After her mind was read, the spoiled brat became the darling of the whole group.

"Xing'er..." Xie Jiaojiao wanted to say something, but then she saw Xie Xing give her a relieved smile.

Xie Jiaojiao was helpless.

She stood beside Xie Xing, hesitating whether to find a time to tell Brother Xie Ji, so that she could hear Xie Xing's thoughts.

If Xie Yuhe understands what she means, that's good; if not, she'll just say she's talking nonsense.

Over there, Xie Yuze wanted to follow Xie Xing over, but was stopped by Madam Xie.

Madam Xie looked at Xie Yuze with displeasure: "Why do you always go to your sister's side?"

“You’re a grown man, not young anymore, and you still don’t know how to settle down and start a family. I’m ashamed of you.”

Xie Yuzhe was eager to get rid of Madam Xie, and upon hearing this, he couldn't help but say, "Eldest brother and second brother are not married either, so you can look after them for a while."

As he spoke, Xie Yuze tried to run away.

Madam Xie quickly grabbed Xie Yuze and said, "Do you think I don't want to? Your eldest brother's heart is entirely focused on that Yao Qiongwan, and your second brother... let's not talk about your second brother for now."

"Come."

Madam Xie pulled Xie Yuze into the group of ladies.

Xie Yuze could only watch helplessly as he was dragged away, looking at Xie Yuhe with pleading eyes.

Xie Yuhe had no time to pay attention to him; his mind was entirely focused on Xie Mingzhu and the Crown Prince.

Xie Yuhe was somewhat anxious after the Crown Prince took Xie Minzhu away.

They could only follow a short distance away from the two of them, lest they do something out of line.

Meanwhile, Xie Xing and Luo Mingyue and the others had already begun their stroll through the park.

Over there, after the Empress left, Wen Yan and Luo Hanfeng also headed towards the area with the most women.

The two of them headed in the direction that Xie Xing and Luo Mingyu were.

Both noticed each other's movements. Wen Yan crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Isn't your target the Xie family's darling daughter?"

"If you don't go soon, your precious pearl will be snatched away by someone else."

Wen Yan's voice was tinged with laughter. He crossed his arms, glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, and said leisurely, "Could it be that you're destined to be a masochist and just enjoy hating me?"

"Well."

He rested his chin on his hand, pondered for a moment, and said, "However, I find the fifth daughter of the Xie family quite interesting."

Luo Hanfeng paused, his hands clenched into fists at his sides, and he glanced at Wen Yan with a gloomy and cold look: "Is that so?"

"Isn't second place also because they only care about first place and look down on you, and they're just angry and embarrassed?"

Now it was Wen Yan's turn to stop laughing.

The smile on his face vanished.

Luo Hanfeng's cold expression relaxed, and he smiled, "What? Does Young Master Wen want to find something from Xie Xing?"

"She's not a woman you can just manipulate."

This woman may seem naive and easily fooled, but she is actually quite shrewd and perceptive; she will notice anything amiss.

The only drawback is—

Weak, too weak.

Their lives can be manipulated at will.

With a flick of his sleeve, Wen Yan snorted coldly, "This young master will not trouble the Seventh Prince. The Seventh Prince should worry more about himself."

Having said that, Wenyan strode away.

Luo Hanfeng remained rooted to the spot.

His gaze shifted, landing on the girl in the pale yellow dress. She was standing by the lake, among a group of noble ladies, her eyes clear, a smile on her face, talking to the people around her.

With her usual expression.

Luo Hanfeng lowered his eyes, reached out and pinched the jade pendant at his waist, then turned and left in the opposite direction.

...

the other side.

Luo Mingyue led Xie Xing into the garden, followed by a group of noble ladies. The fact that she was the leader of the noble ladies was enough to show that Luo Mingyue's status in her circle was undoubtedly high.

"Little sister Xing'er, may I call you that?" Luo Mingyue asked Xie Xing beside her in a gentle voice.

Xie Xing laughed and said, "Since you call me 'little sister,' I'll call you 'Sister Bright Moon' in return."

Luo Mingyue covered her lips with a handkerchief and chuckled softly, "Please forgive me for only getting to know you today, sister."

"People in the capital often say that the General's Mansion has produced a talented woman. Everyone's attention is focused on Xie Mingzhu, so naturally no one pays attention to you, the real Miss of the General's Mansion."

Luo Mingyue revealed her purpose with just one sentence.

Xie Xing blinked: "As a talented woman, it is something that the entire General's Mansion can be proud of. Naturally, everyone should pay attention to the one who shines."

Luo Mingyue did not expect Xie Xing to say that.

She paused for a moment, then said, "It was I who judged you with my petty mind. Sister Xing'er is very righteous."

“I am just a young woman. If I were Xing’er, I would never be able to bear the fact that my identity has been usurped for so many years, and that what should have been mine has been given to someone else.”

Xie Xing remained unmoved: "I'm used to it, it's alright."

Luo Mingyue: "..."

Is Xie Xing sick?

Luo Mingyue didn't believe that she didn't feel any jealousy or resentment towards Xie Mingzhu, but was just hiding it from her.

Once inside the garden, Luo Mingyue bluntly stated, "Sister Xing'er, I know Xie Mingzhu's character well. She appears kind and gentle, but in reality, she is petty and cannot tolerate even a grain of sand in her eye."

"Before you came, the Xie family spoiled her rotten. Her gentleness was just a disguise; she was actually willful and capricious."

"Your arrival has offended her, and she will naturally plot against you. I imagine you won't have an easy time in the General's mansion, will you?"

Luo Mingyue's eyes were resolute.

Xie Xing narrowed his eyes.

Even Luo Mingyue knows a thing or two about what's going on at the General's Mansion, so it's hard not to believe that there aren't spies around in the General's Mansion.

No wonder the general's mansion was raided; they had spies hidden inside without even realizing it. How could they not be raided?

"Cough cough." Xie Jiaojiao was startled and couldn't help but cover her mouth with her handkerchief and cough.

Luo Mingyue glanced at her, then looked back at Xie Xing and asked, "Xing'er, don't you feel even a little bit dissatisfied?"

Xie Xing asked, "What can I do if I'm dissatisfied? Do you think Sister Mingyue would help me?"

Luo Mingyue smiled and said, "The Empress's original intention in holding this banquet today was to select a concubine for His Highness the Crown Prince. Your sister has been raised as the Crown Prince's consort since she was a child. This time, she has also broken off her engagement with the Fourth Prince. In the future, she will definitely marry the Crown Prince and become the Crown Prince's consort."

"Aren't you resentful?"

"The position of Crown Princess was originally yours, but she, an illegitimate child from who-knows-where, has taken your place and now wants to be the Crown Princess. How can you be at peace with that?"

Xie Xing didn't want to listen to Luo Mingyue's brainwashing nonsense, so he asked directly, "So, what does Sister Mingyue plan to do?"

Luo Mingyue raised her hand and wiped the tip of her nose with a handkerchief, and whispered, "Today, all the ladies and young ladies are here, and they are all high-ranking officials and nobles. If your sister loses her innocence and reputation today, then she will be ruined."