Reborn Spoiled Girl Tames the Regent

Chapter 37 Let her choose for herself

"Your Highness, I have investigated. This person was picked up from the street by Madam Jiang in the twelfth year of the Yuan Kang era. He was only eight years old at the time and has been living in the Jiang family ever since. Last month, Miss Jiang broke off her engagement with the Xie Marquis's family because of him."

Ning Zhi paused, holding the cup, and repeated in a low voice, "She broke off the engagement with the Xie family?"

His tone carried a hint of confusion and a meaningful inquiry.

Lu Fang replied in a deep voice, "Yes, Miss Jiang and Xiao Hengzhi were in love and took the initiative to break off the engagement. The current bride-to-be of the Xie Marquis's mansion is the eldest daughter of the Jiang family."

"Your Highness has also investigated carefully. Xiao Hengzhi comes from a humble background, has no relatives, and is not an orphan of the previous dynasty. If Your Highness has any concerns, should we send someone to continue keeping a close eye on him?"

Ning Zhi pondered for a moment, then shook his head slightly: "Since they are just ordinary people, there's no need for such a fuss."

"Yes, I understand."

Lu Fang responded, then asked, "Does Your Highness think that Commander Jiang has realized that your personal visit is intended to win him over?"

Ning Zhi tilted his head slightly and smiled, "I've made it so obvious, he can naturally see it. However, Commander Jiang is a man of principle, and forcing him to join a faction would be asking the impossible. I can't push him too hard."

While he was thinking about something, he fiddled with his cup and casually picked up a silver needle and inserted it into the tea.

The silver needle did not change color, but he still poured the tea into the orchid pot on the table.

He murmured thoughtfully, "Mutual affection..."

No wonder the way he looked at me that day was so murderous.

Soon, Jiang Xun arrived.

But he was alone; Jiang Mian was nowhere to be seen.

With a hint of apology, he hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Highness, please forgive me. My daughter is naughty and I haven't seen her yet. Your Highness will probably have to wait a while."

Ning Zhi was terrified when she saw his worried expression.

With a reassuring smile, he said, "It's alright. Lord Jiang, there's no need to be nervous. I'm just visiting you today out of the blue. Please treat me as a junior and don't stand on ceremony."

Jiang Xun breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "It's said that His Highness the Crown Prince is a kind and approachable person, and that's certainly true."

The two sat down again, listening to the wind and admiring the flowers.

However, the backyard was in complete chaos.

Xu Mama sent her maids to search for Jiang Mian, but they dared not shout for fear of being heard in the front hall, so they had to search room by room, which was extremely slow.

Ning Zhi noticed that Jiang Xun's gaze kept drifting outwards, clearly indicating that she was restless.

It was as if his presence added to the pressure.

So he simply stood up and said, "I've heard that there's a willow pond in the General's mansion, with a unique view. Now that I have some free time, I'd very much like to see it."

Jiang Xun quickly stood up: "This humble official will lead the way for Your Highness."

Ning Zhi raised his hand to stop him, his smile gentle and warm: "Lord Jiang, there's no need for you to accompany me. I just want to travel as I please, and I'll be happy to go alone."

After saying that, he strode towards Willow Pond.

Jiang Xun wiped the sweat from his brow and instructed his servants, "Quickly send more people to find the Second Miss! His Highness is here, do not be impolite!"

"Yes." The servant withdrew upon receiving the order.

......

As early winter approaches, the scenery by the willow pond is somewhat desolate, with a few wisps of cold wind blowing and the grass trembling slightly.

Ning Zhi walked slowly along the edge of the pond and saw a person sitting with their back to him in the pavilion.

He took two steps closer, and the man turned around when he heard the sound.

The moment their eyes met, Ning Zhi paused, a look of surprise appearing in his eyes.

He then stepped closer, his voice gentle and clear: "Young Master Xiao, how have you been?"

Xiao Hengzhi turned his head away, neither bowing nor speaking.

Lu Fang spoke up from the side, "You don't even bow to His Highness the Crown Prince?!"

Xiao Hengzhi smiled slightly and said in a slow voice, "So you are His Highness the Crown Prince. When we met a few days ago, I thought you were some reckless scoundrel who almost hurt His Highness."

His tone was calm and his expression was composed, seemingly without any hostility, yet he still did not bow.

Those eyes, calm and fearless, yet with a hidden sharpness, met Ning Zhi's gaze directly.

Ning Zhi sensed that he had no intention of treating her with courtesy, but the deep meaning in his eyes remained gentle. He chuckled and said, "Young Master Xiao is eager to protect his master, which I understand."

These words sound gentle, but upon closer examination, they carry a derogatory connotation.

Xiao Hengzhi understood, but remained unmoved and calmly replied, "Second Miss is my mistress, and she will be my wife in the future. It is only right that I protect her."

Seeing his prickly appearance, Ning Zhi wanted to ease the atmosphere, so she said, "Young Master Xiao, there's no need to see me as an enemy. I have never had the habit of stealing other men's wives."

"Is that so? If that's the case, Your Highness, please stay away from her in the future."

Ning Zhi's expression remained unchanged, and his tone was still gentle: "Why? Is Young Master Xiao afraid that Miss Jiang will run away?"

Xiao Hengzhi's expression changed slightly, though it was only fleeting, Ning Zhi noticed it.

Ning Zhi smiled slightly with a hint of mockery. Seeing that he didn't say anything more, she also turned her head to look at the scenery outside the pavilion.

Suddenly, a few labored coughs came from the other side of the passageway.

The two turned their heads at the same time and saw Granny Xu helping Jiang Mian walk gracefully under the corridor.

Ning Zhi squinted, seemingly having a plan in mind.

He chuckled and said, "You can't win a relationship by fighting over it. If you're so confident, why don't you let her choose for herself? Although you two are engaged, there are plenty of people in this world who are engaged but haven't gotten married."

After he finished speaking, he stepped down from the pavilion and walked straight towards Jiang Wan with a smile on his face.

Xiao Hengzhi stood still, coldly watching his retreating figure, his gaze complex. Seeing him getting closer and closer to Jiang Mian, he gritted his teeth and quickly followed.

......

Jiang Mian, standing under the eaves, patted the dust off her skirt; she had just come out of that abandoned side room.

He wiped the dust off his face with a cotton cloth and complained, "Even if that house is abandoned, someone should be sent to clean it. If it weren't for today, I wouldn't have known that there was such a dirty place in the mansion."

Granny Xu replied, "Second Miss is right. But how did you end up there? Master was looking for you everywhere."

"It's all because of Jiang Li!"

She clenched her fists, gritting her teeth as she said, "Call her to my room. Didn't she want to take the paperweight? I'll let her take as much as she wants!"

Xu Mama was used to the two of them bickering, so she just nodded in agreement.

Jiang Wan then asked, "By the way, you just said that Father was looking for me? What does he want with me?"

"They said they wanted the young lady to go to the front hall."

"lobby?"

She was a little confused. Wasn't her father talking to Ning Zhi in the front hall? Why did he call her over?

As she was thinking, she was suddenly poked on the shoulder.

Turning around, I saw Ning Zhi.

She was about to greet him with a smile when she noticed that Xiao Hengzhi had also come over.

The two of them stood together in front of her.

Her smile froze on her face; the sight of the two of them standing together was strangely unsettling.

She composed herself and smiled, "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Ning Zhi smiled gently and gently supported her arm: "Miss Jiang, there's no need for such formalities. I didn't know you were Commander Jiang's daughter when we first met. I was truly rude."

She stood up and replied, "Your Highness is too kind. I was fortunate to be saved by Your Highness that day. I only realized Your Highness's identity after seeing Your Highness's jade badge. After returning home, I thought it over and decided that I should thank Your Highness. That's why I told my father. Please forgive my rudeness."

After she finished speaking, she glanced at Xiao Hengzhi out of the corner of her eye and found that he was looking at her.

She immediately recalled the scene from this morning, and her heart began to pound again; she didn't even dare to look him in the eye.

So he turned to the side and leaned closer to Ning Zhi, with his back to Xiao Hengzhi.

"It's alright, Miss Jiang, there's no need to be so formal."

Jiang Wan nodded and asked, "Why is Your Highness not in the front hall, but here?"

"I thought this place had a unique view, so I came to take a look. It would also be good for Commander Jiang to rest, so that he wouldn't feel constrained in front of me."

Jiang Mian scratched her head: "Father doesn't get along with His Highness on a regular basis, so it's understandable that he's a little nervous."

Xiao Hengzhi watched the two of them talk from the side, while Jiang Mian kept her back to him. The displeasure in her eyes became more and more obvious. She wanted to say something, but it got stuck in her throat.

Ning Zhi glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, seemingly with the air of a winner.

Then he turned to Jiang Mian and said, "I heard there's a lantern festival in the capital today. I haven't been there yet. Would you be interested, Miss?"