Chapter 17: Not Bothered by Him at All

This time, Yao was still having her meal when she saw the maid rushing in, “Madam, the princess is here.”

“Please…”

Before she could finish, Huaining burst into the tent.

“It’s not fair!”

Huaining cried, her eyes swollen from crying, “Your Highness suddenly got engaged, and he chose Chen Shiyun!”

Yao quickly patted her, “Princess, don’t be upset. This decision was sudden…”

Huaining grabbed her hand, “Did Your Highness really choose her himself? Was he forced by the emperor, or by the Old Madam?”

“I don’t believe it. Your Highness wouldn’t like a woman like Chen Shiyun!”

Yao looked at her swollen eyes, feeling a little helpless, but she still told the truth, “Your Highness chose her himself.”

Huaining froze, as if her world had shattered.

The last glimmer of hope in her heart was extinguished.

Yao held her hand, gently saying, “Princess, even if this man is the best, if there is no love between you, it’s not worth it. You are a precious jewel, why should you suffer such injustice?”

Yao, as an outsider, could see clearly. If Ling Xiao had even a little bit of affection for Huaining, he would have considered her when choosing a wife.

Huaining, blinded by her feelings, was lost in her own world, choosing to deceive herself.

Huaining burst into tears, throwing herself into Yao’s arms.

The maids rushed to pull her away, but Yao shook her head.

Huaining leaned against her, not touching her wound. Let her cry for a while, she felt a little sorry for her.

After she cried, she would naturally calm down.

After a while, Huaining suddenly lifted her head from Yao’s arms, startling her.

Her eyes were red and swollen, her face was tear-stained and disheveled, but her eyes were bright and determined, her spirit soaring.

Yao asked softly, “Princess, are you feeling better?”

“Your Highness must have been blinded by Chen Shiyun!” Huaining said indignantly.

Yao was stunned, “Ah?”

Huaining grabbed her hand, angry, “Chen Shiyun is a pretentious, hypocritical woman. Your Highness must have been deceived by her appearance. But Your Highness is so intelligent, he will surely see through her true face soon!”

“They’re already engaged…”

Huaining was full of hope, “Even if they’re engaged, they can still break it off! There’s still time. If Your Highness sees through her true face, he will definitely break off the engagement!”

Yao swallowed. She couldn’t imagine Ling Xiao acting like this.

But Huaining was unusually excited now, and it wouldn’t be good to discourage her, so she could only remain silent.

Huaining quickly regained her spirits, wiped away her tears, and after clinging to Yao for a while, she returned to the palace.

Meanwhile, Ling Xiao still hadn’t returned to the mansion. He was directly handling affairs at the Ministry of Rites.

Sword finished reviewing the documents and reported, “Your Highness, Princess Huaining came to the Marquis’s Mansion today. It seems she was upset about Your Highness’s engagement.”

Ling Xiao didn’t bother to respond. Huaining was spoiled and willful, she would make a fuss about anything.

“She was sent back to the palace.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I tried to persuade her for a while, but the princess didn’t calm down until she was sent back to the palace.”

Ling Xiao paused as he flipped through the documents, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The suppressed restlessness in his heart suddenly stirred again.

He finished reviewing the documents and opened them again, casually asking, “How is she?”

Sword took a moment to react, then guessed that Your Highness was referring to the Military Marquis’s wife.

“Your Highness always refers to the Military Marquis’s wife as ‘she.’ Does Your Highness have any feelings for her?”

Sword immediately answered, “Madam has been resting in her room these past few days. Her wound is healing well. The princess came today, and Madam comforted her, otherwise, she would have made a scene.”

Sword had witnessed the princess’s true nature. If she had made a scene, it would have been a disaster.

Ling Xiao heard this, but a pang of pain shot through his heart. His eyes darkened, “Comforting her?”

“Yes, I heard that Madam persuaded the princess for a while. Madam’s wound hasn’t healed yet, but she still comforted the princess and sent her back to the palace safely. She’s really very considerate.”

Even Sword couldn’t help but speak up for Jiang Yao. She was really not that bad.

Ling Xiao’s eyes narrowed even further, and the knuckles of his fingers holding the documents tightened.

“Comforting the princess, not bothered by him at all.”

The restlessness in his chest seemed to intensify, almost overwhelming him.

Seeing that Your Highness’s expression was even darker, Sword thought he had said something wrong and quickly bowed his head, “Your subordinate was just talking casually.”

Ling Xiao forced himself to calm down, his expression unusually calm, “Retreat.”

Sword’s back was covered in sweat, even though he wasn’t sweating. It was getting harder and harder to serve Your Highness.

Your Highness was so calm now, he didn’t dare to imagine how angry he really was.

“Yes, Your Highness, I’ll retire.” Sword quickly retreated, not daring to linger.

Ling Xiao opened the documents again, but not a single word could enter his mind.

He tossed the documents onto the desk in frustration, leaning back against the grandmaster’s chair.

Everything was going according to plan, nothing was deviating from the right path, yet he was still filled with restlessness.

He couldn’t handle the case, so he picked up his sword.

He practiced swordsmanship for another hour before finally calming down.

Why was he so bothered by this woman?

–

Yao had been resting for half a day, but she was starting to feel restless. She went to Fushou Garden to see the Old Madam.

“Mother.” She entered.

Mrs. Lin saw her and quickly said, “Daughter, you’re here.”

Yao sat beside Mrs. Lin, and Mrs. Lin pulled her close, asking, “Did you see anyone suitable yesterday?”

Yao nodded, “I think Princess Huaining is very straightforward, and Miss Chen, the daughter of the Chancellor, is gentle and dignified. They are both excellent choices.”

Mrs. Lin nodded repeatedly, “I think Miss Chen is good too. She’s well-educated and well-mannered, a good girl. As for the princess… she’s a little childish, but if Your Highness likes her, she’s not bad either! We still need to ask Your Highness.”

Just then, they heard a voice announcing, “Your Highness has arrived.”

Mrs. Lin’s eyes lit up, “Please come in.”

Yao was stunned. Why did he have time to come here? He had been so busy lately.

Ling Xiao strode in, “Mother.”

Mrs. Lin smiled, “Your Highness, why do you have time to come here? You’re so busy with court affairs.”

“Today is my day off.” He glanced at Jiang Yao, who was quietly looking down, as if she had always been like this.

Mrs. Lin chided him, “It’s rare for you to have a day off. You should rest. Why did you come here to ask about things? You’ll tire yourself out. You’re so busy.”

Ling Xiao lifted his robe and sat down.

Mrs. Lin continued excitedly, “Speaking of which, there’s something I need to tell you. Yesterday, we held a banquet at the mansion, and many good girls came. I’ve already helped you look them over!”

Ling Xiao looked at Jiang Yao, pursed his lips, as if he had finally mustered up the courage. He finally raised his head, and his seemingly gentle eyes were filled with caution and apprehension.

She was always like this.

Yao said cautiously, “I think Princess Huaining and Miss Chen are both good choices, but the final decision is still up to the Military Marquis.”

Yao’s scalp tingled under his scrutinizing gaze. His dark eyes seemed to pierce through her, making her feel like she was being seen through, as if she had nothing to hide.

Ling Xiao looked at her clear and bright eyes. The restlessness that had finally calmed down last night suddenly reignited, even more intense than before.