haven't told me what actually happened between you two yet?"
"Tell me first. After you finish, I'll tell you!"
Sun Yuelan threw the handkerchief aside, raised her little finger and thumb, pinched the cup like the gossiper, and said,
"Hey, have you heard? The prime minister's daughter and the eldest young lady of the Marquis of Dingguo had a big fight on the street in front of the Guanlin Study because of a man. There were a lot of onlookers!"