Back Courtyard of the Frontier Prince’s Mansion.
Elegant Fragrance Courtyard.
After pushing Qiu An away, Guo Xue ran all the way back to her room and immediately shut the door behind her.
“Huff… huff…”
Guo Xue leaned against the door, gasping for air. With her cultivation level, such a short run shouldn’t have left her breathless—but she was just too nervous.
“This heir of the Frontier Prince’s Mansion must have a problem with his eyes. Even with me like this, he still wants to marry me? Could it be that assassin damaged his brain too?”
She muttered under her breath.
“Miss, what are you talking about?”
A maid in a green dress suddenly popped out from the side.
“Ah!”
Guo Xue, startled mid-mutter, jumped in fright.
“Ning Xiang! Why are you here? I didn’t see you just now!”
“Hee hee! Miss, I’ve been here the whole time—you just didn’t notice.”
Ning Xiang giggled, then continued:
“Miss, who were you saying had a damaged brain?”
“It’s your fault! Of all times to get a stomach-ache, you had to choose that one, which led to such an embarrassing moment.”
Guo Xue tapped Ning Xiang on the forehead.
“Hee hee, Miss, come on, tell me what happened!”
Ning Xiang held Guo Xue’s hand, playfully urging her.
Looking at her maid acting all cutesy, Guo Xue couldn’t stay mad. She sighed and said, “I’m thirsty.”
“Alright, let’s sit and talk. I’ll pour you some water.”
Ning Xiang pulled Guo Xue over to the table and poured her a cup.
“I went to deliver the pastries for you. After placing them down, I was about to leave when the heir of the Frontier Prince’s Mansion suddenly grabbed my hand—and he said he wants to marry me!”
“There were so many military noblewomen around, and yet he picked me, a maid with two scars on her face. Isn’t he crazy?”
“Luckily, I reacted quickly. I shoved him and ran off while he was stunned.”
Guo Xue looked at Ning Xiang with a look of disdain.
“Hee hee! Miss, that only shows how charming you are. Even that ugly mask can’t hide it. Why not just say yes to him?”
Ning Xiang giggled, clearly teasing.
“Nonsense! All I care about now is avenging my parents.”
As she spoke, Guo Xue seemed to see the moment her parents were executed again—hatred burning in her eyes.
Seeing the fury in her eyes, Ning Xiang’s smile faded as she tried to comfort her:
“Miss, don’t worry. We will avenge the Master.”
“As long as we stay here, during the old matriarch’s birthday banquet in half a month, we’ll surely get a chance to appeal to His Majesty directly. He’ll reopen the case, clear your father’s name, and bring justice.”
“Yes, as long as we stay here, we’ll have the chance to meet the emperor.”
Guo Xue muttered, then frowned.
“Ning Xiang, the more I think about it since entering the mansion, the more I realize I was too naive.”
“I thought seeing His Majesty would be enough to clear my parents’ names—but we don’t have any evidence to prove their innocence. How can we make him believe us? How can we get him to re-investigate?”
“If only we knew some influential officials, His Majesty might be persuaded.”
Ning Xiang mumbled.
“Influential officials… influential officials…”
Guo Xue kept repeating those words like she was possessed.
“Miss? What’s wrong? You’re scaring me!”
Seeing Guo Xue repeating the same thing over and over, Ning Xiang got worried, almost to the verge of tears.
Then suddenly, Guo Xue grabbed her hand.
“Ning Xiang, you’re right. We do need an influential official. What do you think—does the Frontier Prince count as powerful enough?”
Seeing Guo Xue snap out of it, Ning Xiang let out a sigh of relief.
“Miss, of course the Frontier Prince is powerful—why else would we come here?”
“He grew up with His Majesty, his mother was His Majesty’s wet nurse, and he commands 300,000 troops at the border.”
“If he speaks up for us, wouldn’t His Majesty be forced to investigate the case?”
“Miss, if he steps in, then yes—His Majesty will definitely re-investigate.”
Ning Xiang’s eyes suddenly widened in realization.
“Miss… don’t tell me you’re thinking…”
Before she could finish, Guo Xue cut her off.
“That’s right. I’ve decided—I’m going to marry the heir of the Frontier Prince.”
“As his fiancée, at the old matriarch’s birthday banquet, I’ll petition His Majesty. He won’t refuse me out of respect for her.”
“Miss, please think carefully. The heir has lost all his martial abilities—he may never be able to cultivate again. And the Frontier Prince has many enemies. If he falls, the entire mansion will be in danger.”
Ning Xiang looked worried.
“No matter. If it means clearing my parents’ names, I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Guo Xue smiled.
“Ning Xiang, who says the Frontier Prince’s heir must be the one to uphold the family? As the future princess consort, I can carry the weight of the Frontier Prince’s name.”
She had already started stepping into the role mentally.
“Don’t forget, your lady here is a martial arts prodigy. Even without resources, I’ve reached the Martial Master realm. With the Frontier Prince’s backing, I can definitely reach the Martial Emperor realm within thirty years.”
Guo Xue said confidently.
“You don’t think the Frontier Prince, with his strength, can live another thirty years?”
“Miss, I heard he’s at the peak of Martial Emperor. He could break through to Martial Venerable any time. He could easily live another fifty years.”
“Exactly! And in fifty years, I may reach Martial Venerable myself. Then what would I have to fear from the heir’s disability?”
Guo Xue smiled at her.
“Miss, you’re amazing—I believe in you!”
Ning Xiang’s face was full of admiration. But then she grew concerned again.
“But Miss, you pushed the heir away earlier—didn’t that count as rejecting him? What if he won’t marry you now?”
“Hmph! He better not dare! He said in front of the princess consort herself that he’d marry me. If he dares go back on his word, I’ll beat him up!”
Guo Xue clenched her fists in anger, like Qiu An was already standing before her.
“Hee hee! Miss, but he’s the heir—you’d dare hit him?”
Ning Xiang giggled.
“Hmph! If he dares not listen, and dares not marry me, I’ll definitely dare to hit him!”
Guo Xue snorted.
“Miss… are you sure he wasn’t just trying to provoke the princess consort by saying he’d marry you? I mean… your face…”
Ning Xiang pointed to the two scars on Guo Xue’s face.
“Hee hee—but don’t worry. Once you return to your true appearance, the heir will definitely fall for you.”
Knock knock knock.
Just as Guo Xue was about to speak again, a knock came from the door.
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