She let out a sigh of relief, closed the box and put it in her sleeve, then turned and curtsied. "Thank you for your generous gift, Your Highness. I will accept your kind offer. Farewell."
After saying that, she turned and walked outside.
As he stepped outside, he noticed a figure following him. Turning around, he saw it was Chu Heng.
She raised an eyebrow at him.
He smiled and said, "I'll see you off."
You Ran's lips twitched. This was her home; did she expect him to deliver it?
Chu Heng seemed to see through her thoughts and said, "I want to spend more time with you and share in your good fortune."
You Ran: ...
This constant confession of love is something she, at such a young age, doesn't want to understand!
Chu Heng stepped forward to stand beside her. "Just now, I received a letter from the border saying that the potatoes and sweet potatoes that yield a thousand catties per mu have been successfully planted in the extremely cold Northwest. Although the yield is only half that of the Central Plains, it is much better than before when there was no food to grow."
Over the years, I've ensured that all the border regions are planted with new grains, and with your supply of instant noodles, the soldiers on the frontier no longer have to go hungry. My Great Zhou Dynasty has never been so powerful. I've always wanted to say thank you.
He waved his hand casually, "It was just a small contribution."
She suddenly stopped in her tracks, staring intently at him. "I told you before, Your Highness, don't steal your senior brother's credit anymore. Your Highness is..."
Chu Heng chuckled, "You're so protective of your senior brother? Don't worry, I've never stolen Yuan Bai's credit. Every report I've submitted has been presented to Father. Father also speaks highly of him."
You Ran's heart skipped a beat again. "Senior brother... what is the Emperor's intention? Is he worried that his achievements will overshadow the Emperor?"
Chu Heng laughed again, "Only you dare to speculate on the Emperor's will! Aren't you worried about yourself? In recent years, you've become quite famous on the border due to the relief of the food problem. Thanks to the government's and prefectural fundraising projects, the capital and more than a dozen surrounding counties are all grateful to your mother, Madam Su. And the Duke holds considerable military power, aren't you worried..."
You Ran frowned. "Since Your Highness knows that the Yun family is currently enjoying great prosperity, why do you still want to get close to them? His Majesty would never agree to Your Highness marrying a woman from the Yun family!"
She was naturally worried, and her grandmother had repeatedly warned her not to stand out, for fear that the Yun family would suffer a fatal disaster.
With the Yun family being so powerful and prestigious, how could the emperor possibly allow the crown prince to marry into the Yun family?
Chu Heng shook his head. "You've misunderstood. Father has been on the throne for over ten years, so he naturally knows who can be trusted and trusts them without question. Father truly loves me. He once said that as long as I'm happy, anyone can be the Crown Princess. So, if you're worried that marrying me will arouse Father's suspicion for the Yun family, there's no need to worry."
You Ran was taken aback. In fact, she had noticed the Yun family's overwhelming power several years ago. Her father and second uncle held military power in Liaozhou, and her mother was a guest minister in the Ministry of Revenue. To a certain extent, they influenced the economic lifeline of the Great Zhou Kingdom. The Su family was already the richest family in Dingzhou, and in recent years, their trade with the Northern Di had brought them enormous profits, probably making them the richest family in the country. There was also her maternal grandfather's family, the Grand Secretary… and the several chain stores she owned in the capital were also incredibly lucrative… and her mother's biological father was the King of the Northern Di…
To say that the monarch had no fear of the Yun family?
That's impossible!
Therefore, she has not dared to show her face or expand further in recent years, fearing that one day the national treasury will run out of money and the Yun family estate will be confiscated, which will immediately fill the national treasury.
The Crown Prince was surprisingly frank today, saying that the Emperor agreed to the marriage alliance between the Eastern Palace and the Yun family? Wouldn't he suspect the Yun family?
It's impossible no matter how you look at it!
Seeing her doubtful gaze, Chu Heng nodded firmly, "I believe in Father, and I ask that you also believe in me."
You Ran shook her head, not arguing with him, and quickly went into the backyard, curtsied, leaving him outside the hanging flower gate.
...
Everyone assumed Wu Xinxin was dead, and no one paid any attention to what she had said at the Yun residence that day, treating it as a joke.
Unexpectedly, from some unknown time, a rumor suddenly began to circulate in the capital.
"Miss, Miss, something terrible has happened!" Su Yue rushed in, panicked. "Miss, a new troupe called Xingyue has suddenly appeared in the capital, challenging Su Yun's troupe to a duel! They've put on a play called 'Washing the Golden Hairpin,' which tells the story of a second-marriage woman who brings her daughter into a wealthy family, only for the daughter to plot and kill her stepbrother's wife and two concubines because she admires him… and the way she died is…"
You Ran smiled and said, "Just like Shi Wenxia and Zhou Qingqian, Wu Xinxin was poisoned to death?"
Su Yue's eyes widened. "Miss, you know?"
You Ran's face darkened. "I don't know, is it because someone watched the show and guessed that the stepdaughter looks like me?!"
Su Yue nodded awkwardly, "Yes...yes!"
"Do you know who is behind the Star and Moon Class?"
"N-I don't know!"
You Ran recalled that on her grandmother's birthday, all the guests were familiar family members, so no one should have spread the word.
Could it be the person who directed Wu Xinxin?
Who exactly is it?
Suddenly, a whooshing sound came from the air.
Something shot towards You Ran's face. She dodged, and a note was pinned to the door.
You Ran's eyes darkened slightly. How could someone come and go freely in the Yun residence?
She asked Suyue to take the note down and look at it. It read, "Room No. 1, Jiazi, Tianxianglou, Shenshi".
Turning the note over, it surprisingly read "Qianjin Pill".
You Ran's pupils contracted.
Wu Xinxin used a scheme to steal the Qianjin Pill from Shi Wenxia that day, which can be considered as reaping what she sowed.
She had actually secretly reminded Wu Xinxin to be careful about what she put in her mouth.
The Thousand Gold Pill was actually forcibly bought by Zhou Qingqian from that witch woman, and she had nothing to do with it from beginning to end.
At most, she was just someone who knew but didn't report it.
So when Wu Xinxin said she had harmed her, she didn't even bother to argue.
How did this person know about this?
Looking at the panicked Su Yue, she guessed that the person behind this must be the one who planned that grand scheme.
So he checked the time, washed and dressed himself, and went out with Suyue.
Upon arriving at Tianxiang Restaurant, she did not let Suyue go upstairs, but instead left her in the carriage, instructing her that if she did not come out within half an hour, she should return to the Yun residence to report the news.
Su Yue knew that she would be a burden by following her mistress, so she obediently agreed.
Leisurely, she walked up the steps and entered Room A, Room 1.
There was no one else inside.
She looked around, then sat down at the table and called over the waiter, asking him to bring her a pot of good tea.
A moment later, the waiter brought tea, and she began to pour and drink it herself.
After waiting for nearly half an hour, no one came in.
As the appointed time with Su Yue approached, she sensed something was wrong and stood up to go back. As soon as she stood up, a wave of dizziness hit her, followed by a feeling of weakness that spread throughout her body.
She was terrified, but her body was too weak to support her, and she collapsed into the chair.
Could it be that something was tampered with in the tea?
That waiter...
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