Chapter 659

Chapter 20 — The Three Little Ones, Niannian 20

“This young lady agreed to it, but no one else did,” Gu Nuonuo said sarcastically.

“Mingyue, I didn’t do it on purpose. I only lost my footing and accidentally pulled you into the lake with me.”

Seeing that the situation was turning against her, Xiao Tao hurriedly called out to Li Mingyue.

Li Mingyue turned away, unwilling to pay Xiao Tao any further attention.

“Mingyue, you were the one who brought me here. If anything happens to me at the Grand Princess’s residence, you won’t be able to escape responsibility either.”

When she saw that Li Mingyue remained unmoved, Xiao Tao shouted in displeasure.

She cursed inwardly. That wretched Li Mingyue actually dared refuse to save her!

“You tried to push Mingyue into the water, and now you expect her to save you? Where in the world is there such a good deal? Xiao Tao, you’d better wait to spend the rest of your life in prison!” Niannian said, stepping directly in front of Li Mingyue and shielding her as she looked at Xiao Tao with contempt.

“What are you so pleased with? Aren’t you only relying on the fact that you were born into a better family than I was?” Xiao Tao cursed at Niannian resentfully.

If she were the daughter of Prince An, would she be reduced to begging them for help?

“And what makes you think you have the right to bully my cousin in front of this commandery princess?” Niannian retorted mercilessly.

“Niannian, why waste your breath on someone like her?” the Third Prince said from the side, displeased.

“Take her away and interrogate her thoroughly. Find out who is behind her. How dare she lay a hand on a member of the Li family?” Niannian ordered unhappily.

After Xiao Tao had been taken away, Gu Nuonuo finally turned to Niannian and Li Mingyue and gave them a formal bow.

“young commandery princess, Mingyue, the Gu family failed in its hospitality today and allowed Miss Li to be harmed under our roof. I, Gu Nuonuo, sincerely apologize to Mingyue and the young commandery princess.”

“Sister Gu, this isn’t your fault.” Niannian quickly helped Gu Nuonuo up.

After all, this was the woman at the center of her elder brother’s heart. Niannian certainly didn’t dare accept her bow.

“Eldest Miss Gu, if we’re speaking of today’s incident, I’m also to blame. Xiao Tao was someone I brought into the Grand Princess’s residence myself. If anything, I should be the one apologizing to the Gu family!” Li Mingyue hurriedly stood and bowed to Gu Nuonuo.

“All right, none of this was your fault. There’s no need for all of you to keep apologizing to one another,” the Third Prince said, looking at the three girls.

“Exactly! That Tao girl was awful. Mingyue, if she dares bully you again, go find your Brother Jiang Yu. I’ll protect you!” Jiang Yu immediately stepped forward.

“Why do you seem to be everywhere?” Xie Yanzhi said unhappily from the side.

He was already thinking that he would have to visit the Ministry of Justice later and make sure they interrogated Xiao Tao properly.

“Thank you, gentlemen.” Li Mingyue merely gave them a graceful bow in gratitude. She knew that these were nothing more than polite formalities.

Although an unexpected incident had occurred during the Grand Princess’s flower-viewing banquet, the rest of the gathering was quite enjoyable for Niannian and Li Mingyue after Xiao Tao was gone.

After the banquet, the Third Prince, Xie Yanzhi, and Jiang Yu escorted the two girls home.

When they left the Gu residence, Gu Nuonuo saw them off.

“Young commandery princess, Mingyue, our hospitality was lacking today. Another day, come to the Li residence, and we can spend time together there,” Gu Nuonuo said with a smile.

She had heard that Niannian was currently staying at the Li residence, so she planned to pay the two girls a visit another day.

“Then we’ll wait for you at home, Sister Gu,” Niannian replied with a smile.

She thought that she would probably be seeing Gu Nuonuo again very soon. After all, she had already received a letter from her parents saying that they were on their way back to the capital and would arrive before long.

Her ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‍parents were returning this time specifically to arrange the marriage between her elder brother and Gu Nuonuo.

On the carriage back to the Li residence, Li Mingyue cautiously glanced outside at the Third Prince and the others riding their three horses. Then she looked at Niannian in confusion.

“Cousin, why are they escorting us home?”

Li Mingyue felt so nervous with the Third Prince there that she didn’t even dare speak loudly.

“They’re friends with my elder brother. I suppose they don’t want anything to happen to us on the way,” Niannian said casually.

Although she knew the Third Prince might have reasons beyond her elder brother, that was not something she could explain to Li Mingyue.

“Oh. But why do I feel that the way the Third Prince looks at you is a little strange?” Li Mingyue asked cautiously after thinking it over.

“You must be mistaken. He looks at me the same way he looks at you.”

Niannian refuted her without a second thought.

“Really?” Li Mingyue asked doubtfully. Had she truly been mistaken?

Outside the carriage—

“Old Xie, what do you think? How about I marry Mingyue?” Jiang Yu said excitedly.

With his status, marrying Niannian would be somewhat difficult. But marrying Mingyue should still be within his reach, shouldn’t it?

The thought made Jiang Yu extremely excited.

His mother had been trying to find a suitable noblewoman for him in the capital these past few days. Originally, he hadn’t felt that he wanted to marry anyone in particular.

But after meeting Li Mingyue today, he suddenly felt that she was the perfect match for him.

“Your family may not have a mirror, but surely you have a puddle of water to look into?” Xie Yanzhi rolled his eyes at Jiang Yu, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.

How could Li Mingyue possibly be someone Jiang Yu could lay claim to?

She was the girl at the center of his heart. He had not intended to move so quickly, but now it seemed he would have to return home and ask his mother to propose to the Li family. He absolutely could not let Jiang Yu get there first.

“Old Xie, what do you mean by that?” Jiang Yu asked with a frown. Why did he feel as though he couldn’t understand Xie Yanzhi at all?

“He means that a toad like you shouldn’t dream of eating swan meat,” the Third Prince said, the corner of his mouth twitching as he explained.

He, too, was thinking about the imminent return of Prince An and his wife to the capital. His Imperial Father and Mother had told him that once Prince An and his wife returned, they would speak to them about his relationship with Niannian.

He wondered whether Prince An would agree.

At the thought of Prince An, the Third Prince glanced toward the carriage again. Prince An probably would not give his consent easily.

It seemed that marrying Niannian would not be easy.

But he had loved the girl for so many years. If he did nothing and Prince An married Niannian off to someone else, he would surely regret it.

“No, Lao Xu! We’ve been friends for so many years. Is that really what you think of me?” Jiang Yu said, feeling deeply wounded.

Even so, nothing could shake his determination to have his mother propose to the Li family.

The three men on horseback each had their own thoughts.

Yet all of them were related to the two girls inside the carriage.

“Niannian, I have something to discuss with you later. Could you speak with me privately for a few moments?”

The Third Prince deliberately slowed his horse and called toward Niannian inside the carriage.

Niannian froze. She had not expected the Third Prince to say something like that to her in the middle of the street.

If anyone with ill intentions overheard him, wouldn’t it damage her reputation?

The thought irritated her.

“Third Prince, this subject has nothing to say to you,” Niannian replied without mercy.

The Third Prince was stunned. Was Niannian angry with him?

Before he could figure it out, a frivolous voice sounded from the other side of the carriage.

“Xie Yanzhi, Jiang Yu, I heard that Xu Qingshi’s younger sister has returned. Don’t tell me she’s in the carriage behind you?”