Chapter 656

Chapter 17: The Three Little Ones—Niannian (17)

When the Third Prince saw Niannian arrive, he eagerly stepped forward and called out to her.

“Greetings, Your Highness the Third Prince!” Niannian sighed inwardly. She had not expected the Third Prince to be at the Grand Princess’s residence today as well.

“Niannian, are you here for Nuonuo’s flower-viewing banquet too?” the Third Prince asked with a smile.

“Yes.” Niannian did not mention that she had actually come to take a look at her future sister-in-law.

Since the First Prince was determined to misunderstand, she saw no reason to explain herself.

“Mingyue, did you see that? I told you she had ulterior motives. She’s only just arrived at the Grand Princess’s residence, and she’s already seducing men. What a vixen.”

Watching Niannian speak with a man who looked exceptionally striking, Xiao Tao’s jealousy flared.

The man was clearly someone of high rank and noble status. Wasn’t that wretch simply relying on her pretty face?

As Xiao Tao spoke, her grip on Li Mingyue’s hand unconsciously tightened.

“Ow, Taotao, you’re hurting me,” Li Mingyue cried out at once.

“I’m sorry, Mingyue. I didn’t mean to,” Xiao Tao said, loosening her grip awkwardly.

“Taotao, don’t speak of my cousin like that in the future. My cousin isn’t that kind of person. Besides, everyone who comes to the Grand Princess’s residence is either noble or wealthy. Be careful what you say—trouble may come from your mouth. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Li Mingyue spoke with a grave expression.

She thought to herself that with Xiao Tao’s temperament, if she truly offended someone at the Grand Princess’s residence, Li Mingyue could not be blamed for failing to warn her.

“Mingyue, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. Please don’t be angry. Don’t worry, I definitely won’t speak carelessly again. Unlike your cousin, who only brings shame upon you.”

Though Xiao Tao was displeased, she hurriedly apologized nonetheless.

“Mingyue, why are you still standing outside?” From a distance, Xie Yanzhi spotted Li Mingyue at the entrance to the Grand Princess’s residence.

“Greetings, Young Master Xie.” Li Mingyue had not expected Xie Yanzhi to be there as well. Her cheeks flushed, but she still gave him a proper curtsy.

“No need for such formality, Mingyue. Let’s go in together.” Xie Yanzhi did not spare Xiao Tao so much as a glance.

“Young Master Xie, I’m waiting for my cousin.” Li Mingyue pointed toward Niannian, who was standing some distance away.

“So it’s Niannian and the Third Prince.” After saying this, Xie Yanzhi walked over. He clasped his hands and bowed to the Third Prince, then offered the same greeting to Niannian.

Niannian returned half the bow and called out, “Brother Yanzhi.”

“Mm, shouldn’t we be going in? Mingyue is waiting for you inside as well.” Xie Yanzhi nodded, then asked as if casually.

Nearby, Xiao Tao asked in confusion, “Mingyue, who is this young master? He seems quite familiar with you.”

Xiao Tao thought to herself that if she could not attach herself to one of the young masters of the Grand Princess’s residence, then Young Master Xie would not be a bad choice either. He was strikingly handsome, and his family background seemed respectable as well.

“The eldest son of the Minister of Personnel,” Li Mingyue replied directly. She had not wanted to say anything at first, but she was afraid Xiao Tao might cause trouble.

Over the years, Xie Jincheng had successfully risen from Vice Minister of Personnel to Minister of Personnel, becoming Zhu Jingchen’s right-hand man.

“So he is Eldest Master Xie, one of the capital’s Five Great Talents.”

Xiao Tao secretly thought that marrying Xie Yanzhi would be quite a good outcome too.

“The man standing before your cousin—his status seems rather high, doesn’t it?”

After some thought, Xiao Tao still asked cautiously.

“The current Third Prince. What do you think?” There was a hint of warning in Li Mingyue’s tone.

“Mingyue, I didn’t mean anything by it. I just thought your cousin seemed quite familiar with him,” Xiao Tao said awkwardly.

“Of course she is. When my cousin was little, she often went into the palace. It’s only these past few years that she hasn’t been in the capital.” Li Mingyue spoke with a touch of pride.

Even after hearing this, Xiao Tao did not connect Niannian with Prince An’s household.

Ignoring Xiao Tao, Li Mingyue walked straight toward Niannian.

Gu Nuonuo was rather surprised to see the Third Prince speaking with a young lady for so long at the Grand Princess’s residence. Still, she stepped forward with a smile and curtsied to him. “Your Highness, I didn’t expect you to have time to honor us with your presence today.”

As she spoke, Gu Nuonuo also studied Niannian beside him. She found it strange. Since when had the capital gained such a beautiful young lady? How had she never seen her before?

“May I ask who this is beside Your Highness?”

Unable to guess Niannian’s identity, Gu Nuonuo asked the Third Prince directly.

“The Young Princess of Prince An’s household,” the Third Prince said, a faint smile playing on his lips.

After all, there was no need to think hard about why Niannian had come here today—she must have come for Xu Qingshi.

Gu Nuonuo froze for a moment. Prince An’s household was a place she knew all too well.

At the mention of Prince An’s household, Nuonuo’s little face first flushed red. Then she curtsied to Niannian. “So you are the Young Princess of Prince An’s household. Please forgive my earlier discourtesy.”

Whenever she thought of Prince An’s household, Gu Nuonuo thought of Xu Qingshi, who had not returned to the capital for a long time. He had even told her to wait for him!

“Nuonuo, please don’t stand on ceremony with me.” Niannian hurriedly helped Gu Nuonuo up, silently appraising her as well. My eldest brother certainly has good taste, she thought.

Gu Nuonuo was truly a stunning beauty.

Her eldest brother was getting quite the bargain.

Xiao Tao, who had just approached with Li Mingyue, happened to hear the Third Prince mention the Young Princess of Prince An’s household.

Naturally, Xiao Tao had heard of Prince An’s household.

But she had never expected that the cousin Li Mingyue had spoken of was actually the Young Princess of Prince An’s household.

No wonder she was acquainted with so many people here.

“Mingyue, why didn’t you tell me your cousin was the Young Princess of Prince An’s household?” Xiao Tao recalled all the unpleasant things she had said to the young princess and could not help worrying that the young princess might hold it against her.

“Isn’t she the only cousin our Li family has?” Li Mingyue rolled her eyes. She had no desire to pay Xiao Tao any attention now.

“Everyone, let’s head inside.” After exchanging pleasantries with the others, Gu Nuonuo quickly ushered them in.

Xiao Tao followed behind them, too intimidated to say anything reckless now.

She was even more worried that Niannian would come looking for trouble with her later.

After Xiao Tao’s earlier attitude, Li Mingyue no longer wanted anything to do with her.

But with Xiao Tao following her at the moment, she could hardly shake her off outright.

After entering the Grand Princess’s residence, Niannian first went with the Third Prince to pay her respects to the Grand Princess.

“Yanzhi, I’ll have to trouble you to look after Mingyue,” Niannian said to Xie Yanzhi before going to see the Grand Princess, still somewhat uneasy.

She was truly worried that Xiao Tao, who was by Li Mingyue’s side, would stir up trouble for Mingyue.

She considered Xie Yanzhi someone she could trust.

“Rest assured, Niannian. I will take good care of Mingyue,” Xie Yanzhi promised.

“Niannian, don’t worry. Even if Old Xie can’t protect Mingyue, isn’t there still me?” Jiang Yu chimed in, unable to resist patting his chest in assurance.

“Then I’ll leave her in your care, brothers. Mingyue, if anything happens, go to Yanzhi or Jiang Yu, understand?” Niannian reminded her once more.

“It’s all right, Cousin. Go on without me,” Li Mingyue said hastily. She had attended plenty of banquets like this before; no one would dare make things difficult for her.

Gu Nuonuo also instructed the attendants nearby to take good care of Miss Li. After all, she was the niece of the Princess Consort of An.