Chapter 44: Prince Yu Is Not Frightening, What’s Frightening Is Prince Xuan

Xiao Fengze pouted and shook his head. “Prince Yu is not frightening. What’s frightening is Prince Xuan!”

Xiao Yihuan suddenly furrowed his brows. “You mean Prince Xuan also has feelings for Miss Tang?”

Xiao Fengze cast him a disdainful glance. “Anyone who’s not blind can see it.”

Xiao Yihuan’s face instantly darkened. Was his third brother saying he was blind?

Xiao Fengze patted him on the shoulder with a pained expression. “You’d better give up. You’ve got no chance!”

Not only did the fourth brother have no chance, he himself didn’t either. Prince Xuan was not like Prince Yu. Tang Mi might reject Prince Yu, but she definitely wouldn’t reject Prince Xuan.

In his heart, Prince Xuan was the embodiment of perfection, wise enough to bring peace to the realm, powerful enough to secure the kingdom, and better-looking than a celestial being. How could any woman possibly resist such a man?

The most critical thing was that Prince Xuan was emotionally distant. A man like him wouldn’t easily develop feelings. But once he did, it would be for a lifetime, unwavering and unchanging.

Xiao Fengze really couldn’t imagine spending his life with someone like Prince Xuan constantly watching over his shoulder like a predator. He figured he’d better give up while he still could.

Xiao Yihuan, however, wasn’t as pessimistic as Xiao Fengze. He liked Miss Tang. He wanted to spend his life with her in mutual support and companionship. He hadn’t even tried yet, how could he give up so easily? Not even if his rivals were Prince Xuan and Prince Yu!

Back at the General’s Manor, Tang Mi first took Tang Ying and Tang Ning to greet the Old Madam and let her know they had returned safely.

“You’re back. Did you have fun?” the Old Madam asked with a smile upon seeing them.

Before Tang Mi could reply, Tang Ying jumped in with a grin, “We had a great time! Grandmother, you don’t know, Big Sister really stole the spotlight today.”

“Oh?” The Old Madam looked at Tang Mi in surprise, smiling. “I know Mi’er’s poetry is excellent.”

“It wasn’t just poetry. Big Sister also painted and played the flute today. Everyone was praising her for being both beautiful and talented, the number one beauty and talent in the capital,” Tang Ying said, beaming, as if she weren’t the least bit jealous.

The Old Madam hadn’t expected Tang Mi to shine so brightly at the poetry gathering and nodded in satisfaction.

This granddaughter had been personally taught by her, no one knew her talents better than she did. It was just that she rarely went out, and she wasn’t the type to seek the spotlight.

Now that she was willing to showcase herself at the poetry gathering… could it be that she had taken a liking to someone?

As the Old Madam pondered this, she looked at Tang Mi and asked with a smile, “Was there anything interesting today? Tell Grandma about it.”

Tang Mi smiled faintly. “Nothing interesting, just an ordinary poetry gathering. Though Princess Lengyu from the Yong’an Marquis’s household gave me a white jade bone flute, which I really like.”

“Oh?” The Old Madam’s interest was piqued. “Princess Lengyu gave you a flute? Did Young Master Fengze go as well today?”

That question instantly made Tang Mi and Tang Ying frown.

Tang Mi knew the Old Madam had her sights on a match with the Long Princess’s household, but she herself had no interest in Xiao Fengze.

Tang Ying also immediately caught the implication, so the reason Grandmother had encouraged Tang Mi to attend today was because of Xiao Fengze? Was she trying to arrange a marriage alliance with the Long Princess’s household?

Tang Ying felt a stab of jealousy. Grandmother really did care for Tang Mi on one hand, she didn’t want her getting involved in the royal mess, but on the other hand, she didn’t want to give up the prestige of a royal connection. All things considered, the Long Princess’s household was the perfect middle ground: it had royal ties without getting entangled in palace politics.

Tang Mi marrying into the Long Princess’s household? Over her dead body!

Tang Ying’s eyes shifted, and she smiled sweetly, “Not only was Young Master Fengze there today, but His Highness Prince Yu and His Highness Prince Xuan also attended, as well as young masters from the Prime Minister’s and Minister of Rites’ families.”

Upon hearing that Prince Yu was there too, the Old Madam’s smile froze. She frowned and looked at Tang Mi. “Prince Yu was there as well?”

Tang Mi glanced at her and remained silent.

The Old Madam finally realized something and quickly said to Tang Ying and Tang Ning, “You two must be tired after a long day. Go get some rest. I have a few things to talk over with your eldest sister.”

Tang Ying’s eyes flickered, but she had no choice but to comply. She got up and said, “Then I’ll head back now.”

She bowed to the Old Madam and left with Tang Ning.

At the door, Tang Ying strained her ears, trying to catch any snippets of the conversation inside, but Nanny Gui came over and said, “Second Miss, are you leaving now?”

Tang Ying’s expression stiffened, and she forced a smile. “Yes. Grandmother wants to talk to Big Sister, so my younger sister and I will be heading back first.”

With that, she left. Tang Ning gave Nanny Gui a slight nod and quickly followed.

Inside the room, the Old Madam looked anxiously at Tang Mi. “So Prince Yu really went to the poetry gathering today?”

“He went with Prince Xuan. Perhaps they just happened to be passing by,” Tang Mi said, trying to ease her concerns.

In her past life, she had made a terrible mistake. This time, she would never repeat it.

The Old Madam snorted coldly. “Just happened to be passing by? Why would a prince go out of his way for a mere poetry gathering at the Yong’an Marquis’s residence? He definitely went because of you.”

She was deeply worried. She had already rejected Prince Yu once. Why wouldn’t he give up?

“Don’t worry. Prince Xuan was there too. Surely Prince Xuan isn’t interested in me as well,” Tang Mi said, knowing full well what Night Junyu (Prince Yu) was thinking. Still, she didn’t want her grandmother to worry.

The Old Madam had no opinion on Prince Xuan, but she remained highly suspicious of Prince Yu’s intentions.

“Mi’er, what do you think of Young Master Fengze?” the Old Madam suddenly asked.

To completely dissuade Prince Yu, she believed the best course of action was to quickly settle Tang Mi’s engagement. Truth be told, she had high regard for the Long Princess’s household. Normally she wouldn’t need to consult her granddaughter, but she didn’t want to force her either.

Tang Mi’s cheeks flushed, and she smiled bitterly. “Grandmother, I’m not suited for Young Master Fengze.”

She had likely misunderstood earlier, Xiao Fengze used pine resin, so he probably wasn’t that man from her past. But even if he wasn’t, she had no desire to marry him. His temperament was… completely incompatible with hers.

The Old Madam was visibly disappointed. So she didn’t fancy Xiao Fengze, what a shame for such a prestigious match.

“What about the other young gentlemen? Didn’t you say the sons of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Rites were there? Any of them catch your eye?” the Old Madam asked, unwilling to give up.

Tang Mi blushed even more and playfully scolded her. “Grandmother, what are you saying? I’m going back now.”

Not wanting to continue the conversation, she curtsied and left the room.

The Old Madam watched her leave and sighed with a bitter smile.

She really was grasping at straws, was she seriously discussing marriage prospects with a child?

But Mi’er was coming of age next month. It was indeed time to start considering marriage.