A moment ago, behind the flowering tree, Nangong Qing saw everything clearly, but he didn't know how Luo Qing Luan moved at all.

Seeing his Third Sister taking a big loss, he looked like he couldn't wait to jump out. He very rarely saw his sister suffer any losses, but Nangong Qing wasn't angry in the slightest. On the contrary, he became even more interested in Luo Qing Luan.

It was the first time he'd ever met such a clever, unique, young girl. How could he not feel interested?

All at once, he left Nalan Ye and took a shortcut by himself to exit the palace. He especially waited by the side of the General's Mansion's horse carriage just for the sake of meeting Luo Qing Luan. Thus, he couldn't tell what Luo Qing Luan did at all.

The young girl before his eyes had bright eyes and white teeth, gorgeous regardless of whether she's upset or happy, skin like snow, smiling beautifully. Even though she seemed somewhat stiff and impatient, his heart still jumped incessantly watching her. Nangong Qing understood that since his imperial mother wanted to find a consort for him, then this Miss Luo from the General's Mansion, how could she not be the best candidate?

As for her previous broken engagement with Fifth Brother, Nangong Qing felt nothing besides feeling secretly happy about it. If the circumstances weren't like that, how could he have the chance to take Luo Qing Luan for his consort?

He originally had a lot to say, but suddenly hearing Luo Qing Luan saying such a thing, Nangong Qing actually froze in place. "Stable hand? Uh......Miss Luo, I really wanted......wanted......"

Nobody had ever talked to him that way before, surprisingly making fun of him to be a stable hand? He felt that it was both unexpected and special. He just felt that Luo Qing Luan's entire body exuded a tremendous attractive force, making him want to know everything about her, understand her.

Nangong Qing's brain could be considered to still work quickly, as he found an excuse. "Isn't today Imperial Mother's Flower Bestowment Feast? Yet Miss Luo came and left so hastily. You haven't even partaken of the feast and are already leaving. It happens to be lunch time right now. I intend to return to my mansion. How about I invite Miss Luo for lunch?"

He wanted to invite her for a meal?

She's afraid she would've fallen for it, if she was another girl. However, Luo Qing Luan had met all kinds of people in her previous life. How could she not recognize this very clumsy method of chasing after a girl?

She didn't want to provoke Nangong Qing at all, and didn't want to be his crown prince consort even more, so she had to refuse. "Since you've come to attend the Flower Bestowment Feast, why is Your Highness leaving so quickly and not staying here to dine?"

"This......"

One simple question from her made Nangong Qing dumbstruck.

Luo Qing Luan continued, "I won't hold up Your Highness, then. I still need to return home. Goodbye."

For the first time, Wang Xue Ru agreed with Luo Qing Luan. She certainly didn't want this girl to go eat with the crown prince. If the two of them associate with one another and fell for each other, becoming a royal couple, how would that not be the same as stepping on her daughter underfoot?

She was going to help Luo Qing Luan quickly get on the carriage, but Nangong Qing blocked again.

With great difficulty, he came across a girl who moved him. How could he let the opportunity go so easily?

Nangong Qing smiled with incomparable sincerely as he tried again. "Please wait, Miss Luo. I found out that the capital's most famous restaurant, the Moon Encounter Pavillion recently stocked the freshest, tender, and plump Yellow Tail Perch. It's boring to eat by myself, therefore......"

"Then Your Highness can just ask someone to accompany you. I'm truly busy, and need to go home. May you allow it."

Luo Qing Luan truly couldn't figure it out. She merely played a tune in public today, that's all. Was it worth it for the crown prince to chase after her so painstakingly? In this entire capital, if there weren't a thousand young girls who could play the zither, there were at least eight hundred. Why must he insist on finding her?

Having been refused again, not only did Nangong Qing not get angry, he instead was more certain that Luo Qing Luan stood out from the masses.

Which one among the other girls who'd been invited by him wasn't wild with joy, as they bashfully welcomed him? This goes to show that this Miss Luo truly did not care about his status and wasn't a tacky girl who clung to power.

She's truly rare and precious! With a consort like that, what more could a husband ask for?

"I'd really like to invite Miss Luo for a meal today. I wonder if Miss Luo is willing to do me the honor?" Nangong Qing bluntly asked openly.

"You really......" The fact was that Luo Qing Luan was losing patience. She already declined, yet he insisted on entangling himself. So he simply refused to understand a tactful refusal, right?

Her expression immediately turned colder as she replied icily, "What, can it be that Your Highness extends an invitation, so I must go no matter what?"

Since she didn't want Luo Qing Luan to eat with the crown prince, yet also did not want to offend him, Wang Xue Ru was watching while her heart was burning. She decided that when she returned home, she'd persuade the general to issue a command and forbid Luo Qing Luan from leaving the house in the future.

Seeing that Luo Qing Luan was getting angry, Nangong Qing became alarmed and immediately turned more gentle. "No, I didn't mean it that way. This......Miss Luo, I am earnest and sincere. I've already reserved our seats at Moon Encounter Pavillion, you......"

Panicking somewhat, he truly didn't know how he could persuade her, but if he were to let her go like this, he also couldn't bring himself to let go of this hard to come by, great opportunity to spend time alone with her.

Luo Qing Luan was in fact someone who was amenable to coaxing but not coercion. The other person's temper was so good, so patient, she also couldn't bring herself to get angry at him. Moreover, the other person was a crown prince, after all, and they were standing right in front of the palace. She really couldn't make him look bad.

"Please don't say that, Your Highness. I have things to do at home. It's not that I don't want to go......"

She originally was going to give him a way out. Who knew that once Nangong Qing heard this, his eyes brightened. "Miss Luo, can I help you with whatever you're busy with? If it's something I don't know how to do, I'll help Miss Luo find someone who can. No matter if it's someone from the Imperial Hanlin Academy, or my teacher, they can all help you."

Practically speechless now, Luo Qing Luan started to feel defeated.