"Ninth Prince, you've seen quite a show. How does it feel?"
The Prime Minister smiled slightly, put down his teacup, stood up and looked directly at Su Qingcai. His demeanor was completely different from when he was facing Su Qinghe.
Su Qingcai nodded and said calmly, "Very good."
The Prime Minister requested a meeting with him today, so he came to check on things. To his surprise, he ran into Su Qinghe, who was there to deliver gifts. How interesting!
But now that the show is over, it's time for everyone to leave.
"It's getting late, I'll head back now." Su Qingcai cupped his hands in greeting and was about to turn and leave when the Prime Minister behind him suddenly called out to him.
"Ninth Prince, don't you want to know what I want to discuss with you today?"
Su Qingcai paused, his brows furrowing slightly. "Is the Prime Minister concerned about the selection of a concubine?"
"That's right." The Prime Minister nodded.
"Your Highness should also know that my daughter Ruqiao is also among those being selected as a concubine. She previously told me that she might only be able to compete for the position of secondary consort, while the position of primary consort would likely be won by the person Your Highness brings back to the capital. How can a country girl compare to the Prime Minister's family? Your Highness, perhaps you should reconsider the position of primary consort?"
The Prime Minister wasn't truly neutral; he trusted his judgment and decisively chose Su Qingcai over Su Qinghe, even using his beloved daughter as a bargaining chip. However, the situation now seemed to have changed, and he needed to reconsider.
He was confident that Su Qingcai knew how to choose, but to his surprise, Su Qingcai shook his head and said solemnly, "My mind is made up. I only want Su Xiaoning in this life. I understand the Prime Minister's meaning, but I am afraid I cannot comply. If the Prime Minister feels that he has chosen the wrong person, he may go elsewhere. I have nothing to say."
Su Qingcai remained resolute, undaunted by the Prime Minister's stern gaze, and persisted in his own ideas.
The two stared at each other in silence, the air seemingly frozen.
After an unknown amount of time, the Prime Minister suddenly revealed a smile.
"The Ninth Prince's character is truly admirable!"
He walked to the door, politely opened it, and saw Su Qingcai out. "Then let us wish Your Highness the best. We, as subjects, have overstepped our bounds. From now on, the Prime Minister's Mansion will still stand on the Ninth Prince's side."
"Then thank you very much, Prime Minister." Su Qingcai felt relieved, as the Prime Minister personally escorted her to her carriage to return home.
The Prime Minister stood at the gate with his hands behind his back for a long time, staring silently in the direction Su Qingcai had left, seemingly lost in thought.
...
Having lost Ah Lian as a pawn, Qin Yunyun had no other way to deal with Su Xiaoning. The selection was still proceeding normally, but before Su Xiaoning could make a move, a large number of people withdrew one after another.
This unusual phenomenon made Su Xiaoning feel a little uneasy. Just as she was hesitating about whether to ask Su Qingcai, A-Lian took the initiative to approach her.
"Xiao Ning, I'm withdrawing from the imperial concubine selection. You'd better do your best." A Lian patted Su Xiao Ning's hand. She seemed to have no feelings about withdrawing from the competition, and was even quite happy about it.
Su Xiaoning frowned and asked, puzzled, "Are you withdrawing from the competition too? Why are so many people withdrawing voluntarily lately?"
"You didn't know?" A-Lian looked at Su Xiaoning in surprise, took out a note from her bosom and handed it to her, "You'll know once you read this."
Su Xiaoning took the note and saw that it simply contained only two words: "Rest assured".
This looks like Su Qingcai's handwriting. Although it's just two simple words, Su Xiaoning quickly realized, "This was all done by Su Qingcai?"
"Yes, he went to great lengths to persuade others to back down for your sake. Look what I got!" Ah Lian magically produced another stack of silver notes from her bosom. "My restaurant hasn't earned this much in years. Since the Ninth Prince is willing to pay, of course I have to grant your wish!"
Ah Lian counted her money with a smile, looking genuinely happy.
Su Xiaoning couldn't help but laugh. She tapped A-Lian's forehead and said with a smile, "Little money-grubber."
"What's wrong with being a money-grubber? You like money too, don't you? When you become the Ninth Prince's consort, you can have as much as you want. And the Ninth Prince still loves you so much. I really envy you."
Ah Lian looked at her with a teasing expression, and Su Xiaoning blushed, reaching out to tickle her, "I'll teach you to talk nonsense!"
"I'm not talking nonsense!" Ah Lian retorted, and the two teased each other, filling the room with laughter.
...
With the truth finally out, Su Xiaoning no longer cared about the inexplicable withdrawal of others from the competition and calmly waited for the final moment.
Under Su Qingcai's various methods, all the girls who were to be selected as concubines voluntarily withdrew. When it came time to finally meet the emperor, only Su Xiaoning and Meng Ruqiao remained.
The meeting with the emperor was to take place in the Imperial Garden. The head maid escorted her to the palace gate and then left. Since Su Xiaoning didn't know the way, Meng Ruqiao led her there.
I don't know what's wrong with Meng Ruqiao. She looks preoccupied and keeps looking around as she walks down the street, as if she's looking at something.
Not far from the Imperial Garden, Shen Jun was patrolling nearby to ensure the emperor's safety when he happened to run into Meng Ruqiao.
Meng Ruqiao stopped and softly called out, "Chen Jun."
Her voice trembled slightly, and her eyes held a thousand emotions as she looked at Shen Jun.
Shen Jun paused, a strange glint in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and walked past without looking at her, offering no response.
The two brushed past each other, and Meng Ruqiao trembled, her face full of disappointment.
She watched Shen Jun leave, and from beginning to end, Shen Jun never looked back even once.
Seeing this, Su Xiaoning could guess that Shen Jun was probably Meng Ruqiao's sweetheart, but she wisely said nothing and silently followed Meng Ruqiao into the Imperial Garden.
The two walked together toward the Cherry Blossom Pavilion and saw the Emperor and Su Qingcai sitting there in the distance, with a woman dancing in front of them.
Meng Ruqiao narrowed her eyes and whispered, "That's Consort Zheng from the palace. She's the most favored one, but unfortunately she has no children, so her rank can't rise. I didn't expect the Emperor to send her here. Let's wait a bit."
Su Xiaoning nodded, and she and Meng Ruqiao stood quietly and waited.
Inside the Cherry Blossom Pavilion, a beautiful woman stood dressed in a pale pink gown, revealing her graceful neck. Her snow-white hair was styled into a flowing bun, adorned only with two jeweled hairpins. The folds of her skirt flowed like moonlight and snow, cascading lightly to the ground. Her eyes sparkled, and she swayed her supple waist as she danced, like a slender willow branch moving in the breeze.
Upon closer inspection, one can see that she is wearing a string of bells on her wrist. The bells jingle slightly, which, combined with the woman's twirling dance, makes her even more alluring.
It seems like swirling snow in the wind, drifting like light clouds veiling the moon.
Su Xiaoning was stunned. Her heart was pounding. Only now did she understand what it meant to be "graceful as a startled swan, lithe as a swimming dragon".
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
