Looking into Wei Shuxuan's glittering eyes, Xin Zizhao, who had been a bit skeptical at first, now believed her words. "Are you serious? General Long An has always been so adamant. Why did he suddenly agree?"
"Of course it's because we removed the boulder from his heart," Wei Shuxuan said, elated as she recalled what had happened that day. "Once your father stepped in, he managed to handle Uncle Ge. It turns out they're brothers. I felt kind of gleeful seeing Uncle Ge outmaneuvered. I know it might sound disrespectful, but it's the truth."
"Then tell me, why are you dressed like this?" Xin Zizhao was, of course, overjoyed to learn that Wei Shuxuan's engagement with Ge Zian had been annulled. However, when he saw her attire, besides being shocked, he was also overwhelmed by a strong sense of possessiveness.
"Zian said he was afraid that if the Emperor and Uncle Ge saw me in the eunuch's uniform, it would cause even more trouble. So he had someone find this set of clothes for me to wear."
Wei Shuxuan explained to Xin Zizhao nonchalantly, completely oblivious to Xin Zizhao's increasingly gloomy face. "What else did you two do?"
"Of course we went shopping. I've never had a proper stroll around the capital during the day. Since I finally got the chance this time, I asked Zian to take me around."
"......I'm going back to the study."
The more he listened, the angrier he got. Xin Zizhao left with these words, leaving Wei Shuxuan utterly confused. "What on earth is wrong with Xin Zizhao?"
Suddenly, Wei Shuxuan thought of a possibility. Could this guy be jealous? No, no, no. How could that be...... But then again, it wasn't entirely impossible.
Previously, Xin Zizhao had confessed his feelings to her, but she had chosen to ignore it. Now it seemed that he was angry. Should she go over and explain? Should she tell Xin Zizhao that she and Ge Zian were now just siblings in name?
"Princess Nine is here!" Suddenly, a shrill voice came from outside, scaring Wei Shuxuan, who was deep in thought, almost out of her wits.
"Princess Nine? Why is Xuan Ruoling here again?" Wei Shuxuan stood up, ready to greet Xuan Ruoling. Unexpectedly, as soon as Xuan Ruoling entered, she didn't even let Wei Shuxuan bow. Instead, she skipped over and hugged her. Wei Shuxuan stared at Xuan Ruoling in shock. "Princess Nine, what's wrong with you? Have you burned your brain?"
"Of course not!" Xuan Ruoling was not happy to hear this. She let go of Wei Shuxuan and looked at her unhappily.
"Please take a seat, Princess Nine," Wei Shuxuan sat down and poured a cup of tea for Xuan Ruoling. "Here, have some tea. Now can you tell me the reason for your strange behavior?"
"Where am I being strange?" Xuan Ruoling's lips were slightly upturned even as she spoke. It was obvious that something good had happened to her.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Your expression has already given you away. Come on, is your relationship with Zian progressing well?" Wei Shuxuan guessed exactly what was on Xuan Ruoling's mind.
"Eh? How did you know?" Xuan Ruoling looked at her in surprise.
Wei Shuxuan just gave a mysterious smile and said to Xuan Ruoling in a mischievous tone, "Hahaha, because I'm a goddess. Impressive, right?"
"Humph, nonsense! Tell me quickly!" Xuan Ruoling was really persistent with Wei Shuxuan.
"I've known you for so long. There's not a single word of yours that doesn't mention Ge Zian. Who else could it be if not because of him? It's easy to guess. You can do it too if you practice a bit."
"I just did as you told me, and Brother Zian praised me for being very well - behaved recently. He even patted my head!" Just thinking about what had happened a few days ago, Xuan Ruoling seemed to be surrounded by little flowers all over her body.
Seeing that even the feisty Xuan Ruoling had tasted the sweetness and sourness of love for the first time, Wei Shuxuan couldn't help but twitch the corner of her mouth. Thinking about how she had just made Xin Zizhao angry, she felt so annoyed.
"Princess Nine, I've made your fifth brother angry."
"Really? Just go and coax him. Anyway, aren't you already together?" Xuan Ruoling said nonchalantly, but these words really bothered Wei Shuxuan.
"Wait, who told you that I'm already with him?" Wei Shuxuan looked at Xuan Ruoling in surprise.
Hearing Wei Shuxuan's words, Xuan Ruoling frowned. "Aren't you already together? Otherwise, why would you disguise yourself as a man and enter the palace with the fifth brother? And you even live in the same palace as him."
"So this is what you all think of us......" Wei Shuxuan couldn't help but put her hand on her forehead weakly.
"Although I'm not very familiar with the fifth brother and don't know much about him, I can tell that he really likes you. As soon as he sees you in danger, he protects you immediately. Don't you like him?" Xuan Ruoling felt as if she had discovered some earth - shattering secret.
"Well...... it's not exactly like that......" Wei Shuxuan didn't know how to answer. She couldn't say that she didn't like Xin Zizhao at all, but she wasn't mentally prepared to be with him yet. After all, she didn't belong to this world, and she didn't know if she could ever return to her original world.
"Well, then what are you hesitating about? If you like each other, just be together."
"I have my own considerations, okay?" Wei Shuxuan couldn't help but yell at Xuan Ruoling. "Anyway, I haven't figured some things out yet. I don't want to rush. And your fifth brother also said he would give me time."
"Humph, you're just showing off again. I don't even have a chance with Brother Zian......" Xuan Ruoling held her cheeks and thought dejectedly.
Everyone had their own troubles.
Early in the morning, before dawn, Wei Shuxuan was woken up by Chief Eunuch Li. The maids were arranged to do her hair and change her clothes, which instantly drove away her sleepiness. Wasn't it just going to court? Why did she have to dress up?
"Miss Wei is really beautiful today!" A little maid couldn't help but exclaim as she looked at Wei Shuxuan in the mirror. Even Wei Shuxuan herself couldn't help but look at herself in the mirror a few times and indulge in a bit of vanity.
When Wei Shuxuan appeared in the Golden Luan Hall, she almost caught the eyes of all the ministers, and Xin Zizhao was no exception. Emperor Jinzheng looked at the carefully - dressed Wei Shuxuan with a beaming smile. "Very good, very good. Since everyone is here now, I'll announce something. I've already made a decision regarding my compensation to Shuxuan......"
As soon as these words were spoken, Wei Shuxuan instantly guessed what Emperor Jinzheng was going to say next. Before she could object, she heard Emperor Jinzheng say, "I've decided to bestow a marriage upon Shuxuan and the fifth prince, Xin Zizhao!"