NOVPUB"Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, does not need to look at me like this. Since you want to send another noble lady back to her home, I will also take my leave."
It was more important for Xue Lu to make the Crown Prince feel guilty for herself to gain his affection than to embarrass him and herself in front of everyone when the Crown Prince himself would put his actions into words.
"Xue Lu, it's my fault this time; I will definitely find a way to apologize to you the next time we meet again."
Even if Ming Chen felt sorry for Xue Lu, there was really no other way for him to proceed this time around.
When Ming Chen was about to step away to leave, he turned his head to focus on the two completely different figures left on the grounds—one red and one white—which complemented each other perfectly.
But the touch of red is definitely more eye-catching than the one in white.
If he had these two beauties in the bag and then sat on his dragon throne as he looked down on his people in the future, would he attain his greatest happiness then?
Wait a second—no!
How could he have thought of such a ridiculous idea?!
The Crown Prince shook his head off the muddled thoughts and politely helped Shu Xi to the carriage, while he made his way to ride on his horse to escort Young Lady Shu from the outside back to the mansion of the Minister of War.
But just before he left, he saw Yue Ran leaving with his youngest brother, Ming Ze, and both of them settling inside a royal carriage.
Ming Chen stared at the back of the red figure in a daze, feeling a sense of loss in his heart for a moment.
Why are they sitting in the same carriage when Ming Ze could clearly ride on a horse?
But he already had an answer to this question in his heart.
Ming Chen pulled his gaze away and left in a daze, with a heavy heart and the plodding clop of his horse.
☼︎ ✵ ☼︎
"Young Lady, His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, is really so rude! How could he abandon you just like this to send another noble lady back home? He is the one who has clearly said that he likes you!"
Li Ya was filled with indignation.
"Li Ya, speak carefully!"
Xue Lu shot Li Ya a warning glance.
"How His Royal Highness treats me is his own business. His Royal Highness is the current dynasty's Crown Prince, and what he says stands, and I don't have the right to argue about what was right and wrong for him!"
Li Ya lowered her head.
"Yes, young lady, I will remember your words."
Li Ya was annoyed at her own slip of the tongue.
Why does she have such a big mouth?
What would she do if she got the young lady in trouble in the future?
It's better for her to pay more attention to her words in the future.
Li Ya carefully reflected on her actions.
She must never let the young lady be inconvenienced by her!
"It's good to know that you are wrong. You can now retire; I need to rest for a while."
When Li Ya left Xue Lu's room, Xue Lu rubbed her temples.
She already knew that she had reached her marriageable age and was now finding the perfect candidate for her husband-to-be.
But all those she knew in the capital were only ordinary noblemen with little to no achievements. Where can she find someone who will have a great future?
☼︎ ✵ ☼︎
Yue Mansion.
After implementing Yue Yu's first plan at the Double Seventh festival in Bright Moon Lake, Yue Ran no longer bothers to think of a way to win Ming Chen's affection.
All she needed to do was follow through on Yue Yu's arrangement for her to earn the Crown Prince's heart that Yue Yu had set for Yue Ran.
After all, as the leading male protagonist in this world, Yue Yu, or Rong Yu, must have a bright and cunning mind to actually be able to surpass all the other male protagonists.
Or maybe it was just Yue Ran who felt really lazy and didn't want to think of another strategy.
"Oh, so you finally trust me, Sister Ran?"
Seeing that Yue Ran returned to the Yue Mansion with a satisfied face, Yue Yu knew that his plan had succeeded.
"Well, Brother Yu's idea is pretty good."
Yue Ran nodded, albeit a little reluctantly.
Normally, His Highness, the Crown Prince, only has eyes for Xue Lu and never for Yue Ran. But today, even if His Highness, the Crown Prince, tried his best to conceal his feelings, Yue Ran still found his eyes drifting to herself, whether voluntarily or involuntarily.
"You acted bravely in front of Ming Chen and helped him solve his dilemma." Yue Yu remarked, then joked. "You will most probably be the woman in his dreams tonight."
He only said this as a joke, but how could he have known that his words were actually forecasting the future?
☼︎ ✵ ☼︎
When Ming Chen woke up from that indescribable dream, his heart was greatly shaken.
His heart felt mixed.
How could Xue Lu, the one who was always dressed in white, be changed into a familiar, alluringly bright red figure?
Does he actually have some unreasonable thoughts about Yue Ran?
But how was this possible?
Ming Chen would never admit it!
This must be because he had glimpsed the porcelain white skin of Yue Ran under that drenched red dress of her last night, and that was why he had those—those charming thoughts about her!
It was most emphatically not because he fell in love with the infamous Yue Ran!
Then he blushed when he remembered her image in his mind.
No, how could he have such shameless thoughts...?
"I only like Xue Lu!"
Ming Chen kept on repeating this sentence over and over again.
Yes, thinking of Xue Lu, Ming Chen's pounding heart finally calmed down.
