The tone and the expression were exactly the same!
Xie Fengran really never expected that one day she would be tied to such a rumor.
"Would anyone believe such a rumor?"
Sun Yuelan shook her head. "Actually, no one believes it. Your Marquis Mansion has such a good reputation, and you, Miss Xie, are seen as a perfect young lady in the outside world. Those who hear this rumor just take it as a joke. But some people said they saw Zhang Yao chasing the Prince of Qin here that day, and they all said it was because Zhang Yao bore a grudge against you."
Xie Fengran leaned back in the chair and sighed. "This person really hit the nail on the head. I'm really an innocent victim. Miss Zhang wants to remove the stumbling block on her love path, and I, the only one the Prince of Qin has publicly proposed to marry, have become the target!"
"Tsk tsk, you're really unlucky to have offended Zhang Yao." Although Sun Yuelan sounded a bit gloating, she was actually worried about Xie Fengran in her heart. "My brother said that the Prince of Qin is in the good graces of the Emperor. After all, the Princess Royal holds the military power, and even the Crown Prince has to avoid her edge. Moreover, the Prince of Qin is not a good - tempered person. Just a few days after he came to the capital, he contradicted all the important court officials in the Imperial Study. But the Emperor just lightly admonished him and didn't impose any substantial punishment."
"Are you worried that the Emperor will bestow a marriage and that I'll completely offend Zhang Yao?"
Sun Yuelan shook her head. "The Emperor may not be willing to see a daughter of the Zhang family marry the Prince of Qin. I just think the Emperor is too kind to the Prince of Qin!"
So kind that it seemed the Emperor was doing it on purpose!
Xie Fengran curled her lips, leaned towards Sun Yuelan, and joked, "Miss Sun has such remarkable insights. I'm really impressed."
Sun Yuelan pushed her away in annoyance. "Stop kidding around. We're talking about something serious!"
Xie Fengran straightened her expression and lowered her voice. "More than half of the military power in Dayue is in the hands of the Princess Royal. Do you think the Emperor would be happy to see her son form alliances with important court officials?"
"Then why does Zhang Yao dare to chase after Qin Junxing!"
"Prime Minister Zhang is a loyal minister and the Emperor's confidant."
Sun Yuelan felt relieved. "Zhang Yao is chasing so tightly. It seems the Emperor really doesn't want the Prince of Qin to marry you."
"So that's why I'm avoiding her. She's chasing so enthusiastically now. Why should I confront her!"
Xie Fengran curled her lips again, not at all depressed about being at a disadvantage.
Sun Yuelan saw the smile on Xie Fengran's lips, which was exactly the same as the smile she showed every time she came up with a prank.
She felt a bit curious. "Are you just going to let Zhang Yao off like this?"
"Why be in a hurry? Miss Zhang is so eager. Shouldn't we first see the Prince of Qin's attitude? What if she becomes the Princess of Qin in the future? We'll have to pay our respects to her when we meet her."
The tone was slightly sarcastic, and no matter how Sun Yuelan heard it, it didn't seem to mean that.
Xie Fengran didn't notice at all. Her gaze fell on the lobby downstairs. The storyteller had started his performance. It was the first show of a new story, and every seat was taken.
The audience wasn't disturbed by the previous commotion. After all, the protagonists had left.
Xie Fengran thought wickedly that if Zhang Yao blocked Qin Junxing here and threw herself into his arms, maybe these people would cheer in unison!
She wondered how many rounds Miss Zhang could last against the Prince of Qin.
After all, he wasn't a kind - hearted person. As the son of the God of War of Dayue, how could he let others decide his own marriage!
However, Xie Fengran didn't expect that the Prince of Qin was extremely good at shifting the blame.
Zhang Yao followed Qin Junxing all the way out of the Lingfeng Teahouse. Standing in front of his tall horse, she tilted her head up and looked at Qin Junxing. "Your Highness, where are you going?"
Look at that soft and sweet voice, and that coy posture!
It seemed that no matter how arrogant and domineering a young girl was, in front of the person she liked, they all acted the same.
Unfortunately, the Prince of Qin was never a tender - hearted person. In his eyes, Miss Zhang's coquettish appearance was not as good - looking as his beloved horse under him!
Just as he was about to whip his horse and leave, the guard beside him suddenly leaned over and whispered something.
Qin Junxing immediately changed his mind. He slightly lowered his head and looked at Zhang Yao. "I heard that Miss Xie from the Marquis Mansion went to the Huguo Temple to offer incense today. I just remembered that I've never been to the Huguo Temple. I'm going out of the city now. Farewell, Miss Zhang!"
After saying that, he clamped his horse's belly, tightened the reins, and the horse under him shot out like an arrow from a bow!
"Xie Fengran!" Zhang Yao gritted her teeth. Her face instantly turned from sunny to cloudy. She angrily got into the carriage. "Go to the Huguo Temple!"
Qin Junxing's horse was named Zhuri, a rare thousand - li fine horse. It galloped like the wind. It wasn't until it reached outside the city that it slowed down, and the guards behind caught up.
The guard who had whispered to Qin Junxing just now took a breath and asked puzzledly, "My lord, why did you tell Miss Zhang that Miss Xie was going to the Huguo Temple? Isn't this just letting Miss Zhang go and cause trouble for Miss Xie?"
They had been keeping an eye on the Marquis Mansion these days. As soon as Qin Junxing left the Lingfeng Teahouse, their people had found out about Xie Fengran's whereabouts. But they didn't expect that their lord knew Miss Xie was avoiding Miss Zhang but still deliberately told her.
Could it be that their lord didn't like Miss Xie but actually disliked her?
Qin Junxing glanced at the guard and scoffed. "Put away your wild guesses. I've taken a fancy to her!"
"..."
"Not only have I taken a fancy to her, but I'll also make sure she can't escape!" Didn't she not want to confront that Miss Zhang?
He just wouldn't let her have her way. If she wanted to hide and escape from him, she had to ask for his permission first!
Xie Fengran didn't know she had been schemed against at this time. After listening to the story with Sun Yuelan for a while, she stated her purpose.
"Last time I went to the Guanlin Bookstore, I saw these stories were published as books and placed in the most prominent position. The boss said they sold quite well! So this time I'd like to trouble Young Master Sun again. Please ask him to talk to the owner about a new cooperation method!"
"What new idea do you have?"
"Cooperate to sell books!" Xie Fengran pointed at the storyteller below. "The stories I wrote are very colloquial in order to make it easier for the storyteller to tell. They're not suitable to be directly published as books. But if I can write two or even three versions, separate the manuscript from the story draft, and divide the story draft into a colloquial version and a more elegant version, wouldn't that expand our cooperation?"
"Your idea is quite good. Speaking of which, I like listening to the storyteller's performance, but when you showed me the manuscript, I almost fell asleep." Sun Yuelan clapped her hands and laughed. "I'll ask my brother to talk about it when I get back. Don't worry."
Xie Fengran nodded and said with a smile, "Thank your brother for me."
"Brother doesn't want to hear you say thank you." Sun Yuelan muttered, glanced at Xie Fengran, and still didn't give up. "Are you really not going to consider my brother?"