"Marquis, did you just have lunch? This young lady must be your savior, right?" Ji Liruo approached, giving Tianmiao a gentle smile, and gracefully presented a deep bow. "Thank you for your lifesaving grace. If it weren't for your intervention, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Your great kindness and virtue are beyond repayment by this humble girl."
There was both guilt and relief on Ji Liruo's face.
However, Xiao Anning couldn't see these emotions.
Tianmiao looked at the seemingly delicate and graceful young lady before her and smiled silently, but said nothing.
Facing Tianmiao's smile, Ji Liruo felt a sudden unease for no apparent reason.
"Let's go." Tianmiao did not respond to Ji Liruo but instead turned to Xiao Anning and said.
"Miss Ji, we have matters to attend to, we'll be on our way." Xiao Anning politely said to Ji Liruo.
"Then, Marquis, please be safe." Ji Liruo slightly bit her lip, her eyes full of worry.
After Xiao Anning and Tianmiao left, Ji Liruo withdrew her gaze and walked toward the entrance of the Taotie Building.
The maid beside Ji Liruo murmured in discontent for her mistress, "Miss, you care so much for the Marquis, yet he seems indifferent. And what attitude did that woman have? You thanked her and she just ignored you, it's really too much..."
"Enough, hold your tongue. Do not speak such words ever again." Ji Liruo silently and sternly reprimanded, "Marquis only ended up in disaster because of me. It's natural for him to have some resentment towards me." As for the woman whose beauty was startling, Ji Liruo didn't know why, but whenever she met her gaze, there was a feeling of being seen through, with nowhere to hide.
Such a feeling was truly unsettling.
"But it wasn't Miss's fault at all. It was Tan Weizhi's one-sided affection, and his reckless foolish actions caused this mess." The maid defended in a small voice. How could it be Miss's fault? Was excellence also a mistake for Miss?
"Enough, don't mention it again." Ji Liruo stopped the maid from continuing, and turned to look again at the direction where Xiao Anning and Tianmiao disappeared, murmuring to herself, "However, that young lady is truly beautiful."
Beautiful indeed, but the Marquis couldn't see. There's no need to worry about him being swayed by other women. At this moment, the maid was thankful that the Marquis was blind. Initially, she was indignant that her beautiful Miss would marry a blind man, but as things unfolded, she felt relieved that the Marquis was blind.
Xiao Anning rode silently on the horse, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, Tianmiao leaned by the carriage window, watching the Capital City's scenery with great interest.
The entire afternoon, Xiao Anning took Tianmiao to many shops, confectionery shops, preserved fruit shops, dried fruit shops, and Tianmiao selected quite a few items, all of which Xiao Anning had sent directly to the Duke Mansion.
For several days, Xiao Anning accompanied Tianmiao in eating, drinking, and having fun, to Tianmiao's utmost satisfaction.
Three days later, Commandery Princess Yong'an came to find Tianmiao.
"The Emperor wants to see me?" Tianmiao's expression remained serene.
"Yes, the Emperor heard you're from the lineage of a prophetic sage and wishes to meet you," Commandery Princess Yong'an said.
"I refuse." Tianmiao bluntly declined; she wasn't interested in other trivial matters but only wished to watch over Xiao Anning, this obedient child.
"The Emperor guessed you might not want to enter the palace, so he's already waiting in the reception hall of the residence." Commandery Princess Yong'an was not surprised by Tianmiao's refusal, but rather apologized slightly, "The Emperor can be somewhat willful sometimes, please bear with him."