Jiang Qianyu lowered her stance. With tears in her eyes, she looked extremely pitiful.
The Crown Prince felt guilty, but he knew better than anyone that being with someone who didn't love him would only lead to mutual exhaustion and torture.
He had made a wrong choice once, and he didn't want Qianyu to make the same mistake.
He didn't want her to grow to hate him out of love in the future and make unwise choices.
"Qianyu, you're the daughter of an official. You don't have to refer to yourself as a maid. Your father once made great contributions by exposing Yu Jingnian. But due to Lu Ningzhen's influence, I had no choice but to send him away from the capital. Now that Lu Ningzhen has been punished, I'll petition the emperor to recall your father to the capital and appoint him a third - rank official. If you don't want to be a female official in the palace, you can go home and let your family choose a suitable husband for you."
Jiang Qianyu knelt down at the Crown Prince's feet with a thud, and her tears flowed even more fiercely.
"Your Highness, though I'm not talented, my only wish in this life is to accompany Your Highness. I don't need any title. Even if I'm just a palace maid, I'll be willing. Please let me stay in the Eastern Palace!"
Her eyes were firm.
The Crown Prince felt a complex mix of emotions.
Whether Qianyu stayed or left, it would be cruel to her.
If she stayed, he wouldn't have romantic feelings for her, and it would be difficult for him to pour his love on her.
Of course, he could give her glory and favor, but the long and lonely nights in the harem were so cold. How could she endure the rest of her life?
He didn't want Qianyu to be trapped in the harem for a lifetime, turning from a beautiful young woman into an old and withered one.
If he forced her to leave mercilessly, she might bear resentment, and might even direct this resentment towards Mianmian.
He wasn't a master in love affairs and couldn't balance the feelings of two women. He only wanted to love Mianmian whole - heartedly in this life.
Just thinking about Mianmian's determination to leave stirred up the sharp pain deep in his heart.
Seeing the Crown Prince's absent - minded and dejected look, Jiang Qianyu suspected even more that Cheng Simian had pressured him.
Maybe their argument on the wedding night was because of her?
She lowered her eyes, bit her lips, and stared at the Crown Prince lovingly with her tear - filled eyes.
"Your Highness, my mind is made up. Please grant my wish!"
She wouldn't leave the Eastern Palace.
She didn't think she was worthy of the position of Crown Princess and wouldn't covet or fight for it.
But she deserved a place by the Crown Prince's side, and she must fight for it.
The Crown Prince didn't want to push her too hard. He just said softly, "Get up. The ground is cold. Think it over carefully."
When getting up, Jiang Qianyu reached out to help him.
The Crown Prince felt nothing when his slightly cool fingertips touched the woman's soft back of the hand.
Jiang Qianyu accompanied him to the gate of Lanxing Pavilion.
The wind picked up, and the Crown Prince's robe fluttered in the wind. Jiang Qianyu quickly reached out to hold it down.
As she bent and straightened her waist, her movements became unconsciously intimate.
Jiang Qianyu wanted to reach out to adjust the Crown Prince's belt, but the Crown Prince pressed her hand down.
It was at this moment that Qiluo appeared.
From her perspective, the two were acting intimately.
The moonlight illuminated Jiang Qianyu's affectionate face.
Most of the Crown Prince's body was in the dark, and his expression couldn't be seen clearly, but he had touched Jiang Qianyu's hand.
Qiluo lowered her eyes and called out in a moderate voice, "Your Highness."
The Crown Prince was a bit surprised. "What are you doing here?"
Jiang Qianyu wasn't flustered. She slowly withdrew her hand and stood silently and obediently beside the Crown Prince.
Qiluo stepped forward. Having served by Cheng Simian's side for some time, she naturally knew about this "Miss Jiang" with a special status in the Eastern Palace.
She bowed to Jiang Qianyu.
Outside, her every word and deed represented her mistress. She couldn't disgrace her mistress and give others a chance to say that her mistress was arrogant and that even her maid was insolent.
"Your Highness, the Crown Princess still has some things to talk to you about. I've come to invite Your Highness back."
Jiang Qianyu listened carefully, trying to figure out if there were any misunderstandings or conflicts between them.
But Qiluo's words were flawless, and she couldn't find any clues.
"Qianyu, go back and rest."
The Crown Prince didn't want Jiang Qianyu to know about the things between him and Mianmian.
After Jiang Qianyu left, the Crown Prince took steps, but not in the direction of the bedroom.
Qiluo wasn't in a hurry to stop him. She followed the Crown Prince respectfully.
She had guessed what the Crown Prince had misunderstood. If she pointed out this misunderstanding, the Crown Prince might be overjoyed and go back to the bedroom to reconcile with her mistress.
But it would be seen as showing off her cleverness if a maid like her got involved in the relationship between the two.
This kind of "cleverness" would make the master dislike her in the future.
She wasn't going to be stupid.
"Your Highness, please go back. The Crown Princess is crying very sadly."
Qiluo's voice was urgent and choked with sobs.
The Crown Prince tried to force himself to be completely disheartened, but when he heard that Mianmian was crying, his heart jolted.
He turned around, his voice filled with urgency and concern. "Crying? I've given her freedom. Why is she still crying?"
Qiluo wiped the non - existent tears from the corners of her eyes. "The Crown Princess was full of joy and wanted to give you a surprise. But somehow, after you read the 'Poetry Collection of Mingxi', you misunderstood..."
Misunderstood?
He had misunderstood Mianmian?
Maybe Mianmian telling him that she was Mr. Mingxi wasn't to gain freedom?
Another possibility flashed through his mind at lightning speed.
A possibility that he had been longing for, praying for, and thinking about day and night.
He almost flew back to the bedroom like a gust of wind.
When the bedroom door closed, Xiao Anzi hadn't even reacted.
He only saw a vague red figure flash by.
"Is His Highness back?"
Then he saw Qiluo walking over lightly with a smile on her lips.
Xiao Anzi beamed. "Good girl. What did you say to His Highness that made him change his mind so quickly?"
Qiluo blinked her eyes as if she was innocent. "I didn't say much. I just told His Highness truthfully that the Crown Princess was crying. His Highness cares about the Crown Princess the most, so he naturally came back to check."
Xiao Anzi had long noticed that this girl was deliberately pretending to be stupid.
In fact, she was intelligent and her personality was very much like that of the Crown Princess.
There probably wasn't a smarter maid in the entire Eastern Palace!
As soon as the Crown Prince entered the bedroom, he saw Cheng Simian sitting on the bridal couch. The corners of her eyes were red and wet, and there was still undisguised grievance and sadness in her eyes when she looked up.
His heart felt as if it had been torn out of his chest, aching continuously.
He wished he could slap himself!
How could he have made Mianmian cry?
Cheng Simian looked at him. Her chest felt sour, and tears welled up in her eyes again. Her expression was cold.
"What are you coming back for?"
"Mianmian, I'm sorry. I misunderstood your kindness. I understand now. You told me that you're Mr. Mingxi because you wanted to be honest with me. From now on, there'll be no more secrets between us. We'll be of one heart and one body as husband and wife!"
Cheng Simian burst into laughter through her tears. "Lu Sihong, you're so slow - witted. How did you become the Crown Prince?"
She was probably the only one in the world who dared to tease the Crown Prince like this.
But the Crown Prince wasn't angry. Instead, he was a bit happy.
He hugged Cheng Simian tightly and pressed her head into his chest. "Isn't it good that I'm a bit slow - witted in matters of the heart so that I don't have to waste my mind on other women?"
Before his words faded, a soft pair of lips pressed against his.
Mianmian had actually kissed him actively.