"A marriage alliance between two countries is a matter of great importance to the nation. If Miss Ji is fond of the Emperor, I believe he will surely grant her the title of Consort. Since ancient times, the imperial harem has been filled with three thousand beauties, so it is only natural for Miss Ji, with her stunning looks, to enter the palace to serve the Emperor. However, it is best not to have any improper thoughts about it."
Ruan Jingyue acted very magnanimously, as if the position of Empress of Beilu Kingdom was firmly in her grasp. Moreover, there was tolerance in her eyes, as if allowing Hailing to enter the palace was a great favor from her.
Hai Ling couldn't help but laugh. She really didn't understand why she needed to sit here and talk about such boring topics with this woman. She wouldn't even want to become an empress, let alone a concubine in the palace. So why did she need to talk to this person about these things?
Thinking to himself, he stood up, his expression calm and composed, neither angry nor displeased, with a dignified air and a faint smile on his lips.
"Princess Jingyue, please rest assured, Hailing does not like to share a husband with another person, so please put your mind at ease."
"Not sharing a husband with another woman?"
Ruan Jingyue was stunned and couldn't react for a moment. What did this woman mean? She had never heard of any man of high position and power who would be willing to marry only one wife. As she was thinking this, she saw Hailing open the door and walk out. Outside the door, the maids, including Shimei, came over and asked, "Miss, are you alright?"
"It's nothing, what could possibly be wrong? Having tea with the princess is one of the greatest pleasures in life."
After saying that, he led the group downstairs. When no one was paying attention to him, Shen Ruoxuan quietly slipped into the private room and looked at Ruan Jingyue with a calm and reserved expression.
“Jingyue, I’m advising you one more time. Go back to Nanling and don’t participate in the talent show in Beilu. I’m afraid you’ll suffer.”
"Would I suffer a loss?"
Ruan Jingyue's voice involuntarily became sharp as she looked at Shen Ruoxuan with an angry and cold expression.
"What makes you think I'm at a disadvantage? I came to Beilu to participate in the imperial concubine selection on behalf of my father and mother, carrying out the grand plan of a marriage alliance between our two nations. Our hope is that Nanling and Beilu will form a marriage alliance, giving us a chance to overthrow Shaoyi. Do you know that Shaoyi has reclaimed a large portion of the city? Not only that, they also destroyed a small country. Their territory, while not as vast as before, isn't much smaller. Do you think they would coexist peacefully with us after we destroyed Shaoyi? Right now, only a marriage alliance is the long-term solution. But what have you done? You do nothing and just make sarcastic remarks. What makes you think I'm at a disadvantage? Just because that woman is prettier?"
Ruan Jingyue became more and more agitated as she spoke, glaring angrily at her brother for boosting others' morale while diminishing her own.
Shen Ruoxuan was speechless. He was truly at a loss for words. His good intentions had been taken for granted. Fine, whatever happened to her from now on was none of his business.
Anyway, he never considered Nanling as his home; his home was Medicine King Valley.
"Whatever you want."
Shen Ruoxuan turned to leave, but just then, a thunderous roar came: "Shen Ruoxuan, you're dead again. It seems you don't want to go back to the Ji family mansion?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Ruoxuan felt a chill run down his spine. He knew without a doubt who this person was; there was no one but Shi Mei. His expression changed, and he quickly slipped away and ran outside.
Ruan Jingyue frowned, her eyes filled with disdain. A prince of such high status was being bossed around by an unknown servant. What kind of person had he become? And he still had the nerve to talk to her like that. However, she couldn't help but call out to Shen Ruoxuan.
"Brother Wang, do you like the young lady from the Ji family?"
If that's the case, why not encourage my brother to marry the young lady of the Ji family? Then Ye Lingfeng would be hers, wouldn't he?
Unfortunately, the moment she opened her mouth, Shen Ruoxuan's face changed in fright. If these words were to reach Ye Lingfeng's ears, he would be in deep trouble.
"No, she is my master."
Shen Ruoxuan left after saying that. Inside the private room, Ruan Jingyue was petrified and couldn't react. Ji Hailing was actually her brother's master. Could it be that she was a doctor and had superb medical skills?
Outside the private room, a young maidservant darted in: "Princess, Princess, are you alright?"
Ruan Jingyue shook her head: "It's nothing." After calming down, she realized that the waters of Beilu seemed to be very deep, and she should be careful.
Inside the carriage of the Ji family, Hai Ling, Fu Yue, Shi Mei, and others sat inside, while Shen Ruoxuan and the coachman sat outside.
Outside the car, Shen Ruoxuan said worriedly, "Master, don't be angry. I didn't mean to hide it from you."
Unfortunately, no one paid him any attention, not even the usually talkative Shi Mei.
Shen Ruoxuan felt a chill in his heart. His master was really angry. What should he do?
“Master, I will never lie to you again. You can believe me. I just want Jingyue to go back to Nanling.”
"Master, please don't be angry and kick me out."
His medical skills are improving rapidly, and he's very interested in that surgery. Master, please don't expel him from the school!
Shen Ruoxuan was extremely depressed, his face almost contorted into a bitter grin. The people inside the carriage ignored him until they arrived at the Ji residence. When Fuyue lifted the curtain, he saw three faces inside the carriage suppressing laughter. Only then did he realize that the three women had been playing a trick on him, and Shen Ruoxuan couldn't help but complain.
"Master, I was terrified! You could at least have answered me!"
Hai Ling stepped off the carriage and casually remarked, "Do you want to be expelled from the sect?"
No!
"Try it next time."
Hai Ling left with a remark and led Fu Yue, Shi Mei, and the others inside. Shen Ruoxuan finally realized that his master had forgiven him this time, which was great. However, she said that there should be no next time, so he must never provoke her again, otherwise he would really be expelled from the sect, which would be truly shameful.
Hailing led several maids into Xiangwu Courtyard to rest, with Shimei keeping watch and not allowing anyone to disturb her.
After sleeping for a while, I woke up and the steward of the manor led people over to report.
"Miss, a distinguished guest has arrived and wishes to pay his respects?"
"Distinguished guest?"
Hai Ling didn't know who the person was, and having just met Ruan Jingyue earlier that day, she really wasn't in the mood to meet just anyone. She frowned and looked at the butler: "What kind of distinguished guest is this?"
"This servant can't quite put his finger on it. This person doesn't look like someone from Northern Lu. His clothes don't resemble those of Northern Lu; they look more like those of the Great Zhou Dynasty. He exudes a very domineering aura, so this servant guesses that he must be either rich or noble."
"oh."
Hailing glanced at Shimei to the side and said, "Go and see quietly, then come back and report to me immediately. See who it is."
"Yes, Miss."
Shi Mei slipped out and quickly disappeared into the main hall of the general's mansion. She peeked out from the door and was shocked to find that the person who came was... who was it?