"stop."
The Seventh Prince was speaking fluently and eloquently when he suddenly heard Hai Ling's words. He stopped abruptly and then finally noticed the pale faces of Hai Ling and Yan Zhi. Unfortunately, the young master was oblivious and asked a question.
"What's wrong?"
Hai Ling smiled and said, "Since Hai Ling is not worthy of His Highness the Crown Prince, how can she be worthy of His Highness the Seventh Prince? So please, His Highness the Seventh Prince, withdraw this idea and think of another one. Besides, Hai Ling doesn't want to be an old cow eating young grass."
Feng Zihe was stunned when he heard this, and stared at Hai Ling with wide eyes.
"You don't agree with my method? That's the best idea! Otherwise, do you think Father Emperor would take back the imperial decree?" Feng Zihe retorted to Hailing, then thought of something else: "You said an old cow eating young grass, what do you mean by that? Am I old?"
Feng Zihe looked himself up and down, thinking he was quite young and not old at all. Then he glanced at Hai Ling, who was fair and tender and didn't look old at all. She made him want to touch her. However, as a member of the royal family, he had received strict education and etiquette, so the Seventh Prince Feng Zihe suppressed his desire to touch her skin to see if it was particularly nice to touch.
Hai Ling found it increasingly amusing; this seventh prince was truly entertaining, making her want to be his younger brother, but now was not the time to think about that.
"I'm old, I'm old. How can the Seventh Prince be old? The Seventh Prince should think of another way. Hai Ling will wait here for the Seventh Prince to come up with a perfect plan to make the Emperor rescind his order."
The Seventh Prince, Feng Zihe, fell silent, narrowed his eyes, and belatedly realized something, then grinned, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth.
"You don't look down on me, do you?"
Hai Ling sighed inwardly. "Young master, you've finally realized this. I don't think much of you. How old are you? Your thing probably isn't even fully grown yet, and you actually want to marry me? I don't want to ruin a budding seedling." However, she didn't dare show any such reaction on her face and smiled obsequiously.
"The Seventh Prince is still a noble member of the royal family, a dragon among men. If Hailing marries the Seventh Prince, it would be a blessing from heaven. Hailing would be laughing in her sleep. How could she not want to marry him? But does the Seventh Prince think the Emperor would agree to let me marry you?"
Hai Ling looked doubtful. When the Seventh Prince Feng Zihe heard Hai Ling's words, his heart sank. That's right, since his father had issued an imperial decree, he was not the kind of person who would easily change his mind. So even if the two of them said they were in love, he was afraid his father would not easily change his mind. What should they do? For a moment, he was at a loss.
Hailing and Yanzhi looked at him. It was almost noon. Yanzhi was afraid that the Seventh Prince's presence here would be discovered, which would be troublesome. At the moment, her young lady's reputation was still very important. Thinking of this, Yanzhi reached out and quietly nudged Hailing.
Hai Ling didn't need to turn around to understand Yan Zhi's meaning, and immediately smiled and said, "Seventh Prince, you should go back and think about it slowly. If you come up with an idea, go to the palace to inform the Emperor and ask him to withdraw his order. Hai Ling thanks the Seventh Prince in advance."
"Yes, no problem."
The Seventh Prince, Feng Zihe, was deep in thought, seriously considering whether there was any other way to get his father to retract his decision.
As he thought this, he leaped into the air, as nimbly as a roc soaring over bamboo branches, his clothes fluttering, and disappeared in the blink of an eye, leaving behind a single sentence in the distance.
"I'll come back to you when I have an idea."
On the open ground behind her, Hai Ling marveled at the Seventh Prince's remarkable skills at such a young age, moving as swiftly as a large bird. Was this the legendary "lightness skill that leaves no trace in the snow"? She wondered if her Fiery Cloud Boots possessed the same ability, and as she pondered this, she thought of something else.
The Seventh Prince said he would come looking for her again, and Hai Ling couldn't help but look anxiously into the distance and call out.
"Don't come looking for me, you can handle it yourself."
Unfortunately, all that could be heard was the sound of the wind and birds; there was no sign of the Seventh Prince, who had long since disappeared.
Rouge walked to Hailing's side, looking helpless: "Miss, I didn't expect the Seventh Prince to show up. Do you think this is a blessing or a curse?"
Hailin thought for a moment, "Who knows what the future holds?"
"I don't know," but the Seventh Prince was quite simple-minded, unlike ordinary royal sons who were full of scheming and calculation, so she wasn't worried about him.
"You stay outside and keep watch, I'll go into the bamboo forest to begin my cultivation."
"It's already noon, Miss. Would you like to finish your meal before you practice?"
Rouge asked, "Miss didn't eat anything this morning, she must be hungry now."
However, after she spoke, Hailing shook her head and walked straight past Yanzhi into the bamboo forest. The most important thing right now was to speed up her practice of the Eighteen Golden Flower Forms. The people around her were all very powerful. If she was useless, she would probably suffer in silence. Therefore, she had to master the Eighteen Golden Flower Forms.
Seeing that her mistress objected, Rouge dutifully stood guard outside the bamboo grove, preventing anyone from entering and protecting her mistress...
Chapter 016 Banquet
In the Crown Prince's residence, Crown Prince Feng Zixiao had rested for a while and had gotten up. His maid was serving him as he washed up.
A voice came from outside the door: "Master, your subordinate has returned."
"Come in," Feng Zixiao said, straightening up as soon as she heard Agu's voice. She then directed the voice to the door. The tall and composed Agu walked in and stood respectfully to one side. Feng Zixiao waved her hand, and the maids in the room withdrew, making the room quiet.
Feng Zixiao turned around and walked to the couch on the side to sit down. She picked up the teacup, took a sip, and spoke slowly and gracefully.
"What did the seventh prince do?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, the Seventh Prince went to the General's Mansion to see the Crown Princess."
Agu's martial arts skills were slightly better than those of the Seventh Prince, Feng Zihe, so he was not far from the Seventh Prince and Hailing and could hear what they were saying.
"Hmm, what did he go to that woman for?" Feng Zixiao was somewhat surprised, her beautiful, long, narrow eyebrows raised, and a cloud of doubt appeared in her dark, deep eyes.
Agu then reported, "I overheard their conversation. The Seventh Prince said that the Crown Princess is not good enough for His Highness the Crown Prince, so he suggested that she marry him."
Feng Zixiao's face suddenly darkened, and he was enveloped in a storm of emotions. He clenched his fist and slammed it into the coffee table beside him, which shattered with a crash.
"Damn it, the Emperor's decree has been issued, how can we let him have his way?"
"Don't worry, Your Highness. The Crown Princess did not agree to the Seventh Prince's suggestion and told him to think of another way."
"Think of another way?" Feng Zixiao sensed something amiss, his deep eyes narrowed slightly, and a chilling light emanated from them.
"Yes, it seems the Crown Princess doesn't want to marry you, sir," Agu reported, enunciating each word clearly. However, as soon as he finished speaking, Feng Zixiao sneered, "Playing hard to get, how cunning! I didn't expect someone so ugly to be so scheming."
Agu didn't say anything. He didn't understand women. He only knew to follow his master's orders and not make any mistakes.
"Go down and keep an eye on the Seventh Prince's movements. If he makes any rash moves, report to me immediately."
"Yes, Your Highness," Agu withdrew. In the room, Feng Zixiao leaned lazily against the soft couch, lost in thought about his future Crown Princess. However, he quickly put the thought aside. With his father seriously ill, he had many things to worry about and no time to pay attention to a woman. Thinking this, he got up, called someone to prepare his robes, and went to the palace.