It was indeed not right.
Why charter all the boats on the lake for just a pleasure cruise?
It must be to prevent anyone from approaching their boat.
Such actions naturally aroused suspicion.
However, without Song Zhaoyu needing to say anything, Tiaohong beside her stepped forward and shoved the person blocking their way. "When did Gui Jia Lake become the property of your Xie family? Are you forbidding others from boating? What kind of logic is that?"
The servant sized up Song Zhaoyu, seemingly not recognizing her.
Hu Xiaoye's maid quickly said to the servant, "This is the current Princess of Chang! Are you blind?"
The servant naturally knew that the Emperor's current favorite was Prince Chang, Mu Changxi.
He took a step back, looked at the pleasure boat gradually moving away on the lake, and did not know what to say.
Song Zhaoyu directly told Tiaohong, "Go find a boatman. Tell them to find the fastest small boat. We need to catch up to that flower boat."
"No, that won't do!"
The Xie family's servant was greatly alarmed by Song Zhaoyu's words and rushed forward to stop her. "Princess, that won't do! You... why are you chasing our Xie family's flower boat? Today, it was the wife of Duke Liang who arranged this gathering for our young master to go boating with Miss Hu. If you go now, you might disturb them!"
The servant's flustered expression made Song Zhaoyu even more convinced that there was definitely something wrong on the flower boat!
Seeing that Tiaohong had already fetched a boatman, Song Zhaoyu turned to Qiuqing and said, "Stop these Xie family servants. I'm going to catch up to the Xie family's flower boat."
Qiuqing had some martial arts skills. Before the servant could react, she had already stepped forward and pinned his arm behind his back.
There were other members of the Xie family around, looking eager to step forward, but seeing how formidable Song Zhaoyu was, they seemed hesitant.
Song Zhaoyu sneered and said loudly to them, "If you want to complain today, feel free. Since Miss Hu invited me, I will go to the flower boat to take a look. If Miss Hu feels displeased, I will naturally apologize to everyone."
The servant dared not say anything more, and the others did not dare to block Song Zhaoyu.
Song Zhaoyu, supported by Tiaohong, boarded a small boat and repeatedly urged the boatman, "Faster, faster!"
---
The small boat was, after all, much faster than the large flower boat.
After a while, their small boat reached the flower boat.
However, the people on the flower boat seemed flustered when they saw them.
"Go, get on the boat!"
The more they acted like this, the more Song Zhaoyu worried about Hu Xiaoye.
Before they could react, Tiaohong jumped onto the flower boat first and then pulled Song Zhaoyu up. Song Zhaoyu was somewhat fortunate that she was not one of those rigidly proper young ladies who stayed indoors in the capital.
When she was on the estate, she used to climb trees and houses with Han Xi. Otherwise, how could she have so nimbly climbed onto this flower boat while dragging such a cumbersome dress with its trailing hem?
As soon as she boarded, she heard someone running into the cabin shouting, "Young master! They've caught up to us! They've caught up to us!"
However, Song Zhaoyu did not hear Hu Xiaoye's voice coming from the cabin.
When Song Zhaoyu also walked towards the cabin, the young master Xie was coming out from inside.
His steps were hurried, and his clothes appeared relatively neat, but his collar was unbuttoned.
Seeing Song Zhaoyu, he was stunned. "Princess... Princess Chang? What are you doing here?"
After all, he was the top scholar of the current imperial examination, so he naturally recognized Song Zhaoyu's identity.
Song Zhaoyu's gaze fell upon the cabin. "I heard that Xiaoye was invited by you to go boating. I also thought that since I haven't been in the capital for long and have never visited Gui Jia Lake. Today is a good day, and Xiaoye and I have always been good friends. I believe she would be happy if I came to join her for boating?"
Song Zhaoyu's gaze made Scholar Xie involuntarily freeze, with a hint of panic in his eyes.
His body instinctively blocked the cabin door.
"Get out of the way!"
Song Zhaoyu's gaze became even more sharp as she looked at Scholar Xie. "Before things escalate, if Scholar Xie lets me take Xiaoye away, I will not say a word for the sake of Xiaoye's reputation. But if you keep blocking my path, I know that although my status is not particularly noble, I will use the title of Princess Chang to accuse you before the Emperor!"
These words made Scholar Xie's body tremble.
"No... you can't!"
He still dared to block Song Zhaoyu's path. "You cannot go in! In this capital, what good is it that you are Princess Chang? It's not your Prince Chang's manor that calls the shots here! Today, it is I and Miss Hu who are boating on Gui Jia Lake. What is this obstruction of yours?"
"Heh—"
Song Zhaoyu sneered. "I'm not obstructing you, I just want to go boating with you!"
She fiercely waved her sleeve at Scholar Xie. "Get lost! Don't make me repeat myself. I know what you're thinking. You think that since our Prince Chang's manor is no longer involved in politics, and you are a favored student of the Emperor, he will have to consider your case even if we accuse you, right?"
Scholar Xie's eyes flickered, proving that Song Zhaoyu had guessed his thoughts.
Song Zhaoyu sneered. "But you should also know how the Emperor feels about Prince Chang now. Even if this matter blows up, and he doesn't believe our Prince Chang's manor, what about the Hu family? If you use Hu Xiaoye's reputation as a threat, do you think the Hu family will let you off? I believe you know better than I do how much Lord Hu and Madam Hu dote on Hu Xiaoye!"
"I—"
Scholar Xie was naturally speechless.
If he hadn't known that Hu Xiaoye was the apple of everyone's eye in the Hu family, how would he have resorted to such methods, wanting to marry Hu Xiaoye quickly and attach himself to the "big tree" of the Hu family?
"So, get lost!"
This was Song Zhaoyu's final warning to Scholar Xie. "For Xiaoye's reputation, I will definitely keep silent about today's events. But if you continue to block me, I will risk my life to save her. Consider for yourself what is more beneficial to you."
Scholar Xie was not foolish and naturally knew that Song Zhaoyu was here for Hu Xiaoye today and would not give up.
After a moment of silent hesitation, he finally moved aside, clearing a path.
Song Zhaoyu then signaled Tiaohong to open the cabin door, and instructed Qiuqing to guard the outside, watching Scholar Xie to prevent him from causing any trouble.
The moment the cabin door opened, Song Zhaoyu smelled a strange fragrance.