The female supporting role is really here to mess things up

Lu Qingxi and Xiao Yuebai walked out of the market. It was already dark and the crowd around them gradually thinned out. Lu Qingxi gently patted Xiao Yuebai's arm, signaling him to let go. Xiao Yuebai then realized that he had been holding Qingxi tightly, and couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. He let go of her hand and smiled apologetically: "I'm sorry, I... I was too nervous."

Lu Qingxi shook her head, indicating that she didn't mind. However, she could also feel Xiao Yuebai's disappointment. After all, the two had originally planned to release lanterns together, but they didn't expect such a thing to happen. She comforted him softly, "It's okay, let's come again next time."

Xiao Yuebai nodded, but the loss in his heart was hard to calm down. He understood that the most important thing now was to protect Qingxi's safety. So he decided to escort her home. The two walked side by side, and in the night, their figures gradually disappeared at the corner of the street in the distance.

When Xiao Ruixuan returned to his house, he couldn't stop thinking about the woman wearing a veil. He immediately ordered the secret guards to keep an eye on the woman wearing a veil on the street and to secretly investigate her. However, for five consecutive days, the secret guards did not find any clues. Xiao Ruixuan recalled the scene of Lu Qingxi being held in the arms of a strange man and leaving, and endless sorrow surged in his heart.

At this time, Concubine Duan's summons reached his ears. He went to the palace reluctantly, but was scolded by Concubine Duan. Concubine Duan warned him not to act recklessly and to marry Lu Shiyao as soon as possible. Xiao Ruixuan felt bitter in his heart, because he knew that even if he found the woman he liked, his mother would not let them be together.

After returning to the mansion, Xiao Ruixuan sat in the study room in a daze. He took out the woman's portrait and stared at the familiar face, with an inexplicable emotion in his heart. He did not sleep all night, and fell asleep in front of the desk until dawn.

On the second day, Lu Shiyao was invited to the Prince's Mansion. When she walked to the door of the study, the servant came to inform her. Xiao Ruixuan woke up as if from a dream and hurriedly got up to greet her. However, she did not expect that when Lu Shiyao entered the study, she saw the portrait of a woman on the table. She was stunned. Wasn't the woman in the portrait her second sister, Lu Qingxi?

Lu Shiyao was filled with mixed emotions. The day before yesterday, the prince came to the mansion and told his father that he wanted to suppress his second sister, but now he placed her portrait in the study. She couldn't help but doubt the prince's true intentions.

Seeing Lu Shiyao staring at his desk, Xiao Ruixuan couldn't help but feel nervous. He looked up and realized that he had forgotten to put away the portrait. He felt that Lu Shiyao's eyes did not seem to be looking at a stranger, so he asked, "Have you seen her?"

Lu Shiyao stared at the prince quietly, his eyes were full of eagerness and expectation, but her heart was cold. It seemed that he didn't know that the person in the painting was her second sister, and he should like her. She thought to herself, although the prince was of noble status, how could he be worthy of her second sister who was like a pearl?

So, she deliberately pretended to be puzzled and responded to the prince's question: "I just thought the person in the painting was so beautiful that I looked at her a few more times. How could I have seen such a beautiful woman?" Her voice was soft and a little cold, as if she was perfunctory.

When Xiao Ruixuan heard her answer, the hope that had just risen in his heart was instantly shattered. He looked at the portrait in his hand helplessly, and then looked at Lu Shiyao in front of him, with mixed feelings in his heart. He knew that he and the woman in the portrait seemed to always lack a little fate, and Lu Shiyao in front of him was not the person he expected.

Thinking of his mother's instructions, he hesitated for a moment. He knew he should act according to his mother's wishes, but Lu Shiyao in front of him made him feel an inexplicable sense of alienation. He looked at her clear eyes, and an inexplicable emotion surged in his heart.

Lu Shiyao looked at the prince's hesitation and struggle, and she knew it in her heart. She knew that the prince didn't like her, and didn't like to get along with her. And she didn't have any feelings for the prince. She didn't want to force him for power, and she didn't want to let herself fall into a loveless marriage.

So, she decided to have a frank talk with the prince. She took a deep breath and said firmly, "Your Highness, you saved my life before, and I am grateful. But after spending these days together, I know that your heart is not with me. I don't have any improper thoughts about your Highness, and I will not force anything for power. In fact, your Highness should face his heart and do what he really wants to do. I only hope that your Highness can find the happiness that truly belongs to you, instead of being bound by power and interests."

After hearing her words, Xiao Ruixuan looked up at her in shock. He saw determination and fearlessness in Lu Shiyao's eyes, and couldn't help sighing in his heart. He knew that she was speaking from the heart. It turned out that she had seen through his thoughts a long time ago.

He looked directly into Lu Shiyao's eyes, trying to discern the truth from her expression. However, all he saw was determination and fearlessness. He sighed in his heart, knowing that he could no longer force it.

So, he raised his head and said to Lu Shiyao sincerely: "Miss Lu, I know what you mean. I will not bother you again in the future, you can go back." The moment he said this, he felt an unprecedented sense of relief. A real smile appeared on his face, which was the relief that welled up from the bottom of his heart.

Lu Shiyao was relieved when she heard the prince's words. She felt that the prince could still be saved, at least he was willing to face reality and listen to advice. Thinking that the prince had saved her life before, she decided to give the prince a hint before leaving.

She said calmly, "Your Highness, I have something to say to you."

After hearing this, Xiao Ruixuan was also willing to listen to what else she had to say: "Go ahead."

Lu Shiyao smiled gently and said, "It's far away in the sky, but it's right in front of us." After that, she turned and left without leaving the prince any chance to ask questions.

Xiao Ruixuan stayed alone in the study, with the deep meaning of Lu Shiyao's words "far away in the horizon, close at hand" echoing in his mind. He thought quietly and called A Xu who was guarding outside. He looked at A Xu firmly and ordered in a steady voice:

"Ah Xu, go check all the women who have had contact with Lu Shiyao, especially those who have never shown their faces. What I have in mind should be hidden among these women."

Ah Xu nodded immediately upon hearing this, and turned around to leave. He knew very well the prince's obsession with the girl, and also understood the importance of this mission. He secretly vowed in his heart that he must find the person in the prince's heart as soon as possible.