As soon as Cuiji finished speaking, Dugu Hong snorted and said, “Your Highness, I believe everything he said is lies. How could anyone remain so calm when facing the tragic death of a loved one? He’s clearly saying such hypocritical words deliberately to please Your Highness. He accused me of lying earlier, but now isn’t he doing the same?”
“I’m not lying!” Cuiji said seriously. “Since I can say it, I can certainly do it. Resenting others is actually resenting oneself at the same time. If that’s the case, why not give both yourself and others a way out?”
Dugu Hong scoffed, “Since such a thing hasn’t happened now, naturally you can say anything. How utterly hypocritical!”
“If you want to think of me that way, there’s nothing I can do.” With that, he bowed to Yunyi and said, “Your Highness, I can swear to heaven that every word I spoke came from my heart, without any falsehood.”
Yunyi smiled with lowered head, playing with the gold-inlaid jeweled ring on her finger. “Good. I understand your answers. Now… please return.”
Hearing this, everyone was stunned. Weren’t they supposed to decide the final candidate for prince consort now? Without saying who was right between Cuiji and Zheng Yang, she was already dismissing them—what was the reasoning behind this?
Before they could figure it out, Jixiang stepped forward and said, “This servant will escort the young masters out.”
“But…” The confused Zheng Yang was about to ask for clarification when Cuiji pulled him and whispered, “The princess must have already made her decision in her heart. She’s just too modest to announce it publicly. Let’s not ask further and return first.”
Zheng Yang thought this made sense, so he swallowed the words on his lips and bowed with the others before withdrawing. Just as they were about to step out of Linbo Pavilion, a sudden gust of wind blew, lifting the veil from Yunyi’s face and revealing her beautiful countenance beneath. Though it was only for an instant, quite a few people saw it. She was indeed a stunning beauty like Empress Xiao—what a pity they didn’t have the fortune to win such a beauty!
While they sighed at not being able to become prince consort, Du Ruhui’s face was filled with indescribable shock. How could… how could it be her? This was impossible—she had clearly died, and the entire village knew it. Moreover… even if she hadn’t died, it would be impossible for her to appear here. Could his eyes be playing tricks on him? But just now, clearly…
“What are you still standing there for? Let’s go!” Under Pei Qiancheng’s half-dragging, half-pulling, the bewildered Du Ruhui left Linbo Pavilion. On the way to the palace gates following Jixiang, Pei Qiancheng chuckled softly, “Looking at how you stood there stunned just now—are you regretting it?”
Du Ruhui hadn’t recovered from his shock and replied offhandedly, “Regretting what?”
“Giving up the competition for prince consort! Earlier, though we heard that Her Majesty the Empress was beautiful as a celestial being and the princess had a graceful figure, we couldn’t see their faces after all. Who knew whether they were celestial beauties or…” He lowered his voice, “Female demons!”
Zheng Yang, hearing his words from the side, laughed and scolded, “Female demons—how did you even think of that?”
Pei Qiancheng stuck out his neck and said, “Don’t laugh. I guarantee I wasn’t the only one thinking that.” Then he continued, “After seeing half of the princess’s face just now, all my worries disappeared. She’s truly beautiful… like an immortal who has descended to the mortal realm. Though it was just a fleeting glance, it left a deep impression. I think I’ll never forget it for the rest of my life.”
Hearing his flowery words, Zheng Yang said with amusement, “When did you become so refined?”
Pei Qiancheng grinned and patted Du Ruhui’s shoulder, “You still haven’t answered me. Just now I saw you could barely walk. Usually you’re like a saint, never even glancing at women. Come on, tell me—are you regretting it?”
Du Ruhui shook his head, “No, it’s just… the princess’s appearance bears some resemblance to someone I once knew.”
No, not resemblance—they were identical, at least the half of her face he saw was. What… was going on?
Pei Qiancheng said softly, “Tell me the truth—are you regretting it?”
Du Ruhui didn’t react for a moment and replied offhandedly, “Regretting what?”
“Regretting that you deliberately pretended you couldn’t solve the chess puzzle and withdrew from the princess’s selection. If you hadn’t done that, maybe you’d be the chosen prince consort right now.”
Du Ruhui said with mixed laughter and tears, “Where are your thoughts going? I’ve already told you, I…”
“Your heart only has room for that childhood sweetheart!” Pei Qiancheng said boredly. “Calling you stubborn is absolutely right. You won’t marry a living celestial beauty, insisting on remembering someone who’s no longer here. I don’t know when you’ll come to your senses.”
As they neared Guangyun Gate, Du Ruhui suddenly grabbed Pei Qiancheng and whispered something in his ear. The latter said in surprise, “You…”
Du Ruhui interrupted, “This matter is extremely important. Please, Brother Pei, help me this once.”
Seeing his earnestness, Pei Qiancheng said helplessly, “Alright, go quickly and return quickly. I’ll try to help you delay.”
“Thank you, Brother Pei.” While speaking, Du Ruhui quietly slowed his pace, imperceptibly falling from the middle of the group to the back. When he was about ten feet away from the person in front, he silently turned and headed back the way they came.
Apart from Pei Qiancheng, only Cuiji noticed Du Ruhui’s actions. Though surprised, he didn’t make a sound but walked a few steps toward Pei Qiancheng and whispered, “What’s wrong with Brother Du?”
Pei Qiancheng shook his head, “I’m not sure either. He suddenly said he had some words he wanted to ask the princess and asked me to help cover for him so Miss Jixiang wouldn’t notice.”
Cuiji nodded and said nothing more. Meanwhile, Du Ruhui retraced their previous path all the way to Linbo Pavilion. Yunyi was no longer in the pavilion—only several palace maids were bent over, cleaning up. He walked behind one of the palace maids and asked, “Where did the princess go?”
The palace maid, thinking he was one of the cleaning staff, casually pointed and said, “The princess returned to Changsheng Palace.”
“Thank you.” After these two words, Du Ruhui quickly left Linbo Pavilion and headed in the direction she had pointed. After walking for a while, he indeed saw a group of people walking slowly ahead. Looking at the back of the person in the center, it should undoubtedly be Yunyi.
Ruyi heard urgent footsteps behind them and turned around. When she saw it was Du Ruhui, she said in surprise, “Why are you still here?”
“Who is it?” Yunyi asked while turning around. She had already removed her veil. When she discovered it was Du Ruhui, it was too late to cover her face.
The next moment, Du Ruhui had already rushed forward and grasped Yunyi’s hand, speaking incoherently, “Meixue, it’s you… it’s really you. You’re alive… really alive. I thought I’d never see you again!”
Ruyi never expected Du Ruhui to be so bold and immediately shouted, “Audacious scoundrel! Release the princess immediately!”