"When your name is bad and you have many enemies, do you think it's easy to look like this? If I walk around with a beautiful face, isn't it just asking for trouble? It's like telling people, 'Come on, come on, ruin my face!'"
"…"
Yue Mingxuan gave her a side glance and continued, "Also, stop gossiping all the time. A young girl with a big mouth won't get married easily."
"…"
By the time the two of them reached Yuehua Hall, many people had already gathered inside.
It turned out that in the past few days, the envoys from several nations had come to present tribute. Today, the Emperor had kindly arranged a meeting for the hostages and the foreign envoys to talk and get acquainted.
The moment Yue Mingxuan entered, a wave of whispers filled the hall.
The foreign envoys began discussing him openly, "So that's the prince from Dongyue Kingdom? He's truly ugly. How could someone as noble as Prince Rong agree to marry him? If anyone should be chosen, it ought to be our Princess Xie Lianhua instead."
"That's right. And besides, he's a shameless person. He ran off secretly with a man and still has the nerve to come back."
"You don't even know the worst part," another person sneered. "He came back completely naked! Then he even begged Prince Rong to forgive him."
"My heavens, really naked? Then doesn't that mean…"
Sui He whose walking behind Yue Mingxuan was so angry that her eyes turned green. She wanted to defend him, but Yue Mingxuan calmly raised a hand to stop her.
His expression was peaceful, his voice light, "The innocent are always innocent, the guilty are always guilty. The more you explain, the darker it gets. Don't waste your breath. Where are the envoys from our country?"
Hearing his calm words, Sui He finally remembered why they were there. She craned her neck to look around but soon looked disappointed. "I don't see them anywhere. Why aren't they here?"
"No need to look," said a foreign envoy with a mocking tone while stepping forward. "Your country's envoy left long ago. After hearing about your scandal, they felt ashamed to even show their faces." He leaned in closer with a smirk and added, "But if the prince is feeling lonely, I can comfort your empty and lonely heart myself."
"Don't go too far—" Sui He's voice was trembling with anger, but before she could finish, Yue Mingxuan's calm yet powerful voice interrupted her. It was soft and clear like wind chimes in the air.
"Sui He, if a dog bites you, do you bite the dog back?"
"You—!" The envoy's face twisted in rage.
He opened his mouth to throw even harsher insults, but before he could speak, a loud voice announced from the door, "His Highness, Prince Shang, has arrived!"
The moment Yue Mingxuan heard the name, his heart trembled slightly. Before he could see clearly what was happening, Sui He had already tugged him down to kneel and salute.