After listening, Meng Ruyi looked at her and said, "So what if it's like this?" Shangguan Xue looked up at her, her light-colored eyes showing a bit of confusion. "But..."
"It's not like this," Meng Ruyi retorted. "You're the legitimate eldest daughter of the Shangguan family. There's no connection between that and your having to marry the crown prince."
"Because it's a shortcut, the way that requires the least sacrifice and can quickly get on the big ship of the crown prince."
Shangguan Xue stood still on the spot.
"You're the legitimate eldest daughter of the Shangguan family, their daughter, their granddaughter, but not their bargaining chip."
[What Ruyi said is so right! Clap!]
[Alas, Shangguan Xue is also pitiful. Now that we analyze the plot, everyone seems so miserable. Only that dog of a crown prince really deserves to die!]
[Waiting for Ruyi and the others to fight bravely and kill that dog of a crown prince directly.]
Shangguan Xue was unable to refute. She just looked at the two of them pale-faced, with tears welling up in her eyes. Her heart seemed to be sliced open by Meng Ruyi's words like a sharp sword.
She was just a bargaining chip, not a living person.
The truth that Shangguan Xue had tried so hard to cover up was now uncovered by the person in front of her, revealing its bloody core. She wasn't a stupid person, but she couldn't accept that her father and grandfather, who had treated her best since childhood, were such people.
If she closed her eyes, she would just be the legitimate eldest daughter of the Shangguan family, marrying the crown prince for the family's interests and bringing glory to them.
The words on the tip of her tongue seemed to be trapped. The Fifth Princess standing beside her felt Shangguan Xue's hand gradually slipping. She was stunned for a moment, but still reached out and held her hand, silently giving her strength.
"Thank you..."
After a long time, Shangguan Xue looked up at Meng Ruyi and spoke, with a bitter smile on her face.
"Miss Shangguan, you're welcome," Meng Ruyi said gently. "It's just a small thing. Don't take it to heart."
"Wait."
Meng Ruyi heard Shangguan Xue calling her from behind. Her voice was a bit trembling, but no longer as confused as before.
"I wonder if Miss Meng would be willing to do me a favor?"
She forced a smile and looked at Meng Ruyi, calmly saying, "I can't leave the Shangguan family for the time being, so I can't protect the Fifth Princess. But the Fifth Princess will surely be resented by the crown prince this time. He doesn't dare to deal with others openly, but he will definitely take his anger out on the Fifth Princess. So I can only beg you to take care of the Fifth Princess."
The Fifth Princess looked up in surprise. Looking at Shangguan Xue in front of her, she suddenly choked with sobs.
Meng Ruyi nodded in agreement and watched Shangguan Xue leave.
"Miss Meng," the Fifth Princess cried loudly as soon as she saw Shangguan Xue leave. Looking at her, she cried, "What... what should we do?"
Looking at the pitiful Fifth Princess in front of her, Meng Ruyi said to her, "Come on. I'll take you to the side courtyard to wash up first."
The Fifth Princess was crying so much that she couldn't go back to the banquet at all. If necessary, they could just say she was sick and take her away directly.
After she finished washing up, as soon as Meng Ruyi went out, she saw Gu Ling, who looked at her and asked, "How's the matter..."
"The Fifth Princess?"
Gu Ling opened his mouth and only then saw the Fifth Princess following behind Meng Ruyi like a shy bride. She just glanced at him with red eyes.
"Where did you... pick up this..."
"Cough cough cough."
Realizing that what Gu Ling was going to say next probably wouldn't be nice, Meng Ruyi glanced at him and coughed lightly twice, saying, "There's a bit of trouble for the time being."
"Oh oh oh." Gu Ling scratched the back of his head and looked at her, asking, "Then you and the Fifth Princess might as well stay at my place for a few days. Zheng Yuanqing is coming soon. We can just send her to her brother."
Meng Ruyi thought that Zheng Yuanqing probably wouldn't be very willing to accept this half - sister.
"No. We're in a hurry to go back."
After Meng Ruyi finished speaking, she said to him, "Brother Song is probably waiting for us at the door. I'll leave first. You can come and find us when you're free."
Seeing Meng Ruyi in a hurry, Gu Ling naturally didn't dare to delay. He could only sigh regretfully and watched as his maid led the way for Meng Ruyi.
After getting on the carriage, the Fifth Princess looked at Song Huaizhi sitting opposite her nervously and lowered her head fearfully.
This man is so scary!
Meng Ruyi didn't notice her fear for the time being. She said to Song Huaizhi, "I promised Miss Shangguan to protect her for the time being."
"Okay," Song Huaizhi responded. "It's all up to Ruyi."
The Fifth Princess lowered her head, surprised in her heart.
This man was so fierce that she was scared of him, but when he was with Miss Meng, he seemed like a different person. Even his voice softened.
People really can't be judged by their appearance.
When they arrived at the academy, Meng Ruyi simply arranged for the Fifth Princess to stay in her yard. She vacated a small room and then rushed towards Song Huaizhi's place.
With the Fifth Princess there just now, it wasn't convenient for her to ask. But looking at Song Huaizhi's face, she guessed that things had gone smoothly. Maybe Wen Xiuzhi would come soon.
She walked straight in and asked, "Brother Song, did things go smoothly?"
"It's okay. Ruyi, don't worry. Wen Xiuzhi will come soon."
"There's also a pleasant surprise," Meng Ruyi showed a bit of joy on her face and said, "Shangguan Xue was dissatisfied with the Shangguan family today. A rift has already appeared. She also entrusted the Fifth Princess to me. Presumably she intends to cooperate with us."
"Shangguan Xue is a smart person. Even if she's been hit, she won't be immersed in it. Instead, she'll find a way out as soon as possible."
As Meng Ruyi spoke, her tone couldn't help but be a bit sighing.
It was only now that she had the thought that "Shangguan Xue really lives up to being the female protagonist", and there was a strange sense of complexity in her heart.
"Okay. It's up to Ruyi to decide."
Song Huaizhi's eyes were always on the person in front of him. After a moment of silence, he suddenly smiled and said, "It's so fast. Presumably we'll be able to go back soon."
Hearing this, Meng Ruyi was stunned for a moment and also smiled, "Thanks to Brother Song's far - reaching plans!"
The two discussed a few more things and then heard a knock on the door.
It was already afternoon, approaching sunset. Song Huaizhi had specifically sent the servants away and left a few people guarding the door, so the yard was very quiet.
He opened the door and saw the somewhat disheveled Wen Xiuzhi standing there. He bowed to him and said, "Sir Song, sorry to bother you."
"Come in," Song Huaizhi said. When he saw Meng Ruyi, Wen Xiuzhi was slightly stunned for a moment, and then asked, "Is this Miss Meng? I've long admired your name."
"I've also long heard of your good name, Sir Wen," Meng Ruyi said politely.
After he sat down, seeing that neither Meng Ruyi nor Song Huaizhi spoke, Wen Xiuzhi then asked, "I came in a hurry today. It's a bit impolite of me."
"In that case, I won't delay any longer," Wen Xiuzhi said, with a cold look on his face. "The crown prince is now cruel - tempered and really unfit to be the heir apparent. So I've come to join you all."
"Moreover, the crown prince seemed to have behaved inappropriately in front of the emperor a few days ago and was punished by the emperor. But I don't know why the restriction was lifted today."
Hearing this, Meng Ruyi and Song Huaizhi glanced at each other.
Does he not know? Or is this just a probe?