Xin Zizhao called out to the little maid who was about to leave with a lunch box in her hand. The little maid looked at Xin Zizhao, who had a cold expression on his face, in horror. "I... I pay my respects to His Highness the Fifth Prince."
"Rise. I'm asking you, where is Father now?"
Xin Zizhao's tone carried a hint of chill, which frightened the little maid greatly. She lowered her head and replied in a soft voice, "R... Returning to His Highness the Fifth Prince, His Majesty is now in the Full Moon Garden..."
"The Full Moon Garden?" Xin Zizhao had never been to this place. Even though he had been back in the palace for some time, he was still not very familiar with all the places in the palace. Seeing how scared the little maid was, he softened his tone. "Don't be afraid. I won't do anything to you. I just want to ask you something. Are you going to the Full Moon Garden now?"
"... Returning to His Highness the Fifth Prince, yes. This servant is now going to the Full Moon Garden to deliver refreshments."
"Then I'll follow you there. I have something to discuss with my father."
The little maid didn't dare to directly refuse, so she could only let Xin Zizhao follow behind her. She felt that the road from the imperial kitchen back to the Full Moon Garden was the most difficult road she had ever walked.
Trembling, they arrived at the front gate of the Full Moon Garden. Xin Zizhao had never known that there was such a place in the palace. It was so beautiful that it was just like a fairyland. When he came to his senses, the little maid had already disappeared. He still wanted to ask the little maid what this place was exactly, but oh well, he might as well just go in first.
When Xin Zizhao passed through the arched gate entwined with rose vines, the square pavilion came into view. The light blue gauze curtains fluttered gently in the wind. He could faintly see Wei Shuxuan and Emperor Jinzheng in the pavilion. From their heights, it could be seen that Emperor Jinzheng was sitting while Wei Shuxuan was standing. What on earth were they talking about?
Just as Xin Zizhao was about to walk over, the soldiers guarding both sides of the pavilion blocked his way. Xin Zizhao glanced at them. "You dare to block me?"
The two soldiers guarding the front gate were intimidated by the sudden imposing manner he exuded and didn't know whether they should continue to block him or not.
Emperor Jinzheng, who was inside the pavilion, heard the commotion outside and stopped his conversation with Wei Shuxuan. "What's going on outside?"
"Returning to Your Majesty, His Highness the Fifth Prince is asking for an audience outside."
Wei Shuxuan looked outside in surprise. Xin Zizhao was really standing outside. How did he get here?
"Let him in."
Emperor Jinzheng knew that he couldn't stop his son anyway, so he might as well just let him in. After all, he had already finished what he wanted to say to Wei Shuxuan, so it didn't matter if he let Xin Zizhao in.
"I pay my respects to Father."
"Rise. Zizhao, what brings you here this time?" Emperor Jinzheng squinted his eyes and looked at Xin Zizhao. "Is it because you're afraid that I'll say something nonsense to her?"
"Your son doesn't have such thoughts," Xin Zizhao said so, but when he turned around and looked at Wei Shuxuan, he asked, "What did my father say to you?"
Wei Shuxuan slightly turned her body and saw Emperor Jinzheng signaling to her with his eyes. For the sake of her future happiness, she knew that she should hide it from Xin Zizhao for the time being. "It's nothing. His Majesty just asked me what kind of compensation I wanted."
"Really?" Xin Zizhao was still a bit skeptical about Wei Shuxuan's words.
"That's right."
Wei Shuxuan nodded and insisted that was the case.
Although Xin Zizhao still didn't fully believe Wei Shuxuan's words, seeing how insistent she was, he didn't say anything. He didn't know what kind of thing Wei Shuxuan and his father were plotting.
"Your Majesty, then I'll leave with Xin Zizhao!" Wei Shuxuan pulled Xin Zizhao and was about to leave. When Xin Zizhao couldn't see, she signaled to Emperor Jinzheng with her eyes.
Emperor Jinzheng nodded with a smile, telling her to rest assured and go back to the Wind and Harmony Palace with Xin Zizhao.
After leaving the Full Moon Garden, Xin Zizhao walked silently beside Wei Shuxuan. Wei Shuxuan hesitated for a moment, then raised her head and secretly glanced at Xin Zizhao's profile. He seemed to have no expression on his face.
"Did Father really just ask you what kind of compensation you wanted when he called you over?" Xin Zizhao turned around and looked straight into Wei Shuxuan's eyes.
"Yeah, what else could it be?" While Wei Shuxuan was answering, Xin Zizhao's gaze was firmly fixed on the look in her eyes and her expression.
Wei Shuxuan knew that Xin Zizhao was very good at observing other people's eyes and expressions, so in every aspect, she had to try her best to make Xin Zizhao unable to see through her.
However, Xin Zizhao still noticed a slight flicker in Wei Shuxuan's eyes, as if she was feeling guilty about something.
"Since you're not willing to tell me, I won't force you, just like you've been hiding that matter from me all along."
Xin Zizhao's voice gradually faded away in the air. Just as he lifted his foot to leave, he suddenly felt his sleeve being grabbed. The corner of his mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly, but the faint smile disappeared when he turned around.
"I... Actually, I was pleading with His Majesty to annul my engagement with Ge Zian. His Majesty also promised to help me..." Wei Shuxuan told Xin Zizhao all the things she had talked about with Emperor Jinzheng just now in the Full Moon Garden.
Just now in the Full Moon Garden...
Hearing that Wei Shuxuan had something to ask for, Emperor Jinzheng couldn't help but find it a bit strange. "So what is it that you want to ask of me?"
"I want to annul my engagement with General Ge Zian," then Wei Shuxuan showed a very troubled expression. "That... General Long'an is very stubborn and insists that I marry his son. I've already said that I don't like Ge Zian now. How could I possibly marry him?"
"Hahaha!" Emperor Jinzheng laughed out loud after hearing this. "Let me tell you, General Long'an is just like this. He's as stubborn as an ox. Probably only your father can persuade him. However, from what you said, General Long'an agrees with the conclusion that two people should only get married if they're in love with each other, but he still stubbornly wants you to marry Zian. Why on earth does he insist on forcing you to marry Zian?"
"I really can't get through to him at all," every time she talked to him, Wei Shuxuan felt so tired. "I wonder what Your Majesty thinks?"
"After all, I've been friends with General Long'an for many years. General Long'an is so insistent on having you marry Zian. Maybe it's because of guilt?"
"Guilt?" Wei Shuxuan widened her eyes and looked at Emperor Jinzheng. She herself hadn't thought of this aspect. Oh right, why hadn't she thought of it? Or maybe she subconsciously thought that Uncle Ge was a stubborn old man, so she let her subjective consciousness dominate her thinking.