The new emperor's first decree upon ascending the throne was to forcibly take his cousin as his

"I've heard that my cousin Ruan has been getting close to Miss Miaoyin lately, so I'd like to ask her for some advice," he said.

Ruan Xianrong didn't understand. She took a sip of tea, and then heard the man continue, "Does she have any likes or dislikes?"

"puff--"

Ruan Xianrong spat out a mouthful of tea, not even having time to cough, and looked over in disbelief.

"What did you say?"

"Wasn't I clear enough?"

Xie Chengli patiently asked again, and she stood there, unsure how to respond.

Xie Chengli was in love with the female lead. In the book, he turned against the male lead and his brother for her sake, painted for her, and wrote love poems for her. The original owner of this body had even seen those things at his mansion.

He frowned; something wasn't right.

The emotional entanglements between the three characters in the book are quite complex. After the female lead broke up with the male lead, she even sought refuge with Xie Chengli. During that period, the readers' support for the second male lead was ridiculously high.

Are you alright?

She doesn't understand.

How can you, the second male lead, like someone else? What happened to your devoted second male lead persona?

Undeterred, she asked, "Why are you asking this? Do you like her?"

Xie Chengli's eyes flickered slightly. "Indeed, I met Miss Miaoyin briefly at the hunting grounds last time, but I couldn't visit her in person. So I was wondering what would be a suitable gift for her, Cousin Ruan?"

Ruan Xianrong looked at him with a complicated expression. In the book, he liked the female lead but didn't dare to confess, and only admitted it after being exposed. Today, however, he was bold.

The second male lead has now fallen for someone who hasn't even appeared in the book. Isn't that ridiculous?

"Why is my cousin Ruan looking at me like that?" Xie Chengli asked, puzzled.

Ruan Xianrong chuckled dryly, "It's nothing, I just think that Your Highness has asked the wrong person. Although I am on good terms with Miaoyin, I don't really know her."

Asking a woman before you're pursuing her? Isn't that ridiculous?

"Why doesn't Your Highness just ask Miaoyin directly?"

"She's timid, I'm afraid of scaring her."

"Tch," Ruan Xianrong muttered disdainfully. If you don't dare to do it yourself, then don't dare to do it, yet you call others cowardly.

When she was little, I threw her off the roof onto a haystack. Why didn't you say she was a coward? I don't believe you.

"Cousin Ruan, could you ask her for me next time?"

Before she could refuse, Xie Chengli stood up and bowed to her, saying, "Thank you."

Ruan Xianrong: ......

She hadn't taken it to heart at first, but this man kept inviting her to the teahouse every day, and she got really annoyed.

On her way home that day, she finally realized something was wrong.

Even if she's slow-witted, she can't help but have doubts at a time like this.

Recently, many things have been related to Miaoyin.

Her older brother rarely pays attention to other things, but lately, whenever Miaoyin appears, he always comes over to visit.

Father is busy with official duties in the court and rarely pays attention to matters concerning the inner quarters, but these past few days he has frequently inquired about Miaoyin.

Her mother showered Miaoyin with care and concern, frequently sending her nice things and instructing her to get along well with Miaoyin.

Now it's Xie Chengli again; if it's a coincidence, it's too much of a coincidence.

As the rain outside subsided, she drew back the curtains to let in some fresh air.

Amidst the misty rain, a sharp scream suddenly rang out, "You wretched servant, I told you to kneel, so kneel! How dare you slack off!"

A maid holding an umbrella stood not far away, with a young woman in fine clothes sitting beside her. Who else could it be but Zhao Xuelan?

Zhao Xuelan was already in a bad mood today and couldn't find an outlet for her frustration, but she met Miaoyin here.

She glanced at the person in front of her and scoffed, "It's you?"

Miaoyin knelt before her, and the maid deliberately brought the edge of the umbrella close to the girl in front of her. The rainwater on the umbrella gathered into a river and poured all over Miaoyin.

Miaoyin knelt down and kowtowed, "Please forgive me, young lady. I didn't see the road clearly and bumped into you."

Zhao Xuelan had always been at odds with Ruan Xianrong, and naturally, she disliked those who were on good terms with Ruan Xianrong.

But given Ruan Xianrong's status, she dared not openly frame her. Miaoyin was merely a maid in the Yongwang Mansion, while Ruan Xianrong was the legitimate daughter of the Duke's Mansion. Even if she took the little maid's life, no one would dare to say anything.

"This outfit of mine was made of brocade bestowed upon me by the palace, and now you've dirtied it. What do you suggest we do?"

Upon hearing that it was a royal gift, Miaoyin trembled with fear. "Please forgive me, young lady. I... I didn't mean to. I... I'll help you wash your clothes clean."

Before she could finish speaking, Zhao Xuelan's maid kicked her, saying, "How dare you wash my young lady's clothes? This is brocade! If you ruin it, will you pay with your life?"

Zhao Xuelan snorted coldly. If she couldn't kill Ruan Xianrong, she could at least vent her anger on Miaoyin.

She slowly walked around Miaoyin, who was kneeling on the ground, her gold-embroidered skirt sweeping across the muddy water on the ground, deliberately splashing it on Miaoyin's lowered face.

Zhao Xuelan's voice wasn't loud, but every word was sharp and cutting: "Sulphuring the imperial brocade is a capital offense. You don't think you can offend anyone just because you have Ruan Xianrong backing you up, do you?"

"Or did she instigate you to come here and oppose me?"

Miaoyin trembled, her head drooping even lower, her voice strained: "No! It was my own carelessness, it has nothing to do with Miss Ruan, Miss Zhao, it really has nothing to do with Miss Ruan!"

Miaoyin had gone out today to buy ingredients for making pastries, hoping to finish them quickly and deliver them to Miss Ruan, so she walked a little faster.

But I didn't expect to hit someone. I just wanted to apologize and be done with it, but now I've dragged Miss Ruan into this. She deserves to die.

Zhao Xuelan chuckled lightly, "How about this, as long as you admit that you dirtied my clothes at Ruan Xianrong's behest, I will let this matter drop today."

Miaoyin had heard Ruan Xianrong say that this Miss Zhao had always been at odds with her and was not a good person.

Miss Ruan is such a good person, yet Miss Zhao tries to use her to frame her. She will not let her succeed!

"Miss Zhao, you can hit or scold me as you please, but you can't slander Miss Ruan like this. Miss Ruan is a good person."

"Even if I die today, I will not say a bad word about Miss Ruan! Miss Zhao, you should give up on that idea."

Zhao Xuelan was so angry she laughed. Look at her, she said she didn't like Ruan Xianrong.

The men are seducing her, and the women aren't spared either. This Miaoyin is clearly a maid from the Yongwang Mansion, yet she's protecting Ruan Xianrong like this. What kind of bewitching potion has she given them?

What's wrong with her?

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. His gaze towards Miaoyin burned with fury. "Fine, you do have backbone. In that case, you'll kneel here until I'm satisfied."

After saying that, he had someone set up a stool and sit under the eaves, just watching her.

After kneeling for two whole hours, Miaoyin finally couldn't hold on any longer and her body swayed.

Ruan Xianrong quickly got off the carriage, but before she could even step forward, she was intercepted.

Shen Qinglian rode over on horseback, leaped off, and helped the person up.

"Is something the matter?"

Miaoyin shook her head. "I'm fine, thank you."

Zhao Xuelan looked over coldly, "General Shen, I merely punished a maid; is that something you need to interfere with?"

Shen Qinglian did not back down, and cupped her hands, saying, "Miss Zhao comes from a prestigious family, is of noble status, and is dignified and generous, which is beyond the reach of ordinary people. Why bother arguing with a mere maid?"

Although these words sound nice, how could Zhao Xuelan not understand them?

Shen Qinglian stood up for this little maid.

But those she intends to punish will not be allowed to leave until she has calmed down!

"Why is General Shen suddenly taking a liking to a little maid? Could it be that he's fallen for her?"

"Miss Zhao, please be careful with your words. This person is from the Prince Yong's residence. Even if he should be punished, it should be handed over to His Highness Prince Yong. As the daughter of a Duke's family, is it inappropriate for Miss Zhao to directly interfere in the affairs of the Prince's residence?"

That makes some sense. Even if Zhao Xuelan is angry, she won't spread such a rumor, since she's going to be the Crown Princess in the future.

He waved his hand reluctantly, "Since General Shen is pleading for me, I will give you this face."

After saying this, he was helped into the carriage by a maid.

Shen Qinglian quickly helped the person onto the horse and personally escorted him back to the Yong Prince's Mansion.

Ruan Xianrong, who was standing not far away, stood there stunned, unsure of how to react.

It turned out to be the case.

Sure enough.