Back in the room, Meng Ruyi's face was slightly flushed. The Fifth Princess, who had been waiting in front of her room, paused slightly upon seeing this and then asked tactfully, "I wonder if Miss Meng has the time now?"
"Hmm?"
Meng Ruyi came back to her senses and said, "Yes. Your Highness hasn't had dinner yet. How about we talk while having dinner?"
Normally, one should not talk during meals or while in bed. But Meng Ruyi had been tired all day and hadn't eaten much. And she had just run away from Song Huaizhi, so her stomach was empty.
The Fifth Princess hadn't felt hungry yet. But upon hearing Meng Ruyi's words, she realized that she hadn't eaten anything all day. So she nodded and said, "It's up to Miss Meng to arrange."
The two entered the room and sat down. Meng Ruyi's small kitchen had been ordered by Lianqiao to prepare the dishes and rice early. As soon as they sat down, Lianqiao led the servants to serve the food.
"Your Highness, please don't be polite."
After a polite remark, Meng Ruyi quickly started to eat.
The Fifth Princess paused slightly. Watching Meng Ruyi eating so heartily, although she was full of worries, she unconsciously picked up the chopsticks.
It seemed that Meng Ruyi was not as hard to get along with as she appeared. In fact, she always carried an indescribable emotion when facing everyone.
Even when she saw the panicked Fifth Princess, she didn't change her attitude. Instead, she even tried to find a solution for her.
The Fifth Princess sighed and ate obediently. Watching the servants remove the dishes, she then said, "Miss Meng, I came here this time to ask how my elder brother is doing now?"
Hearing this, Meng Ruyi paused slightly and asked, "Hasn't His Highness the Third Prince met you?"
Zheng Yuanqing had been back for a while. Hadn't he met the Fifth Princess?
"Yes."
The Fifth Princess forced a bitter smile and looked at Meng Ruyi. "But I couldn't find a suitable opportunity to talk to my elder brother."
"He... actually, it's good this way."
In this way, Zheng Yuanqing didn't have to face the schemes of his mother's family. And her mother and uncle wouldn't use her to get close to him anymore.
The words were on the tip of her tongue, but the Fifth Princess swallowed them back. She said to Meng Ruyi, "Sorry to make you laugh, Miss Meng."
"It's okay." Meng Ruyi said to her gently. "His Highness the Third Prince is fine now. Your Highness the Fifth Princess needn't worry."
The light in the Fifth Princess's eyes dimmed instantly. She lowered her eyes and whispered, "That's good. Thank you, Miss Meng."
Then she stood up and said to Meng Ruyi, "Thank you, Miss Meng, for today. If I have the chance in the future, I will surely repay you."
Watching her turn around, Meng Ruyi added, "Maybe in a few days, His Highness the Third Prince will come to the temple."
The Fifth Princess's steps paused slightly. She didn't turn around, but her voice trembled a little as she said, "Thank you, Miss Meng."
...
The Prime Minister's Mansion.
When Shangguan Xue returned home, the moment she stepped over the threshold, she saw the servant beside her father say coldly to her, "Eldest Miss, the master is looking for you."
She nodded and followed the servant to the study.
The study was dimly lit and even had a somewhat oppressive smell, which made Shangguan Xue feel uncomfortable and uneasy.
"Here?"
Shangguan Xue's father, Shangguan Li, looked at her calmly and said, "Why?"
Shangguan Xue knew he was asking about what happened today. She couldn't help but lower her eyes and whisper, "Father, daughter is unwilling."
"Foolish!"
Shangguan Li stood up and walked in front of Shangguan Xue. He raised his voice and said, "Foolish! The Crown Prince is one of the most noble men in the world. If you marry him, you will be the mother of the country in the future!"
"Shangguan Xue! You have been living in luxury since childhood. Don't let your good life blind your eyes and make you fall into the mud!"
Shangguan Xue looked up at him. Seeing the disappointment in his daughter's eyes, Shangguan Li seemed to be enraged. "No matter how good Wen Xiuzhi is, how can he compare with the Crown Prince!"
Father and daughter had never confronted each other like this before. Shangguan Li looked at Shangguan Xue as if she were an enemy.
"What's wrong with Wen Xiuzhi?" Shangguan Xue retorted, her eyes sharp like a knife. "His character, his talent, or the thing you care about most?"
"Shangguan Xue!"
Shangguan Li was furious. He raised his hand and slapped Shangguan Xue on the side of her face.
"What on earth are you thinking?"
Shangguan Xue was stunned by the slap. After a long time, she covered her face and laughed softly, sarcastically saying, "Isn't it, Father?"
"Power and influence. Isn't this what you want most? Marry the Crown Prince, give birth to his heir, and then make the Shangguan family rise to a higher level?"
"What about me? Has Father ever considered me?"
Shangguan Xue looked at Shangguan Li with tears in her eyes and a trembling voice.
Under her gaze, Shangguan Li felt a little guilty for no reason, but he still said stubbornly, "Shangguan Xue! Don't you know that you are the biggest beneficiary?"
"Be the mother of the country and sit beside the most noble man in the world. This is the dream of many women. And it's within your reach, but you still want to escape!"
"Escape?" Shangguan Xue laughed again upon hearing this. She looked at him and said, "Doesn't Father know why I'm escaping?"
Shangguan Li was silent.
Shangguan Xue stared at him.
Shangguan Li wasn't unaware of her feelings for Wen Xiuzhi, but he still chose the Crown Prince because he could bring the greatest benefits to him.
As for the Crown Prince's character and her future, they were not within his consideration. He only needed the Shangguan family to maintain its current status.
The next moment, Shangguan Li looked at his daughter coldly and shouted outside, "Come here. Take the eldest miss away!"
"You should reflect on what you've done wrong!"
Shangguan Li coldly threatened Shangguan Xue and watched as she was taken back to her room by the servants covering her mouth. There was a hint of contemplation in his eyes.
...
When Meng Ruyi got up early the next morning, she saw the bullet comments were dense and lively.
[I'm speechless. Why is Shangguan Xue locked up?]
[Ah ah ah ah my Xue'er. She's so pitiful!!! What should we do? Her father seems to want to go to the Crown Prince and force her to apologize.]
[??? Are you crazy? Shangguan Xue didn't do anything wrong. She still has to apologize to that abuser, the Crown Prince. Oh my god!]
[Asking every day. When will this bastard Crown Prince be off the stage?]
Meng Ruyi frowned. She felt that the situation seemed a bit difficult to handle.
If Shangguan Xue was really taken in front of the Crown Prince, she would probably be finished.
Was there any way to get her out for the time being?
But it seemed that everything was not urgent for the moment.
After washing up, Meng Ruyi looked out of the window.
Outside the window, dark clouds had gathered in the sky. The heavy dark clouds were pressing down on the ground, making people feel oppressed.
The rainy season was coming soon. Maybe the Crown Prince had already lost his patience to care about Shangguan Xue. Now he was probably busy trying to clear himself of this matter.
Thinking like this, after having breakfast, Meng Ruyi knocked on Song Huaizhi's door. As a result, Song Huaizhi came to open the door, and there was also a worried Tang Xiyi standing in the courtyard.