"County Princess Mu Jin, may I speak with you alone for a few moments?"
The Crown Prince said gently, not even using "I" (referring to himself as royalty), hoping the County Princess Mu Jin would perceive his special regard for her from this subtle difference.
Wei Yu behind him stared at him in disbelief.
County Princess Mu Jin showed a look of surprise, exchanged glances with Madam Mu, and nodded slightly.
She followed the Crown Prince to a spot by the wall, while Madam Mu and the second son of the Yun family watched from not far away.
County Princess Mu Jin said gently and politely, "Your Highness, please speak."
The Crown Prince gazed at her tenderly, "You don't need to be so distant with me. When we were children, you used to call me Brother Yuan Ran."
County Princess Mu Jin appeared embarrassed and bewildered, not quite understanding the Crown Prince's meaning.
"I was young and foolish back then. I ask Your Highness to forgive me."
"Heh heh, forgive what?" the Crown Prince said softly. "Look at you, you've truly become a stranger. When we were little, you were always the one chasing after me..."
The Crown Prince seemed lost in reminiscence.
County Princess Mu Jin: "..."
Did she?
She couldn't quite recall.
"Do you remember? When you were bullied as a child, I said I would always protect you... I still remember those words today, little sister Jin'er, do you remember?"
The Crown Prince didn't intentionally recall these trivial matters; it was simply that he had a good memory. Even events from over a decade ago were crystal clear to him.
County Princess Mu Jin became even more embarrassed.
She seemed to have a vague understanding of what the Crown Prince was trying to do.
Being not very eloquent to begin with, she was even more at a loss when faced with the Crown Prince's veiled confession.
"Originally, my father also bestowed marriage upon us at my request. It was only when you suddenly broke off the engagement that I thought you were unwilling, so I didn't press the matter..."
The Crown Prince's ability to twist facts and speak nonsense was indeed top-notch.
County Princess Mu Jin, who had been feeling awkward, was shocked by his words and looked at the Crown Prince.
So...
So the Crown Prince still didn't know that at the warm room banquet at Prince Qi's mansion, with Wang Qingyao's help, she had already seen through his scheme.
He thought she was ignorant and still wanted to play the devoted lover!
County Princess Mu Jin pulled at the corner of her mouth, revealing a hint of faint mockery.
She didn't know where she found the courage, but she suddenly said, "Yes, I am unwilling."
The Crown Prince's flow of words abruptly stopped. He looked at County Princess Mu Jin in astonishment, "You are unwilling?"
County Princess Mu Jin nodded, reaffirming her statement.
"Wh-why?"
"Your Highness is of noble birth. Mu Jin is not worthy of you."
County Princess Mu Jin offered a very official explanation.
The Crown Prince was clearly not satisfied.
"Then now that my father has assigned you to Prince Yue, you feel it is not an unequal match?"
County Princess Mu Jin was merely a title, without any fiefdom.
The Mu family was left with only a mother and daughter. Whether she married any prince, it would be an upward match.
The Crown Prince knew she was being perfunctory, but he still stubbornly wanted to get to the bottom of it.
County Princess Mu Jin had long seen through the Crown Prince. He was a ruthless and malicious heir apparent, and she could not feel the slightest respect for him.
"It is indeed an upward match. However, I have already defied an imperial decree once and do not have the courage to do so a second time. Fortunately, heaven has been merciful and allowed me to reunite with my birth parents. As County Princess Mu Jin, I am indeed not worthy of Prince Yue. However, as the legitimate daughter of Prince Xin of Dong Ling, Prince Yue and I are considered a suitable match."
County Princess Mu Jin's sharp tongue, honed over half a lifetime, was fully displayed in her retort to the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince was clearly taken aback by County Princess Mu Jin's sudden eloquence. After a moment of stunned silence, he smiled bitterly, "The County Princess sees things quite clearly."
County Princess Mu Jin smiled and did not respond.
The Crown Prince still wanted to reminisce further when the third son of the Yun family sauntered over, "Your Highness, can you return my sister to us now?"
The Crown Prince reluctantly grunted and forced a smile, "I have said almost everything. Young Master Yun San, you may take the County Princess away."
Yun Lao San watched the Crown Prince leave.
Wei Yu waited for the Crown Prince and County Princess Mu Jin to finish their conversation, but the Crown Prince had completely forgotten her and walked away directly.
She trembled with anger.
"Your Majesty..." her trusted maidservant whispered.
She bit her lip fiercely, pretended nothing had happened, and quickly followed the Crown Prince.
County Princess Mu Jin looked relieved.
Madam Mu asked, "What did His Highness the Crown Prince want to speak to you about?"
County Princess Mu Jin hesitated; the matter was somewhat difficult to explain.
Yun Lao Er coughed lightly and said calmly, "My second brother and I have been practicing martial arts since childhood, with keen hearing. We heard almost all of your conversation just now."
County Princess Mu Jin's mouth widened in surprise, and her face slowly flushed pink.
"This Crown Prince of Da Sheng seems to have questionable character..." Yun Lao Er said it politely.
County Princess Mu Jin was now engaged to Prince Yue.
He, a Crown Prince, was saying such inappropriate and ambiguous things to his own brother's fiancée. Truly, for the sake of power and status, he had abandoned all sense of propriety and shame.
Yun Lao San scoffed, "What do you mean 'questionable character'? He's simply despicable and vulgar."
County Princess Mu Jin coughed heavily.
Madam Mu, likely understanding the situation and to prevent eavesdropping from within the palace, quickly took them home.