Wei Shuxuan never expected that Xuan Ruoling, this little girl, was really good at being opportunistic. She was already calling her Fifth Sister-in-law even before she married Xin Zizhao. She really knew how to curry favor with Xin Zizhao!
"You heartless little girl. You actually betrayed me..." Wei Shuxuan scolded Xuan Ruoling in a low voice.
"Compared to you, of course I should please Fifth Brother first..." Xuan Ruoling said with a beaming smile as she looked at Xin Zizhao, but her words were meant for Wei Shuxuan.
Watching the interaction between the two, Xin Zizhao found it quite amusing. They were speaking so loudly that he could clearly hear them. Did they really think he couldn't? However, what the Ninth Princess said really pleased him. This "Fifth Sister-in-law" sounded quite nice.
"You can keep calling Shuxuan like this from now on. There's no need to change your address."
"Understood, Fifth Brother."
"I still have some matters to attend to in the pharmacy. If you need anything, Shuxuan, just tell Steward Li."
"I know. You go and get busy. Hurry up!" Wei Shuxuan urged Xin Zizhao to quickly go into the pharmacy and get to work.
After Xin Zizhao really left the main hall, Wei Shuxuan started chatting with Xuan Ruoling again. "I must say, you're really good at being opportunistic. You're clearly betraying me to curry favor with your Fifth Brother."
"Hehe. Who can blame me? Fifth Brother is the newly - appointed Crown Prince now, and Sister Shuxuan, you're going to be the Crown Princess. In a while, Fifth Brother will ascend the throne and become the new emperor, and then you'll be the mother of the nation! Of course, I'll please Fifth Brother first and then you later! Then you two can help me get together with Brother Zian."
"You've really got your little plan all figured out," Wei Shuxuan said, looking at Xuan Ruoling disdainfully. "You should win Zian's heart on your own, instead of relying on us to arrange your marriage. Do you understand? If Zian doesn't marry you voluntarily, even if you do get married, you won't be happy in the future. Do you get what I mean?"
"......Alright, I know," Xuan Ruoling pouted and looked at Wei Shuxuan somewhat discontentedly. "I really want to send the heavy troops in the palace to kidnap Brother Zian back and force him to marry me."
Wei Shuxuan gave her a disgusted look. "Hey, your true nature is showing. Get rid of your princess complex, okay?"
"Got it. You're so wordy, Fifth Sister-in-law."
"Enough! Don't call me Fifth Sister-in-law anymore. I'm not used to this address yet, okay?" Wei Shuxuan immediately stopped Xuan Ruoling. She seemed angry, but the slightly upturned corners of her mouth quietly betrayed her.
Seeing Wei Shuxuan looking angry, Xuan Ruoling shrugged and muttered, "Anyway, I'll have to call you like this sooner or later..." She thought she had spoken quietly enough, but unexpectedly, Wei Shuxuan still heard her.
"Hey! Do you think I'm deaf?"
"I thought I had spoken quietly enough. Why can you still hear me?" Xuan Ruoling was very puzzled. Just now when she whispered to Wei Shuxuan, Xin Zizhao also heard her.
"We're martial artists. Our hearing is several times better than that of ordinary people. That's why I've been telling you to seriously learn martial arts from Zian. Then no matter who Zian whispers to, you'll be able to hear it. Isn't that great?" Wei Shuxuan smiled brightly. Anyway, Wei Shuxuan knew exactly what Xuan Ruoling's weakness was. She knew how to make Xuan Ruoling obediently do what she said.
"Really?" Xuan Ruoling looked at Wei Shuxuan, who was smiling brightly, half - believing and half - doubting.
"Why would I lie to you? You can go and ask your Fifth Brother!" Wei Shuxuan propped her chin up and looked at Xuan Ruoling with a beaming smile. Xuan Ruoling didn't notice the black wings stretching out behind that extremely bright smile at all.
"......Since that's the case, I understand. No matter how hard it is, I'll learn seriously."
Xuan Ruoling put on a serious look, which almost made Wei Shuxuan burst out laughing inside. How could one hear other people's whispers after just practicing for a day or half a month? One would have to practice for at least five or six years and improve their internal skills to reach such a level.
The imperial astrologer had already chosen a date. They had decided on the date for the coronation ceremony of the new Crown Prince Xin Zizhao. It was set for the fifth day of next month. That day was an auspicious one. Even Emperor Jinzheng thought it was a great day after looking at the almanac.
"Say, I didn't expect you to become the Crown Prince so soon... Just a few months ago, you were just an unknown disciple..." Wei Shuxuan propped her chin up and watched Xin Zizhao trying on clothes. She couldn't help but sigh.
"Aren't you the same? Weren't you just an exiled prisoner before? Now you're going to be the Crown Princess. Speaking of which, you've changed the most."
Xin Zizhao calmly mentioned something that Wei Shuxuan was very concerned about. She blushed and turned her face away irritably. "You're just too talkative."
"But what I said is the truth. You're not going to deny it, are you?" Xin Zizhao put down the belt in his hand, walked up to Wei Shuxuan, leaned down slightly, and looked at her seriously.
Wei Shuxuan knew that she was bound to this man for life. She was forced to look into his eyes. "I didn't mean that. I just haven't accepted the fact that I'm going to be the Crown Princess so soon..."
Xin Zizhao smiled slightly and didn't say a word. He just stood up. He understood Wei Shuxuan very well. Even if he forced her to stay by his side with a marriage contract, she would eventually leave him because of the pressure. Instead of that, it would be better to let her go at the beginning. Only in this way could he truly keep her heart and person forever.
"Alright, hurry up and change your clothes. The ceremony will be held tomorrow."
"You also need to try on your clothes. You're the Crown Princess, and you have to appear with me."
"I haven't heard that I'm going to be there!" Wei Shuxuan looked at Xin Zizhao in surprise, who looked very calm.
"Well, I'm telling you now. I've already asked Steward Li to send the made - up dresses to your room. You can go back to your room later and pick the one you like. I'll send someone to pick you up from your room tomorrow."
"Humph. I don't know if it's really your idea."
Wei Shuxuan muttered discontentedly. Just as she got up and walked to the door of the room, she heard Xin Zizhao say, "Yes, it's my idea. However, Father also said that for my own coronation ceremony, I can make my own requests. So it's not too much for me to request that my Crown Princess attend, right?"
Very well. It was a perfect excuse, leaving her with no room to refute. Alright, she'd just go back to her room and wait obediently.
Thinking of the angry look on Wei Shuxuan's face when she left, Xin Zizhao couldn't help but smile secretly.