Chapter 217: Always Meeting by Coincidence (Part 3)

Chapter 217: Always Meeting by Coincidence (Part 3)

Su Rao woke up to the evening sky painted with sunset hues, stretching comfortably.

Her peach-blossom eyes were unusually drowsy.

"Miss, His Highness ordered us to help you wash and dress."

The two maids waiting outside spoke when they heard movement inside.

Su Rao sat up, noticing her dirty appearance, covered in dust and grime.

She frowned slightly.

It was indeed quite messy.

She got out of bed and opened the door.

The two maids carried toiletries and clothing, followed by a line of servants carrying a bathtub and bathrobes, all with downcast eyes.

With one glance, Su Rao turned back into the room.

"Your prince has a sense of humor; I thought he would be boring."

This remark showed no respect for Prince Yi, shocking the servants so much that they nearly stumbled, but it also earned them immediate respect for Su Rao.

After preparing the hot water for bathing, Su Rao dismissed the servants.

She disliked being served by others.

The two maids did not dare to mention the prince's orders further.

After setting down the clothes and other items, they left.

A good sleep followed by a hot bath was incredibly soothing.

Dressed in red attire typical of Zhu Xian, it lacked the soft elegance of Yunlang's garments but added a touch of sleek efficiency. Su Rao was pleased.

The high-waisted design accentuated her graceful figure, and a red silk ribbon tied her long hair, adorned with a fluffy floral pin.

Effortless elegance combined with a touch of feminine beauty, exuding a heroic charm.

After dressing, Su Rao looked at the scar on her forehead in the bronze mirror, her gaze sweeping over the jewelry box.

A delicate red plum blossom hairpin, intricately crafted, was placed above her left eyebrow, complementing her red attire and perfectly concealing the scar.

However, as far as she knew, such elaborate accessories were not popular in Zhu Xian.

She had a suspicion...

That this item was specially prepared for her by Prince Yi.

Was it to hide her identity?

With a faint smile, Su Rao still placed the hairpin on her left brow.

"Miss, have you finished washing and dressing?"

The maid's voice sounded from outside.

Su Rao took another look in the mirror, ensuring her attire and makeup were perfect, then stepped out.

"I heard from the maids that you've woken up. This prince has something to discuss with you..."

The brilliant sunset cast a glow on Su Rao, making her red attire stand out, radiant and splendid, with the red plum blossom hairpin serving as the finishing touch.

At first sight, it struck deep into Prince Yi's cold eyes, causing him to momentarily freeze.

Though fleeting, Su Rao caught it clearly.

"Conveniently, I also have something to discuss with you."

A rebellious smile appeared on her lips.

Her peach-blossom eyes sparkled, the corners tinged with a rosy hue.

Su Rao walked out of the room.

Prince Yi gestured for her to follow, leading her to the front hall.

"This princess was indeed captured, but they don't have the ability to hold me. I won't play games with Prince Yi.

Two guards accompanied me here. Since Prince Yi rescued this princess, they must be worried. Please take care of this matter."

Su Rao spoke bluntly about her situation, taking a sip of tea before adding:

"Don't forget about Prince Jiyue. This matter cannot be delayed."

"Princess Ronghua is quite direct in asking for favors from this prince."

A hint of something unusual flickered in his cold eyes, unnoticed by Prince Yi himself, unaware of how his attitude towards Su Rao was subtly changing with each encounter.

"Does this princess need to be polite to you?"

This rhetorical question carried a deeper meaning to Prince Yi.

It implied that since the people of Zhu Xian had brought her here, and he, as the powerful Prince Yi, knew who was responsible, he should give an explanation or allow her to seek justice.

"Prince Jiyue is currently in Border State. It's late now, but tomorrow morning, this prince will escort Princess Ronghua to find Prince Jiyue."

Su RAO's gaze flickered slightly.

A complex emotion arose within her, mingled with a hint of gloom.

Yun Ji is actually in Border State?

"As for Lady Ronghua's guards, if they hear the gossip inside, they will know where Lady Ronghua has gone."

With these words, Prince Yi Zhi Shao remained silent.

Yet Su RAO's face showed a hint of confusion, and the complexity in her eyes vanished in an instant.

What gossip inside?

The next morning, the sun rose into the sky.

After leaving the Guan residence, she understood what "gossip inside" meant.

"Hey, hey, look, that's the woman our prince brought with him..."

"I thought it was just hearsay, but who would have thought that our prince really brought a woman along? That woman looks like she's from our country Zhu Xian..."

"I said why the prince only gave Consort Xin Yi a secondary position after bringing her back from Yun Lang. It turns out he already had someone in his heart.

This girl seems to be more favored by the prince than that Xin Yi from Yun Lang. Our women from Zhu Xian are far superior to those from Yun Lang. Women from Yun Lang are too delicate and unworthy of our prince..."

These voices, one after another, reached Su RAO's ears.

"He... has... someone... in... his... heart..."

Smiling, Su RAO glanced sideways.

"It seems Prince Yi truly wants to be at this lady's feet. Once I capture Yun Ji, I'll definitely save a spot for Prince Yi."

Even if the Su family's daughter's frivolity and defiance might be an act, her lustfulness, as evidenced by her infatuation with Prince Jiyue...

Prince Yi Zhi Shao furrowed his brows deeply.

His sharp eyebrows slightly raised.

It seemed he was frowning again.

"Hah..."

Su RAO burst into laughter.

Her almond-shaped eyes curved into crescents.

"Prince Yi, no matter what, Zhao Lianxin is still the Princess Xin Yi personally bestowed by our Emperor Yu. You only gave her a secondary position?"

Changing the subject, she mentioned Zhao Lianxin.

Su RAO mounted her horse.

This time, Prince Yi Zhi Shao had prepared a horse for Su RAO, a specially made horse, not a camel, because camels moved too slowly.

"But this lady is delighted and amused. To compete with me for Yun Ji, she should first see if she has the ability. Childhood friends or not! In the end, she still fell in love with and married Prince Yi."

She spoke with a sense of triumph, mocking Zhao Lianxin.

Or perhaps more directly,

Mocking Prince Yi.

Kicking the horse's belly, Su RAO rode ahead.

Ignoring Prince Yi Zhi Shao's expression.

As Su RAO left, she didn't notice that Prince Yi Zhi Shao showed no reaction to her blatant mockery.

For Prince Yi Zhi Shao, Zhao Lianxin's secondary position barely warranted any expression, unlike how he reacted to Su RAO.

At least Prince Yi Zhi Shao would frown and show displeasure when it came to Su RAO.

The two stayed in the Gobi Pass for only one day before returning to Border State, ignoring the rumors circulating there.

Su RAO didn't take it seriously at all.

And Prince Yi Zhi Shao, after initially feeling a strange sensation and a quickened heartbeat, didn't give it much thought either. Women's gossip, if deliberately suppressed, would only fuel more speculation.

The two left the Gobi Pass.

Neither noticed that in a second-story room across from the Guan residence, behind a half-open window, a figure in black, masked and concealed, watched them "flirt" from beginning to end.

Underneath the mask, those cold, narrow phoenix eyes were icy.

The entire room felt suffocatingly oppressive, making it hard to breathe.

Xiao MUBAI knelt on one knee, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.