Chapter 93: Song Xizhi throws herself into his embrace, only to be humiliated

The Song Manor's carriage halted outside Purple Dawn Pavilion, the curtain lifted by a maid, and Song Xizhi stepped down in her plain white dress.

Today the weather was rather stuffy, yet oddly, the Song family's eldest miss wore a high‑collar light purple dress.

The collar was fastened tight, covering her neck completely, as if she feared someone might see something.

"Miss, do you think His Highness the Crown Prince will come?" Zisu walked beside her, speaking softly.

Song Xizhi lifted her skirt, stepped onto the stone steps without pausing, and lightly replied, "He will come." Her tone held no hesitation, as if she had already calculated the outcome.

The pavilion's sharp‑eyed attendant, seeing a distinguished guest, immediately beamed and led the way.

Purple Dawn Pavilion remained as bustling as ever, its comings and goings all either rich or noble; Song Xizhi had just followed the attendant around the corridor when she bumped head‑on into the Yan Prince's Manor's second son, Xiao He.

Xiao He was chatting and laughing with a few familiar young masters from aristocratic families as he walked out; he caught sight of Song Xizhi in his peripheral vision, immediately smiled, stepped forward to greet her, his tone warm as that of an old acquaintance: "Isn't this Miss Song? What a coincidence."

Upon hearing that, Song Xizhi lifted her head; seeing who it was, a trace of embarrassment flickered unseen in her eyes, and her previously composed demeanor gained a hint of imperceptible aloofness.

She gave a slight nod, exchanged only a couple of polite remarks, then excused herself on the pretext of a prior engagement, her steps even carrying a hint of haste.

Xiao He was stunned by her cold attitude, puzzledly scratching the back of his head, while his companion teased, "Second Master Xiao, your warm face must be meeting a cold backside."

He merely smiled, assuming Song Xizhi truly had urgent business, gave it no further thought, turned and strode away with a group, carefree and unbothered.

No one saw Song Xizhi turn into the secluded corridor; her fingertips clenched the sleeve edge, knuckles whitening.

All because she recalled the scene from last night in Tranquil Mystery Residence where Xiao Jingyuan humiliated her—

Xiao Jingyuan wore a loose outer robe, his damp black hair hanging messily over his shoulders; the eyes that usually regarded her with some tolerance now stared at her coldly, brows furrowed.

"Miss Song, such tactics don't work on me. It seems I didn't make myself clear enough before."

Blood still seeped from the wound on his wrist, bright red droplets falling from his pale fingertips, blooming like a sinister flower on the stone tiles.

He would rather injure himself than share a room with her.

And on her neck remained a scar, his warning to her.

Thinking of this, Song Xizhi felt a surge of heat rise from her neck to her cheeks, then quickly turn into a bone‑deep chill.

Born into a prominent family, she had been the center of attention since childhood—when had she ever suffered such humiliation?

She had wholeheartedly believed it was mutual affection, that adding a spark would see it come to fruition, yet she never imagined Xiao Jingyuan would actually reject her!

And what, then, was her earlier insistence?

Clearly he treated her differently from other women—how could that not be affection?

She clenched her lips, refusing to admit that in both lives she had been overly sentimental; there must be another reason.

Song Xizhi suddenly felt intense hatred.

In this world, it's already hard for a woman to make a living, and she bears the stigma of being the daughter of a criminal official; those who previously weren't even worthy of speaking to her now dare to harbor ill intentions toward the ladies of the Song Manor!

Since the protection she sought Xiao Jingyuan could not provide, she had no choice but to look elsewhere.

Song Xizzi was absent‑minded; though she walked forward, she did not lift her head to watch the path.

A tall man in an indigo‑blue brocade robe stepped out from the corner ahead; Song Xizhi turned and nearly collided with him.

The man was tall and sturdy, exuding a pressing aura; Song Xizhi startled, stepped back, and said, "I, the humble lady, have been rude; please, sir, do not take offense."

Prince Chen hadn't expected to encounter another clueless lass; he had wanted to flare up, but restrained himself, flicking his sleeve impatiently and saying, "Watch where you're going—what are your eyes for?"

That voice…… Song Xizhi's complexion subtly shifted, and she lifted her eyes to look at him.

In an instant, her mind flashed to the time when the poison took hold—there he sat, sprawled in his chair, leisurely lifting his robe's hem, the corner of his mouth curled in a teasing smile.

He stared at her as if she were an amusing toy, with keen interest.

The flickering candlelight reflected in his eyes, looking like two clusters of ghostly fire swaying in the dark night, exuding an indescribable eeriness.

Later, he pinched the antidote and slowly crouched, his icy fingertips nearly touching her cheek, his voice low and bewitching: "I've heard Miss Song Xizhi's name fills the capital, the emperor's praised first‑class lady—alas, her fate is not so good......"

Before his words finished, his icy fingers clamped hard onto the back of her neck, forcing her to lift her head to meet his eyes, brimming with malice.

"Does the poison's taste not sit well?" he leaned closer, his breath carrying a faint wine scent mixed with medicinal fragrance, yet more sinister, "Behave, let this king be pleased, and I'll grant you this pill."

Seeing again the face that in her past life had dragged her into purgatory, Song Xizhi had no time to wonder why she met Prince Chen here; her whole body trembled uncontrollably.

Prince Chen frowned at her lost‑and‑dazed appearance, his tone tinged with impatient suspicion: "Why are you staring at me like that?"

Song Xizhi snapped back to reality, lowered her eyes in haste, and fled.

Prince Chen glanced back at her, unconsciously touching his own face, his expression strange—did he really look that fearsome?

As he pondered, his gaze unintentionally swept the floor and caught a fallen sachet; he paused, bent down, and picked it up.

The sachet was made of fine cloud‑brocade, embroidered with a blooming white peony in scarlet‑gold thread, the stitches fine and even, petals layered, lifelike; up close one could still smell a faint orchard‑grass fragrance.

Only a few threads at the sachet's edge had come loose, dangling alone, as if something had snagged and torn it, marring its delicacy somewhat.

Prince Chen's gaze unintentionally swept the outer corridor, where a rose branch slanted inward, its thorn tip hooking a strand of scarlet‑gold thread identical to the loose thread on the sachet.

He turned the sachet in his fingers, fingertips rubbing the white peony, his brows slightly raised, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes.

What a coincidence.

He casually slipped the sachet into his sleeve, turned to his attendants behind him and ordered, "Check which family that young lady belongs to, and report to me."

Within the elegant chamber of Purple Dawn Pavilion, tea fragrance curled in the air.

Song Xizhi sat opposite the Crown Prince, having dismissed the attendants on either side.

The Crown Prince held the pot and brewed fresh tea, the liquor clear as amber.

He glanced at Song Xizhi's slightly pallid face, poured her tea, and said in a warm tone, "Miss Song, you summoned me—what is the matter?"

Song Xizhi clung to the still‑warm teacup, finally feeling a genuine warmth, her heart gradually calming.

She lowered her gaze, remained silent for a moment, then lifted her head, met the Crown Prince's eyes, and said, "Marry me."

The Crown Prince's hand holding the tea froze, he lifted his eyes to look at her, seemingly stunned.

Elsewhere, Shen Shuangning and her mother emerged from the Splendid Palace; taking advantage of the empty surroundings, Shen Shuangning told Lady Liu of Consort Li's plan.

Upon hearing this, Lady Liu's expression shifted, though it didn't seem entirely unexpected.

A merchant's intuition is always sharp, and Lady Liu, having met countless people, has seen every sort.

So-called offering flattery without cause is either treachery or theft.

The Beautiful Consort showed her extraordinary enthusiasm and promised many tempting benefits, so Lady Liu immediately sensed something was off, though she didn't expose it.

But she ultimately still agreed to the deal with the Beautiful Consort.

First, Shen Shuangning was still serving as a companion reader in the palace; the Beautiful Consort held her daughter's safety in her grasp, so even if she had a hundred objections, she could not refuse to give face.

Second, the Beautiful Consort is currently the emperor's most favored consort, her status exalted; if one displeases her, a few words to the emperor could ruin the entire Shen family, so she cannot gamble with the safety of the whole household.

Lady Liu did not go to ask Shen Shuangning whether it was true or false.

She knew Shen Shuangning's temperament too well; unless it was a definite matter, she would not speak such important words under Gong Qiang.

"Rest assured, since I know her scheme, I will certainly not let her succeed; but for now I still have to go along with her, so I cannot openly defy her."

Lady Liu snorted coldly: "I've been in business for over twenty years; playing these games with me, she's still tender. When the time comes, I'll let her know what it means: the devil rises a foot, the Dao rises a zhang."

Shen Shuangning looked at her mother's calm profile; the worry that had been hanging in her heart finally settled, knowing her mother must have a plan, so she said no more.

"All Shen Shuangning can do now is remind Mother to be on guard, but if there's anything later I can help with, Mother must be sure to tell me."

Lady Liu's gaze had been icy a moment ago, but when it fell on Shen Shuangning it softened; she gently took her daughter's hand and said, "Just stay peacefully in the palace; you needn't worry about anything else, Mother is here."

Mother and daughter walked side by side toward the palace gate, with Ah Heng following behind.

After Lady Liu asked about Shen Shuangning's recent situation, the conversation naturally turned to the matter of her lifelong union.

"Speaking of which, the Marquess's Lady and Xie Lin came to the manor the day before yesterday as guests, bringing many things; silks and teas piled up half the flower hall. When your grandmother saw Xie Lin, her eyebrows relaxed into a smile, she pulled people aside asking this and that—her meaning could not be clearer: she hopes you two will settle your marriage soon."

She tilted her head to look at her daughter, seeing Shen Shuangning's ears tinged red, she smiled and added: "This Xie Lin is also thoughtful; having just returned from the south, weary from travel, he rushed straight to the manor—such sincerity is rare."

Although she did not explicitly express satisfaction, the tone of ease and approval could not be hidden.

After all, what mother does not wish for her daughter to find a sincere partner who truly cherishes her?

Seeing Shen Shuangning silent, Lady Liu guessed she was shy, slowed her steps, and tentatively continued:

"I have also privately discussed this with the Marquess's Lady. Now that you are serving as a companion reader in the palace, you daily have to attend to your studies and watch out for palace intrigues—your burden is not light. Xie Lin, meanwhile, has just joined the Golden Wolf Guard on duty; this is the time to establish himself, keeping him so busy his feet never touch the ground. These days are hectic, so a marriage should not be rushed."

"However, reckoning the days, by June things should be more stable. I consulted the almanac; several days in June are auspicious for weddings, and the hours are favorable as well."

Having said this, Lady Liu suddenly stopped, turned to face Shen Shuangning, her gaze gentle yet earnest.

"Although I said that, the matter of marriage ultimately concerns the two of you living together; no matter how others calculate, it cannot outweigh your own willingness. The Marquess's household said they will fully follow our opinion. Xie Lin also told me yesterday that everything depends on your feelings."

"Shen Shuangning, what exactly do you have in mind?"