“Your Highness, are you saying that the Eighth Prince has sought the Imperial Noble Consort to ask for He Lian Wei Rui?” Mu Xi Yao’s eyes widened, her long lashes fluttering as she gazed at the person, caught off guard by the sudden development.

Would Zong Zheng Han, without any apparent reason, ask for a woman well-known for her admiration for Zong Zheng Lin? Mu Xi Yao was quite skeptical of his limited broad-mindedness. That man, the mere thought of whom made her uncomfortable, wouldn’t consider accepting He Lian Wei Rui unless there were sufficient benefits. He was not the type to suffer a disadvantage or to appear inferior to Zong Zheng Lin in the eyes of others without justification.

“Miss He Lian, don’t you think that joking about such a matter is too much?” Zong Zheng Han’s eyes were cold. How could the affair of the phoenix stick be spoken so lightly?

“Your Highness need not be angered. No matter how bold this humble one may be, she would not bring deceit before Your Highness.” Indeed, this man was not ordinary. His tone was stern, yet the fleeting sharp glint in his eyes did not escape her notice.

Having ambition was even better; at least it confirmed that she had not entrusted her faith to the unworthy.

“Yu Ying, which family’s daughter is this young lady?” Instead of directly asking the person lying on the bed, who was still visibly shaken, Mu Xi Yao turned to inquire Di Wu Yu Ying.

“She is the third miss of Fengtian Prefecture’s Cheng House, Huo Xiu Jun.”

Mu Xi Yao, enveloped in awkwardness, was caught by Zong Zheng Lin. Despite making a fuss, she ultimately couldn’t save her face and was forced to act as if nothing had happened in front of Mo Lan, deluding both herself and others.

Zhao Momo and Mo Lan had on several occasions stumbled upon the two masters sharing private moments in the study. What they hadn’t anticipated, however, was witnessing… such a display of ‘mutual affection’ from the two during the Young Master’s Draw Lots Ceremony. Indeed, it was a situation that could make one feel mortified.

Mu Xi Yao was greatly impressed. Boss, you really don’t lose out. You may admit defeat with your words, yet you firmly hold onto the benefits that should be yours. This man…was indeed cunning.

She felt a chill against her bosom. Although she clung tightly to Zong Zheng Lin’s chest, trying to shield herself in a manner that fooled no one, this intimate position only added to her discomfort. The sound of their intertwined breaths made Mu Xi Yao’s body feel somewhat weak.

“Mistress Yao, you’ve arrived at the perfect time. His Highness just instructed this one to go and request your presence.” Tian Fu Shan said with a relieved expression, much to Mu Xi Yao’s amusement. This guy treated her like a harbinger of doom. Unless absolutely necessary, he would never loiter around her. While the Chief Steward was cultured, he lacked Commander Wei’s resilience to challenging situations. Just a few troubles caused by her had him terrified, prompting him to take detours around her.

“Well then, that’s great! Shall Qie just go in like this? No need for the Chief Steward to announce Qie’s arrival?”

What made Mu Xi Yao breathe a sigh of relief was that Zong Zheng Lin, though looking puzzled, replied, “There is no such rule. If one can take more than one item, it is actually considered an auspicious sign.”

At these words, Mu Xi Yao’s feather fan immediately perked up, and her posture exuded grace and allure. Despite Zong Zheng Lin’s repeated warnings, he still only received Mu Xi Yao’s cocky yet flirtatious glances.

Competing in quantity? Mu Xi Yao was delighted. If her little bun had any special talent, it would undoubtedly be protecting his belongings and fondness for collecting things.  

Consort Shu, upon seeing Mu Xi Yao dressed like this, was quite shocked. When did Mu lass become so diligent, knowing how to doll herself up nicely? Wasn’t she the laziest, unwilling to put effort into this? Could it be for the sake of her son Cheng Qing so that he would bear dignity in front of outsiders? 

This was understandable. Cheng Qing’s once-in-a-lifetime Draw Lots Ceremony naturally needed to be more grandiose. As a mother, she must take the lead in setting a proper demeanor, so that her son can be looked upon more highly. It’s just that until now, she had never noticed that this girl was an out-and-out beauty in blossoming. Having dressed up like this, she appeared much more lovely than usual.