The next morning, Xiangyun decided to address what he had noticed.
– The Confrontation ⚡
Xiangyun walked into the palace hall where Xiaoxi and Haoran were sitting close, laughing over some playful game. He cleared his throat loudly.
Xiangyun (serious tone): "Xiaoxi… I need to know the truth."
Xiaoxi froze, realizing he had noticed something. Haoran tried to hide his discomfort behind a fake stern face.
Xiaoxi (nervously, whispering to Haoran): "Frog Prince… what if he misunderstands?"
Haoran (gritting teeth): "Then we fix it… somehow."
Xiangyun: "Stop hiding. I've seen it. Your… relationship. Explain!"
Xiaoxi blushed furiously. Haoran sighed, finally speaking honestly.
Haoran: "Brother… I mean prince Xiangyun....it's complicated. We… like each other."
Xiangyun's jaw dropped. He walked back a few steps, dramatically placing a hand on his chest.
Xiangyun: "WHAT?! Liking each other?! My little sister… and… the Crown Prince?!"
The palace staff and Lianhua overheard, whispering in shock. Lianhua even tried to stifle a laugh at Xiangyun's theatrical reaction.
---
– Xiangyun's Struggle 😳
Xiangyun paced, running hands through his hair, muttering:
Xiangyun: "No… this cannot be… My little sister… involved with the Crown Prince… it's… it's unacceptable…!"
Xiaoxi: "Brother… calm down. We didn't do anything wrong!"
Xiangyun: "I know you didn't do anything… but… it feels… wrong. My little sister… my dumbo… I can't…"
Haoran smirked, teasing:
Haoran: "Brother, you're acting more dramatic than me chasing her around the palace!"
Xiangyun, flustered, shot him a glare. Lianhua giggled quietly, admiring how protective he was of his sister.
---
– Slowly Accepting 💭
After a while, Xiangyun sat down, exhaling heavily.
Xiangyun (softly, sighing): "I… I need time to… understand this. You two… behave yourselves, got it?"
Xiaoxi and Haoran nodded, hiding smiles. Lianhua reached over and gently touched Xiangyun's arm.
Lianhua: "prince Xiangyun… it's not so bad. You'll see… they're good together."
Xiangyun glanced at her, a small smile appearing. "Perhaps… perhaps… I will try to accept it… slowly."
The episode ends with a mix of chaos, romance, and laughter filling the palace halls. Xiangyun, though still shocked, couldn't deny a small warmth in his chest seeing Xiaoxi and Haoran happy.