Xie Jingzhou thought that no matter how he put it, Ji Zizhao would not be able to refuse. However, as he stepped onto the stairs, he looked back and saw Ji Zizhao standing still.
Facing Xie Jingzhou's gaze, Ji Zizhao said faintly, "A man and a woman should not be too intimate. Fifth Highness, please go first."
Xie Jingzhou: "..."
He never expected Ji Zizhao to be so uncooperative!
But on second thought, ever since he had known Ji Zizhao, she had never given him any face.
"Back then, I was betrothed to the eldest daughter of the Ji family. If fate had been kind, the eldest daughter of the Ji family would not be so distant from me now." Xie Jingzhou had a naturally harmless face, and coupled with the innocent and regretful expression he wore now, he was truly a master of disguise.
No wonder he could hide his true nature so well among the princes.
Even the Emperor probably didn't know his son's true face.
But the same words, when heard by Ji Zizhao, only made her feel more disgusted with this wolf in sheep's clothing!
He had plotted against the Ji family first and then taken advantage of their misfortune. Now, he dismissed it all with a mere "fate was not kind," which was truly shameless.
"Since Fifth Highness agreed to our divorce back then, you should not dwell on the past. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't mind them looking back, but Fifth Highness's words... it's best to look forward."
What was there to look back on?
Whether it was the Second Prince's fall, his and Consort Xi's scheme during the imperial selection backfiring, or being tricked by Xie Jinglan into going to Luoyi County, if one calculated carefully, every step Ji Zizhao had taken was a testament to Xie Jingzhou's blood and tears!
Xie Jingzhou felt a surge of anger, which he suppressed before saying again, "The engagement between me and the eldest daughter of the Ji family was personally set by the Old Master of the Ji family. It can be said that the Old Master of the Ji family was the wisest, believing that the eldest daughter of the Ji family would only find happiness by marrying me."
Ji Zizhao knew very well why her grandfather had agreed to the marriage back then.
The Eighth Prince was shrewd, the Seventh Prince was carefree, the Fourth Prince was not favored, and other princes were also managed and supported by their imperial mothers. Given her fickle nature at the time, her grandfather was afraid she would be wronged.
Just then, the Fifth Prince had visited. To her grandfather at the time, a prince who appeared outwardly weak and honest was indeed the best match for her.
Who would have thought...
That the most honest one turned out to be the most cunning.
Thinking of the past, Ji Zizhao's heart grew cold, and looking at Xie Jingzhou in front of her, she found him even more unbearable.
"Consort Xi's affection for Fifth Highness is meticulous. I, a humble minister, do not possess the ability to gain Consort Xi's favor, so why should I offend her? Instead, I should congratulate Fifth Highness. Whether it's your future imperial consort or your concubines, you have found candidates that satisfy Consort Xi."
Her words were very direct, practically calling him a mama's boy to his face.
"If that's the case, I should also congratulate the eldest daughter of the Ji family. My Fourth Brother has always been indifferent to worldly affairs and goes with the flow, which is quite similar to how the eldest daughter of the Ji family used to be." Xie Jingzhou said with a polite smile, but a glint of barely concealed viciousness flashed in his eyes.
Ji Zizhao smiled, her lips revealing a sweetness she had never possessed before. "Being indifferent to worldly affairs is magnanimity, and going with the flow is a mindset. However, these two things are not understood by ordinary people. His Majesty, being wise and benevolent, has betrothed me to the Fourth Prince. In the future, we will live in harmony, a perfect couple."
Xie Jingzhou: "..."
After such a long absence, Ji Zizhao's sharp tongue had improved!
He could say that she marrying his Fourth Brother was a disgrace, and she dared to flaunt her love for him openly in front of him.
Was this Ji Zizhao inherently incompatible with him?
Ji Zizhao was delighted to see Xie Jingzhou's darkening face.
She could never say these words in front of Xie Jinglan, but in front of Xie Jingzhou, she felt she had been too lenient.
Wasn't it just a battle of wits and veiled attacks?
Before stabbing her, one had to see if their chest was protected by a breastplate.
"No wonder it's so lively, everyone is here." A familiar voice suddenly rang out. Xie Jinglan, dressed in a white robe, walked out of his residence with a casual smile.
As soon as Xie Jingzhou saw Xie Jinglan, his face turned even darker. "Fourth Brother, you've arrived at just the right time. I was just talking about Fourth Brother with the eldest daughter of the Ji family. I didn't expect the eldest daughter of the Ji family to admire Fourth Brother so much that she would say such things in public. Even I felt a blush of embarrassment."
Ji Zizhao: "..."
No matter how open-minded the customs of Dayu were, no woman would dare to flaunt her husband in public. Ji Zizhao had said that purely to provoke Xie Jingzhou, never expecting Xie Jinglan to appear so coincidentally. Now Xie Jingzhou had caught her in a tight spot.
Xie Jinglan took in the helpless expression on Ji Zizhao's face and knew that the girl was blaming him for arriving at the wrong time. But didn't she realize that his Fifth Brother was the most insidious and cunning? With the dark and windy night outside, if he let her continue to retort, who could guarantee that his Fifth Brother wouldn't lose control?
Xie Jinglan knew that Ji Zizhao was definitely not afraid.
But he couldn't risk it, so he came.
He withdrew his gaze from Ji Zizhao's face and then looked at Xie Jingzhou, saying, "In that case, Fifth Brother has seen too little."
Ji Zizhao: "..."
Xie Jingzhou: "!!!"
Did he still have any shame?
Xie Jinglan said indifferently again, "But thinking about it, it's understandable. The Fifth Prince Consort's status has already been announced, and there's less romantic intrigue between you and Fifth Brother. Speaking of which, congratulations on Fifth Brother gaining another concubine. After the wedding, with the Fifth Prince Consort and concubine Ji entering the household one after another, Fifth Brother will truly enjoy the blessings of having both."
"Since Fourth Brother can accept the eldest daughter of the Ji family after me, I am relieved," Xie Jingzhou said, almost gritting his teeth as he thrust the dagger into Xie Jinglan's heart.
It was one thing to mention Zuo Xiuhua, given her family background, but as soon as Ji Renran was brought up, he felt disgusted. If he hadn't been careless back then, Ji Zizhao would have been his concubine now.
Now, Xie Jinglan's words were clearly trampling on his face!
Fortunately, his Fourth Brother was not much better off; Ji Zizhao was merely a discarded shoe he no longer wanted.
Unfortunately, Xie Jinglan remained unfazed and said with a humble smile, "Then I must really thank Fourth Brother for his magnanimity."
Xie Jingzhou's face darkened several degrees, gleaming with a metallic sheen under the moonlight.
He was so enraged!
Xie Jinglan ignored him any further and walked towards the stairs.
Xie Jingzhou watched Xie Jinglan's retreating back, so angry he almost bit his tongue. It was one thing for him to leave, but why did he take Ji Zizhao with him?
Wasn't it obvious that he was being left alone to face the elements?