After the Crown Prince finished speaking, his eyes fell on Sun Jiming's face, not wanting to miss any slightest expression on his face!
Sun Jiming looked back calmly. "Your Highness, my younger sister is on good terms with Miss Xie, but I've only met her a few times. We're not really acquainted, so there's really nothing to talk about."
"Nothing to talk about?" The Crown Prince murmured as if savoring the words, a playful smile appearing on his face. "How come I've heard that you, Jiming, are in love with Miss Xie and even rejected the overtures of Princess Zhaoyang for her sake?"
The tone was mild, yet there was an overbearing air of a superior.
Sun Jiming was stunned for a moment. After a while, he shook his head and laughed. He said helplessly, "Your Highness, please spare me! Princess Zhaoyang is lively and outgoing. I really can't handle her. As for me being in love with Miss Xie, I really don't know where this rumor came from."
After saying that, Sun Jiming paused for a moment, as if suddenly remembering something. "I remember that the first time I met Miss Xie was when I went to the South Market with my younger sister. Miss Xie was being harassed by someone, and I happened to step in to help. It was also then that I met Princess Zhaoyang. I don't know if that's why Princess Zhaoyang misunderstood me."
Sun Jiming's expression remained normal, his demeanor calm. His eyes were calm and collected. When he mentioned Xie Fengran, his tone was the same as when he mentioned Princess Zhaoyang.
The Crown Prince knew Sun Jiming well. Seeing that his expression didn't seem fake, his expression softened a bit. He said half - jokingly, "Miss Xie is the best among the young ladies in the capital. If even she can't catch your eye, I don't know what kind of woman will win your heart in the future!"
Sun Jiming shook his head and smiled. His expression was solemn, and his tone was proud. "I haven't achieved any merits yet, so I don't dare to think about getting married."
The Crown Prince was slightly dazzled by Sun Jiming's expression. He lowered his eyes slightly and sighed, "If Jiming is like this, I'm afraid he'll break the hearts of many young ladies."
"However, I'm very pleased that Jiming has such ambitions!" The Crown Prince patted Sun Jiming on the shoulder. Then his tone changed, and he said, "If Zhaoyang harasses you in the future, you don't have to pay attention to her."
Qin Junheng was instigating that stupid Princess Zhaoyang to get close to Sun Jiming. His motives were as obvious as daylight.
A cold glint flashed in the Crown Prince's eyes. Those who were restless should not blame him for being merciless if they came to provoke him.
Sun Jiming seemed not to notice the Crown Prince's cold expression. He said with a sigh of relief, "I thank Your Highness the Crown Prince. Your Highness, please don't laugh at me in the future!"
The Crown Prince laughed heartily and teased, "It's just a woman. Can't you handle this?"
Sun Jiming showed a bitter smile on his face, but his heart was getting colder and colder.
The Crown Prince had made up his mind to marry Miss Xie!
...
Meanwhile, in the Xie Mansion, after seeing off the Crown Prince, Xie Fengran walked towards the inner courtyard.
She knew that at this time, the people in Green Pine Courtyard probably hadn't left yet. They must be waiting for her!
After entering the second gate, she saw Xie Yunxi waiting at the second gate. When Xie Yunxi saw her, she walked straight over!
"Sister."
Xie Fengran stopped. Glancing at the jealousy on Xie Yunxi's face that she hadn't had time to hide, she felt a bit disgusted. "Does my sister have something to say?"
"It's not a big deal. I just want to ask..."
"If it's not a big deal, get out of the way. I'm going to Green Pine Courtyard to talk to Grandmother!"
Xie Yunxi was stunned. She didn't expect Xie Fengran to be so不给她面子. She felt a bit embarrassed and said softly, "Sister, are you still angry with me?"
"Why does my sister say so?"
"If sister isn't angry, why didn't you wait for me to finish speaking?"
"Didn't you say it wasn't a big deal? Naturally, I have to take care of my own business first. I still have to report to Grandmother what the Crown Prince said to me!"
Xie Fengran walked past Xie Yunxi in the direction of Green Pine Courtyard.
Hearing the Crown Prince, Xie Yunxi didn't care about being disgusted by Xie Fengran anymore. She lifted her skirt and followed.
"Sister, what did the Crown Prince come for?"
After saying that, she looked at Xie Fengran curiously, waiting for an answer.
It was as if she was really just curiously asking about what the Crown Prince said!
If it weren't for Xie Fengran knowing her well, she might really have overlooked the deep jealousy in her eyes!
Xie Fengran curled her lips, smiling half - mockingly. "Anyway, His Highness wasn't looking for you. This matter has nothing to do with you either. Why are you asking about it?"
"Sister, your words really hurt my heart!"
She gritted her teeth, looking like she was about to cry!
"Then just be hurt!" Xie Fengran thought that she really thought she would make any progress after suffering a setback once.
But she was still the same, putting on an act, crying, making a scene, and threatening to hang herself. It was really boring!
Xie Yunxi took two steps back. With her eyes half - lowered, a deep sense of unwillingness flashed in her eyes - Why did Xie Fengran get to meet the Crown Prince!
She bit her lip and caught up with Xie Fengran, entering Green Pine Courtyard.
Sure enough, the people in Green Pine Courtyard hadn't left.
Xie Yi and Lady Yun were sitting side by side. Concubine Yuan was standing behind Lady Yun. When they saw Xie Fengran come in, they all looked over in unison!
Concubine Yuan called out, "The eldest young lady is back!"
Her voice was full of complex emotions, indescribable.
Old Madam Xie gave her a glare, signaling her to shut up.
Then she waved for Xie Fengran to come to her side. "Fengran, did the Crown Prince come to you for something important?"
Xie Fengran repeated what the Crown Prince had said. Xie Yi and Lady Yun looked completely confused.
Concubine Yuan rolled her eyes, calculating what benefits Xie Yunxi could get.
That so - called International Competition sounded quite grand. If her own daughter could show up, her status would surely increase!
Only Old Madam Xie was full of emotion. "Back then, when Emperor Dezong was on the throne, how lively the International Competition was. There was no curfew in the capital, and none of those foreign envoys dared to cause trouble. The students from the Great Yue Imperial Academy and the Women's College shone brightly in the International Competition. There was even an envoy from a small country asking Emperor Dezong to marry off a student from the Women's College to his emperor."
"That student from the Women's College came from a commoner family. It was her own excellence that brought her such good fortune. What was most remarkable was that Emperor Dezong didn't interfere forcefully but respected the woman's choice."
Old Madam Xie's words of admiration echoed in the room. It was hard to tell if she was admiring the woman's excellence or Emperor Dezong's broad - mindedness.
However, upon hearing Old Madam Xie's words, Concubine Yuan's eyes became even more eager.
She glanced around and saw Xie Yunxi standing by the door. She quickly spoke up, "Second Young Lady, why are you standing by the door? Weren't you supposed to go and greet the eldest young lady?"
Concubine Yuan's words drew everyone's attention. They saw Xie Yunxi timidly glance at Xie Fengran and say weakly, "Sister said this has nothing to do with me, so I didn't know if I should listen."
As soon as she said this, Concubine Yuan jumped up. "Eldest Young Lady, how could you do this? Second Young Lady is your own younger sister. They are both young ladies of the Marquis of Dingguo's Mansion. I know you don't like me, but Yunxi is innocent. You can't treat her like this!"
Even Xie Yi's face looked a bit unpleasant.
Old Madam Xie didn't move. Her eyes were slightly narrowed, and it was hard to tell what she was thinking.
"Auntie, watch your words!" Xie Fengran's cold words immediately made Concubine Yuan hold back what she was going to say.
"Is auntie trying to teach me a lesson?"