Chapter 170: Events on the Eve of the National Exchange (Thirteen)

Chapter 170: Events on the Eve of the National Exchange (Thirteen)

Su RAO had just steadied herself when Xianmu Yaling released her hand.

"Princess Ronghua lost."

His voice was very cold, showing no extra reaction to his recent act of saving Su RAO.

"The hour is late, Changle. It's time to return."

He bid farewell to Xiao Mubai.

We'll meet again at the Three Kingdoms Exchange Conference.

He then stepped away.

Xianmu Yaling turned to look at Su RAO for a moment and said,

"Su RAO, you surprised me tonight. Although your martial arts aren't great, your courage and demeanor are more appealing than that Seventh Princess. You're just too impulsive, causing trouble."

A small dimple appeared at the corner of her round, chubby face, revealing a hint of admiration. The sharpness in Xianmu Yaling's eyes had vanished.

She pulled along Rong Feng and left.

Rong Feng quickly said something to Xiao Mubai, asking him to find him at the embassy.

"Xianmu Yaling, it's not your place to teach this princess how to behave."

Su RAO immediately pouted.

"This princess lost tonight because she wasn't skilled enough. But one day, I will seek my revenge from you."

Hearing the sound of footsteps receding, the three of them left. Su RAO then turned to look at Xiao Mubai, who hadn't moved.

Xiao Mubai stood up and approached her, his usual charm gone, replaced with respect. He bowed to Su RAO.

"You came here not for Prince Jiyue, did you? Are you looking for me, or do you want to know who our master is?"

His question was straightforward and assertive. Xiao Mubai didn't try to test Su RAO as he had in Tianguguan County.

Su RAO looked at Xiao Mubai steadily for a moment.

"Tell your master that I don't need to know who he is. I still stand by my words: people like us can either be family or enemies; there's no third outcome."

Despite her words, her peach blossom eyes flickered momentarily.

The red figure disappeared into the inner city lake.

This caused another commotion on Beiyang Street.

Xiao Mubai left the pleasure boat.

Seeing the red figure walk away without any concern for the commotion, he displayed the arrogance typical of the Su family's daughter.

After a moment, he sighed softly,

"If Miss Su doesn't want to know, why keep investigating? If you simply asked, you wouldn't need to go through all this. Our master would certainly tell you who he is."

After leaving Beiyang Street, Su RAO circled through several alleys before heading to Lian Pavilion.

After downing a few gulps of wine, her mind finally calmed.

Looking at Yiying, she instructed,

"Yiying, find out where Rong Feng was during our time in Tianguguan County."

Tonight's visit to Xiaoyao Residence made her curious about Han Mochen's identity once again.

The person who impersonated 'Xiao Gongzi' was actually the Xiao Gongzi from Danliang State.

Though she had never met him, Uncle Hao had mentioned him a few times.

The head of the wealthy Xiao family in Danliang State, whose business empire far surpassed hers.

In just a year, he had risen from a concubine-born son to become the head of the Xiao family, eliminating his elder brother.

Before taking control of the family, he had indulged in pleasures, which explained why he could mimic her Yunlang 'Xiao Gongzi' so well that even Yiying couldn't tell the difference.

But Xiao Mubai, a man from Danliang State and the head of a wealthy family, was working alongside Zhu Xian's Prince Yi.

If Zhu Xian's Prince Yi is Han Mochen, how did he make the head of another country's family willingly serve him?

On the other hand, Rong Feng...

Although Rong Feng's warm demeanor is completely different from Han Mochen's...

"Miss, Prince Jiyue..."

Xiao Zhi's voice came from outside.

Prince Jiyue's carriage appeared at the back door of Lian Pavilion.

Her peach blossom eyes flickered.

"Yiying, if Rong Feng was in Langjing during that time, there's no need to report. If he wasn't, I might have suspected the wrong person."

Another word of explanation, and Su RAO did not linger any longer, striding away.

Her sudden appearance at Xiaoyaoju and the ensuing commotion would have already sparked suspicions in Yun JI's perceptive mind.

At that moment, with everything poised to happen, Lady Huan watching, she had no choice but to board the pleasure boat.

Otherwise, Lady Huan might have grown suspicious.

Exiting through the back door of Lian Ge, Su RAO naturally boarded YueHua's carriage.

The moon had already risen high into the sky, stars adorning it.

Yun JI did not ask any questions, merely pouring her a cup of tea.

Afterward, he remained calm and quiet.

Yun JI's silence only made Su RAO more anxious. Looking at him, bathed in the serene moonlight, as gentle as jade, she found it strange that he seemed completely uncurious about her sudden appearance and the ensuing chaos tonight...

She downed the entire cup of tea in one go.

Su RAO decided to speak first:

"Yun JI..."

"Su RAO, you don't need to explain anything to Yun JI. If your visit to Xiaoyaoju has nothing to do with our collaboration, there's no need to say anything."

Yun JI spoke, cutting off Su RAO's words.

He took her cup and poured another for her.

"Yun JI is not your second elder brother, nor will he pry into your other matters."

Though his words were gentle, Su RAO sensed an underlying anger from Yun JI, not because of her actions tonight, but because of her words on that day.

Only now did she realize that her words then seemed to blame Yun JI for meddling in her affairs.

Pressing her lips together, she took the cup this time but sipped it slowly.

"Yun JI, I was too harsh with my words that day. I know you said those things for my own good, and I shouldn't have spoken to you like that."

In a low voice, Su RAO sincerely apologized.

Silence filled the carriage once again, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.

Su RAO disliked this feeling, especially when facing Yun JI alone.

It made her feel suffocated.

Even more so.

"Yun JI, if you're angry, just say it outright. Don't treat me with cold silence like my second elder brother does. You said you're not my second elder brother."

She wasn't usually impulsive, but after playing the role of Su RAO for so long, she couldn't help but lose her temper, especially when faced with Yun JI's silent treatment. She wished he would scold her instead.

Better than this silent resistance.

A hint of impatience showed on Su RAO's face, though Yun JI could not see it. After a moment, he finally spoke:

"Yun JI is not angry, nor am I giving you the cold shoulder. I simply didn't know what to say, so I chose to be silent. Su RAO, if my silence makes you uncomfortable, why don't you read a book aloud to Yun JI?"

He handed her a book.

"Since it's so late, Yun JI will escort you home, sparing Grandfather SU from asking questions."

For this reason...

Su RAO felt a mix of emotions, looking at the book offered to her. After a moment, she said nothing more, taking the book and reading aloud.

YueHua's carriage slowly left the alley behind Lian Ge, heading for Nan'ning Street.

It stopped at the back gate of the Grand Marshal's Mansion, and the sound of reading ceased.

Su RAO stepped out of the carriage.

With just a brief word of thanks, she returned to the mansion without further ado.

YueHua's carriage did not linger a moment longer.

After leaving Nan'ning Street, Yun FENG appeared.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince sent Miss ZHAO back."