Chapter 983: Chapter 717: A Man Can’t Hold It In Forever

Shang Ruyi thought she confused it, but was reluctant to argue, so she smiled faintly: "Of course she really dislikes us..."

Not only at that time, Yu Mingyue wanted to reincarnate through borrowed consciousness and was entangled with her for days without result, in the end even had some memories forcibly taken away by her; after entering Yu Wenqian’s camp, she plotted several times against them without complete success, and even in the struggle for the Crown Prince, Yu Wenye had previously set them up.

This hostility is just less bloody than the flesh-and-blood slaughter on the battlefield.

Seeing her indifferent demeanor, Lu Xiao tilted her head and looked at her for a while, her gaze flickering as she said: "What I meant is not dislike, but jealousy."

"..."

"Moreover, not them, but you."

"..."

"She, is jealous, of you."

Hearing Lu Xiao speak these words so clearly, Shang Ruyi opened her eyes wide in astonishment, thought for a moment, then was somewhat perplexed: "She is jealous of me? Why?"

"..."

Lu Xiao revealed an expression of helplessness.

She looked again at Shang Ruyi, unable to hold back a bitter smile: "Just now, Princess, you spoke eloquently for half a day, I thought you were a perceptive person, how—could you be so slow?"

"Me? Slow?"

Shang Ruyi furrowed her brow.

Though she was conferred as Princess Qin, now in the Dasheng Dynasty she was considered above thousands, she hadn’t yet developed a personality intolerant of offense, so being "teased" like this, she wasn’t immediately angry, just increasingly puzzled.

How could she be slow?

Jealousy and taboo are inherently delicate, but in her view, Yu Mingyue should be wary of or dislike her.

But jealousy... there was no basis for it.

Seeing Shang Ruyi’s clever yet somewhat charming and naive expression, Lu Xiao couldn’t help but smile lightly, hinting: "Princess, when I was by Wang Shaoji’s side, I often heard them insult the Yuwen Family people, your matters were their conversation topic as well."

"Oh? What did they say about me?"

"Saying that you—were supposed to marry the Heir of the Duke, but ended up marrying the Second Young Master, showing fickleness... in short, not good words. However, the previous part should be true, you were originally supposed to marry Prince Han, right?"

By this point, Shang Ruyi no longer felt shy or ashamed, she just sighed slightly and nodded: "Yes."

After speaking, she immediately understood something.

Then said: "You, you mean to tell me, Prince Han—"

Lu Xiao smiled at her.

Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but laugh as well, as she laughed, she waved at her: "This, you must be mistaken."

"Oh?"

"Prince Han—elder brother, he and I have never met face to face, the marriage was arranged earlier by our parents. After I remarried... I was indeed sorry to him and made him the laughingstock in many people’s mouths, just like Wang Shaoji and others."

"..."

"But, you understand men, right?"

"..."

"It’s not just men, even if he rejected me and married my close friend, my heart wouldn’t feel well, and I wouldn’t give him a pleasant face when meeting him."

Lu Xiao pursed her red lips lightly and said with a smile: "Then, did Prince Han give you a pleasant face when he saw you?"

Shang Ruyi said: "He practices Buddhism."

"..."

"Moreover, he was once the Heir of the Duke, such cultivation even without Buddhism practice, he has it himself. I’ve never seen him speak harshly or show a bad face to anyone."

Lu Xiao said: "Has he ever been angry or lost his temper?"

Shang Ruyi shook her head: "No."

This time, Lu Xiao’s expression became more solemn, she thought for a while and said: "A person can’t completely be without feelings of annoyance and anger, if really not, either they’ve become a Buddha, or—it’s been hidden, suppressed all along."

"..."

"Men, can’t suppress it forever."

Speaking, the corner of her eye flirted, she said with a light smile: "When the day comes that it can’t be suppressed, it will be frightening."

Her words made Shang Ruyi’s face blush—though she valued Lu Xiao’s loyalty and intended to befriend her, the other came from a background as a dancing girl, some bawdy talk came easily, which indeed made it difficult for her to accept.

So she didn’t pick up the subject, just smiled awkwardly: "People are just people, how could they become a Buddha. But people can practice, can’t they?"

"..."

"This, perhaps is his practice."

Lu Xiao said: "So, you won’t believe he—toward you, no matter what."

Shang Ruyi interrupted her: "That’s impossible."

Seeing her attitude of refusal even to listen, Lu Xiao could only sigh lightly in her heart, then said with a smile: "Hope it is as you wish."

After speaking, she mused inside: "Really, could it be so?"

Shang Ruyi was evidently affected by this possibility, her eyes turned a bit gloomy, yet she was unwilling to let herself be influenced by this impossible guess, so she immediately adjusted her mood, then said: "These couple of days, you should rest well in the manor, Prince Han and Prince Qin should still settle the local garrison. Afterwards, you will come with us back to Chang An."

Lu Xiao glanced at her and said: "Yes."

Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and said, "If you want anything, or have anything to say, just come to me directly."

"..."

"Prince Qin is usually quite busy."

Hearing her slightly hesitant tone, even tinged with a bit of embarrassment, Lu Xiao immediately understood, glanced at her, and with a slight smile said, "What, Princess Qin still doesn’t want me to meet Prince Qin?"

"..."

"Aren’t you confident in him?"

Shang Ruyi cleared her throat lightly and said, "Believing in him is one thing, not wanting to... is another."

"..."

Lu Xiao stared at her blankly for a while, then suddenly burst into laughter.

This laughter was different from the charming smile she showed earlier in front of Yu Wenqian. In fact, she completely abandoned her enchanting facade and laughed heartily, even tearing up at the corners of her eyes.

After laughing, she looked at Shang Ruyi and said, "Princess Qin, oh Princess Qin... you truly are a fascinating person."

Being called fascinating by a beauty was indeed a great compliment.

Yet Shang Ruyi still blushed.

Although she claimed not to have the time to drive away all the beauties around Yu Wenye, if one more could be avoided, it would be better. Lu Xiao was so beautiful that she didn’t even want Yu Wenye to feel the slightest attraction.

After Lu Xiao finished laughing and looked at her once more, her gaze became more intimate, and she said, "I was previously skeptical, though you are indeed beautiful, with martial skills and wisdom that ordinary women lack, but I wondered how these alone could make the exceptionally talented Second Young Master Yu Wen so devoted, willing to forsake the Crown Prince title just to save you."

The "he" she referred to was naturally Xiao Yuansui.

Shang Ruyi was moved at heart, and when she looked up again, she saw Lu Xiao looking at her with interest, her gaze even more filled with admiration, saying, "So, it wasn’t just Prince Qin being blinded by the moon."

"..."

"Even if one is blinded, what they see is still something rare and precious in this world."

Shang Ruyi thickened her face and said, "I took that as a compliment."

"Of course it is a compliment,"

Smiling as she finished this sentence, the next moment Lu Xiao’s smile turned slightly cold and she said, "But Princess, don’t be so kind to me."

Shang Ruyi looked at her in surprise and said, "Hm?"

Lu Xiao looked at her too, her eyes heavy as she said, "I will follow you back to Chang An because the current situation is unclear. But eventually, I will return to him."

"..."

"But I heard you all say that you plan to attack Liang Shide in the future, which means we—"

Shang Ruyi raised her eyebrows slightly.

Indeed, just now during the conversation, they had provoked Yu Mingyue to chase Wang Shaoqiu, and the place where Wang Shaoqiu was headed was towards Luoyang, which was the territory of Liang Shide and Xiao Yuansui.

In other words, they will eventually have a confrontation.

And regardless of the circumstances, Lu Xiao would inevitably stand on Xiao Yuansui’s side.

This was no surprise, but looking at Lu Xiao’s firm gaze, an unease or foreboding feeling involuntarily surged in her heart.

Wang Shaoqiu went to Luoyang...

Luoyang, Liang Shide, Xiao Yuansui...

Xiao Yuansui...

She pondered for a while, and finally couldn’t resist, speaking softly and hesitantly, "Have you ever thought—"

Lu Xiao looked up at her.

The words Shang Ruyi was about to say were blocked by her gaze, which was so firm it seemed stubborn, halting them in her throat. Just as she was uncertain whether to speak or take them back, a familiar voice sounded from outside the door: "Princess."

It was Wo Xue.

Why was she here?

Shang Ruyi felt a jolt through her heart, and her throat cleared immediately as she said, "Hm?"

Lu Xiao stood up, walked over to open the door, and sure enough, it was Wo Xue standing outside. She was carrying a food box in her hand. Seeing Lu Xiao open the door to welcome her, she nodded and said, "Miss Lu Xiao, His Highness Prince Han instructed that today’s victory banquet food and wine be distributed to everyone’s rooms. This is what I brought for you."

Lu Xiao smiled alluringly, "Thank you."

As she spoke, she took it, then turned to look again as Shang Ruyi had already stood up and walked over to her side.

She was somewhat surprised and said, "Why are you here?"

Although Wo Xue was a maid, in terms of identity, she served only herself as Princess Qin, and other matters in the residence shouldn’t concern her.

Sure enough, Wo Xue showed a hint of near embarrassment, gave a bow to her and said, "Princess, it was Prince Qin who sent this servant over."

"Him? What’s he doing?"

Wo Xue lowered her head and said softly, "Prince Qin had this servant come and ask if you still have more to discuss. If not, then please return soon."

"..."

"The food and wine on that side are getting cold."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiao widened her eyes in surprise, and then burst into laughter once again.