“Go ahead,” Di Ronghua’s voice rang out at that moment. She had stopped struggling, her soft tone now devoid of anger. “It seems the Crown Prince has no intention of letting me go. In that case, our matter must be brought to your father, the Emperor.”
Her delicate face turned toward him, and she smiled lightly. “I’ll wait for you at the Crown Prince’s residence.”
Xiao Yixun’s eyes deepened. “Alright.”
She watched his retreating figure, while Xiao Hanjin watched her.
For a long moment, his legs seemed rooted to the spot, his arms holding her stiffening unconsciously.
The sky had completely darkened, and the cold wind, carrying the dampness from the rain, felt even more biting.
After what felt like an eternity, the woman finally spoke, “If you’re not leaving, put me down. I don’t want to be held by you.”
Xiao Hanjin’s body stiffened, and only then did he slowly take a step forward.
Under the shadow of the trees, Mu Qingshuang’s slender figure stood so quietly it was as if she weren’t there at all. She stared blankly at his retreating back, unable to tear her gaze away even after he had completely disappeared from her sight.
Suddenly, she had a feeling—she could no longer hold onto him.
“Young Lady…” Feicui’s voice, choked with tears, broke the silence. “The Second Prince… he couldn’t really be bewitched by that woman, could he?”
Mu Qingshuang lowered her gaze and smiled self-deprecatingly. “It seems they’ve both been bewitched.”
Feicui opened her mouth, “What should we do?”
Mu Qingshuang shook her head gently. “I don’t know… *cough, cough*.” She suddenly choked, and a trickle of blood spilled from her lips.
Feicui gasped in shock, “Young Lady!”
…
Xiao Yixun entered the palace and stood before the doors of the imperial study, pausing for a brief moment.
But in the next second, he stepped inside without hesitation.
The Emperor looked at his unusually solemn expression and spoke in a deep voice, “I heard that after leaving the Crown Prince’s residence, the Princess of Xiliang went to your place?”
“Yes.”
“So, what do you intend to do now?”
Xiao Yixun listened to the authoritative voice. Since childhood, both he and Xiao Hanjin had been taught never to resist. Even when it came to Mu Qingshuang, who had been designated as the Crown Princess since childhood, if the Emperor ordered him to marry her, he would comply.
In truth, both he and Xiao Hanjin knew what their father was doing.
Beyond being their father, the man before them was also the ruler of a nation.
While he did not wish to see his sons turn against each other, he also did not want them to be too close. And so, they had all become sacrifices to the art of statecraft.
They knew his intentions, and they had all followed his intentions.
“Your Majesty, this son wishes to marry Di Ronghua.”
…
Crown Prince’s Residence.
Xiao Hanjin had ordered a new dinner to be prepared.
As he walked to the main courtyard and pushed open the door to the bedroom, his steps halted once again.
He had thought that after the events of the day, he would have become immune to any of Di Ronghua’s actions or words. But when he saw the wedding dress she had casually discarded on the floor, his pupils couldn’t help but contract.
She had once said she loved it.
Just as she had once said she loved him.
But now, he was like that wedding dress—discarded without a second thought, without any regard.
“Hah.”
“Ronghua.”
The red of the wedding dress was almost blinding. The man averted his gaze, his eyes dark and still, like ink. “Didn’t you hate Hua Jinyi? She stole Su Miao’s man, and now you want to follow her example, stealing Mu Qingshuang’s man?”
Di Ronghua looked up at him. “Don’t you know very well? The person she loves is you.”
