After leaving the prefectural government office, Su Xuerong looked at Chen Siyi beside her and said, "Thank you, Princess."
Chen Siyi smiled faintly at her: "If you want to thank me, how about you treat me to a drink at Fenglelou?"
Fenglelou was one of the top restaurants in Hangzhou, controlling the imperial court's right to sell wine. All the wines and liquors needed by restaurants and taverns of all sizes in the city had to be sourced from Fenglelou.
The wine alone could make Fenglelou incredibly wealthy.
As Su Xuerong stepped down from Chen Siyi's carriage, she heard a delighted voice behind her: "My wife!"
She turned around and saw a man wearing a shabby Taoist robe.
"You are..."
She remembered now; she had encountered this rambling Taoist priest when she came to Fenglelou to inquire about the market last month, and she never expected to run into him again today.
Su Xuerong said irritably, "Are you ever going to stop?"
Even so, she still took out a handful of copper coins from her sleeve and handed them to him: "Stop swindling people outside. You're supposed to be a Taoist priest, so why don't you go back to the Taoist temple and cultivate properly!"
The Taoist priest took the copper coins and grinned, revealing his yellowed teeth.
"Arong, who is this person...?"
Chen Siyi's voice came from behind.
Su Xuerong said, "Just a conman..."
"My lady, please don't say that. This humble Taoist really can predict the future..." The Taoist turned to look at Chen Siyi, and suddenly paused for a moment.
Chen Siyi looked at the dirty Taoist priest in front of her, her eyes already showing disdain, and didn't even glance at him: "Come on, Arong, let's go in!"
The two then headed straight into the depths of the restaurant.
The Taoist priest outside the door stared at the two figures from behind for a long time, his eyes revealing a deep sense of inquiry.
Chen Siyi seemed to have been prepared. As soon as she entered, her maid immediately told the waiter, "My lady has already booked the No. 1 private room on the third floor overlooking West Lake."
"Please follow me, esteemed guests!" The waiter eagerly led them toward the third floor.
Arriving at Private Room No. 1 on the third floor, you enter a spacious and bright room with two partitions made of pear wood: a tea room on the east side and a dining room on the west side. There is also a daybed placed by the window, where you can see the shimmering West Lake in the distance.
In the sweltering summer, an ice chest filled with ice blocks was placed in the private room on the third floor, emitting wisps of white mist that were cool and refreshing.
Su Xuerong was amazed by the luxury of the restaurant.
Ice was scarce and expensive in the summer, and only ordinary people could afford to use an ice chest.
Seeing Su Xuerong's surprised expression, Chen Siyi smiled slightly: "Arong, I won't hold back today."
Su Xuerong withdrew her gaze and smiled, "Princess, why are you so polite? If it weren't for your pleading today, Lord Lu might not have been able to release me."
Her voice was clear and melodious, with a hint of helplessness in her eyes.
Behind her lies the boundless, rippling West Lake, a once beautiful and pleasant sight, now merely her backdrop.
Chen Siyi couldn't help but sigh inwardly, if a beauty like Su Xuerong were to enter the palace, there would probably be no chance for the other concubines.
No wonder Xiao Yuan couldn't forget her after meeting her.
This is only human nature, and Chen Siyi can understand Xiao Yuan's thoughts.
However, she cannot become a stumbling block to her becoming a princess.
Thinking of this, she glanced at the maids beside her, who immediately set out the tea and snacks and left the room.
“Arong…” Chen Siyi pulled Su Xuerong’s hand and sat her down on the couch by the window, staring at her intently: “Are you really unwilling to enter the Prince’s mansion?”
Su Xuerong was speechless and gently rubbed her forehead with her hand: "Princess, I made it very clear that day that I am already engaged to Mr. Ling. We will get married once he brings his mother from Tongguan..."
Chen Siyi looked at her quietly: "But do you know Mr. Ling's background?"
"The son of the former Grand Secretary Ling."
Chen Siyi then asked, "The Ling family was a prominent family in the previous dynasty, and Mr. Ling's mother, Madam Xiang, was the eldest daughter of the Duke of Ying in the previous dynasty. Although the dynasty has changed, marriage alliances between prominent families are something that ordinary people cannot get involved in..."
At this point, she looked meaningfully at the stunningly beautiful woman opposite her: "Even if Mr. Ling is determined to marry you as his legal wife, he may not be able to achieve his wish."
If Madam Xiang does not agree, Su Xuerong cannot enter the family as the legal wife.
Su Xuerong was stunned.
She had no idea that Ling Qingxue's family background was so illustrious; it was something she, a divorced woman with a child, could never hope to marry.
But so what?
She didn't really intend to marry Ling Qingxue; it was just a temporary measure.
"oh."
She responded indifferently, picked up her teacup, and took a sip.
Chen Siyi was surprised: "Arong, didn't you say you didn't want to be a concubine? But if Mr. Ling insists on being with you, then you can only be a concubine."
Su Xuerong slowly put down her teacup and looked up at the woman opposite her: "Your Highness is overthinking it. Mr. Ling and I will resolve our own issues."
Chen Siyi was speechless for a moment.
After a moment, she said, "You'd rather be a concubine to a descendant of a former dynasty than consider the prince?"
Su Xuerong frowned and stared at Chen Siyi in front of her.
What does she mean by that?
Are they here to act as intermediaries for Xiao Yuan?
Suddenly, she seemed to understand something.
Could it be that Xiao Yuan offered Chen Siyi a condition: if she could convince herself to enter the Prince's mansion, she could then rightfully become his concubine?
Su Xuerong raised her eyebrows and looked at Chen Siyi with a half-smile: "Why does the princess have to do this? With the princess's intelligence, she can achieve whatever she wants without my help."
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