The villainous female supporting character becomes a heartthrob, and the powerful man successfully r

Xia Ying's words were like a heavy hammer blow, shattering all the previous fig leaves.

Everyone present was shocked, and no one dared to respond to her.

Only Xia Yanxin's expression softened slightly.

She wasn't afraid of being exposed; instead, she was excited.

Xia Ying was courting death—she thought, this was very advantageous to her.

"Xia Ying, what did you say?!"

Xia Qingfeng's sudden appearance broke the silence. He was supposed to be with Miss Jiang, but as he passed through the garden, he heard Xia Ying's outrageous words and saw Xia Yanxin's aggrieved face. He couldn't help but step forward.

Xia Ying glanced at him and scoffed, "Isn't what I said the truth? Second brother, why are you getting so worked up?"

"You are truly rebellious! I will go back and report to my father, and he will surely expel you from the Xia family!"

After Xia Qingfeng finished speaking, he tried to see fear and apprehension on Xia Ying's face, but instead, she smiled and said, "Alright, then I should thank you, Second Brother."

"What?" Xia Qingfeng looked at Xia Ying in disbelief. He couldn't believe she would give up the Xia family's wealth and status. A woman expelled from her family cannot establish a household; she is essentially dead.

Could it be that Xia Ying's outburst at today's banquet was simply... a ploy to escape the Xia family?!

Having figured this out, Xia Qingfeng's expression was very complicated.

Rong Yunfei spoke up at the right moment: "It was just a girl's joke, Second Brother Xia, you're taking it too seriously. Besides, Sister Ying is your own sister, what are you doing?"

Ever since learning that the Xia brothers had conspired to frame Xia Ying, Rong Yunfei's opinion of them plummeted, and she became increasingly rude in her speech. Xia Qingfeng naturally sensed her displeasure, immediately apologized, and slunk away.

Before leaving, he and Xia Ying exchanged a glance, and he was startled. In her eyes, there was only indifference; she looked at him as if he were an ant.

At that moment, he seemed to see Xia Ying, who was ostracized by her family when she was twelve years old. The two overlapped, and it seemed that something had changed.

Rong Yunfei took Xia Ying away, far from the center of the vortex, but they encountered Jiang Shize on the bluestone path.

After he bowed and greeted her, his eyes kept glancing at Xia Ying, causing Rong Yunfei's brow to twitch. Sister Ying was indeed radiant today; even she was momentarily stunned when she saw her.

At this moment, Jiang Shize spoke, interrupting Rong Yunfei's thoughts.

"Sister Xia, it's been so many years, how have you been?"

Xia Ying nodded slightly and replied politely, "It's alright. Thank you, Your Highness."

Upon receiving the response, Jiang Shize became much more energetic, revealing a sunny smile, and his gaze towards Xia Ying became even more unrestrained.

He said to Rong Yunfei, "I wonder if the princess would do me the favor of allowing me to catch up with an old friend?"

Xia Ying frowned slightly, about to refuse, when a sharp male voice came from behind him: "Yunfei, I've been looking all over for you. Didn't I tell you not to run around?"

Rong Xuanzhou appeared and glanced at Jiang Shize without leaving a trace.

Today, the other person was wearing a light blue round-necked robe with dark patterns, and had their hair tied up with a jade crown, clearly having dressed up carefully.

Thinking of the other purpose of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion today, his mood instantly soured. His gaze towards Xia Ying was filled with bitterness.

She finally managed to get rid of a fiancé, and now a childhood sweetheart has appeared.

What to do if the Crown Princess is too popular?

"Brother, I was just about to come find you. Jiang Shize, we'll be going now."

Rong Yunfei immediately pulled Xia Ying to Rong Xuanzhou's side, giving Jiang Shize no chance.

But once she stepped into the shadows, Rong Yunfei was "ruthlessly" abandoned.

Behind the artificial hill, Xia Ying was pinned against the rock wall by Rong Xuanzhou and severely "punished".

His kiss was urgent and fierce, and you could taste the sourness hidden within it. Xia Ying held his arm tightly, enduring it all and savoring it.

When they parted, her eyes were bright, with a sly smile.

"Hengzhi, are you jealous?"

Rong Xuanzhou reached out and pinched the soft little face in front of him, feeling a moment of comfort in his heart.

"Yingying, they are all bad people. Stay away from them. I really want to take you directly back to the East Palace. That way, they won't dare to covet you anymore."

As he spoke, his gaze deepened, awaiting Xia Ying's response.

"Your Highness, not everyone is like you, unafraid of my destiny. Being a cursed lone star is still a serious matter for the entire family."

Xia Ying gently raised her eyes, staring intently at Rong Xuanzhou, her words carrying a very clear meaning.

"Moreover, it concerns the fate of the imperial court and the nation."

"I am not afraid; everything depends on human effort. If the prosperity of the nation depends solely on the fate of women, then it truly reflects the incompetence of those in power. What use are the officials then?"

This was Rong Xuanzhou's true thought. If the entire court couldn't protect a country and blamed it on a woman, then they were truly useless.

Upon hearing this, Xia Ying immediately covered his mouth in alarm, glanced around, and whispered, "Your Highness, walls have ears, don't talk nonsense."

Rong Xuanzhou was taken aback, snapping out of his indignation. His phoenix eyes brightened slightly, and he smiled as he took her hand.

"Yingying, you're worried about me, aren't you?"

Under his burning gaze, Xia Ying's cheeks flushed, as beautiful as a lotus. Rong Xuanzhou held the delicate body in his arms tightly, and before anyone could respond, he had already captured everything in her eyes, the rest of it being swallowed up by his warm lips.

"I have already ordered people to begin preparations. The shackles of fate have been on you long enough; it's time to remove them. Yingying, your life shouldn't be like this."

Rong Xuanzhou couldn't hide his heartache as he tidied Xia Ying's disheveled clothes and hair with great tenderness.

Xia Ying let the other person do as they pleased, appreciating their unreserved and overwhelming love for her, and suddenly smiled with relief.

"Your Highness, don't panic. It's not too late for you to act after I've completely separated Aunt Wen from the Xia family. I don't want the Xia family to gain any advantage."

"Yingying, have you agreed to marry me?"

Rong Xuanzhou caught the key information, and his blood boiled. Especially when he saw Xia Ying nod, it was as if his long-lonely soul had finally received a response and comfort.

The two returned to the banquet. As the crown prince, Rong Xuanzhou was accompanied by many talented young men. He couldn't leave for the time being, so he could only sit in a place with a good view and focus his gaze on Xia Ying.

Seeing Rong Yunfei chatting and laughing with her arm in arm, and being patted on the head from time to time, he felt a pang of jealousy again.

Although Rong Xuanzhou greeted everyone with a gentle smile, the coldness emanating from his very bones still affected them, making them keep their distance from him.

After the banquet, Xia Ying returned to the side courtyard of the Xia residence, and Rong Xuanzhou followed closely behind, slipping into her boudoir. Looking at the simple furniture, he frowned slightly and said, "Tomorrow, I will have some brocade quilts and silks sent over. Throw these things away."

Xia Ying pulled him down to sit and comforted him, "Your Highness, please don't see us off. We can't take the rest with us; the Xia family will have to benefit anyway. It's only a few days."

"How many days? Very well, I'll wait."

Rong Xuanzhou was in a good mood, so he put his arm around Xia Ying and read a book with her, spending this warm moment together.

Outside the door, Aunt Wen heard a faint male voice coming from inside the room, along with the person's self-identification, and had already guessed who the person inside was.

She didn't make a fuss and went back to her room.

Light finally returned to his long-clouded eyes.

"The Xia family has abandoned Ying'er, their precious jewel; you will regret it sooner or later."