Situ You said that the wind is the rain, and immediately wanted to drag me back to Changning Palace.
I quickly stopped him, my heart weary: "Your Highness Second Prince, have you ever seen a girl get married to fight with her husband?"
Situ You scratched his head, unable to answer.
Situ Yao, with a dark face, called for guards: "Send His Highness Second Prince back to Jingyang Palace to reflect. Without my order, no one is allowed to let him out."
"Big brother, what are you doing?"
"Marriage is not a child's play. Think carefully about why you want to marry Miss Wang." Then he waved his hand, and Situ You was dragged away.
I always felt that he bit the words "Miss Wang" particularly hard.
This guy wouldn't think I deliberately seduced his younger brother, would he? I quickly raised four fingers: "Your Highness Crown Prince, this commoner swears that she has no intention of seducing His Highness Second Prince. Her Majesty the Empress can testify that this commoner has just refused her arranged marriage."
"Mother is going to arrange a marriage between you and my second brother?"
I emphasized again: "This commoner refused."
The long palace road was silent. Situ Yao did not speak for a long time. I thought he was probably satisfied with the answer, so I boldly said, "Your Highness Crown Prince, if there's nothing else, can this commoner take her leave?"
A snort sounded in my ear: "It's been eight months, and Miss Wang still hasn't figured out how to explain to me?"
"Wh-what matter?"
"Playing dumb?" His Highness the Crown Prince pinched my chin, forcing me to look up and meet his gaze. His dark eyes grew deeper, "That night's matter, do you need me to remind you again?"
I quickly shook my head: "Your, Your Highness Crown Prince, this is a palace road."
Someone might pass by at any time.
"You're right." Just as I was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he added the second half of the sentence: "Then go to the Eastern Palace and tell me slowly."
I was stunned, and for a moment, I couldn't even think of words to refuse. Fortunately, Sui Sui saved me. Her head maid was looking for her, saying that she had picked a lot of osmanthus flowers and asked me to accompany her to make flower dew.
Making flower dew was an excuse, gossiping was the truth.
Sui Sui greeted me at the entrance of Rongyue Palace. Before I could enter, she said, "I heard you refused Mother's arranged marriage?"
"Your news is quite well-informed." I haven't even left the palace yet.
"It's mainly that Mother is quite regretful and complained to me. Sister Nannan, you and my second brother grew up together, why did you refuse?"
"What childhood sweethearts? Your second brother clearly just wanted a sparring partner. Have you ever seen a couple who fights all day long?"
"That's called a lover's quarrel."
I gave her a blank look and decided to cut off her supply of romance novels. If I kept watching, I'd become foolish. I can only say that Her Majesty the Empress is truly the best mistress in the world, to allow her maids to develop such unreliable hobbies.
This maid is my mother.
And books are expensive. For scholars, a book costs at least one or two taels of silver, and these picture books would only be more expensive.
Her Majesty the Empress is truly good to those around her. She loves the crow and the house, and even their children receive the same great favor. For example, my brother and I spent half of our childhood in the palace. My brother was the Crown Prince's companion student, but he was never beaten with a cane because the Second Prince disliked studying.
The teachers also taught him everything they knew.
After following the Second Prince to the Imperial Academy, my brother became a frequent visitor to the top of the Imperial Academy's honor roll. The teachers predicted that he would surely succeed in the imperial examinations next spring.
My parents often sighed at the vast imperial grace at home. But they would also quietly tell me that one should know how to repay kindness, not be greedy. Her Majesty the Empress has already taken great care of our family, so we must not make things difficult for them anymore.
For example, coveting the Second Prince.
It's all my fault for getting along too well with the Second Prince since I was young, so my parents have always worried that I would overstep my bounds.
At that time, I confidently told them not to worry, and that I would never do anything out of line with the Second Prince. Thinking about it now, I am truly ashamed. I didn't do anything with the Second Prince, but I got involved with the Crown Prince, who is of higher status. But it doesn't matter, as long as I am thick-skinned enough, I can pretend that nothing happened.
"Sister Nannan, what are you thinking about?" A delicate soft hand waved in front of my eyes, and Sui Sui's voice pulled me back from my thoughts. Her beautiful little face was full of suspicion: "Are you thinking about my second brother?"
No, it's your elder brother.
I maintained a poker face: "I was just thinking if Her Majesty's prescription can make me fairer within half a month."
Sui Sui observed me for a while and said sympathetically: "Difficult."
That's good. I've decided to use this excuse to stay indoors for a while.