The princess thought of Chu Junyi again. He was really right on every point.
Oh no, was she also...
"What about the rumors?"
"Your Highness is mistaken. Those are just excessive praises from people who don't know me well. In reality, I also have my flaws and am far from perfect." Mu Rongxiu looked at Li Xinyue, hesitating to speak.
He really wanted to tell her about his past, his true personality, his joys and sorrows.
But now it seemed unnecessary.
So, he chose to keep his mouth shut appropriately and just repeated meaningfully, "Don't believe the rumors."
The rumors had painted him as too good and Princess Yuanyang as too disgraceful, which had even made him develop some inappropriate prejudices, leading him to reject her so mercilessly.
Thinking about it now, he really felt sorry.
He shouldn't have treated a girl like that. It was really ungentlemanly.
He remembered the scene when she had caught the snake with her bare hands for him. The shock and gratitude still lingered in his heart, but it seemed that everything had changed.
What had he missed? Which link had he skipped?
By all accounts, he had known Li Xinyue earlier than Chu Junyi. Was it because he had rejected her that day?
But if so, then why had she confessed to him again? Didn't she ask him to give her a chance? Now that he had given it, why didn't she want it anymore?
Mu Rongxiu was filled with confusion and unwillingness.
"So, were your words that day just a joke on me, Your Highness?"
"I... I wasn't joking." Li Xinyue let out a breath and looked at the lake nervously, unconsciously clenching her fists under the small table.
"Then why?" Mu Rongxiu caught her uneasiness keenly and was even more certain that he had guessed something right.
Li Xinyue was struggling with whether to tell him about her affair with Chu Junyi. Only by doing so could he understand her rejection and not think that she was joking with him.
But how could she tell him such a thing?
Mu Rongxiu stared at her every subtle change without blinking. As his eyes flitted about, he subtly tried to get information from her. "I understand, Your Highness. You're just getting back at me. Since I rejected you that day, you wanted to reject me once too.
If so, Your Highness has succeeded.
I was wrong first, so I'm willing to be toyed with by Your Highness."
Li Xinyue raised her eyes and looked at him with mixed feelings. It was as if something was stuck in her chest, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I've never thought like that. Why do you belittle yourself like this? I really like you, and I really pursued you. As for why I rejected you, I naturally have my difficulties."
Because he was still innocent and could still stop the loss in time.
But Chu Junyi... Well, she could only make up for it. What else could she do?
Mu Rongxiu didn't say a word, but his eyes seemed to be asking, What difficulties?
Li Xinyue felt uncomfortable under his gaze.
In her memory, the overbearing Mu Rongxiu from the day of the confession came back.
Li Xinyue pursed her lips and refused unhappily, "I don't want to talk about it."
Mu Rongxiu forced a bitter smile. "I thank Your Highness for your kindness."
Li Xinyue was confused and it took her a while to realize what his sarcastic words meant.
This really made Li Xinyue angry!
In a fit of anger, she told him about that absurd night.
After she finished, she clearly saw his face turn livid bit by bit. His elegant smile was blown away by the wind. When he lowered his eyes, he looked extremely dejected.
Li Xinyue's heart was pounding wildly. There was a kind of determination when she said this, but seeing Mu Rongxiu like this, she had a strange feeling of betrayal.
It was the first time she had dealt with matters of the heart. Even though she was usually bold, bright, valiant and heroic, at this moment, she showed a bit of helplessness. Even though she still looked calm on the surface, her hands on her knees kept fidgeting.
Mu Rongxiu stood up and leaned against the beauty's couch, silently looking at the sparkling lake and the green lotus leaves.
Li Xinyue stared at Mu Rongxiu for a long time. Seeing that he didn't even turn to look at her once, she guessed that he must be very disgusted by that night's incident and was probably ready to let go.
Although she felt a bit uncomfortable, thinking that he was despising her, her goal had been achieved, so she felt relieved.
She stood up and walked away silently without even saying goodbye.
After she walked out of the manor, she finally let out a sigh of relief. One of the two shackles that had been binding her body and mind in the past few days was finally removed. The feeling of relief quickly overtook the sense of shame, so the shame soon disappeared.
She lifted her head and looked at the sky. The sun was shining brightly and the birds were flying.
In an instant, the valiant and heroic Princess Yuanyang was back!
Inside the manor, Mu Rongxiu was holding the railing tightly with both hands. He regretted it deeply. If he hadn't rejected her that night, would they have been together by now?
"Cousin!" Bai Yiyi walked over with a charming smile. When she got closer, her willowy body bowed slightly in a courtesy. She raised her eyes and looked at Mu Rongxiu with a sticky and greasy look.
"Why are you here?" Mu Rongxiu turned his back to her. There was a bit of impatience on his gentle face. "Didn't I tell you to reflect on your mistakes? Why did you sneak out?"
Bai Yiyi walked around to Mu Rongxiu and looked at him with innocent and pitiful eyes. She said timidly, "You told me to reflect on my mistakes for three months. Now that the three months are over, can't I come out?
Cousin, I was wrong about that matter. I've come to apologize to you."
Mu Rongxiu had a splitting headache. Ever since he found out that it was this delicate cousin who had spread the rumor that he had rejected Princess Yuanyang's confession, he had lost all pity for her.
Although the Bai family had been implicated by the Fu family and suffered the disaster of the entire family being exterminated, the people of the Bai family were actually not innocent. Just like this Bai Yiyi, who looked weak and sickly but was the only one who could escape, which showed that she was also quite capable.
It was out of consideration for the family relationship that he had taken her in, but he had been calculated by her, so he had also taken back his last bit of pity.
"Mother has been arranging a marriage for you recently. Go and take a look when you have time. Don't let Mother down."
"Cousin, but I..."
"If you're not willing, then I'll tell Mother and send you back to your hometown in the south of the Yangtze River. From then on, you can decide your own marriage."
Bai Yiyi was shocked. She realized what this meant. She called out "Cousin" unwillingly and weakly.
But her cousin walked away without looking back.
Bai Yiyi stared blankly at the disappearing figure. When she came to her senses, her face contorted with anger. A figure appeared in front of her eyes.
...
"Your Highness, the Fourth Miss has sent you another invitation."
Li Xinyue took the invitation from Lian'er and was slightly stunned. Again?
Could Mu Rongxiu really accept that she had slept with another man?
While she was still in doubt, Lian'er had already invited the guest in.
When Li Xinyue saw the person, she was completely confused. Who was this?
Bai Yiyi felt a bit embarrassed under her gaze, but since she had come, she couldn't just go back.
So, she steadied herself and bowed to Li Xinyue politely. "Bai Yiyi, the cousin of the Duke of Dingguo's Mansion, pays her respects to Your Highness."
Li Xinyue twitched the corner of her mouth. She had already guessed her trick. "Why did the cousin use the Fourth Miss's name to see me?
Unless the following conversation of the cousin is likely to make me unhappy."
Because they didn't know each other at all and had no contact unless necessary. She had forced herself to use Mu Rongjia's name to see her today. There must be something she had to say.
And it definitely wasn't good news.
Bai Yiyi was stunned. She didn't expect this princess to be so smart, a hundred times smarter than the Fourteenth Princess.
She suddenly felt an unprecedented pressure. It was a bit difficult for her to say the words in her mouth.