Volume One, Chapter Eleven: It Seems a Joyous Occasion is Near!

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Xu Zhiyi kowtowed. “Your Highness, please hear me out. I was embroidering my wedding dress in my room when someone knocked me unconscious and carried me away. When I awoke, I was already in that side chamber. If I had not fought for my life, I fear…”

At this point, tears streamed down her face.

The Crown Prince glanced toward the hall entrance with a smile that was not quite a smile.

“Your Third Imperial Brother suffered serious injuries and only arrived in the capital today. Since he had an appointment with Lord Xu from long ago, he came here to pay a visit, but who could have expected such a thing to happen? Had you met His Highness the Third Prince before?”

Xu Zhiyi raised her reddened eyes, her expression utterly innocent.

“I have hardly ever set foot outside the Xu residence. I do not know the Third Prince. It is just that, although he was injured, his strength was more than I could withstand…”

Her face was deathly pale, and her fair neck was covered in red marks of varying shades.

When she noticed the Crown Prince looking over, she began to tremble even more violently, appearing helpless and pitiful, as though she had been violated and abused.

Qi Xizhou nodded repeatedly.

“Indeed. When she gets ruthless, she does not even spare herself!”

Those marks had clearly been made by her own hand, yet she had shamelessly dumped the blame on him.

Qi Xizhou touched his own neck and hissed softly.

That woman had truly shown him no mercy!

When Lord Xu Huai’an saw Qi Xizhou, he first froze in astonishment, then hurriedly knelt.

“This humble minister, Xu Huai’an, pays his respects to His Highness the Third Prince!”

Qi Xizhou remained silent, allowing Hai Qing to settle him into a cushioned chair.

Since he did not grant permission to rise, Xu Huai’an could only remain kneeling.

In his youth, the Third Prince had followed the mighty Grand General into battle, fighting in every corner of the realm and slaying countless enemies. His military achievements were unparalleled.

For years, he had guarded the northern frontier against foreign foes.

No one knew how he had suddenly suffered such grave injuries or why he had returned to the capital in secret.

And now, with such an important person having arrived at his residence, this unspeakable incident had occurred.

Xu Huai’an’s thoughts warred within him.

Compared with allowing Xu Zhiyi to marry into the Marquis of Ding’an’s household, marrying her into the imperial family would naturally bring far greater benefit to the Xu family!

When one person rose to prominence, even his relatives and associates would prosper.

The Xu family’s ascent to wealth and power was within reach.

But judging from the Third Prince’s present condition, he would probably find it difficult to walk like an ordinary person ever again.

Seeing that Qi Xizhou remained silent, the Crown Prince gave a low chuckle.

“Since the matter has already come to pass, Third Imperial Brother, what do you intend to do? Shall I petition Father on your behalf for an imperial decree arranging this marriage?”

Anyone with eyes could see that the Crown Prince was trying to smooth things over.

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Qi Xizhou was just about to say that she was unworthy when he saw Xu Zhiyi looking in his direction.

In her hand, she held a dragon-shaped jade pendant that looked unmistakably familiar.

Qi Xizhou lowered his gaze and only then discovered that the pendant he never allowed to leave his person had somehow ended up in Xu Zhiyi’s hands.

He had seen it, and naturally, so had the Crown Prince.

“Haha! It seems Third Imperial Brother is quite taken with Miss Xu. He has even given her his personal jade pendant. It appears the wedding is near!”

Xu Huai’an wiped the sweat from his brow before speaking hesitantly.

“Your Highness, please consider this carefully. My daughter is betrothed to the Marquis of Ding’an’s household, and the wedding is fast approaching. What are we to do?”

The Crown Prince had a kind, honest-looking face, and his smile made him appear all the more approachable.

“They are merely betrothed. Return the betrothal gifts, and the matter is settled! It is rare for my Third Imperial Brother to take such a liking to someone, and Father will surely be pleased as well. Lord Xu, would you not agree?”

Who would dare refuse the woman the Third Prince wished to marry, least of all the insignificant Marquis of Ding’an’s household?

With the Crown Prince’s words, Xu Huai’an felt as though he had swallowed a reassuring pill.

“In that case, this humble minister thanks Your Highness and His Highness the Third Prince!”

He was just about to rise when Qi Xizhou spoke in a deep voice.

“Did I tell you to rise? Since I intend to marry the eldest daughter of your household, are there not certain matters you ought to explain clearly?”

Xu Huai’an knelt properly once more. “What would His Highness the Third Prince like to know? This humble minister will tell you everything he knows and hold nothing back!”

Qi Xizhou picked up the teacup on the table and gently brushed aside the foam with its lid. An unreadable smile touched his lips.

“Why does my future princess consort bear so many injuries? As the legitimate daughter of your household, who could be so bold as to abuse her?”

Xu Zhiyi discreetly studied Qi Xizhou. She truly had not expected him to stand up for her.

At his words, Xu Huai’an’s body stiffened. His sharp gaze swept toward Madam Lin, who was hiding to one side and doing everything possible to make herself unnoticed.

What a useless creature—incapable of accomplishing anything, yet always good at ruining matters!

“It was… it was this humble minister’s negligence. A vicious servant in the household took advantage of the situation. But Your Highness need not worry; this humble minister has already dealt with her.”

Xu Zhiyi laughed coldly inside and spoke in a timid voice.

“But Nanny Wang is Madam Lin’s person. If she had not received instructions from someone behind the scenes, I doubt she would have dared treat me so cruelly on her own.”

Madam Lin faltered and lowered her head, glaring viciously at Xu Zhiyi.

Qi Xizhou raised an eyebrow and gestured to Hai Qing.

“Why are you still standing there? Help my future princess consort to her feet. If anything happens to her, would I not be condemned to spend my life alone?”

The sarcasm in his words was unmistakable, but Xu Zhiyi pretended not to understand.

“Zhiyi thanks His Highness the Third Prince.”

Since propriety forbade unrelated men and women from touching one another, Hai Qing naturally could not assist her himself.

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Little Yu’er helped Xu Zhiyi to her feet. She staggered weakly for several steps, and the jade pendant in her hand swayed along with her.

It was an overt provocation.

Qi Xizhou pressed his tongue against his teeth, forcing the words out through clenched teeth.

“Zhiyi, come sit beside me. Do not be afraid. From this day forward, no one in the Xu residence will dare bully you again!”

He was speaking to Xu Zhiyi, but his words were equally a warning to everyone from the Xu household present.

Xu Huai’an forced a sheepish smile. “His Highness is right. This humble minister will certainly discipline them more strictly from now on and will never allow such a thing to happen again.”

Qi Xizhou still did not look at Xu Huai’an.

There had long been rumors in the capital that the Third Prince commanded a formidable army and possessed achievements so great they overshadowed the sovereign himself. The people of the northern frontier had faith in no one but him.

There were countless people who coveted the military power in his hands, and just as many who wished to see Qi Xizhou dead.

His mother had died when he was very young, and he had been raised under the Empress’s care. He and the Crown Prince could even be considered close.

But one could never know what lay in another person’s heart.

There had been no familial affection in the imperial household since ancient times. He could afford neither to gamble nor to lose.

Now that both his legs were gravely injured, he no longer posed any threat to the Crown Prince. That, at least, had allowed him to preserve his life by the narrowest margin.

Xu Huai’an was only a seventh-rank court official and held no place of consequence at court.

As the legitimate daughter of the Xu family, Xu Zhiyi had no powerful maternal relatives, but her status was just acceptable enough. In the end, the situation had turned out unexpectedly well.

Everyone in the hall harbored different thoughts.

Xu Zhiyi knew that she had won her gamble.

It was as though Qi Xizhou had only now noticed Xu Huai’an.

“Why are you still kneeling, Lord Xu? Hai Qing, how did you fail to remind me? Rise at once!”

Little Yu’er nearly burst out laughing.

Xu Huai’an thanked him repeatedly, only to hear Qi Xizhou continue.

“Zhiyi is right. Servants act on their masters’ orders. Even if the master was kept in the dark, failing to supervise properly is still a fault and must be punished. Lord Xu, do you agree?”

Xu Huai’an nodded like a pecking chick.

“Yes, yes, yes. His Highness the Third Prince is absolutely right.”

Xu Zhiyi timidly raised her eyes to glance at Xu Huai’an, then quickly lowered her head again.

“Perhaps we should let the matter go. Madam Lin is deeply favored by Father, and I do not wish to make things difficult for him.”

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