Xie Jinglan and Xie Jingqi were also surprised to encounter acquaintances.
When they looked further into the private room, Xie Jingqi's eyes lit up.
He had been busy these past few days, originally planning to find opportunities for his fourth brother and Ji Zizhao to interact once he had time. He hadn't expected to meet them here.
Since they had met, Xie Jingqi naturally wouldn't let this good opportunity slip by.
"Ji Zizhao, you're here too. What a coincidence. Fourth Brother, let's sit here too, it's lively."
Xue Yinuo chuckled at his words. The Seventh Prince's thick skin was indeed growing day by day. He didn't even ask if they were willing. Fortunately, their Fourth Brother was present, and with the Fourth Prince's demeanor, he would absolutely not agree.
Thinking this, Xue Yinuo looked at Xie Jinglan with anticipation in her eyes.
Xie Jinglan followed Xue Yinuo's gaze, lowered his eyes slightly, and nodded, "In that case, we'll be imposing."
With that, he stepped into the private room with Xie Jingqi.
Xue Yinuo, "..."
Could being thick-skinned be contagious?
Seeing that both princes had entered and sat down, Xue Yinuo could only close the door, no matter how unwilling she was.
Xu Meiqing was not as carefree as Xue Yinuo. Facing the two princes sitting opposite her, she didn't know where to put her hands or feet from nervousness.
Ji Zizhao also hadn't expected Xie Jingqi and Xie Jinglan to enter so readily. Although their relationship was quite good in private, in front of Xue Yinuo and Xu Meiqing, it was not appropriate for her to appear too familiar.
Xie Jingqi wanted to speak, but his mind was entirely occupied with how to get rid of the two women in front of them, allowing his fourth brother and Ji Zizhao to have some alone time.
Xie Jinglan took out two teacups and leisurely poured tea.
Although he was the most composed of everyone, he seemed to have no intention of speaking first.
For a moment, the private room fell into an unusually eerie silence.
Suddenly, Xie Jingqi stood up abruptly, slapping the table in front of Xue Yinuo, "I heard that the eldest daughter of the Xue family has excellent equestrian skills. Would you be interested in a competition with me?"
Xue Yinuo, who was almost scared to death, clutched her heart. She was not intimidated by the Seventh Prince's challenge, "Certainly, when is Your Highness free?"
"Why wait for another day? Today is as good as any."
Today…
Xue Yinuo subconsciously glanced at Ji Zizhao and Xu Meiqing behind her.
Although she was a fighter, she still had some sense. If she went to compete with the Seventh Prince at this time, what would happen to Ji Zizhao and Xu Meiqing who were left behind?
However, Xie Jingqi had no intention of giving Xue Yinuo a chance to think. He glanced sideways, leaned his body, and scoffed, "Is the eldest daughter of the Xue family afraid? If you're afraid, just say so. As a prince and a man of seven feet, I naturally wouldn't trouble a woman."
All of Xue Yinuo's reason vanished under Xie Jingqi's provocation, "Then let's compete, whoever doesn't is a dog!"
Seeing Xue Yinuo's readiness to leave, Xu Meiqing quickly stood up, intending to stop her.
Before she could even speak, Xie Jingqi grabbed Xu Meiqing's wrist, "Two people competing need a witness. You'll do perfectly."
With that, he grabbed Xu Meiqing and walked towards the door.
Xu Meiqing, "..."
Was this a prince or a bandit!
As the three of them left, silence once again fell upon the private room.
Even if Ji Zizhao was slow-witted, she could no longer ignore the strangeness of the situation. She looked at the Fourth Prince sitting opposite her and couldn't help but frown and ask, "What does His Highness the Seventh Prince mean by this?"
Xie Jinglan did not answer. He elegantly picked up the teapot and filled Ji Zizhao's teacup. After putting down the teapot, he asked instead of answering, "Do you know that the portraits of the imperial city ladies who attended the palace banquet a few days ago have been sent to various sleeping quarters?"
Ji Zizhao was not surprised by his words.
As expected.
She imagined that the imperial city would soon be lively. After all, there were at least three or four princes who had passed their coming-of-age ceremony. However, the thought of princes marrying in droves made Ji Zizhao feel incredibly amused.
She hadn't expected to witness a group wedding here.
Looking back at the gentle man opposite her, Ji Zizhao instinctively asked, "In that case, will the Fourth Prince also be married this time?"
Xie Jinglan did not deny it, but paused and then said, "Not just me, but you too."
Ji Zizhao smiled upon hearing this, "This humble subject is divorced, how can I possibly have the qualifications to be included in the royal selection of consorts again?"
"You and my fifth brother never performed the grand ceremony of bowing to heaven and earth. It is only natural that your portrait would be sent to the other sleeping quarters along with those of other young ladies. If my intelligence is correct, an imperial decree from Father Emperor bestowing rewards will be sent to the Ji family this evening. Ten days later will be the examination for the Imperial Academy, and the selection for the princes of appropriate age will take place after the Imperial Academy examination."
Ji Zizhao frowned slightly, her hand, which was holding the teacup, tightened.
The grand weddings of the princes were the beginning of consolidating power.
No matter which imperial concubine in the harem, they would hope to secure a princely consort with a powerful family background for their son.
The reason Ji Zizhao implored the Emperor to exempt the Ji family from hereditary succession, and to resign her title as Princess Ronghe, was partly to retaliate against the ill-intentioned individuals of the Ji family, and partly to safely evade the selection for the princes of appropriate age.
After all, no imperial concubine would fancy someone like her, who was devoid of family support, background, and status.
But now, the Fourth Prince's words had completely disrupted all of Ji Zizhao's plans.
Xie Jinglan looked at Ji Zizhao, whose brow was furrowed, and said softly again, "Your plea to Father Emperor to exempt the Ji family from everything was merely a stratagem. After tonight, the Ji family will rise from the bottom to become a notable presence in the imperial city once more. And once you join the Imperial Academy, it will be the moment for the Ji family's rise."
Ji Zizhao had not intended to hide these actions from the Fourth Prince.
Similarly, she could not hide them from him.
But if these matters occurred before the selection, then her desire to evade the selection would be extremely difficult.
The Fifth Prince had always been coveting her. If he were to discover that her current reticence was intended to allow the Ji family to stand more firmly in the imperial city, the Fifth Prince would not let it go.
At that time, as long as Noble Consort Xi could manipulate the selection process, and pair her with a prince who had already secretly sided with the Fifth Prince as his consort, she would be completely controlled by the Fifth Prince.
By then, the Ji family would inevitably become the Fifth Prince's prey once more.
Ji Zizhao narrowed her eyes slightly, a cold glint flashing in her pupils.
She had calculated everything, but had not expected to overlook the timing.
Her slender fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop opposite her.
Ji Zizhao looked up at the sound, and directly met the Fourth Prince's dark eyes, which seemed to be sprinkled with starlight.
Their eyes met, and Xie Jinglan's dark gaze deepened, "Why don't you marry me?"