"Hmph, you make it sound so easy. It's not like you're the one suffering. This is still more than half a year away from being over." Yan Yue rolled her eyes, looking even more worried, wishing she could just faint right now.
...
Heyue remained silent.
"Sixth Sister can't just not learn, can she? In any case, she has to do a good job of putting on a good show. She should act the way she should in front of the nanny. If the nanny is satisfied, then Mother will be satisfied. If Mother is satisfied, then Sixth Sister will have more freedom, right?" Heyue suggested, her eyes darting around.
When she first learned etiquette at the Fourth Prince's residence, she relied on this kind of opportunistic approach, which made it much easier than before.
As long as you behave well in front of the nanny, she won't care what you do in private.
Sure enough, Yan Yue's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she clapped her hands: "Great idea!"
But then she sighed in frustration, "But it's easier said than done to put on a good show. That flowerpot-shaped bottom is a real killer!"
"Then this is all we can do, Sixth Sister. You know, we have to get through this." Heyue sighed helplessly.
Hearing He Yue's words, Yan Yue lay back down, weak and listless: "Then could you massage my shoulders again? I have to get up tomorrow to deal with the instructor, so I absolutely cannot give up and I must try to make things easier!"
Heyue chuckled to herself, massaged Sixth Sister's shoulders and legs for a while, and watched as Sixth Sister fell asleep from exhaustion before returning home.
※
Spring drowsiness and autumn fatigue set in. The next day, Heyue basked in the sun in the courtyard, curled up on the chaise lounge like a lazy cat, taking a nap with her eyes closed, feeling warm all over.
Hailan hurried over and, seeing Heyue taking a nap, stood aside without disturbing her.
Yu Ying winked at her, then walked to the side and asked her what was wrong.
Hailan pouted, not wanting to talk.
At this moment, Heyue opened her eyes and lazily asked, "What is it?"
Hailan quickly stepped forward, bowed, handed a note to Heyue, and whispered something in her ear.
He Yue sat up abruptly, raised an eyebrow in surprise, unfolded the note, and glanced at it thoughtfully.
"Who sent this message? How could they just send it to the princess like that?" Yu Ying frowned and glared at Hai Lan with displeasure.
Hailan pouted and glared back disapprovingly: "We're not outsiders, what's there to be shy about!"
"Since we're acquaintances, why be so secretive? I think you're becoming more and more lawless. Be careful that Madam finds out, or you'll be in big trouble!" Yu Ying said, slightly annoyed.
"Anyway, with the princess around, even if the madam finds out, the princess will protect her. What's there to be afraid of?" Hailan said smugly, not worried at all.
Seeing that the two women were arguing more and more fiercely, Heyue raised her voice to stop them: "Alright, what's there to argue about?! Yuying, you stay here. Hailan, you come out with me!"
Seeing that the princess was displeased, the two of them fell silent at the same time and glared at each other. Yu Ying looked a little aggrieved, while Hai Lan was smug.
He Yue was helpless; these two girls were getting bolder and bolder, even daring to argue in front of her.
However, Heyue didn't quite like Yuying's way of handling things, as she sometimes interfered too much and was too calculating.
It's good to give her a warning.
Heyue exited the mansion through the back gate and immediately spotted Iduli standing outside the left courtyard wall and a black horse beside him by a tree.
Stepping forward, He Yue looked up and asked, "Cousin, is there something you need?"
It's not in line with Itori's character to ask him to talk outside when he has business to attend to.
When Itori saw her come out, he stood still, but hesitated to speak.
Heyue looked at him with confusion, rarely seeing him so troubled, but she was not in a hurry and patiently waited for him to speak.
"Let's go somewhere else to talk," Ittori said after a long pause.
Heyue nodded and had someone bring out her jujubes. The two of them rode their own horses, and Heyue took Hailan to a private room on the second floor of a teahouse in the bustling city.
After we sat down, the waiter served tea, then left and closed the door.
Yi Duli glanced at Hailan standing behind Heyue, his face showing difficulty.
He Yue gestured for Hai Lan to wait outside, poured herself a cup of tea, took a slow sip, looked up at him, and smiled slightly: "Cousin, please feel free to speak your mind."
"There's something I'd like to ask of Seventh Sister." It was a little difficult for Yi Duli to say, but he finally spoke and took something out of his pocket.
He Yue looked over and raised her eyebrows slightly. It was none other than a red whip with a matching tassel hanging from the end.
"What does my cousin mean by this?" He Yue had some guesses, but wasn't sure.
"This is for Yan Yue. Please pass it on to her, Seventh Sister." Yi Duli handed the whip to He Yue with both hands, his eyes slightly evasive.
He Yue took it, played with it in her hand, a half-smile on her face. She looked up at Yi Duli and noticed that his ears were slightly red and his dark face looked a little uncomfortable.
"Cousin, why don't you just give it to Sixth Sister yourself? Why do you need me to pass it on?" He Yue pouted, pretending not to know, her clear, confused eyes blinking.
She was unsure at first, but seeing him like this now, how could He Yue not understand? She just couldn't understand why he had suddenly become so insightful.
“I heard from my mother that she intends for me to marry one of Hesheli’s cousins. I have always liked Yan Yue since I was a child, and I have been waiting for her to understand my feelings for her. However, seeing that she is about to participate in the imperial concubine selection, I have no choice but to ask my seventh sister to give this gift to Yan Yue so that she can understand my feelings. I will persuade my mother that after the selection, I will marry Yan Yue.”
He Yue was secretly surprised, not expecting Yi Duli to be so direct. Seeing his clear black eyes, which seemed to be his heartfelt words, He Yue was moved.
“Then you should go and explain to my mother. Why bother with all this trouble? After all, Sixth Sister can’t make the decision alone. Besides, it would be better if you explained the situation to my mother and then personally delivered the whip to Sixth Sister.” Heyue rested her chin on one hand and placed the whip on the table with the other, her expression unmoved.
"Because I'm not sure if Yan Yue also likes me. Once I'm sure of Yan Yue's feelings, I will tell my mother that I will marry no one but Yan Yue, and I will propose to my aunt after the selection."
He Yue was indeed touched by Yi Duli's intentions. He was thoughtful and did not go directly to Sixth Sister, which would cause trouble for her. Instead, he asked her to act as a middleman. However, He Yue would not agree to this easily.
“I heard from Mother that Mother and Father have found a marriage for Sixth Sister. With Mother and Father’s good judgment, I believe Sixth Sister will live a good life after marriage. I will give this whip to Sixth Sister. However, Aunt rejected Mother’s suggestion before, so I’m afraid Mother will have a hard time agreeing to this. You should try to get past Mother and Father first.”
He Yue, feeling mischievous, decided to test him.
Hmph! Marrying Sixth Sister isn't that easy. You'll have to suffer a bit first.
If he can't get past his mother's hurdle, Heyue won't help him anymore.
Anyway, Mother and Father's judgment is never wrong, and Sixth Sister doesn't necessarily have to marry him.
Upon hearing this, Yi Duli frowned, looking slightly impatient: "Has Yan Yue agreed?"
"Sixth Sister doesn't know yet, but she won't know later. And as far as I know, Fourteenth Prince has always liked Sixth Sister. If she is betrothed during the selection, Sixth Sister will be Fourteenth Prince's wife. If she is rejected, she will naturally go with the family chosen by Mother and Father." Heyue said this deliberately.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
