He immediately started talking, and I got the gist of it.

The main point is that he knows that I have been forced to wander outside these years because of Princess Zhaoping. Now that I have returned, the noble ladies in the capital don't pay any attention to me.

He can help me establish myself in the capital, as long as I'm willing to marry him.

I rolled my eyes in my heart, thinking he knew something extraordinary, but it turned out to be just these nonsense words.

However, what he said makes sense.

Princess Zhaoping is the daughter of the late Emperor's original wife, later raised under the current Empress's name.

Consort Li has enjoyed the Emperor's favor for many years, and her son, Qi Yu, is favored by the Emperor, overshadowing the Crown Prince in every aspect.

Even the Empress, for the sake of her own son Qi Zhang, cannot favor Princess Zhaoping.

After all, it's no secret that the Emperor wants to depose the Crown Prince and enthrone the fifth prince.

The reason they haven't taken action yet is just to avoid turmoil in the court, and since the Crown Prince has never made a mistake, it's not easy to carry out.

I smiled broadly at Qi Yu and nodded in agreement.

Qi Yu immediately smiled, and only then did Consort Li pretentiously come in, talk to me for a while, and then made an excuse of being tired to let me leave the palace.

Qi Yu quickly seized the opportunity.

At the New Year's palace banquet, the Emperor asked Xiao Run if I was betrothed. Upon learning that I wasn't, he enthusiastically said I could choose a husband for myself.

My gaze fell on Qi Yu, and I nodded slightly towards him.

However, as he was about to stand up, Xiao Run suddenly spoke first, "Your Majesty, the minister's daughter is still young and has just been found. The minister wants to keep her for a few more years."

The old Emperor waved his hand in annoyance, Qi Yu was silenced by this, and it was not appropriate for him to speak again.

I looked up at Xiao Run, only to see him with a stern face, unconsciously gripping his sleeve.

As soon as the banquet dispersed, Xiao Run couldn't wait to take me back to the mansion. As soon as we entered the study, he immediately started reprimanding me.

"Do you know what you were doing just now? Were you planning to choose the fifth prince if I hadn't intervened?"

He was full of anger, and I clenched my fists in my palms, "Is that not allowed? The fifth prince is witty and humorous, what's wrong with marrying him?"

Xiao Run laughed in anger, "You fool, do you think the fifth prince genuinely cares for you? He just wants to use you!"

"Use me?" I retorted, "That's still better than being deceived by you. How did my mother die? How did my maternal grandmother's family die?"

"Nonsense!" Xiao Run slapped me across the face, "Who told you to say such things?"

"No one taught me. I heard the conversation you had with the princess that night. The willow catkins were placed by you."

My face stung from the slap, and my anger overwhelmed my reason, "Don't think I don't know what you're up to. You wish I were dead too, so no one would know about your hypocritical facade!"

Xiao Run, in a fit of rage, breathed heavily.

I sneered and turned to leave.

But Cuihua stood in front of me, looking conflicted, "Miss, how can you think this way of Master?"

I gritted my teeth, "At this point, you still want to defend him? Still want to believe in him?"

Cuihua hesitated for a moment, then said with difficulty, "Master has already talked to me about this matter. I wanted to tell you, but..."

I was shocked, looking at her in disbelief.

Behind me came Xiao Run's helpless sigh, "Enough, at this point, just tell her."