Chapter 201
Tao Tao took in her chameleon-like expression and watched her with great interest, finding it increasingly amusing.
Murong Jia Hui, unaware that her purpose had been exposed, smiled charmingly and said:
“Sister, no, Princess, Jia Hui meant no harm. She just thought that Her Majesty the Empress had a good impression of you, and His Highness the Crown Prince is not yet married. Perhaps, perhaps Her Majesty the Empress intends to betroth you to the Crown Prince.”
While cautiously probing, she kept a close eye on Tao Tao's expression, searching for clues as to whether Tao Tao had feelings for the Crown Prince.
To everyone's surprise, Tao Tao didn't care at all, remaining as lazy as ever, and even yawned, feeling sleepy in the autumn.
"You want to marry the Crown Prince to get rid of your status as an illegitimate child? People strive for higher positions, and water flows downhill. It's not wrong to have this idea."
"You're asking me because you think I pose a threat to you. But even if that's true, what can you do? What can you change?"
"Instead of wasting your time on me, you might as well go to Lu Shuqing or Murong Huaishi. If they really intend to marry you off to the Crown Prince, wouldn't it be better to have them give you advice?"
She said it so bluntly, exposing Murong Jia Hui's deliberate probing.
Murong Jia Hui's face turned pale and then red, feeling ashamed and embarrassed. She also felt bitter inside. If she could really do as she said and go to find her mother and father, she wouldn't be here.
Her father had never given her a second glance. Of all her children, if she hadn't been the one who won her mother's heart the most, she probably would have been casually betrothed to one of her father's generals long ago, just like her eldest sister.
Fortunately, she knew how to please her mother, who specially brought her along on this trip to the capital. This allowed her to not only witness the prosperity of the capital, but also to visit the palace, meet the Empress, and get to know so many noble ladies.
What made her unwilling to return to that small place, Yingzhou, was that although she had no worries about food and clothing in Yingzhou, it was not what she truly wanted.
She wanted to stay in the capital, for it was her true home. She was determined to have a place of her own there, to earn her father's respect, and one day stand above her mother, no longer at her beck and call.
Tao Tao saw her gaze instantly harden, and saw the light of ambition gleaming in her eyes. It turned out that this seemingly gentle Murong Jia Hui had a heart just like hers, unwilling to be subservient to others.
Murong Jia Hui curtsied and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, it was Jia Hui who overestimated herself and offended you."
“Mu, Rong, Jia, Hui, you can try to ask Lu Shuqing about adoption. If she really treats you as her own child, and you are adopted into her name, wouldn’t you be the legitimate daughter?”
"This matter is much easier than marrying the Crown Prince. With this status, even if you can't marry the Crown Prince, marrying other princes and nobles is not difficult."
Tao Tao rested her chin on her hand, her eyes crinkling with a smile, and kindly pointed out another shortcut to her.
Upon hearing this, Murong Jia Hui's eyes lit up, and she looked thoughtful.
To be honest, she never thought of this before, because her biological mother was still alive and Lu Shuqing had her own son, so there was no need for her to adopt a child who was not her own.
"Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness. I am very grateful. I will take my leave now."
She nodded slightly, watching Murong Jia Hui's cheerful figure disappear into the distance.
Rong'er looked at the jewelry in her hand, her eyes shining with envy, and exclaimed, "How beautiful, Princess! This set of jewelry must be very expensive."
It's something she could never afford in her lifetime, no, in eight lifetimes.
Hearing this, Tao Tao glanced at her and smiled, "You like it? If you like it, take it."
Rong'er's eyes widened instantly as she stared at her in shock, asking again in disbelief, "Really, really, Princess?!"
This was like a windfall, surprising and exciting her.
"Of course it's true. When have I ever lied to you? Keep it safe, but don't let Murong Jia Hui see it, or she'll be angry."
This set of jewelry is probably something she herself has never worn. Such a precious and meaningful item must have been kept very carefully. Also, it might be the only set of jewelry she owns that is truly presentable.
He took it out and gave it to her just to test her opinion; he was quite willing to spend a lot of money.
Rong'er immediately knelt down and kowtowed, crying with joy, and said, "Thank you for your reward, Princess. I will serve you even more diligently in the future."
After dinner, Tao Tao wandered among the flowerpots in the yard, selecting the most beautiful and vibrant flowers, and then used Xuan paper to wrap the cut flowers into bouquets.
She looked down, adjusting the direction of the flowers, then smiled with satisfaction. "How is it? Pretty, isn't it?"
Looking at the potted plants that had been cut into pieces on the ground, a trace of pity flashed in Wu Mama's eyes. Hearing a cheerful voice, she looked up and saw the girl in front of her smiling sweetly.
"It's beautiful. The county princess has excellent taste; how could it not be beautiful?"
"Flowers complement a beautiful woman, don't you think?" Tao Tao gently sniffed the flowers, quite pleased with her choice.
There are actually no special techniques involved. The colors don't have a specific order or primary and secondary colors. Not only are they all colorful, but the flowers chosen are also full and large, creating a sense of beauty as they compete for attention.
beauty?
Granny Wu and Rong'er exchanged a glance and found the same answer in each other's eyes.
Who else could be called a beauty by a discerning county princess?
The two echoed, "The county princess is right."
The night was deep, and fleeting glimpses of light and shadow filled the air.
A low-key carriage slowly pulled up in front of the Privy Council, and a young girl wearing a white veiled hat stepped down from the carriage with the help of her maid.
She carried a large bouquet of flowers in her arms, and walked in with light steps, like a wisp of smoke.
She walked smoothly through the halls and gardens, arriving at the study. Instead of standing at the main entrance, she chose to stand in front of the window.
Tao Tao reached out and tapped the flowers, then held them up in front of her, anticipating what he would see.
After a while, she still didn't hear any response. She frowned, wondering if he wasn't there.
She took the bouquet and peered into the room through the window. It was dark inside, with only an oil lamp lit, and it was empty; there was indeed no one there.
"Strange, where did Duan Gan go..."
She muttered to herself, wondering if he had gone to the waterside pavilion to play chess, and then decided to walk in that direction.
As they walked, they passed a stream and a rockery and heard people talking. It sounded like Chen Jinghe was chatting with Duan Gan.
Tao Tao was overjoyed and quickly walked over, but when she suddenly saw the scene in front of her, her almond-shaped eyes widened slightly, and she froze on the spot, dropping the bouquet in her hand.
Upon hearing the voice, Chen Jinghe turned around and exclaimed in surprise, "Miss?!"
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