Although the engagement with Xia Rongyu was unexpected, Xie Jiang felt no particular emotion.
What did Xia Rongyu's engagement to Song Zhi have to do with her, Xie Jiang?
Even if it did, it was merely a betrothal contract. Who could it truly bind?
Besides, she didn't believe the contract was still valid.
Xie Jiang said, "My engagement with Xia Rongyu, it should be like smoke from a past life, shouldn't it?"
Xu Hengdan had thrown such a massive accusation at Song Zhi, tarnishing her reputation to such an extent. A mere breath could overturn the world, a monstrous being. How could Xia Rongyu, a prince, be associated with her?
The Second Madam Song sighed, "Not long after our family fell into trouble, Noble Consort Rong passed away." Madam Yu also suffered a heavy blow.
Xie Jiang nodded.
Noble Consort Rong and the Yu family behind her were on the same boat as the Duke of Dingguo's estate. Since the Duke of Dingguo's estate had already sunk, how could Noble Consort Rong and the Yu family escape?
It seemed Xia Rongyu's situation was not much better than Song Ze's.
The recent change in the dog emperor's attitude towards Xia Rongyu was also filled with calculations and ill intentions, intending to use Xia Rongyu to counterbalance Yi Yan Geng.
Xie Jiang suddenly said, "Xia Rongyu must know my identity by now."
The Second Madam Song was startled.
Since she had completely forgotten the Third Prince and remembered nothing of her childhood, she naturally couldn't have revealed herself to the Third Prince.
Then how did the Third Prince know her identity? The Second Madam Song looked at her captivating features, assuming the Third Prince had recognized her unilaterally.
Her facial features had not changed much, but her entire demeanor seemed to have undergone a complete transformation.
She moved about disguised as a man, yet no one suspected she was a woman. It wasn't just because she was young; it was naturally difficult to distinguish between young boys and girls.
The main reason was the aura of heroic spirit and magnanimity she possessed, a quality rarely seen even in men.
After so many years apart, others might not have recognized her, but the Third Prince was different.
The Third Prince truly held her in his heart.
Song Xun asked with some confusion, "How did Your Highness know? When did you know?"
Song Ze asked Xie Jiang, "Have you met Pu Xuan?"
Xie Jiang replied, "Yesterday, I happened to encounter Xia Rongyu and the monk Pu Xuan at the Zhaoying Tower."
The Second Madam Song and Song Xun immediately understood.
Conversely, Xie Jiang was puzzled, "Is Monk Pu Xuan so formidable? With just a casual glance, I was completely exposed?"
Song Xun said, "It is rumored that Master Pu Xuan is a highly accomplished monk with an extremely high cultivation realm!"
The Second Madam Song said, "Since you met Master Pu Xuan by chance, it's not surprising that Ni Ni's identity was seen through."
Xie Jiang raised an eyebrow. Monk Pu Xuan had some hidden depths. "Should I kill him to silence him? He knows a bit too much."
Song Xun: "..."
The Second Madam Song: "..."
Song Ze: "..."
Xie Jiang: "I'm just kidding."
Song Ze said, "The Third Prince has some acquaintance with Pu Xuan, so Ni Ni need not worry about her identity being leaked."
Xie Jiang smiled faintly, "I'm not worried."
She was not the little Song Zhi of the past.
Li Chi, who was keeping watch from a high vantage point, suddenly ran over to remind them, "Princess Le'an is looking for you."
Song Xun's small eyebrows nearly shot up, clearly indicating his dislike for Princess Le'an.
After Xie Jiang remembered who Princess Le'an was, she also found her annoying. It was rare for their family of four to sit down and have a cup of tea!
Xie Jiang's eyes turned cold, ready to deal with the person, but she was grabbed by the arm and pulled back by the Second Madam Song.
The Second Madam Song said, "Relax and have your tea. I'm here, she wouldn't dare to approach."
Li Chi reported and then withdrew.
Afterward, the Song family of four drank tea and chatted by the spring. As expected, Princess Le'an did not come near. Xie Jiang saw a maidservant peeking out from a distance.
Clearly, what her second aunt had said was true; Princess Le'an was somewhat intimidated by her.
After resting at the temple for a night, the Song family set off for the capital the next morning.
Xie Jiang did not show herself.
She was nowhere to be seen all morning.
Xia Rongyu was restless. He sighed and put down the book in his hands, unable to read a single word.
He had met Song Ze the previous evening, confirmed her identity, and learned that she had lost her memory.
Although she had completely forgotten him, which made Xia Rongyu feel a bit disappointed, nothing was more important than her safe return.
In front of Song Ze, he had cried and laughed, so excited that he tossed and turned all night, finally waiting for dawn with his eyes open.
Then, he waited patiently in the courtyard, expecting her to come early to play with Xiao Bao.
Who knew that after a whole morning, she still hadn't come.
Xia Rongyu looked up and cast a wistful glance at Xiao Bao.
Xiao Bao had just returned from a tour of the temple and was drowsy in the sun. Sensing his master's rather unfriendly gaze, Xiao Bao jolted awake.
Xia Rongyu commanded, "Go see what she's doing?"
Chen Chan had already noticed the prince's unusual behavior. Since sitting in the courtyard that morning, he had been looking out towards the courtyard gate from time to time, and the book in his hand had not been turned.
Being in this Nanzhao Temple, anyone the prince was waiting for could be guessed with a little thought.
Chen Chan took Xiao Bao and first went to Xie Jiang's residence. The man and dog stood outside the courtyard and took a look. Seeing that the room door was tightly shut, they returned to report to the prince, "It seems Marquis Xie is still asleep and hasn't gotten up."
Xia Rongyu glanced at the sun overhead, recalling her listless appearance yesterday, and a sense of foreboding arose in his heart.
Xia Rongyu hurried to the outside of Xie Jiang's small courtyard. He called out a few times at the courtyard gate but received no response. Frowning, he pushed the door open and walked in.
The door to the room where Xie Jiang was staying was tightly shut. Xia Rongyu anxiously knocked on the door.
"Marquis Xie, is Marquis Xie there?"
"Yes, yes, yes..."
Faintly hearing that her voice was not right, Xia Rongyu could no longer restrain himself. He broke the bolt and strode in.
Xie Jiang, wrapped in two layers of quilts, struggled to sit up. Her face was flushed, and her spirit was weak. She looked at Xia Rongyu and said weakly, "Third Prince, you've come at the right time. Help me write a prescription..."
Perhaps it was because he had heard her say yesterday morning that the bed was hard and uncomfortable to sleep on, and the temple's quilts were not warm enough, he had asked Chen Chan to send two more quilts.
Unfortunately, it was still too late.
Xie Jiang herself did not expect to be so frail.
"What's wrong with you?" Xia Rongyu came to the bedside, saw her like this, and reached out to touch her forehead.
Xie Jiang pushed his hand away and instead reached out to touch his forehead for comparison, "Perhaps I caught a chill from the cold wind at Zhaoying Tower the day before yesterday. Does the temple have medicinal herbs?"
Without the comparison, she hadn't realized she had a fever, only feeling aches in her bones. With Xia Rongyu's comparison, Xie Jiang realized her head was exceptionally hot.
Xia Rongyu said, "You have a fever."
The palm pressed against his forehead was very hot.
Xie Jiang took her own pulse and had a rough idea.
Chen Chan quickly ran back to fetch brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and carefully recorded the prescription according to Xie Jiang's instructions.
Chen Chan glanced at the prince and, with keen insight, said, "Your Highness, please stay and take care of Marquis Xie. I will go and get the medicine."
Emerging from the small courtyard, Chen Chan began to scratch his head in annoyance. He was somewhat unsure if what he had done was right or wrong. Was it not a bit much for the prince to be so concerned about Marquis Xie?
Xia Rongyu fetched water from the well, soaked a cotton cloth, wrung it out, and went into the room to wipe her face first. He folded the cotton cloth and placed it on her forehead.
Xie Jiang lay askew on the bed, hugging her quilt, her gaze fixed on Xia Rongyu, lost in thought.
Xia Rongyu pulled over a stool and sat by the bed, watching her. For a long time, neither of them spoke.
"Marquis Xie, you've been staring for so long, have you remembered anything?"
Song Ze had already said it very tactfully, that she had forgotten him completely. He still held a sliver of hope in his heart.
Xia Rongyu felt that her gaze towards him was somewhat ill-intentioned. After so long, she must have figured out how to use him.
Xia Rongyu hoped she would use him more; his claim was more legitimate than Yi Yan Geng's.
The deep-seated hatred for the Duke of Dingguo's estate, the main culprit besides Xu Hengdan, was also the one in Yuanyou Palace.
Xu Hengyan had long been played into her hands. Xu Hengdan would be dealt with by Xu Hengyan; the outcome of brothers turning on each other was inevitable.
The one in Yuanyou Palace was perfect for him to deal with.
Since she had no intention of dragging the world into war, yet wanted to avenge the emperor, there was no one more suitable than him.
"Does it matter if you remember or not? It's all in the past. We must look forward."
"Marquis Xie is right."
"Does Your Highness want to consider cooperating with me?"
Speaking of this, Xie Jiang was no longer listless. She sat up abruptly, hugging her quilt, and the cotton cloth on her forehead fell off.
"How does Marquis Xie intend to proceed?"
Xia Rongyu picked up the cotton cloth to prevent it from wetting her quilt.
"His Majesty isn't intending to push Your Highness to the position of Crown Prince?"
"Hmm?"
"Does Your Highness want to be emperor?"
Earlier, Xie Taihong, following her instructions, had presented the emperor with a bottle of immortal medicine obtained from Penglai in the sea. The emperor would ascend to immortality soon.
He had never thought about it before, but after she had an accident, he began to think about it.
If the vast empire were in his hands, how could he have failed to protect her back then?
He had a mother-killing feud with the one in Yuanyou Palace, and they could be the best partners.