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

But Xie Xing soon realized something was wrong.

Judging from the Empress Dowager's posture, could it be that she's about to say something she can't hear?

Xie Xing immediately wanted to find an excuse to escape, but the Empress Dowager did not intend to give her that opportunity.

The Empress Dowager sighed and said, "Now, the Jun family only has one male heir, Jin'er. The entire burden of the Jun family rests on Jin'er's shoulders."

"I see it all, and it breaks my heart."

Xie Xing didn't know what to say, so he could only nod with a faint smile on his face as he listened to what the Empress Dowager was saying.

She knew it...

The Empress Dowager glanced at her and then said, "In the entire capital, Jin'er only cares about you."

"But last time, when I proposed that Jin'er marry you, Jin'er disagreed."

"So, I've come to ask you if you'd be willing to marry Jin'er?"

Here, the Empress Dowager spoke very carefully; she did not say whether marrying Jun Lanjin meant becoming a concubine or a princess.

Xie Xing thought for a moment and said slowly, "Your Majesty, since you say that the Prince is unwilling, then even if I am willing, there is nothing I can do."

The Empress Dowager waved her hand and said, "You don't need to worry about that. Since Jin'er has shown affection for you, he is naturally willing to marry you."

"It all depends on how much you can make Jin'er like you."

Xie Xing: "..."

You have your own ideas, and what she thinks is irrelevant.

Xie Xing then asked, "I wonder, Your Highness..."

The Empress Dowager said, "I will create many opportunities for you and Jin'er to meet. It will be up to you how you seize them."

As she spoke, the Empress Dowager smiled and took off the bracelet from her wrist, handing it to Xie Xing. "After this is done, I will be your greatest support."

The blood jade bracelet on Xie Xing's slender wrist made her wrist appear even whiter.

The bracelet was quite heavy, weighing heavily on Xie Xing's heart.

She didn't show it on her face, but she felt a little heavy-hearted inside.

What exactly does the Empress Dowager mean by this?

Could it be that they really have their eye on her and want her to marry Jun Lanjin?

However, Xie Xing subconsciously felt that it wasn't that simple.

If that's the case, given the Empress Dowager's status, what girl wouldn't she be allowed to be with her?

Why her of all people?

Even other noble ladies looked down on her background, so how could the Empress Dowager possibly look down on her?

After hearing some dubious words from the Empress Dowager, she let Xie Xing go back.

Once everyone had left, the old nanny beside the Empress Dowager stepped forward, looked at Xie Xing's departing figure, and shook her head: "Your Majesty, although this Miss Xie is favored by Prince Jin, she really can't read people's expressions."

"She must be a bit disobedient."

The Empress Dowager's words just now were nothing more than an attempt to get closer to Xie Xing.

The clever one started to show his true feelings at this moment, but Xie Xing didn't respond at all.

The old woman was somewhat dissatisfied.

The Empress Dowager propped her head up with her hand, looking towards the door with a smile, and said, "This girl is not simple. If she were really stupid, Jin'er would not have taken a liking to her."

"It all depends on what she does next."

As she spoke, the Empress Dowager lowered her eyes wearily and said, "Back then, my brother married that woman, and she gave birth to Jin'er. No one could have imagined that Jin'er was actually the Emperor's bloodline."

"I sent the imperial physician to examine my brother and found that he is infertile. For the sake of the Jun family, Jin'er must stay in the Jun family to carry on the family line."

"It's just a pity for Jin'er. Such an outstanding talent, she should have been a prince or crown prince in the future, but in order to support the Jun family, she has to learn to be sensible at such a young age."

"It is I who have wronged Jin'er."

“Jin’er has the emperor’s blood flowing in her veins, and naturally also has the Jun family’s blood, so it doesn’t count as mixing bloodlines.”

The old woman listened from the side and said, "In terms of background and being well-educated and reasonable, the daughter of the Yin family is undoubtedly worthy of the title."

"Where is the Yin family?"

The old woman said, "Judging from the current situation, they should have arrived outside the capital."

……

at that time.

Luo Hanfeng and Xie Mingzhu evaded their pursuers, which caused Xie Mingzhu, who had grown up in luxury, a lot of hardship.

With tears streaming down her face, she had to take care of Luo Hanfeng, who was suffering from internal injuries, while also evading pursuers. She was on the verge of collapse.

Unfortunately, the weather turned against us.

The sky was covered with dark clouds, the clouds were heavy overhead, and the wind was howling.

Soon after, large raindrops began to fall from the sky, fast and heavy.

Raindrops pelted Xie Mingzhu's face, stinging painfully.

Soon after, the rain poured down, and Xie Mingzhu was quickly soaked.

She supported Luo Hanfeng, her body cold and soaked, her face contorted with grief, and asked, "Hanfeng, what should we do?"

Luo Hanfeng was also surprised. He had originally thought Xie Mingzhu was a hypocritical woman, and that her so-called pity and heartache were nothing more than condescending charity.

But when it came to a life-or-death escape, she carried him for dozens of miles on her back. Even with pursuers chasing behind her, she never thought of abandoning him, despite her frail body being unable to hold on any longer.

Even Luo Hanfeng, who knew the plot, was somewhat moved when he looked at Xie Mingzhu again.

He only used Xie Mingzhu; previously he disliked her and was deceiving her.

But at times like these, one can't help but feel a complex mix of emotions, both bitter and sweet.

He had always wanted someone to treat him kindly, but that person never gave him a kind look.

The person he looked down on the most was now dragging his cold body, supporting him step by step.

One can easily imagine that such an arrangement was simply ordained by fate.

It was all an illusion; it was all a scheme orchestrated by fate to make him fall in love with Xie Mingzhu.

Thinking of this, Luo Hanfeng's heart gradually calmed down.

He pursed his lips, and the cold water droplets hit his face, but it felt as if they were hitting his heart, gradually cooling down his newly warmed heart, and finally returning it to calm.

He propped his pale face up and looked at Xie Mingzhu: "Let's see if there's a temple ahead so we can take shelter from the rain."

Xie Mingzhu's body was already a little weak. She had been traveling non-stop for the past few days, and with the pursuers behind her, she had suffered many wounds and bruises.

It hurts terribly even with the slightest touch.

Xie Mingzhu listened to Luo Hanfeng's words without saying anything, and gritted her teeth to continue dragging Luo Hanfeng away.

Seeing this, Luo Hanfeng lowered his eyes and said in a low voice, "Will Mingzhu think I'm useless?"

"I can't do anything in my current state and will only be a burden to you. Why don't you leave me ahead and escape on your own?"

Although he said that, his eyes were deep and unfathomable.

To be honest, Xie Mingzhu's first reaction upon hearing Luo Hanfeng's words was indeed some hesitation.

She had never experienced hardship before, and now the icy rain was hitting her, chilling her to the bone. She had nowhere to warm herself and had to drag Luo Hanfeng along.

If she abandoned Luo Hanfeng, she might—

As soon as the thought crossed her mind, Xie Mingzhu shook her head.

If she were left behind in this desolate wilderness, Luo Hanfeng would surely die.