After undergoing the trouble at the feast of Shangsi Festival, Song Yixiao, Jiang Muting and Wei Yinlian became besties somehow.

Now that she heard such shocking news, she must figure out why.

The problem was that Prince of Wei"s marriage had nothing to do with Prince of Hengshan, so she could only hear of the result for being in the Prince of Hengshan"s mansion.

Song Yixiao and Jiang Muting were merely acquaintances. Even if they became closer now, it was still too early for Song Yixiao to pay a visit to Jiang Muting without being invited. Moreover, the Jiang Family was in trouble now. It was an inappropriate act indeed.

Therefore, she could only turn to Yuan Xue"e for any insider information if any.

Even if she gained no information from Yuan Xue"e, it would be more convenient for Yuan Xue"e to inquire about.

"Ms. Zhao, give me the jade pendant!" Thinking of that she was likely to run into Jian Xubai, Song Yixiao found that she might take the chance to refuse his proposal. After sending Jinxun off, she whispered to Ms. Zhao, "Duke Jian often goes to Marquis Boling"s mansion. If we run into each other and he asks about the pendant, he may misunderstand that I don"t value the thing he gives me for not bringing it with me."

Ms. Zhao fetched the jade pendant and gave it to her without thinking.

This afternoon, when she arrived at Marquis Boling"s mansion, Yuan Xue"e was waiting for her at the second door. Upon meeting, Yuan Xue"e held her hands with enthusiasm, dragging her inwards and saying, "I heard that you still attended the feast of the Shangsi Festival in the end. I was so worried! It"s so great that you are fine!"

"I must thank you for that. If it were not for that you asked Sister Muting to look after me..." Before she finished her words, Song Yixiao was interrupted, "I asked Muting to look after you? No, I didn"t."

Song Yixiao asked in surprise, "No?!"

"Muting told you so?" Yuan Xue"e said in a deep voice, "Maybe because she was not familiar with you and she wanted to look after you when she saw you, considering her dignity, she did so in the guise of me?"

Song Yixiao didn"t think so. Jiang Muting was not a reserved person, who would act willfully before Commandery Princess Qingjiang. Why couldn"t she express her willingness to look after Song Yixiao?

"Sister Muting told me that you sent a messenger to stop her before the Zhanchun Venue and ask her to look after me." Song Yixiao had a peculiar feeling and reminded her, "If she only took you as an excuse, did she have to make it so detailed? To look after me was a good deed. Even if she made up an excuse randomly, I couldn"t get to the root of the matter inconsiderately. Since she said so, I"m afraid that there is someone who really claimed to take your order to entrust her!"

Yuan Xue"e didn"t know that Jiang Muting had been designated as Princess Consort of Wei and now got replaced by Commandery Princess Nanzhang. Hearing that, she said in confusion, "But I really didn"t send anyone there! Moreover, if I did, why didn"t the messenger do anything to stop you earlier since he got to the Zhanchun Venue?"

Song Yixiao took a deep breath and stood straight firmly, looking at her carefully, "I think you must tell this thing to your brother!"

As to intriguing against others, it was a waste of time to discuss with Yuan Xue"e. She had better turn to Yuan Xuepei as soon as possible.

Yuan Xue"e knew herself well so she took Song Yixiao directly towards Yuan Xuepei"s dwelling without hesitation.

When they arrived, the servant went inside to report on their request of meeting. Yuan Xuepei happened to have time so he hastened to ask them to come into the room. After asking about the matter in detail, he also heard Song Yixiao hint that Jiang Muting should be Princess Consort of Wei but somehow, she was replaced by Commandery Princess Nanzhang. Quite some families had known that one of the Jiang Family would become a princess consort. Otherwise, Jiang Muting wouldn"t be the topic of banter at the feast of the Shangsi Festival.

Now the banter became a slap in the face. It was imaginable how the Jiang Family and Virtuous Consort Jiang felt now.

The people in Marquis Boling"s mansion didn"t intervene with this matter at all. However, someone just claimed to take the order of Yuan Xue"e to ask Jiang Muting to look after Song Yixiao. Worse still, Yuan Xue"e had no sense of appropriateness. Yuan Xuepei put on a stern face and sensed that the Yuan Family seemed to be framed!

"Miss Song!" Yuan Xuepei ruminated for a while and said to Song Yixiao with an amicable face, "I need to have a private talk with Xue"e. Could you please go to the front hall for some tea?"

Song Yixiao would love to excuse herself very much. She had a lot of things in mind. How could she have the mood to be dragged into the household affairs in Marquis Boling"s mansion?

Nevertheless, before she had some tea in the front hall, a man and his servant walked into the hall at ease without anyone conducting them and ran into her. They were Jian Xubai and Ji Su!

"Good day, Your Highness!" Song Yixiao clenched her fists before she rose and made a curtsey.

Jian Xubai was dressed in a black round-collar long gown decorated with exquisite patterns sewed by golden threads and a crimson wide-sleeve jacket. His waist was tied with a black brocade girdle with golden lines and an auspicious mutton-fat jade pendant. Besides, his hair was coiled with a bamboo-joint shaped hairpin made of mutton-fat jade. Red and black were thick colors, which greatly reflected his fair complexion and black hair. He looked even n.o.bler.

Maybe because he gave a pendant to Song Yixiao, he talked in a much more casual voice, "Good day."

Ji Su added smilingly, "Miss Song is here too? What a coincidence!"

While talking, he looked at her and then glanced at Jian Xubai. His intention of matchmaking went without saying.

Song Yixiao was pondering about how to return the jade pendant. Hearing what Ji Su said, she gave an embarra.s.sed smile and pretended not to hear it. She just insisted finished making the curtsey, "The ritual can"t be discarded."

"Xuepei is talking with his sister?" As Song Yixiao was here alone, Jian Xubai guessed correctly straightway.

"They do have something to discuss about."

Jian Xubai thought it over and sat opposite, "Then I will wait here for a while!"

Song Yixiao didn"t say anything while holding her tea bowl. She was thinking about how to talk with Jian Xubai alone when Ji Su took Jinxun away with an excuse considerately, "I left something outside. Jinxun, can you help me look for it together?"

Jinxun found his request quite strange. She was not the servant of Marquis Boling"s mansion and she just followed Song Yixiao here. Why did Ji Su have to ask her to do him the favor?

However, Song Yixiao nodded her head to show consent. For the sake of her lady"s dignity, Jinxun could only take the order and left in confusion.

After they two went out, Song Yixiao decided to take resolute and effective measures. She took out the okra yellow jade pendant and put it on the table. Then she nudged it towards Jian Xubai and said carefully, "Thank you for your affection. I should appreciate your kindness but..."

"Does anyone in Prince of Hengshan"s mansion bully you?" Jian Xubai turned over the tea bowl on the table and made tea for himself. Upon hearing what she said, he put it down and interrupted neatly, "Or anyone of your father"s side says anything?"

"No." Song Yixiao hedged and said, "That day, Her Highness Commandery Princess Qingjiang asked me not to let anyone else know about this. Hence, both my parents are unaware."

Jian Xubai replied tacitly and then asked in confusion, "In this case, why do you return the jade pendant to me?"

"I think I am not good enough for you!" Song Yixiao calmed herself down and said, "Well..."

"It"s fine." Unexpectedly, she was interrupted again. Jian Xubai took a sip of tea and said casually, "My wife must be virtuous. Besides, I don"t attach much importance to one"s look."

In fact, Song Yixiao felt that she was good-looking!

How could Jian Xubai say that his wife must be virtuous?

Was this man blind?

Song Yixiao felt so angry and yet said falsely, "I am not virtuous enough..."

"You don"t have to excel in that." Jian Xubai answered with an aloof look, "Didn"t you do a good job at the feast of Shangsi Festival?"

So he fell for Song Yixiao because of what happened there?

Song Yixiao was stunned for a while and still asked out of curiosity, "There were so many outstanding girls at the feast of the Shangsi Festival, who were both beautiful and talented. I am totally no match for them. Why did you choose me then?"

"Your family background is not impressive and you are fine in terms of virtue and appearance. Most importantly, you are sensible and know how to act properly." Jian Xubai said honestly without concealing his thought, "You"ve met the several requirements I have on my future wife, so I guess you are the one."

Song Yixiao was speechless.

So did she have to thank Cui Jianlian for being framed by her?

Thanks to that, she not only made friends with Jiang Muting and Wei Yinlian but also got chosen by Jian Xubai coincidentally?

"You don"t seem happy with my decision?" Judging from her silence, Jian Xubai seemed to see through her and then smiled teasingly, "If you are really unhappy, you may express your thought!"

If Jian Xubai proposed before the feast of the Shangsi Festival, Song Yixiao would say yes for getting out of Prince of Hengshan"s mansion regardless of his intention.

However, at the feast of the Shangsi Festival, both Jiang Muting and Wei Yinlian expressed their will to be her family. Since she had other options, she would have to consider more inevitably.

For example, "Whether Jian Xubai was lying or not, what he really wants to do is to marry me and do away with me in secret. Even if he was telling the truth, obviously he marries me only because I am suitable to be his wife not out of affection. Even though I don"t insist my husband must love me for the whole lifetime, I cannot make the decision arbitrarily. I am quite flurried indeed!"

Most importantly, "Six years ago, I heard that he was going to marry a princess. Why isn"t this mentioned now? Is it because he has been held as hostage by Wuhuan that Princess Changxing doesn"t want to take him? However, given his appearance and demeanor, what kind of girl can say no to him?"

She could say no to him only because she was fearful.

But what could Princess Changxing fear as a descendant of the royal family?

"Even if the princess has seen a lot of handsome men and dislikes him, what about Lu Kou"er? Besides, why did he say that he didn"t want a girl with impressive family background?" By instinct, Song Yixiao felt the complicated situation of Jian Xubai. Otherwise, why didn"t he dare to marry a girl of n.o.ble family? And he just preferred a girl of plain family background?

All in all, if she married Jian Xubai, it might be a seemingly honorable and yet troublesome thing.

Song Yixiao didn"t even want to stay long at Prince of Hengshan"s mansion, which she knew quite well, let alone putting herself in the unknown trouble?

After careful consideration, she eventually made up her mind and raised her head, saying, "Please forgive me!"

Saying that, she nudged the okra yellow jade pendant to his hand and felt relieved!

"Then put it away!" Jian Xubai just glanced at the jade pendant and then ordered calmly.

Song Yixiao was shocked, "Your Highness, didn"t you just say…"

How could a duke go back on his words like this?

"I only let you express your thought if you are unhappy with my decision but I never promised to consent your refusal." Jian Xubai put down the tea bowl with his eyes full of playful intention and said smilingly, "Anyway, I don"t have the patience to pick another girl as my wife, so I must marry you regardless of your willingness!"

Song Yixiao was astounded.

She was so discontented and resentful!