Su Qianmo walked over and sat beside Xiao Cui, asking, "Xiao Cui, do you know what this year's palace banquet is about?"
"Miss, you don't know either?" Xiao Cui's eyes widened in surprise.
"Tell me quickly!" Su Qianmo urged.
Xiao Cui stuck out her tongue and said, "It's like this. Didn't someone spread word some time ago that the Sixth Prince had a woman outside? So, His Highness the Crown Prince intends to invite Miss Nangong into the palace to smooth things over. This way, the Sixth Prince can legitimately marry the young lady of the Nangong family into his household, fulfilling one of the Crown Prince's wishes."
After hearing Xiao Cui's words, Su Qianmo was taken aback. So that's how it was.
It seemed this matter was true. No wonder Xuanyuan Haotian had been exceptionally attentive to Nangong Yan'er recently, even granting her every wish. She had thought Xuanyuan Haotian was merely putting on a show, but she hadn't expected he had an ulterior motive.
However, Xuanyuan Haotian was a shrewd man. He knew their relationship, and with a little display of affection, Su Qianmo would surely be grateful.
But he wouldn't be so foolish as to let Su Qianmo believe he had fallen in love with her, as that would ruin his plan. Therefore, he had to resort to this tactic with Nangong Yan'er.
"How do you know about this?" Su Qianmo raised an eyebrow, a hint of suspicion in her voice.
"Oh, this, your maidservant heard it while in the palace," Xiao Cui blinked and replied.
"Is that so? Then you must be careful, don't let yourself be sold and still help count the money!"
Su Qianmo patted Xiao Cui's shoulder, reminding her earnestly.
"Your maidservant understands, thank you for your reminder, Miss!"
Xiao Cui lowered her head and replied obediently.
"Alright, then go back to work."
"Yes."
Xiao Cui left, while Su Qianmo picked up the drawing paper on the table and continued practicing calligraphy.
With a "clatter," a stone hit the back of her hand, startling her.
She looked up and saw a tall, thin man standing before her.
"Who are you? Why did you attack me?" Su Qianmo demanded angrily.
"Heh, little girl, you've got quite some nerve to call out this young master's name," the tall, thin man looked at Su Qianmo dismissively, his demeanor arrogant.
"My name is Su Qianmo, not little girl!" Su Qianmo stated.
"Hahaha, so you're a woman!"
The man burst into unrestrained laughter. "Since you're a woman, you should be more well-behaved!"
"Hey, I don't recall you looking like a man, so why should I be well-behaved?"
"Hmph, that's not for you to decide!"
With that, the man grabbed Su Qianmo by the throat. "I'm telling you, this young master is going to toy with you to death today!"
"Cough, cough, you... cough, cough, cough."
"Let go! Let go quickly!" Su Qianmo struggled fiercely, but how could she match the strength of a man, especially one who was skilled in martial arts? Su Qianmo couldn't resist at all.
"Let go, if you don't let go, believe it or not, I'll kill you?"
"You dare?"
"Heh, why wouldn't I dare?" the man laughed maniacally.
"You..."
"What about you?" The man tightened his grip on Su Qianmo's neck. "If you're smart, kneel down and beg for mercy, otherwise, I'll make you regret it for the rest of your life!"
"You wish!"
"Heh, then I'll have to be impolite." The man said, suddenly releasing his grip. He grabbed Su Qianmo's collar and with a forceful toss, threw her directly out.
"Ah!" Su Qianmo screamed and landed heavily on the ground.
"Bitch, still acting so proud. Don't you like men? This young master will fulfill your wish today!"
The man approached Su Qianmo step by step.
"You... what do you want to do?" Su Qianmo was terrified and scrambled backward.
"Heh heh, of course, I want to do you!"
With that, the man lunged at Su Qianmo and tore off her red skirt, revealing her fair, delicate shoulders and exquisite collarbone.
"Ah, you hooligan! Don't touch me!"
Su Qianmo desperately dodged.
"Heh heh, do you think your clothes are bulletproof? Just stay put!"
The man said wickedly, his hand reaching towards Su Qianmo's chest.
As his fingertips touched the snow-white skin, he was stunned by a chilling coldness. His whole body trembled, and he quickly withdrew his hand.
"You... how did you suddenly become like this?" The man looked at Su Qianmo in shock, his face filled with disbelief.
"Hmph, it's none of your business why I've become like this! Get away from me!" Su Qianmo snorted coldly.
The man, intimidated by Su Qianmo's aura, retreated repeatedly. He swallowed and said, "This... you... who exactly are you?"
"It's none of your concern."
Su Qianmo said, picked up her clothes from the ground, put them on, and walked out of the room.
"Xiao Cui, let's go!"
Su Qianmo called out Xiao Cui's name.
"Right away!"
Xiao Cui quickly responded and hurried to follow.
"Xiao Cui, tell me, if the Sixth Prince knew my identity, would he be very angry?" Su Qianmo asked.
"Well, I don't know about that."
Xiao Cui shook her head. "Miss, I'm not very clear either."
Su Qianmo smiled. This little maidservant was only seventeen or eighteen years old; how could she understand so much?
The two of them arrived at the Imperial Garden.
Su Qianmo immediately spotted a noble and elegant figure in the distance. A mocking smile played on her lips.
"Miss, what are you smiling about?" Xiao Cui asked curiously.
"Nothing."
Su Qianmo finished speaking and walked towards Xuanyuan Yi.
"This humble subject greets His Majesty, may you live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand thousand years!"
Su Qianmo curtsied and said indifferently.
Xuanyuan Yi looked at the unfamiliar woman before him, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Although the woman's face looked very familiar, he couldn't recall exactly who she was for a moment.
"Rise, and be seated!"
Su Qianmo sat opposite Xuanyuan Yi as instructed. "May I ask what His Majesty requires of this humble subject?"
"I heard you were admiring the moon in the Imperial Garden last night, so I sent someone to bring you to the Imperial Study." Xuanyuan Yi said, rising from behind his desk and walking up to Su Qianmo. "I heard you are recuperating in this courtyard, so I specifically had an imperial physician bring you some pills, hoping they will be effective for your injuries."
As Xuanyuan Yi finished speaking, Xiao Chun entered with a tray.
"Thank you for Your Majesty's kindness!"
Su Qianmo accepted the tray and said faintly.
"Heh heh."
Xuanyuan Yi let out a laugh, then returned to his throne and sat down. "I heard that you have cultivated many rare and exotic plants in the Imperial Garden. Where did these all come from?"