Princess Changxing was in a violent rage due to Song Yixiao. Upon hearing the voice, she shouted without thinking much, “Who dares to make a noise before me?”

In answer to her was a shout of the maid on watch and then the door of the drawing room was suddenly kicked open. Jian Xubai, well dressed with jade ornament on his head, asked in an indifferent voice, “Changxing, what are you doing?”

“Brother Xubai…” Princess Changxing didn't expect to see him. Greatly surprised, she asked subconsciously, “Why are you in the inner yard?”

By reason although Jian Xubai attended the feast today, he should be having the dinner in the front hall!

She and Song Yixiao both thought of Wei Mengying almost at the same time. The former one was extremely angry. She knew that such a greedy woman desiring wealth and honor greatly like Wei Mengying must be cunny! However, Wei Mengying was a princess consort and her senior too. Even as a princess, Changxing could do nothing about her without a justifiable excuse!

Song Yixiao felt relieved that Lu Guanlun was not dragged into trouble!

Jian Xubai didn't care about Princess Changxing's inquiry and then looked Song Yixiao up and down, saying, “You look so awful now. Why don't you go to get changed?”

“Okay!” Song Yixiao was happy that Jian Xubai came to rescue her from Princess Changxing so she made a curtsey and then walked outwards happily. As to how Jian Xubai would deal with his cousin, she didn't care at all.

However, she just took one step forward when she was grabbed by Princess Changxing by her arm. The latter one questioned angrily, “Look at this mincing woman! She is only good-looking. You are such an exalted man. How can you fall for her?”

Jian Xubai couldn't help frowning with coldness crossing his eyes, saying in a stern voice, “Changxing, since you call me brother, you should know that you have no right to intervene in your brother's marriage arrangement!”

“You and I are childhood sweethearts!” Changxing laughed with extreme anger, “Now that you don't love me anymore, I cannot do anything about it! Yet, if you are marrying an exceptionally beautiful girl, I will give up! But Song Yixiao, I cannot understand why you think she is better than me! How can you let me give up?”

“Don't make it sound like that I have failed your love!” Jian Xubai, indifferent to her sorrowful questioning, said calmly, “I was 11 years old when I joined the army and left for the battle. By then I was too young to fall in love with anybody. Since I was back to court this year, I have been too occupied with court work. How can I have time for romantic affairs? I have never given you any signal before. It is you who make all the fuss. Don't drag me into this. If it leaks out, I don't know how to explain to Royal Uncle and Royal Aunt!”

Song Yixiao felt a bit sympathetic for Princess Changxing. Even though he was telling the truth, it was quite hurtful!

Especially the one being insulted was a princess, who probably had never been dishonored like this before.

Now Princess Changxing had to face her cousin's cold words. She had bad luck indeed.

The princess, who was aggressive, felt as if being struck by lightning and started to sob. Her tears kept rolling down along her porcelain skin, “You… How can you say my love for you is a fuss?”

The grievance and astonishment in her words made Song Yixiao even sigh for her but Jian Xubai still remained unmoved.

“Look at what you have done to my fiancée? Is there anything wrong by saying that you are making a fuss?” He even nodded his head, “I am very busy. I have no time to play this with you! This time, I will let you off this time. If you dare to do it for a second time, I will not save your face anymore. By then, I will tell Royal Uncle and make you suffer!”

He stared at Changxing's hand on Song Yixiao's arm and rebuked in a cold voice, “Don't you let go of your hand? Do you need me to drag you off her?”

Princess Changxing looked him in the eye tearfully. This n.o.ble young man didn't seem to soften at all. Instead, his eyes became even colder. His arrogant and indifferent att.i.tude was too much for the spoiled imperial daughter within a short while. Then, she pushed away Song Yixiao harshly. Covering her face with her sleeves, she ran into the inner chamber of the drawing room awkwardly.

Very soon, a cry of sorrow came from the chamber!

Looking at Jian Xubai's indifferent look, Song Yixiao felt a bit awkward and didn't believe in his words—”letting you off”. Princess Changxing must be so hurt by him!

“Is your arm sc.r.a.ped?” Jian Xubai didn't care about his cousin's mood or even allow the maids outside to comfort her. He only raised his chin at Song Yixiao and asked.

Song Yixiao was surprised and finally understood what he meant was her arm that had been grabbed by Princess Changxing. She turned around in a hurry and then rolled up her sleeve to check her arm with her back to Jian Xubai. On the white skin, the bruises were rather astonis.h.i.+ng.

Luckily, there was a layer of silk in between and Princess Changxing was coddled in the imperial palace. Although she exerted her utmost strength, she was not a martial arts pract.i.tioner. Hence, Song Yixiao's skin was not sc.r.a.ped.

“Thanks for your care. I'm okay.” Song Yixiao let out a sigh of relief, rolled down her sleeve and then turned around to make a curtsey.

“Go get changed.” Jian Xubai cast a casual glance at her and said that only before he left the room.

Song Yixiao had known that he didn't love her. It was good enough of him to come to help her out. Therefore, she didn't feel depressed to see him leave. Then she left the drawing room and headed towards the side room to get changed with Jinxun.

Unexpectedly, after she got changed and walked out the side room, she saw Jian Xubai standing under the nearby willow tree with his sleeves rolled up.

The willow tree was so old that it would take three or five people to cuddle around the tree. The falling wicker looked like flowing waterfall.

When wind blew by, the wicker flew around like waves, pale and green, which glistened under the sunlight of the April day.

He was wearing a blue round-collar gown and a dark blue c.r.a.pe coat with a white-jade ornament on his head and a royally granted golden belt around his waist. He stood under the tree with a casual air. His face was as white as moonlight, his eyebrows and eyes were as black as ink and his lips as red as blood.

Coincidentally, as the wind blew by, a lot of wicker swayed behind him. The swish and gurgle of water went nonstop as if thousands of loyal servants tried to touch and follow this handsome and elegant master fervently. Now Jian Xubai looked as graceful as an immortal, which was reminiscent of the spirits guised by the trees and flowers in the mystical novels.

Song Yixiao couldn't help gasping in admiration unfeignedly and then curtseyed smilingly, “Your Highness, what can I do for you?”

“I hear that you live in an extremely lonely place of the prince's mansion.” Jian Xubai stared at her and asked with certainty, “And very few people go there?”

Song Yixiao didn't understand why he asked so and then asked cautiously, “You mean?”

“Take me there and don't let others see us!” Jian Xubai said casually, which gave Song Yixiao a surprise.

However, she turned around and ordered Jinxun who was still stupefied, “Return to the feast and explain to the Fourth Commandery Princess and Sixth Young Lady on behalf of me that my spare clothes are unst.i.tched so I have to go back to the Hanxia Villa. If I have failed to serve Her Highness the Princess, ask them to lend me a favor!”

Most importantly, “You must let others hear your words when you speak to them!”

If she didn't order so and others just found that she and Jian Xubai were away from the feast at the same time, rumors might be harbored as a result! Although they were engaged, it was not good to their reputation to get along too often before the wedding ceremony.

After all, even Daiguo Grand Princess didn't admit that she had tried her best to seduce Marquis Fuyang deliberately before being engaged to him, did she?

As an ordinary girl without backing, Song Yixiao surely didn't dare to risk her reputation.

After asking Jinxun to deal with the rest issue of the feast, she hinted at Jian Xubai to follow her. In fact, she was not familiar with the main hall and its surroundings.

Luckily, the birthday feast today had attracted most of the attention. The servants were either busy with their own work or watching the fun. Therefore, although she went wrong for several times and tried to avoid being seen, they didn't b.u.mp into anybody and eventually arrived at Hanxia Villa.

However, after they entered the room, inevitably Ms. Zhao and the other servants were greatly astonished!

“Miss, this is…” Despite asking, Ms. Zhao had guessed who the strange man was. She knew the kid she brought up. Song Yixiao was more than careful. Since she was engaged to Duke of Yan, she would never walk along with other men.

Yet, before Song Yixiao answered her, Jian Xubai, who was peaceful and calm just now, suddenly closed his eyes and fell down!

“Oh gos.h.!.+” Tremendously startled, Ms. Zhao grabbed Song Yixiao's arm tightly, “What, what's wrong?”

Song Yixiao was also astonished. Seeing that Jian Xubai fell on the black bricks, she held back her fear and said, “He confirmed with me that our place was lonely and that few people would come here. Then he asked me to take him here. Maybe he has been injured or ill and he doesn't hope it to be known by others?”

The priority was—”Settle him down first!”

Then here came the problem. In the Hanxia Villa, there was only one mistress, that was, Song Yixiao. Only after Wei Chan came to live here was another guest room prepared. The rest rooms were either empty or taken by servants.

In light of Jian Xubai's social ident.i.ty and his relations.h.i.+p with Song Yixiao, there was no more suitable place than Song Yixiao's bedroom to accommodate him.

Song Yixiao asked Ms. Zhao to summon more servants and tried their best to carry Jian Xubai upstairs.

Jian Xubai was not fat, but he was a tall man. The stairs of the Embroidery Compound were rather narrow. In order to keep him from being b.u.mped, the servants must be careful about carrying him.

Eventually, he was put on Song Yixiao's bed. All the people were panting heavily.

“Come down with me, all of you!” Ms. Zhao hurried to ask all the servants to go downstairs for further order before wiping the sweat off her forehead so as not to bring trouble for Song Yixiao.

Song Yixiao, left upstairs alone, forgot her bashfulness and hurried to put her fingers before Jian Xubai's nose. She felt that he would not suddenly die, making her relieved with a sigh. Yet, she was rather puzzled. According to the rumor she had heard of in the previous life, Jian Xubai was dearly doted by the Empress Dowager and loved by Emperor Xianjia as well. It was fair enough to say that he did really well in court or back palace. Otherwise, he wouldn't be regarded as the No. 1 Mr. Right among the ladies from respectable families!

“Yet, whether he is injured or ill, he has pa.s.sed out. And he wants to hide it from others…” Song Yixiao stared at her fiancée who was lying in bed with a frown, and felt really worried, “Somehow, he doesn't look like doing well at all!”

Ms. Zhao hurried upstairs with a porcelain bottle and a jade box before she was depressed for a while, saying with a stern face, “Just now Qiaoqin came here and said that it was not proper to let others know about Duke Jian's condition, so his servant had to cover it up at the front hall and couldn't come here! That's why she brings the medicine here and asks us to apply it to Duke Jian!”

Song Yixiao fetched the porcelain bottle and jade box, asking, “Do you know whether he is injured or ill? Why can't he let others know about this?”