Ji Wushang took her hand and ran away in front of Huangfu Ting and Huangfu Yun, heading straight for the Imperial Garden.
Huangfu Yun looked at the two women, who seemed like fairies descended to earth. Watching their every smile and frown stirred his heart. As they ran past him, his desire grew even stronger.
"Let's follow them and see what's going on! If things are exposed, we may not be able to continue!" Huangfu Ting snorted and followed Ji Wushang and Ma Ruyi.
Huangfu Yun immediately composed himself and stepped forward.
Ji Wushang and Ma Ruyi had a palace maid bring them a small palace lantern, and then they walked to the lotus pond.
When everyone saw that Ji Wushang and Ma Ruyi were suddenly releasing lanterns into the lotus pond, they knew it was a custom for the bride and gathered around.
After exchanging greetings, everyone started chatting.
Ma Ruyi looked around, then gently nudged Ji Wushang, "What should we do? They're not coming any closer."
"It's alright, wait a moment," Ji Wushang said.
Huangfu Ting and Huangfu Yun watched as the crowd gathered around. Huangfu Yun frowned, thinking of going forward, but Huangfu Ting stopped him, saying, "Don't go!"
Before Huangfu Yun could speak, a voice came from behind him, "What are you looking at? Why don't you go up and take a look?" Huangfu Xuan said with seven parts sarcasm and three parts a smile.
Standing nearby was Nan Xuzong, who smiled and said, "Third brother, it's your principal wife releasing palace lanterns, and the bride is praying!"
Huangfu Xuan was stunned for a moment. He lost all interest in teasing Huangfu Ting and the others and immediately pushed through the crowd to go inside.
Nan Xuzong said to Huangfu Ting and Huangfu Yun, "Why don't you go up and take a look?"
After hearing Nan Xuzong's words, Huangfu Ting and Huangfu Yun naturally had no reason not to go and see. After all, it was the Third Princess Consort releasing lanterns for the Third Prince, and they had to show at least some respect!
Huangfu Xuan stepped forward and saw Ma Ruyi holding the glass palace lantern. It was daytime, so the light was not very bright or beautiful. However, from Huangfu Xuan's angle, he saw a different kind of beauty in Ma Ruyi.
Ma Ruyi felt an intensely burning gaze and naturally followed it, only to meet Huangfu Xuan's dark, icy eyes.
Ma Ruyi's heart was beating even faster.
At this moment, Nan Xuzong was already standing beside Ji Wushang, gently embracing her and leading her to the side. "They're here."
"Hmm." Ji Wushang nodded, but when he saw Ma Ruyi and Huangfu Xuan, he thought to himself, "Let's not ruin their sweetness for now! As for Huangfu Yun's true colors, they'll definitely be exposed eventually!"
☆, 258, working together, to verify the fake crown prince! (To be added!)
Huangfu Xuan looked at Ma Ruyi, and the people around them made way for them. Ma Ruyi was a little nervous, but he stepped forward step by step. "I forgot that I should have taken you to release the lanterns. You won't be mad at me, will you?" He didn't even realize that his tone was unusually gentle.
Ma Ruyi looked at him in surprise, her eyes filled with disbelief. He had just been angry, but now he was walking towards her and asking if she would be upset that he hadn't taken her to release the lanterns... How could she be upset with him? He... was very busy, she knew that.
Huangfu Xuan walked up to her, looked at the glass palace lantern in her hand, and smiled.
Ma Ruyi was completely at a loss for words... This was the first time she had ever seen him smile. He rarely smiled, and usually had a cold, stern face, never giving her a friendly look... But he had actually smiled at her at this moment.
"What are you all standing there for? The palace lantern is almost burned out, why aren't you releasing it?" When Huangfu Xuan's gaze fell on the glass palace lantern, he couldn't help but frown, a hint of anger in his eyes. Didn't she know that she should release it before it burned out completely? Only then could she pray for the two of them to be happy together! This woman, she's so stupid!
He had completely forgotten that Ma Ruyi knew nothing about the customs of the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty. Although she had grown up in the territory of the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty, she had been exposed to the customs and habits of the desert. So, how would she know about things like lighting lanterns to pray for marital harmony and longevity?
Hearing his rebuke, Ma Ruyi felt a pang of sadness, but thinking that he also had to consider his dignity as the Third Prince, she immediately replied, "Yes, yes."
Huangfu Xuan saw the sadness in Ma Ruyi's eyes as she lowered them, and felt a little embarrassed. He immediately stepped forward to cover up his clumsiness. "Be careful." His tone softened slightly as he placed his large hand on Ma Ruyi's small hand. "I'll release it with you!"
She looked at him, slightly taken aback. He remained expressionless, not even looking into her eyes, and said, "Pay attention, concentrate!"
Ma Ruyi pursed her lips, lowered her head, and walked with him to the lotus pond with the palace lantern.
A gentle breeze wafted, carrying Ma Ruyi's unique fragrance towards Huangfu Xuan. Huangfu Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly; he loved her sweet scent, which brought him peace of mind. His gaze involuntarily fell upon her, and he placed his other hand on hers.
She touched that warmth and looked at him with a slight surprise.
"Focus," he gritted his teeth.
Ma Ruyi lowered her head and remained silent.
His tall frame almost enveloped her in his arms; Ma Ruyi was nestled in Huangfu Xuan's embrace, and the two of them jointly held the glass palace lantern. Those around them watched with admiration. In the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty, Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong weren't the only perfect couple; now Huangfu Xuan and Ma Ruyi were also a match made in heaven. Although Huangfu Xuan appeared extremely domineering and lacked any tenderness towards women, it was clear that he doted on Ma Ruyi.
General Ma Rong and his son Ma Rui were naturally relieved to see Ma Ruyi being so favored by Huangfu Xuan. It should be noted that Huangfu Xuan had never been close to women, and since leading troops on the frontier, he had never allowed a woman to come near him! And now, it was Ma Ruyi, a woman from their General Ma's household, who had broken his "abstinence."
Ma Ruyi's hands trembled slightly. She was in his arms, her back pressed against his strong and muscular chest, listening to his soft breathing in her ear. Her heart was beating faster and she was even more nervous.
"Why are you so nervous?" Huangfu Xuan whispered in her ear, "Haven't you ever been this intimate with me before?"
“No, I didn’t…” Ma Ruyi’s face immediately turned red.
Huangfu Xuan's face turned cold. "Then just relax. I didn't force you to do this!" What's wrong with this woman?!
"Yes." Ma Ruyi listened to his words, trying to relax, but how could she not be flustered when he was so close to her? Besides, Ji Wushang said that he was jealous before, which meant that he actually liked her... right?
Feeling utterly helpless, Huangfu Xuan softened his tone and asked, "Can you walk?"
Ma Ruyi immediately nodded, "Yes." The two of them practically embraced each other as they reached the edge of the pool, and then slowly placed the glass palace lantern into the water.
The glass palace lanterns slowly flowed into the lotus pond along with the trickling water.
Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong walked forward hand in hand, and the circle naturally shrank smaller and smaller due to the atmosphere.
Huangfu Yun scoffed inwardly. He was determined to marry many beautiful concubines in the future! He couldn't let these women outshine him! He was currently working for Empress Yao and Huangfu Ting, but as the Crown Prince, he would ultimately decide what he wanted to do! As long as his identity wasn't exposed, he was the Crown Prince! Who gave him the right to control his destiny?
Huangfu Ting's eyes turned slightly cold as he looked at the people around him, but he couldn't see anything wrong with it, which puzzled him greatly.
At this moment, Huangfu Xuan gently flicked his wrist towards the glass palace lantern, and his powerful inner force immediately pushed it to the center of the lotus pond. No one knew when the lantern would go out; his meaning was clear: not knowing when it would extinguish represented eternity.
Ma Ruyi was unaware of this, but she was deeply moved, after all, he had never done anything particularly exciting for her. Even the smallest kindness from him felt like an immense blessing.
While she was still stunned, Huangfu Xuan stepped forward and said, "Ruyi, I, Huangfu Xuan, am willing to spend this lifetime with you." He smiled and took her hand.
She was completely stunned! What had he just said? Was he making a promise to her? And he said he was willing to spend his whole life with her, his whole life… He was willing?
Am I not dreaming?
Huangfu Xuan took her hand and gently kissed it.
The people around them started clapping.
At this moment, Emperor Zhou and Empress Yao walked in from outside the Imperial Garden. They saw a large crowd gathered by the lotus pond, but they didn't know what had happened.
Huangfu Xuan smiled again, his arrogant and wicked expression spreading across his face. He stepped forward and embraced the somewhat bewildered woman. Ma Ruyi was utterly at a loss for what to do, or rather, how to handle such a situation! All the happiness had come too suddenly, leaving her completely flustered.
Huangfu Xuan's eyes remained clear and calm as he looked at her face, embraced her in front of everyone, and kissed her cheek. "Relax and close your eyes," he said softly.
Ma Ruyi was so nervous that she had no idea what he was planning to do! He kissed her passionately in front of everyone, and Ma Ruyi was drawn into his embrace, clinging to his strong body.
The people around were whispering and praising her, and some of the daughters of officials were discussing Ma Ruyi's methods. They never expected that she could win the heart of the icy Third Prince... At this moment, Ji Wushang gently touched Nan Xu Cong, "Cong".