"A familiar face." Jun Qi Chen chuckled at his good luck. "Benwang did not know the Xie's second miss would be visiting. If not, Benwang would have brought more presents."
With her head lowered, Xie Lien replied, "Your highness does not need to be considerate of this subject."
"Xie Second Miss is too humble." Jun Qi Chen laughed, offering his hand to help Xie Lien up.
In front of so many people, did she dare refuse him? Feeling her new found freedom slipping through her fingers, Xie Lien accepted the Prince's outstretched hand with a polite smile. Once she was standing, she tried to pull away but Jun Qi Chen kept a firm hold of her dainty hand.
Without thinking much, she could already see what everyone saw and hear what they would be saying later. "Xie Lien only came to visit grandmother for a bit. Perhaps it is time this miss leaves."
"Does Benwang's presence make you uncomfortable?" Jun Qi Chen asked. His lips turned down sadly but his eyes gave away his slyness.
"Not at all." Xie Lien turned her eyes away and lowered her lashes. You think you're the only pitiful one? "However, this miss promised mother and father to not be out for long."
No upright and noble Prince will encourage a young girl to break a promise to her parents. Unfortunately for Xie Lien, she had more then one problematic person to deal with.
"Haha! Our family's Lien'Er is such a filial child!" Cai Yuan boasted, "Don't worry Lien'Er, grandfather will speak to your father and Yi Yi, so stay a little longer."
Xie Lien could imagine that conversation leading to her being confined once more and opened her mouth to make another excuse, only for her to be cut off by Jun Qi Chen. "Xie Second Miss, Minister Cai is always bragging about you. Please don't let Benwang's presence keep you from spending time with your grandfather."
The Crown Prince himself was pleading so politely for her to be filial. No matter how great her father is, she dared not make anymore excuses. "In that case, Lien'Er will stay longer and catch up with cousin Meng, then grandfather and Lien'Er can have a talk later."
"Silly girl, so excited to see your family, what about the Crown Prince? Grandfather and grandmother will prepare things, so take his highness for a walk until then."
Xie Lien was annoyed by her grandfather, but also very impressed. As expected, such a greedy fox could never last this long had his tongue not been so glib.
However, a fox will indeed father a vixen. Xie Lien might not be on his level, but she was not without her own talents. The young beauty pouted with a regretful look. "Grandfather, Lien'Er has not been here for so many years and no longer knows her way." She hooked her arm with Cai Meng's before anyone could say anything. "Let cousin Meng come along so Lien'Er doesn't make a mistake."
It wouldn't make any sense for Cai Yuan to refuse, and Jun Qi Chen couldn't insist on being alone with her or his intentions would become obvious. It wouldn't do good for his wife's family to learn he had plans to replace her.
Jun Qi Chen glanced at the old minister and found he was also cornered. "Of course, Benwang didn't think you would also want to catch up with your cousin. Let's go together." Seeing Xie Lien so resolute, but careful, to keep him away, he only wanted her more.
Xie Lien held the blushing Cai Meng between her and the Prince. Even though she wasn't saying anything, the effort to keep smiling was enough to tire her out.
In her heart, Xie Lien raised a middle finger in Cai Yuan's dishonor. Her mother once told her the gardens in the Cai residence are large because Cai Yuan likes seeing beauties playing amongst flowers.
Jun Qi Chen was growing tired with Cai Meng's ramblings, but there was no getting rid of her. The times are sensitive, and all the chess pieces need to obediently play their role. For now, she couldn't know Cai Yuan and he have agreed to give her role to Xie Lien.
"Your highness, come look over here." Cai Meng's syrupy voice pulled back Jun Qi Chen's attention. She brazenly held his hand and tugged him towards a healthy cheery blossom tree. "Grandmother is very sentimental and had all of us carve our names here," She excitedly explained then lowered her full lashes, blushingly muttering, "she... she even made each of us promise to do the same with our future children."
Jun Qi Chen almost clicked his tongue but was distracted by a messy, jagged, characters. He couldn't help but sputter a laugh as he looked at the young girl who'd deliberately fallen behind. "Second Miss, your calligraphy could use some work."
"A tree isn't a convenient to write on." She replied.
"Right, you've gotten much better." Jun Qi Chen casually walked towards her. "Imperial grandmother hung your portrait up like treasure. Bengong even started visiting her more often just to see it."
Xie Lien would like to say she'll never plagiarize again, but that would be a lie. Zhou Li and the others frowned when they noticed the Prince was getting too close and took a few steps closer. Xie Lien didn't stop them. If this man was really interested in her, he wouldn't harm her persons in fear of offending her. "It's wonderful her majesty holds this subject's meager skills so dear."
"You undermine yourself." The Crown Prince chuckled. "Why not make something for Bengong and Bengong will judge if your skills are meager."
Xie Lien could see Cai Meng twisting her handkerchief behind the Crown Prince. If you hate it so much, hurry up and take him away. "This miss doesn't dare sully your highness' eyes. It would be best to ask cousin Meng, her skills are more honed then this mine. Right, cousin Meng?"
"...Huh? Oh! Of course!" Cai Meng realized she was just given a chance to gift the Prince a piece of art and rushed to grab the opportunity. She moved to his side, hooking her arm with his so she could pull him away from Xie Lien once more. "Your highness, what sort of things do you like? What are your favorite colors? If you tell Meng'Er, Meng'Er will make you the most beautiful painting in the Empire."
Jun Qi Chen glanced back at Xie Lien, just in time to catch her sigh in relief. He dug his heels in, saying rather coldly, "The sun is high and not pleasant to be in right now. Bengong will retreat first." He left, not seeing Cai Meng's pleading gaze as his interest was on Xie Lien.
He knew she was unwilling, but that didn't matter to him. He would regret for now because of their third wheel. No matter how many passes he made at Xie Lien, she'd throw it at Cai Meng and allow her interfere.
The two ladies waited till he disappeared into the residence before facing one another. Their gentle expressions turned venomous, figurative claws and fangs bared in a way you wouldn't expect of family.
"Xie Lien," Cai Meng's once sugary voice was tainted with disdain. "you've grown even more beautiful."
"I know." Xie Lien flipped her hair over her shoulder, knowing she would cringe over the action later. "Unfortunately, the same can't be said about my dear cousin."
"You... You've always been such a nasty person! Don't think something so temporary will get you everything in the world!"
"I never have. But you must admit, it gets me most things." Xie Lien threw back. "We haven't seen each other in so long, but you've hardly changed."
Cai Meng's face squeezed with unwillingness as she caught onto the past Xie Lien alluded to. She didn't want to be angry, nor did she want to hate Xie Lien. If only Xie Lien went so perfect, they would have been best friends.
What don't I have? Cai Meng often wondered. It's true, Xie Lien is the one most like her. Their other three uncles have moved to different regions to live, making Xie Lien the closest thing Cai Meng has to a sister. Cai Meng's father and Cai Yi Yi are blood relatives and have done a lot for one another. By all accounts, Cai Meng and Xie Lien should have an unbreakable bond, but, like a bad joke, family are often the hardest to get along with.
Up until Xie Lien's birth, Cai Meng was the family's gem. Everyone will, at some point, be usurped as a family's baby, and Cai Meng didn't take her fall well.
One great mistake finally ruined whatever relationship she and Xie Lien had. The former couldn't apologize, and the latter's heart froze as years with no reconciliation passed.
"With that face...! How dare you say that to me with that face!" Cai Meng spat.
Xie Lien rolled her eyes and leaned close so only Cai Meng could hear. "You hate this face? Why not send another servant boy to ruin it?"
Cai Meng paled with a flinch, an unwanted memory resurfacing.
"Hm? Not saying anything?" Xie Lien teased. When Cai Meng didn't answer, she clicked her tongue. "Cousin Meng, before you act stupidly again, remember I am not your enemy.
"You think I don't know that?" Cai Meng hissed. "Even if I know, what can I do?"
"You'll get some sense before I really become your enemy." Xie Lien warned. She and Cai Meng glared at one another before Xie Lien broke the match with a sigh. "First Uncle and First Aunt are not in the Capital, right?"
Cai Meng nodded. "En, grandfather wanted them to visit Third Uncle."
"How often does his highness come here?"
Cai Meng opened her mouth to answer and froze, understanding dawning. "...Grandfather sent them away deliberately so he could bring his highness here without father quarreling." She pinched her brow at her own stupidity.
"If he brought his highness here, it must have been an important meeting..."
Cai Meng sneered at the goading in Xie Lien's voice. "You want me to look into grandfather's affairs?"
"I don't want you to do anything. Help yourself, or don't, I'm not the one about to be abandoned by my lover."
The Cai's young miss wanted to deny, curse at Xie Lien and insist she wasn't being thrown away, but Cai Yuan and Jun Qi Chen's treatment made it obvious. "It's all because you seduced him..." She tried to blame.
Xie Lien boredly curled a lock of her hair around her finger. "Are you an idiot? Don't make me more disgusted to share blood with you then I already am. What sort of idiot Prince chooses to change his plans because of someone's face?"
"...This was long planned...?" Cai Meng almost choked on the words. All those times she met with the Prince to share a meal or go on a walk didn't mean anything?
"It's a mere guess." Xie Lien shrugged. "I think his highness had intentions to marry me, regardless of how I look. He already has grandfather and first uncle's support, marrying you is just a formality to solidify contact."
"But he doesn't have Uncle Xie's support nor Xie Long's... marrying you is the only way to gain Uncle Xie's support."
"If you understand, hurry up and send word to your father. If you're smart, cousin, simply don't marry his highness."
Cai Meng was taken aback by the advise and couldn't help but ask, "Are you concerned for me?"
"Since this matter involves me, do I have a choice?" The reincarnator turned on her heel, throwing the words over her shoulder, "If you marry his highness, be sure to remember your love is one-sided, he will trade you in like an old shoe if needed."
Xie Lien left Cai Meng in the garden, deciding to take her leave now. "Zhou Xia."
"Yes, young miss." The maid answered.
"As soon as we get back, pack my things. I should leave before father can find a husband."