Xiao Anning froze. He knew that His Highness, Liu Ming, didn’t like him, but they usually kept their distance from each other while maintaining common courtesy.
Today, Liu Ming had actually asked him out in private to say such, such… rude words. Pardon the Young Marquis, whose upbringing was just too good for words; he simply couldn’t come up with a nasty enough word to describe Liu Ming’s vicious language.
“If he’s not worthy of her, does that mean you are?” A beautiful voice as languid and melodious as the lake rippling next to them suddenly lazily interrupted them.
Liu Ming was taken aback and turned around to look in the direction of the voice. That was when he saw the legendary Divine Operator idly strolling toward him with two attendants with extraordinary presence behind her.
It then occurred to Liu Ming that the Divine Operator had undoubtedly heard the things he’d said earlier, and he felt a pang of panic, but he soon recovered his composure.
“Even if you are the Divine Operator, you can’t ignore the people’s wishes and subject them to mismatched marriages,” Liu Ming said with righteous indignation.
“This marriage is what the prime minister and his family painstakingly begged for, and that the Duke’s family eventually agreed to, albeit reluctantly. In consideration of Ji Liruo’s dignity, the Duke’s family then declared themselves the ones who had proposed the marriage. Ji Liruo knows this better than anyone else. If she’s dissatisfied with the marriage, she can outright reject it herself. How can she agree to it and yet be reluctant to go through with it? Doing something that benefits you, then regarding it as something that shouldn’t have been done in the first place… everything has to be done to your advantage. How wonderfully sweet things must be for you.” Tian Miao’s voice was calm as she stated the truth. It was just that the last thing she said, even it was just words of mockery, was spoken in so monotonous and flat a tone that it caused Xiao Anning to freeze in place.
In Xiao Anning’s impression, Tian Miao was someone of few words. She would only talk a lot when she came across things that she liked. For example, good food and fine wine, brocades, and finery. Other times, she was simply too lazy to speak.
Today, because of him, she had spoken up and said so much just to defend him…
Xiao Anning rubbed his chest. He’d gotten a warm feeling inside.
“No, it can’t be…” Liu Ming’s expression changed, reflecting how increasingly uncomfortable he was feeling. But there was a voice in his mind that was screaming, “Yes. This is the truth. This is then the truth!”
Tian Miao walked up and whispered to Xiao Anning, “Let’s go. The banquet is about to start.”
“Mm-Mm.” Xiao Anning listened to Tian Miao, flashed a docile smile, and nodded obediently.
Xiao Anning had just followed Tian Miao in turning around when he heard a loud splash behind them.
That was the sound of someone falling into the water.
“Ah…!” Liu Ming’s startled cry was heard.
“You won’t die. And it’s good for you. You can cool yourself down in the water.” Tian Miao’s tone seemed to say that she found the weather today pretty nice.
And Kong Hou, who had kicked Liu Ming into the water, withdrew her leg and even made a smug face at Liu Ming in the lake. To be kicked by a dragon. You should feel honored!
“This, it’s not really a good thing to do, is it?” Xiao Anning was a little worried. It was only early spring, and the weather was still a little cold. Wasn’t it bad for Liu Ming to fall into the cold lake like this?
“Of course it is,” Kong Hou replied in a cheery tone.
“He’s someone from the royal family, yet so easily used by others to stir things up. If someone like him were to ascend the throne, this country would be as good as finished.” Dong Xiao’s low and deep voice could be heard from behind. It was dripping with sarcasm.
Xiao Anning actually found what was said very reasonable and banished the thought of getting someone to save Liu Ming. Anyway, Liu Ming himself knew how to swim, so he could just slowly swim himself back to shore. Of course, the blind Young Marquis hadn’t seen Kong Hou knock Liu Ming back into the water just as he’d been about to swim to shore. Master had said she wanted him to cool off in the water, so he had to cool off enough before coming out!
“You… what audacity, grumble, grumble…” Liu Ming’s voice was drowned out by the water. He felt so much bitterness in his heart. He was the one who had asked Xiao Anning out and given the orders that no one was allowed to come near the lake. Now he was reaping what he’d sown.