Lady Du picked up the ginseng soup, took a sip carefully, then said unhurriedly, âA maidservant just brought the news, saying the betrothal gifts Murong Xue having sent back were all returnedâŠâ
Murong Rouâs eyes shone with surprise, âSo you meanâŠâ
âMurong Xue has made up her mind to cancel the engagement, while Prince Jing wouldnât agree. While they are contradictory, we could take advantage of it to let Qingyan marry into Prince Jing Mansion in place of Murong Xue.â Lady Du said that word by word, with kind of cattiness flashing in her eyes.
âItâŠItâs not appropriate.â Murong Rou frowned, âAfter all Qingyangâs surname is Song, not Murong. She is not a lineal daughter of the Marquis MansionâŠâ
Madam Du disapproved, âThey are both princesses of the first wife and her sister. They are cousins. Whatâs the big deal?â
âIf Old Prince Jing doesnât agree, then we will make him doâŠâMadam Du whispered, with kind of craftiness flashing in her eyes.
On seeing her mother talk like that, Murong Rou frowned. It had been tens of years of the internal strife inside the harem. She was quite clear what her mother pointed to, âThatâŠis obscene. What if Qingyan fails to be to the first wife even if she pays her reputation?â
Madam Du pulled her face and glared at her, âThe first wife? Are you daydreaming? Ye Yichen already has someone on his mind. The reason why Murong Xue is so determined to end their engagement is just because he wanted to degrade Murong Xue to a concubine to make room for his beloved one. Even if Qingyan married into the Prince Jing Mansion, she can only be a concubine. And if she covets the position of the first wife, she even wouldnât know how she diedâŠâ
Murong lost her tongue for words. Before her eyes were all those scenes that how Ye Yichen defended Qin Yuyan and his cruel and iron means, which made her chill. She almost forgot the fact that Qingyan only could be a concubine if she married Prince Jing.
Ye Yichen had a noble identity, was capable and welded the scepter. Being his concubine was even better than other noble familyâs first wife.
Besides, Qingyan and Ye Yichen had been engaged. However vicious Tianwenâs second wife was, after Qingyan married into Prince Jing Mansion, she wouldnât make trouble for Qingyan then. Also, Qingyan wouldnât be far too inferior to Qin Yuyan . Double benefits thenâŠ
Seeing her satisfying expression, Madam Du nodded, smiling, âAfter Qingyan marries into Prince Jing Mansion, Prince Jing will be our powerful support. At that time, we could do anything we wanted to Murong XueâŠAnd Jianâer will be the real master of the Marquis MansionâŠAnd maybe you will have a chance to become the lady of Wuâan Mansion againâŠâ
Bam! Song Qingyan pushed the door open very hard. She said with great anger, âMother, grandmother, I wonât want to marry Prince JingâŠâ
Madam Du was surprised, âBut why?â So many girls out there were drooling about the position as Prince Jingâs concubine.
âBecauseâŠI like Prince Ouyang!â Song Qingyang yelled out loud, with her delicate face blushing immediately.
Madam Du frowned, âBut Ouyang Shaochenâs thoughts are all on Murong Xue. And thereâs no such engagement binding you two together. It is vain to like him. He will never marry you as his concubineâŠâ
âThen I will try to make him like me!â Song Qingyan said so seriously, and shyly, âEven if he doesnât like me, I will try all I can to be his concubineâŠâ
Madam Du hummed, âMurong Xue also likes Ouyang Shaochen. Youâve seen what she is capable of. As long as she is with him, you will never stand a chance to be his concubineâŠâ
Song Qingyan looked quite anxious, âI can figure out a method to get Murong Xue away from himâŠâ
âOuyang Shaochen and Murong Xue have already slept together on one bed intimately! They even hold their hands together when they go out, in case of getting separated by the rushing crowd. You think you can break them apart with your fluff?â Lady Du interrupted her, with all despise in her eyes.
She brought Song Qingyan up since she was a baby. Of course she knew her own granddaughter was too naĂŻve to tackle Murong Xue. She would lose to the ground.
Song Qingyanâs face turned a little pale, and asked, âAre you serious?â
âWhy would I lie to you?â Lady Du glared at her, âThe maidservant said she saw them holding together and lying on the sling chair. They were still asleep now. If you donât believe me, you can go see it with your own eyes.â
Raging fire was burning under Song Qingyanâs eyes. It should be true since her grandma was so sure of it. That despicable and shameless Murong Xue grabbed her Prince Ouyang!
âAll right then! Iâm gonna marry Prince Jing as his concubine!â When she became Prince Jingâs concubine, she would then torture Murong Xue, make her beg for her death!
Looking at her resolute expression, Lady Du and Murong Rou looked at each other, smiling.
Old Prince Jing came back to the capital under the emperorâs decree. So he didnât hide his tracks. And the news that he relapsed after he came back spread through the whole city soon.
All officials brought the best medicine to visit him, but he turned all of them away using the excuse that he needed rest.
When Murong Jian came to visit, Old Prince Jing was sunbathing in the courtyard. Looking at Murong Jianâs visiting card, he darkened his eyes and said with a low voice, âLet him in.â
He hadnât seen Murong Jian for nearly ten years. Since he was here, he kind of wanted to see him anyway.
Murong Jian was Murong Xueâs second uncle, but their relation was like fire and water. So he shouldnât be here to nose for something of him. Even he was here for that, the engagement would never be canceledâŠ
When Old Prince Jing was still thinking, a middle aged man came in under the guardâs lead. He was wearing a moon white nicely-tailored long robe, black waistband, and black high boots, looking charming and noble. He greeted to him, âMy lord!â
Old Prince Jing responded and sized him up, smiling, âItâs been ten years and you have barely changed. Iâm so jealousâŠâ
Murong Jian smiled lightly, âYou flatter me, my lord. You havenât changed either, still so majestic and charmingâŠâ
âIâve had those wounds for many years. And I am not as healthy as beforeâŠâ Old Prince Jing heaved a long sigh, âDonât stand there. Seat yourself.â
âThank you, my lord!â Murong Jian smiled slightly, seated himself on the opposite side of Old Prince Jing elegantly, exposing the young woman behind him.
Old Prince Jing was a little surprised, âThis is?â