Chapter 12 Playing hard to get doesn't work for me

"By the way, are you going to the Chrysanthemum Banquet at Yongning Marquis' Mansion the day after tomorrow?"

"No." Xiao Yuan said lazily.

"Will the princess agree?" Li Huaiyan looked doubtful. "She has summoned all the noble ladies in the capital, probably just to see you."

Xiao Yuan pursed his lips when he heard this, "Who wouldn't want to show her face?"

"That's true."

Funny enough, the princess had no interest in rouge, powder, silks and satins that women loved, but she had a special liking for matchmaking. But the amazing thing was that as long as she liked someone, they would end up together.

"I heard that the male guest also hosted a banquet for this year's top-ranked new scholars, and set up a talent competition."

Xiao Yuan said calmly, "Princess Hua Sheng is coming of age this year, and it is time for her to choose a husband and discuss marriage."

"Princess, do you really intend to marry the princess to a newly-minted scholar with a miserable background?" Li Huaiyan frowned.

"Hmm." Xiao Yuan sipped his tea calmly.

The Yongning Marquisate was already conspicuous enough because of the marriage of my aunt. If it married into a powerful family again, there was no guarantee that my father would not feel resentful. After all, he was always on guard against his own son.

Therefore, choosing a person who has no family background but has some talent and good character to marry Yu Huasheng is the best outcome.

"Hey, you said there will be a talent competition for the men, will there be one for the women as well?" Li Huaiyan's eyes lit up.

Xiao Yuan glanced at him calmly and said nothing.

"Tsk, I don't want to see women. The women in the brothel are much better than those women. I can pay money to take care of them without any responsibility."

He is a free-spirited person, but he can't stand being bound by marriage.

"I was thinking~" He held his chin with one hand, half-narrowed his peach blossom eyes, and looked at Xiao Yuan, "In previous years, no matter what kind of banquet it was, the winner was always Miss Duan San, which was boring. Do you think there will be any changes this year?"

Xiao Yuan's hand holding the teacup paused, and he looked at Li Huaiyan indifferently.

"Think about it, Miss Shen just returned to Beijing, Madam Shen will definitely let her participate. She was raised by Madam Shen. Madam Shen is at a very high level. Duan San is just a small follower in front of her. If you say that Miss Shen can't do anything, I don't believe it."

How could a person like Madam Shen raise her only granddaughter into a useless person?

"At the palace banquet that day, she definitely said that because she didn't want to marry you. In fact, her talent may not be inferior to that of Old Madam Shen."

The more Li Huaiyan talked, the more he felt it made sense. "No, I have to go to the banquet the day after tomorrow to take a look. Maybe there will be a surprise."

I didn't hear Xiao Yuan speak for a long while. When I raised my eyes, I saw that his eyelids were slightly drooping, his face was gloomy and he seemed unhappy, with coldness in his eyes.

"You, what's wrong with you?"

"Nothing." Xiao Yuan's lips showed a hint of coldness, "It's boring to stay in the mansion, so it's good to go and take a look."

He wanted to see how that woman’s painting skills were so outstanding that she dared to say that his paintings were rubbish.

——

When Shen Anan arrived at Nanhua Street, people had already lined up in a long queue, but the number of people was obviously much larger than the previous two days, and it was extremely crowded.

"What's going on?"

The housekeeper scratched his hairy head in worry and said, "Miss, you are finally here. Refugees from other streets all came here early this morning. They said our porridge is thick and can help them stay hungry. But at this rate, our rice won't last for five days. We'll be gone tomorrow at the latest."

Shen Anan frowned, and at a glance, the number of people was more than double that of yesterday.

The housekeeper added, "East Street, North Street, and the Duan family and the Chen family are here. This... is really not appropriate."

Doing so would be tantamount to slapping the faces of the Duan and Chen families and offending people for no reason.

"Yeah." Shen Anan responded without saying anything else.

"...Miss, how about this old slave tell them that the number is limited, and tell the people behind them not to wait and go back to their own area."

Shen Anan, “No need.”

Need not? The housekeeper's eyelids twitched, "Miss, this is not appropriate."

We are all here to distribute porridge, so why should we let the Duan and Chen families bear a grudge against us? Besides, if you think about it carefully, being unique is also a mistake.

Shen Anan said, "They would walk here just for the thinness of the porridge, which means they really need this bowl of porridge."

"That's true, but being too unconventional is always wrong," the housekeeper advised with a bitter face.

The girl has a kind heart, but kindness should be expressed in a proper way and should not put others in an awkward situation.

Shen Anan turned to look at him and suddenly smiled, "The housekeeper is just worried that the Shen family will be too prominent and offend the Duan and Chen families."

The housekeeper sighed, "Given the master's position, it's not that he can't afford to offend them, but what the young lady did not only offend them, but also offended all the officials who were kind to her."

In this way, the Shen family gained a good reputation, but it was built on the bad reputation of other families. The way the girl handled this matter really showed that she did not understand the ways of the world.

Shen Anan smiled indifferently, "Why do we have to offend? Isn't it better to let others offend?"

"Ah?" The butler was a little confused.

Shen Anan curled her lips, "Take someone to the Fourth Prince's Mansion and tell them that I have changed my mind. I want to replace the box of calligraphy and paintings that I sent back yesterday with rice and flour today."

The housekeeper was dumbfounded. "This... Miss, that's the Fourth Prince. Will he agree?"

The Fourth Prince is no fool. He doesn't want to go without return after being so blatantly exploited and betrayed.

"Just say that after today, all our favors will be written off. In order to draw a clear line between us, he will agree to this." Shen Anan's face was full of sneer.

"Yes." The butler nodded with a stiff face.

Things have developed to this point, we have to give it a try whether it works or not.

——

Butler Shen arrived at the gate of the Fourth Prince's Mansion nervously, and after several hesitations, he did not dare to get out of the car.

Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves came closer and closer. He looked up and saw a carriage marked with the emblem of the Prince's Palace coming towards him. His heart trembled.

I had the urge to turn around and run away.

"Master, it seems to be the steward of the Shen Mansion." Qingfeng reported in a low voice.

Xiao Yuan slowly opened his closed eyes, and with his bony fingers he lifted the car curtain and looked outside.

"Fourth, Fourth Prince." Butler Shen quickly got out of the car and saluted.

Xiao Yuan looked at him calmly, without saying a word for a long while. Butler Shen felt the cold sweat on his back flowing down uncontrollably.

"What is it?"

He finally spoke and stepped out of the carriage. Even before the tall figure approached, the feeling of oppression was already overwhelming.

Butler Shen wished his neck was broken and hung his head to the ground.

"Old slave, I am here on the orders of my daughter to ask for the box of calligraphy and paintings from yesterday."

Xiao Yuan raised his eyebrows slightly and fell silent again.

After a moment, he said, "Didn't she say she didn't take in junk?"

Butler Shen was stunned, his legs were shaking. Why didn't the girl tell him about this? He was not mentally prepared.

Cold sweat dripped down his chin onto the bluestone floor. Butler Shen said in a very low voice, "My daughter said that gifts should be practical. She doesn't like calligraphy and paintings. She wants to exchange them for rice and flour. She wants it today."

As time went on, Butler Shen's voice became almost as thin as a mosquito, but Xiao Yuan was a martial artist, so he could naturally hear it clearly.

He looked straight at Butler Shen, his eyes narrowed slightly, and sneered, "It's only been one night, and Miss Shen is regretting it again."

She thought that his Fourth Prince's Mansion was a place that allowed her to go back on her word at will.

Butler Shen's knees softened and he half-knelt down, "My daughter wants rice and flour to help the people, I hope the Fourth Prince will show some sympathy."

Butler Shen was ready to return empty-handed, as long as his life could be saved.

What kind of person is the Fourth Prince? The girl has played tricks on him again and again. It is already very kind of him not to settle the score. Why would he help her?

"What else did she say?" Xiao Yuan suddenly asked.

Butler Shen said hurriedly, "The young lady also said that if the Fourth Prince agrees, from now on, all ties will be clear and nothing will be owed to each other."

"We don't owe each other anything." Xiao Yuan turned the ring on his thumb, with an indescribable expression on his face.

"Your Highness, please lend a helping hand for the sake of those refugees."

Butler Shen kowtowed heavily.

Xiao Yuan glanced at him calmly and said in a cold voice, "Go back and tell her that this is the last time. The favor of saving her life ends here. If she acts like a demon again, don't blame me for being rude to her."

“Yes, yes, yes.” Butler Shen wiped off a cold sweat and quickly got up.

You can say anything, as long as you give him rice and flour.

"Qingfeng, go get ready."

"Yes." Qingfeng asked Butler Shen with a wooden face, "How much do you want?"

"Ten bags of rice and three bags of flour."

The corner of Qingfeng's mouth twitched. They wanted so much. Was Miss Shen planning to take in those refugees and keep them here for a long time?

"Come with me."

"Oh, okay." Butler Shen hurriedly caught up with Qingfeng. A cold gaze suddenly fell on him, making the back of his neck feel cold and he immediately stopped.

"Your Highness, do you have any other instructions?"

Xiao Yuan narrowed his eyes and said, "Remember to tell her not to rack her brains to think of any despicable tricks to use against me. Playing hard to get won't work on me!"

"Ah?" Butler Shen opened his mouth and forgot to respond.

Xiao Yuan sneered and walked back home.

She kept saying that she didn't want to, but she kept getting involved with him for various reasons, which made him very suspicious of her motives. He wondered if she was using the same tactics as those women, except that her tactics were more sophisticated.

Butler Shen packed up his things and rushed back.

The servants unloaded the rice and flour from the car. He hesitated and went to Shen Anan's side, but seeing the girl's leisurely look, he seemed to be sure that the Fourth Prince would agree.

"girl,"

"Did he ask you to deliver a message?"

“……”The girl knows all this.

"What did you say? Was it to draw a line between you and me?"

"...Yes, but there are some other things besides this." Butler Shen said cautiously.

Shen Anan turned around and looked at him, her almond eyes cold and calm, "Go ahead."

Butler Shen lowered his head and repeated Xiao Yuan's last words with a slight modification.

For a long while, Shen Anan was silent.

Could it be that the Fourth Prince guessed right? Butler Shen secretly looked up and saw his daughter's eerie little face.

"He really thinks highly of himself. How ridiculous!"

Shen Anan had a fire in his chest, and he tried his best to suppress it.

Butler Shen didn't even dare to breathe, and he actually felt that the girl's aura was somewhat similar to that of the Fourth Prince, and was equally intimidating.

"Okay, you should know how to handle the rest. I'll leave it to you. I'm leaving now."

More people were transferred from the Shen residence today, so she has nothing to do.

“Yes.” Butler Shen responded and sent the gloomy Shen Anan to the carriage.

Mo Xiang huddled in a corner, not daring to say a few words.

As the carriage left, Butler Shen breathed a sigh of relief. Just at this moment, someone came to report that the butlers of the Duan and Chen families had arrived.

Butler Shen responded, straightened his appearance and went over.

Those who can sit in the position of butler are not stupid people, and Butler Shen is more tactful.

"Zhou's request was an order from the Fourth Prince. You all know that the Fourth Prince was here to help the past two days. His Highness cares about the people and loves them like his own children. My girl doesn't dare to say anything."

Upon hearing this, the housekeepers of the Duan and Chen families choked on their questions and looked at each other.

Butler Shen continued, "The rice and flour that my wife prepared at first were comparable to those of other families. My daughter also said that if things continued like this, there would definitely not be enough food. But the Fourth Prince insisted and directly brought rice and flour from the Prince's Mansion. There is a difference between the monarch and his subjects. Tell me, does my daughter dare to say anything? She can only obey."

"Alas, it's difficult for us too." Butler Shen pulled Chen's butler and said, "If you don't believe me, I'll take you to see. The rice and flour of the Fourth Prince's Mansion are stored in the back."

"No need, no need." The man declined quickly. They dared not say anything besides the Fourth Prince's order.

After a few brief greetings, the two left quickly.

"Don't mention it, young lady, this trick really works." Butler Shen said with a smile.

Pull the Fourth Prince out, and probably no other family will dare to look for him, nor will they bear a grudge against the Chen Mansion. As for the Fourth Prince, they also need to have the courage to do so.

"Butler, if we do this... won't the Fourth Prince know about it? Will he cause trouble for us?"

Butler Shen's smile suddenly froze on his face.