Chapter 3 Fire

Mingzhu couldn't answer Sùlán's question, but she had a way. She directly displayed the arrogant behavior of a wealthy young lady, saying, "How dare you ask about my affairs?"

Sùlán finally managed to retreat to the wall, feeling relieved. She lowered her head and bowed, saying, "Miss, please forgive me for overstepping."

Mingzhu felt uncomfortable and couldn't help but say softly, "Forcing a relationship will never end well. It's better for both parties to be willing. Otherwise, it will lead to a lifetime of resentment and unnecessary conflict. Why bother?"

She didn't understand this before, but after experiencing it firsthand, she truly understood and became afraid.

Now that she knew the consequences of liking someone who didn't reciprocate, she couldn't allow herself to like that person anymore. The pain of chasing after something unattainable was unforgettable.

"Oh," Sùlán nodded and inquired shrewdly, "Who told you this? Although it makes sense, are you really not going to regret it? If you do, then what will you do? Beg the Lord and the Empress Dowager again?"

Mingzhu was annoyed, "No, absolutely not! I won't beg! Don't try to manipulate me. Just tell my parents that I used to like Yuwen You because he was good-looking, but now I don't like him anymore and don't want to marry him. It's that simple!"

Sùlán couldn't believe it, "So, you only liked him because the Prince of Lín'ān was good-looking? And now that you don't think he's good enough, you don't want to marry him?"

Mingzhu coldly replied, "Is that not allowed?"

There's no reason for liking someone. She saw him in a crowd, and that was it. All the reasons afterward were just because she liked him. And when she stopped liking him, it was simply because her feelings had cooled.

Sùlán was at a loss for words, and Mingzhu had no intention of asking for a response. She walked to the railing, gazing at the changing colors of the sky, and said firmly, "If we don't receive any news today, you will personally go and tell them. If they don't call off the marriage, I will jump from here."

Of course, she wouldn't jump. It was just to show her determination.

Sùlán understood this very well and assured, "Don't worry, I will convey your message to the Lord and Lady."

Mingzhu patted Sùlán's shoulder approvingly, "Good Sùlán, I'm counting on you."

Suddenly, someone behind them softly said, "The lantern is burning the floor."

Both the master and servant turned around and saw the lantern that Sùlán had carelessly thrown on the ground was now on fire. The dripping wax was being blown around by the strong mountain wind, and the flames were rising high.

"Oh!" Mingzhu exclaimed, not caring who had spoken, and hurriedly took off her cloak to beat out the flames.

The fire was stubborn, and every time they put it out in one place, it would ignite in another.

Sùlán forgot her fear of heights and rushed to grab the cloak from Mingzhu to help beat out the flames. She urged, "Miss, you should leave! The wind is strong, and it will be disastrous if the fire spreads."

"It's such a pity to see this beautiful corridor burn down."

Mingzhu took off her outer garment and joined Sùlán in beating out the flames. Suddenly, she remembered that there was someone else present and turned to say, "Why aren't you helping?"

But she suddenly lost her voice.

At the end of the corridor, a figure emerged from the shadows.

Tall and straight, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, jet-black hair, long arched eyebrows, dark eyes, and a somewhat stern chin, he walked out calmly, facing the morning light with a focused gaze.

Mingzhu involuntarily took a step back, and the morning breeze lifted her skirt, revealing her green silk trousers and delicate feet.

The man half-lowered his eyes, his gaze becoming even more focused, as if he had spotted something precious and rare.

Mingzhu had never been looked at like this before and inexplicably blushed, angrily covering her feet with her skirt and scolding, "What are you looking at? If you keep staring, I'll gouge your eyes out!"

The man withdrew his gaze and asked calmly, "How many people's eyes have you gouged out?"

"Who has the patience to remember such trivial matters?"

Mingzhu scorned, displaying her arrogant demeanor to the fullest.

"Who gave you the courage to hide in the shadows and spy on us? It's one thing to spy, but since you saw the fire, why didn't you warn us? Are you up to no good? Put out the fire quickly, and I'll spare you for your sinister intentions and audacity!"

The man remained unfazed and earnestly looked her up and down, then said calmly, "You're not wearing an upper garment."

Who wasn't wearing an upper garment?

Mingzhu was taken aback and then realized that she was indeed only wearing her inner garment, as she had taken off her outer garment to use it to beat the flames. But her inner garment was always worn properly, right?

This shameless man spoke as if she were not wearing any clothes at all.

Mingzhu was about to retort, but the man earnestly said, "You're not wearing shoes or socks either. You are so beautifully dressed, of course I can't be blamed for wanting to look at you. I am a normal man, not wanting to look at you would be abnormal."

"Shameless!" Mingzhu was extremely angry and picked up a satin shoe to fiercely throw at him.

The man swiftly caught the shoe, carefully examined it for a moment, and said, "This is the imperial tribute's satin and Heipu's pearls. Just this pair of shoes is enough for an average family to live on for a year. Yet you use it to beat the fire and hit people. It seems that your family is really wealthy."

He spoke in a leisurely manner, even when teasing people, he carried an elegant sense of rhythm, unlike ordinary people.

Mingzhu suddenly felt a strong sense of crisis and warily asked, "Who are you?"

"Fu Mingzhu, you are indeed very arrogant and unruly."

The man raised his eyelids and said lightly, "Think carefully about who I am."

Mingzhu stared at him carefully for a while and finally recalled a vague impression. The maid behind her, Sulan, had already knelt down and said, "This servant has seen His Royal Highness, the King of England."

The honest Sulan revealed the identity of the visitor in one sentence, forcing Mingzhu to pretend to be ignorant, but she couldn't. She could only bow with reluctance and greet, "I have seen His Royal Highness, the King of England."

Wuwen Chu stood with his hands behind his back, looking at Mingzhu with a calm expression, not asking her to rise.

Although Mingzhu was arrogant, she was well-versed in etiquette. Since he did not ask her to rise, she lowered her head steadily without moving.

The white collar was slightly open, revealing a beautiful collarbone, which set off her dark hair like clouds and her slender neck.

She was indeed a beauty with flawless skin and bones, from head to toe, every part was delicate and clean, truly living up to the name "Mingzhu."

Wuwen Chu looked at Mingzhu expressionlessly, and his fingers hidden in his sleeves unconsciously rubbed against each other.

Sulan, not being completely foolish, exclaimed when she saw Wuwen Chu making things difficult for Mingzhu, "Oh my, it's getting out of hand, the fire is getting bigger!"

Only then did Wuwen Chu withdraw his gaze and said calmly, "Put on your clothes, I will have someone come to put out the fire."