The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 599: Chapter 598: Brothers

Xia Wenjin just felt a chill at the bottom of her heart, more of disbelief, she turned her head to look at Xia Wanqing, but her heart kept sinking.

Her voice also became dry and hoarse, she asked, "So is father actually trying to use me to repay a favor?"

Xia Wanqing was startled, looked up at her, and said, "How could father use you to repay a favor? This favor, father acknowledges, and in the future, he’ll repay it! What father means to say is, the matter of withdrawing the engagement at the beginning was because father wasn’t determined enough, and as a result, he now deeply struggles with how to repay this great favor, finding it even more difficult to speak of! This matter was handled improperly by father, hence putting you in a tough spot!"

Xia Wenjin said, "Father, it’s fine, I will handle this matter!"

The reason father had such thoughts, was it not all for her?

If it wasn’t for her falling from the horse, lapsing into unconsciousness, with medicine being ineffective, how could father have been compelled to seek a blind fortune-teller?

This was more than just desperate measures; it was utter confusion and helplessness.

If it weren’t for that old man with the white beard and his prophecy when she was young, and the seemingly ambiguous poem, how would father consider Huangfu Yuxuan as her only lifeline?

If she were to blame father now, that would just mean she has no heart.

You could only say, everything was a series of unfortunate coincidences.

Xia Wanqing said, "Wenjin, you say this is about a life-saving favor after all, how should father repay Young Master Yuxuan properly?"

Xia Wenjin: "..."

Father insists on considering it a favor, she helplessly said, "Father, Huangfu Yuxuan is not a good person, whether this is a favor or not is still up for debate, don’t rush to think about these things first!"

Xia Wanqing looked helplessly at his daughter, how much did Wenjin resist Huangfu Yuxuan? She wasn’t even willing to accept such a favor, fearing that he would force her to marry Huangfu Yuxuan for the sake of the favor?

At Minghe Pavilion, upon receiving the clear message of the repeated invitation, Huangfu Yuxuan sat in the elegant private room where incense burned on the table, its delicate fragrance lingering in the room, his eyes were sinister, lost in thought.

At that moment, there was a light knock on the door, Cui Huai said, "Young master, Prince Cheng’s heir has arrived!"

Huangfu Yuxuan immediately put on a beaming smile, stood up, and went out to greet him.

Outside the door, Huangfu Jingchen was already approaching.

Huangfu Yuxuan smiled and said, "Cousin Jingchen, since the banquet bestowed by the Imperial Palace, it’s been several months. Cousin has turned adversity into allies, with endless blessings ahead. I have prepared a modest banquet, firstly to ease cousin’s mind, and secondly, to bring us brothers closer!"

Looking at the tall and elegant, dragon-carved phoenix demeanor of Huangfu Jingchen before him, Huangfu Yuxuan felt secretly envious and resentful.

Huangfu Jingchen’s carefree demeanor, with a sunny and warm aura, seemed to illuminate the darkness in people’s hearts.

His own heart was cold and frigid, scheming and guessing people’s intentions, calculating each step, planning meticulously everywhere.

But Huangfu Jingchen didn’t need to do any of that.

He could live however he wanted according to his own terms.

He was envious, yet also disdainful.

If Uncle Cheng still had hope for that position, wasn’t Huangfu Jingchen the same as him? The reason Huangfu Jingchen was so carefree is because he knew he had no more chances, right?

Thinking of this, a sense of superiority suddenly surged up again, so he became even more enthusiastic.

Huangfu Jingchen said, "Thank you for your gracious hospitality, Cousin Yuxuan! Between brothers, there’s no need for formalities!"

Huangfu Yuxuan warmly held his hand, pulling him to sit down as brothers. Following that, the dishes and wine were served; it was a lavish table.

If it had been more than a year ago, Huangfu Jingchen would certainly have felt warmth and moved by Huangfu Yuxuan’s flawless, unpretentious enthusiasm, thus considering him a close friend.

But now, after experiencing the Jianghu, Huangfu Jingchen’s skill in reading people had greatly increased.

How much of Huangfu Yuxuan’s enthusiasm was genuine, and what were the thoughts behind his enthusiasm, were matters not to be overlooked.

Regarding Huangfu Yuxuan, someone who was not familiar but could exhibit such friendliness like a longstanding confidant through the ties of cousinhood, Huangfu Jingchen became more vigilant.

If a person could integrate fervor into their very being, without genuine feelings, yet execute it flawlessly, how simple could that person be?

Moreover, there was the inexplicable marriage contract with Wenjin.

Although the situation was still unclear, and despite wanting to solve the trouble for Wenjin, there was no better method at the moment, he actually wanted to know more why Huangfu Yuxuan wanted to marry Wenjin.

From Wenjin’s implication, it seemed that when he had this idea, they hadn’t met, much less knew each other.

But judging by Huangfu Yuxuan’s actions, he knew it was impossible to get an answer from him; this person’s machinations were too deep, and his words were flawless.

After a few rounds of drinking, Huangfu Yuxuan sighed and said, "Third Imperial Uncle used to be such a good person? Since becoming the Crown Prince, he’s completely changed, becoming suspicious, jealous, sinister, and scheming, I never expected he would do such a thing to you."

Huangfu Jingchen said, "Before coming to the Capital City, I had no idea that blood relatives could be so heartless."

Huangfu Yuxuan earnestly said, "We, brothers, were different from others since birth. Our kinship is filled with too many calculations and suspicions, with too much distance and indifference. Such a situation really breaks one’s heart, so I invited you to gather! I hope between us brothers, we can break this curse!"

He spoke so sincerely and appeared so genuine that Huangfu Jingchen almost believed him.

He also replied sincerely, "Fortunately, the matter with Third Imperial Uncle is just an exception. If everyone were as open-hearted, straightforward in actions, and family-oriented as cousin, the royal family members wouldn’t be said to be cold and unfeeling, with thin kinship!"

Huangfu Yuxuan raised his eyes and met Huangfu Jingchen’s sincere gaze, whose eyes were filled with earnestness. He raised his wine cup and said, "Cousin, allow me to offer you this cup!"

Huangfu Yuxuan retracted his gaze with a smile, and heartily raised his wine cup, saying, "Cheers!"

Saying that, he downed the wine, and upon lifting his eyes, he saw Huangfu Jingchen had also finished his drink, even more exuberantly than him, and upon seeing him look over, he even showed the bottom of the cup.

After drinking, Huangfu Jingchen smacked his lips and said, "Cousin, this wine is really good; it probably isn’t from the restaurant, right?"

Huangfu Yuxuan laughed and said, "Good eyes, this is a cherished collection of mine that I brought myself!"

Huangfu Jingchen proudly said, "That’s nothing; when I was in Yunzhou, I drank at all the restaurants and tasted all the fine wines; whether the wine is good or bad, I can tell just by smelling it! After drinking cousin’s cherished wine, suddenly all the ones we just drank taste like water in comparison!"

Huangfu Yuxuan had sized up Huangfu Jingchen more than once; he was pondering Huangfu Jingchen’s true intentions, was he hinting at his stinginess? Or implying something?