The other person invited by Princess Chang Le was her cousin, Zhong Wanyue, the granddaughter of the valiant General Zhong Tao.
Zhong Wanyue also practiced martial arts from a young age, but she was much more gentle in appearance. Compared with Princess Chang Le, she lacked a heroic and dashing air, and it was easy to tell at first glance that she was a martial artist.
Princess Chang Le proudly boasted, "She was forced to learn martial arts, so she only learned a half-baked skill and isn't as good as me."
Shen Ning glanced at her. Miss Ren Zhong was not far away. It was said that martial artists had even sharper hearing. Wasn't she afraid of being overheard?
Princess Chang Le had no idea what fear was: "My mother wants her to marry my brother, and she likes my brother too. My mother wants to take advantage of my marriage to finalize their marriage."
In this world, marriage between cousins is considered a double blessing, and it's not uncommon. Aside from being a bit dim-witted, Li Kun has regular features and a noble status, so naturally, some people like him.
Shen Ning sighed: The princess really doesn't treat her like an outsider, telling her everything and doing whatever she wants.
"The young master probably doesn't know yet, does he?"
If she had known, she wouldn't be so quiet right now, and Lu Shuying wouldn't have had the energy to target her.
Making her Li Kun's concubine was just an idea of Princess Qi's, and it wasn't even mentioned openly. But Miss Zhong was not someone who could be taken lightly. Even the most arrogant prince, Li Kun, would probably have to give her some face. She was Lu Shuying's real enemy.
Princess Chang Le scoffed, "What could he possibly know? All he does is eat, drink, and have fun, and he revolves around that Lu guy. Only his parents' soft hearts can make him think that his determination can force them to bow down. If it were me, I would have beaten him into a good man long ago."
Princess Chang Le has quite a fierce temper.
“Miss Lu’s baby looks quite big.”
Given Lu Shuying's mental state, if she were to go insane due to stimulation, it could potentially lead to someone's death.
Princess Chang Le: "That child is not our child, but Lu Shuying's bargaining chip."
Shen Ning was speechless; the princess had a pretty clear understanding of things.
Indeed, compared to her love for the child, Lu Shuying used the child as leverage to win over Li Kun's heart and force the Prince's Mansion to acknowledge her.
From the perspective of Princess Qi and the others, it would be difficult for them to feel any pity for this child.
She shook her head slightly to dismiss those distracting thoughts; they were none of her business.
"Miss Zhong."
Shen Ning greeted them first, and Princess Chang Le introduced, "I've told you before, Shen Ning, my good friend, you'll be with me tonight."
Zhong Wanyue didn't recognize Shen Ning, but she had heard of her. She looked her up and down and nodded aloofly: "Miss Shen, it's a pleasure to meet you."
That expression didn't convey any sense of honor or pleasure; instead, it was a condescending look, arrogant and disdainful.
Princess Chang Le said she liked Li Kun, so her expression is understandable.
Princess Chang Le lived in a separate courtyard. The two side rooms next to her were set up for each of them. The side rooms on the left and right sides were filled with all kinds of items needed for the wedding. Her master bedroom didn't have many things. The most eye-catching items were the wedding dress hanging on the rack and the headdress next to it.
The three-tailed phoenix crown is a special imperial gift bestowed upon a princess.
Everything that needed to be prepared was ready. The maids served tea and snacks and then left without disturbing the three of them.
Seeing Shen Ning staring at the phoenix crown, Princess Chang Le walked over and asked, "Do you like it?"
Shen Ning nodded frankly: "Such a magnificent and beautiful crown, I'm afraid no woman would dislike it, making the dowry I prepared for the princess pale in comparison."
Princess Chang Le became curious: "Let me see it."
She didn't completely believe Shen Ning's words. This man always spoke modestly, lowering people's expectations, yet he always managed to make people feel overjoyed.
Shen Ning took out the box she always carried with her, and Princess Chang Le took it and opened it in front of her.
Wrapped in silk brocade, inside was a sandalwood carved box; the box, though exquisite, was also quite ordinary.
Princess Chang Le held the box, paused for a moment, and then slowly opened it.
"hiss!!"
Princess Chang Le let out a gasp, then slammed the box shut.
Her eyes widened as she stared at Shen Ning: "You gave me this?"
Shen Ning: "Does the princess not like it?"
Princess Chang Le shook her head: "It's not that I don't like it, it's just... a bit... too expensive. Don't you owe a lot of money? Selling this would be enough to pay off your debts."
Shen Ning: "This was prepared before that. I can't possibly sell the gift I gave you to pay off the debt. You know I'm poor now and can't afford expensive gifts."
Zhong Wanyue was initially uninterested, but since it was just the three of them and the two weren't deliberately keeping their voices down, she couldn't help but wonder what kind of valuable gift could have made Chang Le's expression change.
"What good stuff could possibly make you so surprised, Chang Le?"
As she was about to reach for it, Princess Chang Le reacted quickly, turned around to avoid it, and then took the box inside and put it away.
It's not that I don't like it, it's that I really like it, but I'm not allowed to see it.
Zhong Wanyue looked at Shen Ning with a puzzled expression: "What exactly did you give her that she treasures so much?"
Shen Ning chuckled: "It's just a pearl necklace. Princess, you're just trying to save face for me."
Princess Chang Le, having hidden her belongings, came out and her eyelids twitched upon hearing this.
It is indeed a pearl necklace.
However, it features a few openwork lucky balls carved from giant clam shells, rubies the size of pigeon eggs, and dangling tourmaline teardrop beads. Well, that's all.
What ordinary families would covet as family heirlooms, and which would add luster to the tribute and cause the concubines in the harem to fight tooth and nail for, was given to her as "just a pearl necklace."
"I'll accept it since you've given it to me. If you ever need money or people in the future, just ask."
After saying that, she immediately added, "Don't play the polite game with me. I know you like me, but it can't be a one-sided effort from you. It's about reciprocity. Don't make me feel guilty about accepting it."
Shen Ning remained silent. What did she mean by "I know you like me"? That sounded really awkward.
She winked mischievously, looking like a snobbish opportunist: "I've been waiting for you to say that, Princess. But I need quite a lot of things. I'll make a list and send it to you later."
That necklace is indeed expensive here, but not to the point of being worth a fortune. Even if she were to flatter and fawn, she wouldn't offer up her entire fortune to do so. She's a businesswoman, not a fool.
The materials for the necklace were all sourced by her, and the excess had already been made into finished products and put into Qianjinfang. She had made back all the profits she could.
The only difference with this necklace is that she used the best materials and had it made by the best craftsmen, but the cost was less than three hundred gold coins. If she were to sell it, it would be worth at most a thousand gold coins.
But Princess Chang Le wore her hair ornament before, and later many noble ladies went to Qianjinfang, and the ornaments there were almost sold out. In fact, she had already made that money long ago.
Giving the princess this necklace is her share of the profits from helping with the promotion, plus a little something extra as a token of her appreciation.
She never lets herself lose money, not even to anyone else.
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