Chapter 12

Suddenly, a pair of velvet embroidered shoes appeared in front of his eyes. Xiao Yuxuan stopped in his tracks and raised his head to look at a face that was as beautiful as a flower. It was very familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen it before!

"The Prince has such an elegant personality. He's actually taking a leisure walk in this imperial garden…" Her gentle voice was overflowing and her eyes were alluring, causing Xiao Yuxuan to feel uncomfortable!

"Ehm…" Xiao Yuxuan nodded slightly. He tried his best to search his memories, but still couldn't remember where he had seen her before! According to the headdress, it wasn't a palace maid, nor was it a mama. The appearance of the headdress was definitely above his!

"It's Duan Zitong! I didn't expect the Prince Ping to forget that we once met in the imperial garden! Heh… Forget it, how could the appearance of the catalpa tree match up to the appearance of third royal elder sister? No wonder it couldn't enter the eyes of this prince…" Duan Zitong's lips curled up into a faint smile, but deep in her heart, she was annoyed that Xiao Yuxuan had no impression of her at all!

"This humble official pays his respect to the Seventh Princess!" Xiao Yuxuan's face was calm. He saluted and stepped out of the way. Duan Zitong! Even if he could not remember her, he could still remember her younger brother, the arrogant and dissolute Second Prince, actually dared to bully Mu Yan in such a manner! The scene from that day appeared in Xiao Yu Xuan's mind!

"Rise…" Duan Zitong took two steps towards Xiao Yuxuan as if she wanted to press herself against his. Xiao Yuxuan subconsciously retreated, but just as he was about to open his mouth to leave, Duan Zitong seized the initiative.

"Prince Ping, don't panic. Zitong just wants you to see me clearly so that next time, you could recognize me already…" A hot and humid aura hit Xiao Yuxuan's face. Duan Zitong was about to approach again when Eunuch An's voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Your servant greets Seventh Princess…" Hearing that, Xiao Yuxuan took the opportunity to retreat.

"Since Princess has matters to attend to, I shall not disturb you… your humble subject will leave now…" His calm voice seemed undulated, but the hesitant Xiao Yuxuan suddenly made up his mind to bring Mu Yan away from this place! Duan Zitong and Duan Xingyi's existence was undoubtedly the greatest threat to Mu Yan.

Without hesitation, Xiao YuXuan turned around and left!

Seeing Xiao Yuxuan's elegant and graceful figure fade out of her line of sight, Duan Zitong stabilized her heartbeat and breathed out a long breath of air. Her bright eyes flashed and her cherry lips brushed past her heart's smile. Love at first sight? Sort of... Xiao Yuxuan, you are mine.

With a smile on her face, Duan Zitong turned around and looked coldly at Eunuch An. "You're early and late, and you're disturbing my good fortune!"

"Did you accomplish what I asked you to do?" Duan Zitong's cold voice had completely lost its warmth. Her eyebrows slightly raised as her cold eyes abruptly appeared!

"Replying to Seventh Princess…" Eunuch An subconsciously looked around before walking up to Duan Zitong.

"The three Masters have been quiet for the past few days, with no special movement made. Other than coming to the Jade Pear Palace to take care of Imperial Consort, they have almost never been anywhere else. The First Prince, on the other hand, has been wandering around the Academy's gate, and has gone to the Pinghua Pavilion from time to time. He is not in a good mood every time he comes out, according to the reports of the eunuchs in the pavilion. In the past few days, the First Prince has often been conversing with the Prince…" From Eunuch An's point of view, Duan Zitong and Duan Xingyi were definitely not easy to deal with. They knew that he had a son outside the palace before they even entered the palace, which was a threat to his wealth and honor.

"Is that so… Hmph! This Duan Jingyang… I want to see what tricks he can pull! Eunuch An, listen carefully. Send people to keep an eye on Duan Jingyang day and night. No matter what happens, you have to inform me in time… No matter what he did, no matter how small it was and how long he ate breakfast, you still had to report it all! Do you understand?" A trace of coldness flashed through Eunuch An's dark eyes as he accepted the order.

"Seventh Princess, don't worry. This old servant will definitely do it…"

"Mm… You can leave now…" Duan Zitong lightly waved her slender hands to shoo Eunuch An. Her eyes turned back to the direction Xiao Yuxuan had left, and ripples began to form in her heart… Xiao Yuxuan, no matter how hard you try, you won't change the fact that Duan Mu Yan has become your royal sister-in-law.

Xiao Wang Manor

The bedridden Chu Shirou struggled to get up and leaned against the edge of the bed rail.

"Mistress… Why did you get up!" When Su Jinxiu opened the door with the medicinal soup, she saw Chu Shirou about to get off the bed and hurriedly went over to support her.

"I'm fine… Jin Xiu... I have wronged you all these years … You've delayed your marriage to take care of me... Don't worry, I'll definitely ask Jin Feng help to find you a good home… <Cough cough!>… Let you get married in glory…" Ever since she entered the Chu Residence since she was ten years old, Su Jinxiu had never left her side. All these years, she had no regrets, they were known as the master and the servant, but in reality, she was a sister.

Tears lightly sprinkled on the jade-like hand of Chu Shirou which was on top of Su Jinxiu's, as the corners of Su Jinxiu's eyes became moist.

"Mistress… Jin Xiu won't asked for anything! This servant only asks to be at Mistress' side for the rest of her life… His Highness said that Mistress isn't suffering from a serious illness, and that as long as Mistress rest, Mistress surely will recover…"

"Heh… My illness... Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore… Jin Xiu... There's something I want to ask of you…" Chu Shirou turned around with difficulty and took out a letter from under her pillow. She then handed it to Su Jinxiu.

"What is this?" Su Jinxiu stared at the letter in astonishment. Her eyes flickered as she looked at Chu Shi Rou with a puzzled expression!

"This is… my letter to the Third Princess... Jin Xiu... I beg you... After I left, I'd like you to personally hand this letter to the Third Princess… Remember... Only after I left this lifetime…" A trace of grief flashed past Chu Shirou's eyes. Even though she was extremely reluctant, she still couldn't accompany Xiao Jin Feng to the end of his life.

"Mistress… Don't say that... You…" Su Jinxiu's cherry lips quivered and tears rolled down her cheeks. "Promise me… it was my only wish... Jin Xiu…" Chu Shi Rou tightly gripped Su Jinxiu's sleeves, she was too anxious to the point of her being slightly out of breath!

"Mistress… I promise you... However, you must promise me one thing…" Su Jin Xiu wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and looked at Chu Shi Rou!

"What?"

"Mistress… Ever since you were married to the Xiao Family, this servant has been treating this place as her home… No matter what happens in the future, I don't want to leave this place…" Su Jinxiu's eyes shone like smoke! How could she leave? From the first moment she saw Xiao Jin Feng, her heart had already fallen. It had already been seven years, and now, she finally had the chance to do so. Why couldn't she give it her all?

"Jin Xiu... But this is too unfair…" Chu Shi Rou's heart ached as she looked at the girl in front of her!

"Mistress… Please…"

The sound of hurried footsteps could be heard approaching from afar. Su Jin Xiu hastily wiped away the tears on her face and carefully held onto Chu Shi Rou while keeping the letter in her hands!