The woman was indignant. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but then closed it again in frustration: "Fine, I guess I'm just unlucky. I don't know what the prince saw in her. Her affected manner disgusts me. The princess is a hundred times better than her. How could the prince be so bewitched by her?"
"I told you not to say it, but you still said it." The person next to him carefully reminded him, "If someone with ulterior motives hears this and it gets back to Bai Jiaojiao, you'll be in trouble later."
"Even if I enter the Prince's mansion, I'll still be a concubine! I'm so angry!" With that, she slammed the porcelain in her hand down with a thud.
Su Wanyan's ears perked up, and she was secretly pleased. She hadn't expected to be praised.
"Qiuye," Su Wanyan called out.
Qiuye leaned forward: "Your Majesty?"
Su Wanyan pointed to the porcelain vase: "Go and buy that vase and send it to that young lady's residence."
Qiu Ye paused for a moment, then nodded: "Yes."
Yu Nanqing looked at her eavesdropping and found her incredibly cute: "This is the first time I've seen Yan'er give gifts to someone else."
"I'm so happy." Su Wanyan couldn't hide the little joy on her face: "They said I'm good."
"It's because Yan'er is too easily satisfied."
In just a short while, the crowd on the street seemed to have dispersed considerably. Yu Nanqing took Su Wanyan's hand and asked, "It's still early. Would you like to take a walk outside the city, Wanyan?"
Su Wanyan's eyes brightened slightly: "Great! The weather's nice too. How about we find a place to watch the sunset?"
Yu Nanqing chuckled softly: "So Yan'er had already thought it through long ago."
"A temporary idea."
The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching.
The Bai family is anything but low-key.
To prevent his daughter from being mistreated after entering the Prince's mansion, Bai Yixun searched for over a hundred dowry items for Bai Jiaojiao, including various gold and silver jewelry, jade and emeralds, and silks and satins, which dazzled onlookers.
Bai Yixun was a wealthy merchant in Fucheng, whose family had been in business for five generations. He could have as many of these things as he wanted.
Even so, Bai Jiaojiao was still not satisfied. She wanted to show Su Wanyan what it meant to be rich and powerful, and what it meant to be a young lady of high status, on the day she entered the Prince's mansion.
The bigger the spectacle, the better. Yes, it has to be even grander than Yu Nanqing and Su Wanyan's wedding when they first came to Fucheng!
On that day, Prince Gong's Mansion held a grand banquet. Once Bai Jiaojiao made up her mind, she also begged Bai Yixun to hold a banquet in the city.
This was not difficult for the Bai family, since they had plenty of money, and they agreed without much thought.
The commotion caused by the Bai family drew the attention of the local people, who eagerly joined in the fun.
Bai Yixun still held onto hope, thinking that the Prince's Mansion would send the betrothal document for Bai Jiaojiao as a concubine. However, he waited until the day before Bai Jiaojiao was to be taken into the Prince's Mansion, but he still didn't receive it.
On May 14th, Bai Yixun felt a little regretful and could only comfort herself, "So be it, being a concubine is fine too. As long as Bai Jiaojiao can win Yu Nanqing's favor, anything is possible."
Noon, Prince Gong's Mansion.
Yu Nanqing was having dinner with Su Wanyan, who had become fascinated with a book of strange and unusual stories. Even while eating, she couldn't help but hold it in her hand and read it.
Beside her, Yu Nanqing helplessly fed Su Wanyan a mouthful of rice, his eyes filled with resentment: "Yan'er is so carefree, not worried at all. Could it be that she has forgotten what day it is today?"
"May 14th." Su Wanyan held the book, her gaze not shifting even an inch.
“…” Yu Nanqing pursed his thin lips slightly.
Su Wanyan seemed to sense Yu Nanqing's mood, moved the book aside, revealing half of her face: "Something's up?"
"……No."
"That settles it then." Su Wanyan's gaze remained fixed on the book.
Yu Nanqing smiled helplessly: "At least try to appear a little nervous."
"..."
Suddenly, Su Wanyan put down her book, took Yu Nanqing's hand, and said earnestly, "The Bai family is ostentatious, and the people in the city are also very enthusiastic. I'm afraid that your trip today will be criticized in the future."
As she spoke, Su Wanyan sighed, "If only there were another way, you wouldn't have to put yourself in danger. Be careful tonight, I'll be waiting for you to come back at the manor."
Su Wanyan raised her eyes and looked at Yu Nanqing with deep affection.
Yu Nanqing immediately straightened up, feeling quite uncomfortable for a moment: "Actually... there's no need to be like this..."
Su Wanyan covered her mouth and smiled, about to say something, when she heard Wang Zhang's voice from outside: "Your Highness!"
"Your Highness!" A short while later, Wang Zhang rushed in, holding a letter in his hand: "A letter from the capital."
Su Wanyan's eyes brightened as she looked at Yu Nanqing.
Yu Nanqing smiled and gestured for him to proceed.
Su Wanyan reached out her hand, and Wang Zhang presented the letter.
"This is a secret letter." Su Wanyan saw the unique hidden pattern on the letter, opened the envelope, took out the letter and spread it out, and was immediately stunned.
Yu Nanqing asked curiously, "What's wrong?"
Su Wanyan handed over the letter: "Xiao Chensheng is in the capital."
“…” Yu Nanqing raised an eyebrow and took the letter.
He glanced at it, a hint of suspicion appearing on his brow: "The Imperial Advisor?"
According to the letter, Xiao Chensheng appeared in the capital half a month ago, appearing in the court as the Imperial Preceptor. Moreover, it was the result of the Empress Dowager's insistence despite the opposition.
Regardless of Xiao Chensheng's identity in the capital, at least Su Wanyan and Yu Nanqing knew that he was not dead.
As for why Xiao Chensheng went to the capital and why he became the Imperial Preceptor, Su Wanyan wasn't very interested in investigating, at least not at the moment.
She picked up the book of strange and unusual tales on the table and continued reading.
Seeing that Su Wanyan didn't talk about it, Yu Nanqing didn't say anything more either.
He folded the letter and put it in his pocket.
Su Wanyan opened her book slightly and asked curiously, "Huh? You usually 'destroy the evidence' when you see me, so why did you put the letter away so carefully today?"
Most of the time, when she saw Yu Nanqing, she would destroy the secret letters.
"We're eating right now." Yu Nanqing chuckled. "Besides, this isn't how you use the word 'destroy a body and cover up the evidence.'"
Su Wanyan's gaze returned to the book: "As long as you can understand it, that's fine."
As they were talking, Yu Nanqing handed over another bite of food. Su Wanyan stared intently, waiting for the food to be served.
Not long after Wang Zhang left, Tanaka entered, bowed respectfully, and said, "Your Highness, everything is ready."
"Mm," Yu Nanqing replied.
Su Wanyan blinked, but ultimately couldn't resist turning the book away again to observe Yu Nanqing's expression.
Yu Nanqing noticed these little gestures and smiled indulgently. He picked up a handkerchief and wiped Su Wanyan's mouth, saying, "No rush, I'll go out after sunset."
Su Wanyan pursed her lips and returned her gaze to the book.
He had been quite engrossed just moments before, but now he had lost interest. He turned the book away, revealing half of his eyes, and remained silent for a long time before finally uttering three words: "Be careful."
Her gaze returned to the book: "I mean, be careful after tonight."
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