Ouyang Yue listened quietly, while Leng Caiwen sighed: "Leng Yujian has two sons, Leng Caixin and Leng Caihe. These two have always been on very good terms with Leng Xihai of the second branch of the family. Last time, I suspected that Leng Caixin was involved in the instigation. So Leng Caixi caused trouble for me because of a prostitute. I originally wanted to leave the Leng family and not make things difficult for them. It would be better if we all went our separate ways."
Ouyang Yue frowned as she listened. Leng Caiwen was not as cynical as he appeared. He had a stubborn attachment to family ties, so he did not want to confront his relatives directly, fearing that it would hurt their relationship. But it was precisely this point that might give him leverage.
As for why Leng Caixi and the others were targeting Leng Caiwen specifically, she could somewhat understand. Leng Caiwen's elder brother, Leng Caifeng, was the eldest son of the Leng family and currently held the rank of fifth-grade official. His teacher was a scholar of the court, and he had many students. Leng Caifeng was also a very self-disciplined person. He had become close friends with Liu Hanwen, the Censor-in-Chief, through a series of events. Liu Hanwen was known for his incorruptibility; he would impeach anyone who made a mistake, from imperial relatives to eunuchs and palace maids. This made him both hated and feared by the court. Since he had become friends with Liu Hanwen, the court officials naturally gave Leng Caifeng more face. Leng Caiwen, on the other hand, was not yet thirty years old, but he already held the rank of fifth-grade official and had great potential for future advancement. The Leng family had high hopes for him, and he was also a target for court officials to win over. He was quite prominent.
Compared to Leng Caifeng, Leng Caiwen, though more renowned, had a mixed reputation, both good and bad. Despite his talent, he refused to take the imperial examinations or pursue an official career. In reality, compared to Leng Caifeng, Leng Caiwen could be considered unambitious and without a future. Although he held the title of the second son of the Leng family, only he knew that being the eldest son was vastly different from being the second. Leng Caiwen didn't care about these things, but his indifference didn't mean others did.
For example, Leng Caixi, Leng Caixin, and Leng Caihe were extremely jealous of Leng Caiwen's status, which they could only dream of. However, Leng Caiwen didn't seem to care about it at all, which made them feel inferior. Because of this, they repeatedly caused trouble for Leng Caiwen in the mansion. Leng Caiwen was too lazy to pay attention to them, which only made them more arrogant.
Later, when the second wife, Madam Sun, realized that she could not give birth to a son, she became even more fond of and tried to win over Leng Caixi. With the support of the Sun family, Leng Caixi became even more arrogant in the Leng family. Apart from Leng Yushan, she even dared to speak ill of Leng Caifeng whenever she had a reason.
The reason why Leng Caixi has become increasingly outrageous recently is actually due to several factors. The Leng family has been able to remain powerful for so many years for two reasons: first, the Leng family has never participated in the power struggles between princes; second, the Leng family has produced many talented individuals who have been highly valued in the court for generations. For example, Leng Caifeng of the eldest branch was able to rise to the fifth rank before the age of thirty. Although this was related to his own abilities, the most important factor was the reputation of the Leng family. As soon as he entered officialdom, his career path was much smoother than that of those without power or influence. This was an advantage. By the time he reached the third or first rank, others might still be struggling at the fifth rank, or even more likely, they would have already become victims in the political struggles.
The position of clan leader in the Leng family has always been passed down to the eldest son, not the legitimate heir. Of course, this is just a saying. For many years, the position of clan leader has always been held by the eldest son of the eldest branch. However, with Leng Caifeng entering the court as an official, wouldn't the position of clan leader be lost? Even if Leng Caiwen is unambitious and lacks drive, he is still almost certain to win the position of clan leader. Wouldn't that be the envy of others? With Leng Caixi and the other two keeping a close eye on him, their actions naturally became more and more eccentric and audacious.
Originally, their rivalry was merely a squabble, but lately they've become increasingly audacious. This is because the Emperor recently demoted several captains of the Imperial Guard. The Imperial Guard, from top to bottom, is headed by a Commander who manages the deployment of all guards within the city. Below him are two Deputy Commanders, each with ten squads, each with a captain and deputy captain, and each squad consisting of one hundred men. While the number may seem small, these men are directly responsible for the Emperor's safety. Anyone who catches the Emperor's eye is guaranteed a high rank, at the very least a deputy general. It's like a volcano ready to erupt and soar to the heavens. Because the Emperor has recently expressed strong dissatisfaction with the city's defenses, he has demoted several captains, including one deputy commander.
These men are practically the Emperor's bodyguards, with a high chance of meeting him. The two deputy commanders in the palace seem to have a tacit understanding: one is from a scholarly family, the other from a humble background. Neither side has ever looked down on the other. The one dismissed this time was the scholarly deputy commander, and naturally, a scholarly family member will take over. News has spread that the Emperor plans to select a talented member from one of the five great families to send to the palace. Leng Caiwen is very famous in the capital, but has never taken the imperial examinations. With this news, many people suspect that Leng Caiwen might be waiting for this opportunity from the Emperor.
Leng Caixi, Leng Caixin, and Leng Caihe, having somehow heard the news, couldn't sit still.
They thought that Leng Caiwen was most likely to become the patriarch of the Leng family in the future, and the position of deputy commander of the palace was also very likely to be his. How could they accept that everything belonged to Leng Caiwen? Naturally, they wanted to find a way to get rid of Leng Caiwen. Then, they would have a great chance to seize two of the positions of patriarch of the Leng family and deputy commander of the palace. So they went to great lengths to take Leng Caiwen's life.
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Yue's brows furrowed: "The five great families do have some foundation, but as far as I know, although the Leng family has trained assassins, each generation is personally controlled by the clan leader. I heard that the two guards under Leng Caifeng's command were sent by Leng Yushan. It's one thing if my cousin doesn't have any, but surely he wouldn't give them to Leng Caixi and the others."
At this point, a hint of self-deprecation flashed across Leng Caiwen's face: "You're right. If they didn't give it to me, then Leng Caixi and the others won't get it either. But has my cousin forgotten that there's a man surnamed Sun in the second branch of the Leng family?"
Ouyang Yue narrowed her eyes: "Cousin, you mean the Sun family took this opportunity to send several assassins to Leng Caixi, so you could kill each other?" If that's the case, it explains why Baili Chen gave Leng Caiwen a small team, but only Leng Caiwen managed to escape. However, presumably, none of the assassins were left. But the most serious problem isn't that. In every aristocratic family, these assassins are strictly controlled. Except for the clan leader, they generally don't listen to anyone else. The Sun family was able to use these assassins, so the clan leader must have given the order. Although this Sun woman comes from the Sun family and is the eldest daughter, she is not the clan leader's biological daughter. The current clan leader has three daughters, one of whom is the deceased Consort Sun. The youngest daughter just came of age and was sent directly to the palace after Consort Sun's death, where she currently holds the rank of Zhaoyi. Sun is only related by marriage. The fact that she was able to marry into the second branch of the Leng family back then shows that the Leng family had some skills. So, it would be possible if Sun were a direct descendant and brought in this assassin. But for the Sun family, who are only related by marriage, to be so generous is illogical. The most likely explanation is that the Sun family wanted to use this incident to cause internal strife in the Leng family, thereby causing its disintegration. This move is vicious and insidious, but it is very effective.
Of course, this is probably not the only reason the Sun family would act. Among the five great families, the Lin, Leng, and Ning families are mainly composed of civil officials, while the Sun and Bai families are mainly composed of military officials. This time, the palace guards have a lucrative position as deputy commander. It should be noted that this deputy commander is not usually active and is usually someone close to the emperor. With Consort Sun's recent death, the Sun family is currently somewhat weak. If they can take advantage of their third daughter's entry into the palace and form another small power within the palace, it will be of great benefit to both their third daughter and the Sun family themselves. The Sun family is probably determined to get this position. Therefore, by having the Sun family speak to Leng Caixi and his two brothers, they can distract the Leng family from other matters due to internal strife, and at the same time reduce Leng Caiwen's strong competition. This is a win-win situation, and the Sun family will naturally try their best to achieve it.
Leng Caiwen is now seriously injured. Even if he is not in mortal danger this time, it will be impossible for him to participate in the election for deputy commander. This has caused infighting among the Leng brothers. This plan has been meticulously planned and is proceeding exactly as scripted.
Ouyang Yue's face was cold: "The Sun family has a good plan, and those three from the Leng family have such ruthless hearts!"
Leng Caixi, Leng Caixin, and Leng Caihe actually harmed their own siblings for some empty fame. This was something Ouyang Yue could not tolerate. She sneered, "Cousin, you are so badly injured. I suppose the people in the Leng family are not aware of this yet. I will go and inform them tomorrow."
Leng Caiwen was stunned: "Cousin, you..."
“Cousin, just focus on recovering at home. You don’t need to worry about anything else. Just know that those who harmed you like this will be severely punished! The Leng family has been arrogant and self-righteous all these years, but they’ve actually experienced too few storms. They’ve even lost their resilience. With this kind of attitude, do they really think they can stay safe forever by remaining indifferent to worldly affairs? I guarantee that if the Leng family continues to be so self-centered and only knows how to remain neutral and act like saints, they will be overthrown within ten years. I know you value the Leng family, cousin, but letting things go will only harm them. It’s time to make them more aware!” Ouyang Yue said expressionlessly. She had no feelings for the Leng family, but Leng Caiwen did, and so did her mother, Leng Yuyan. She didn’t want to be close to the Leng family anymore, but for their sake, she wouldn’t let the Leng family fall and suffer collateral damage. And most importantly, someone in the Leng family was dealing with Leng Caiwen like this. If she didn’t take action, Leng Caiwen might not be so lucky to come back alive next time.
There's one more thing Ouyang Yue didn't mention: she'd long disliked the Leng family. She'd been holding back, but deep down she wanted to get justice for her mother back then. Now that the Leng family was in turmoil, she'd make the chaos even bigger, letting these frogs in a well see just how wrong they'd been!
Seeing the cold light flash in Ouyang Yue's eyes, Baili Chen looked at Ouyang Yue's expression, pondered for a moment, and then revealed a wicked smile. Leng Caiwen looked at the two of them, paused, and was about to say something, but in the end, she swallowed her words.
Leng Caiwen didn't consider himself a saint. In the past, out of consideration for family ties, he would let things slide, only retaliating when people bullied him. But now these people were trying to kill him. How could Leng Caiwen not forgive them? He wouldn't be Leng Caiwen if he didn't severely punish them. Since his cousin had a solution, he was naturally happy to rest while watching the show.
After the three finished talking, Ouyang Yue and Baili Chen left first, not wanting to disturb Leng Caiwen's rest any longer. Leng Caiwen was seriously injured this time, with five knife wounds on his body. The one on his chest was the most fatal, and the one on his back was the one that left the most lasting aftereffects. Moreover, this made it inconvenient for Leng Caiwen to rest, but in order to recover from his wounds as soon as possible, Leng Caiwen had to endure and rest more.
As soon as Ouyang Yue and Baili Chen stepped out of the house, a servant came to report that the heir of the Prince of De's mansion and the Princess of Nan had come to visit Leng Caiwen. They immediately instructed the servant to lead them to the main hall, where Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue arrived. In the main hall, Baili Gan was dressed in a long blue brocade robe with cloud patterns. Since it was early winter, he had wrapped a layer of fox fur around the collar to keep warm. The gold and jade hair crown on his head made him look dashing and elegant. If it weren't for his lecherous face when he smiled, Baili Gan would truly be a rare noble young master.
Baili Nan had just taken off his fox-collared cloak, revealing that he was only wearing an autumn brocade robe underneath. The robe was a colorful mix of red and green, and he stood there with an air of arrogance. His head was adorned with jewels that exuded wealth. When he saw Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue enter, he gave a slight bow and said, "Nan'er greets my cousin and his wife."
"Your Highness and Princess Nan, what brings you to Prince Chen's residence today? Please have a seat and some tea," Baili Chen said as he helped Ouyang Yue to the seat of honor.
Baili Gan smiled, his squinting eyes glancing over Ouyang Yue. He muttered to himself, "The most beautiful woman in Langya is indeed beautiful. She's pregnant, and her face has gained a little weight, which makes her skin look like it's slightly stretched. Her skin is radiant, and her cheeks are flushed. She's like a delicious apple that you want to take a bite out of. Although her expression is calm, her eyes soften unconsciously whenever she looks at Baili Chen beside her. She's full of charm, and one hand is intentionally or unintentionally touching her slightly protruding belly. Just sitting there, she exudes a maternal glow that makes people drool. It's a pity I met her too late, otherwise, Baili Chen wouldn't have gotten her so easily."
"Hmph!" At this moment, Baili Chen let out a heavy snort. Baili Gan looked up and saw that Baili Chen's face was cold and had a warning look on it. He was obviously very displeased with Baili Gan's somewhat direct admiring gaze.
Baili Gan just smiled, not caring at all. Instead, he stroked his chin and said, "Cousin, you look even better these days. It really proves the saying that good things make people feel refreshed. It seems that your wife is pregnant, which makes you very happy. I can see the word 'smug' written all over your face."
Ouyang Yue smiled. To be honest, Baili Gan's words were quite insightful. As his wife, she was used to it and didn't feel anything, but Leng Caiwen had said it many times before: whenever Baili Chen talked about her, his face was full of smugness. He looked so smug that she really wanted to punch him.
Baili Chen raised an eyebrow and laughed: "Is that so? But you can't blame me. My wife is pregnant. This is a source of pride for a father and husband. Do you expect me to cry every day? The Prince of De's interests are really strange. I'll remember this. If you ever have this problem in the future, I will definitely send someone to your residence every day to remind you that you should cry every day."
Baili Gan's lips twitched. He thought to himself, "Is Baili Chen really that petty? He was just joking with Ouyang Yue when he first came back. Is he still angry now? Such a petty man. He's not cute at all."
Baili Gan waved his hand: "Alright, alright, I didn't come here today to argue with you. I heard that Young Master Leng is injured, and quite seriously. Is it anything serious?"
Baili Nan, who had been wanting to interject but didn't know what to say and looked somewhat anxious, suddenly focused his eyes on Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue. Baili Chen sighed almost imperceptibly: "He was indeed seriously injured, but his life is not in danger. However, he needs to rest. The King and Queen just came out after seeing him, so I'm afraid the two of you will not be able to see him today."
Baili Gan nodded but didn't ask further: "It's good that he's not in mortal danger. But the security in the capital is really bad. I heard he was injured near the outskirts. No wonder the Imperial Uncle is choosing a new deputy commander. A while ago, the Second Imperial Sister was poisoned by a snake in the palace, and she suffered from the lingering venom. Now this happens again. It seems we need to pay more attention to the security of the palace." Although Baili Gan didn't ask, his words were quite insightful. Baili Gan looked like a spoiled rich kid, but he had been exposed to the ways of the court since childhood and had a fairly clear understanding of court affairs. His words clearly had a hidden meaning, and it was likely that this matter was closely related to the selection of a deputy commander in the palace.
Baili Gan picked up the grapes from the fruit plate next to him, chose the largest one, carefully peeled it, and fed it to Ouyang Yue with his hand. Baili Gan and Baili Nan stared at him, their eyes wide. Everyone said that Baili Chen doted on his wife, but he was a prince, after all. He was the one who was served. Now he was serving others so willingly. Look at the smug smile on his lips. It was sweeter than eating grapes themselves.
Ouyang Yue glanced at Baili Chen, then at the Baili siblings who looked strange, pursed her lips, opened her mouth, bit down, swallowed, and said to Baili Chen, "Husband, I'm not hungry. I don't want to eat anything right now. Shall I feed you?" Although Baili Chen was usually so attentive to her, she didn't want to embarrass him in front of others. So, she said this, picked up grapes that were about the same size, peeled them, and carefully fed them to Baili Chen with a handkerchief.
Baili Chen squinted his eyes, enjoying the moment naturally, and then said with a smile, "My wife, this grape is sweeter than any I've eaten before."
Ouyang Yue glared at him slightly. There were outsiders present. Her face flushed slightly, and she didn't reply. Baili Chen didn't force her. After swallowing a pill, he stopped Ouyang Yue from eating any more. He would feel sorry for his wife if she got tired. He turned to Baili Gan and said, "Cousin, it's really unfortunate that you've come to see Caiwen. It seems you'll have to come another day." He gestured with his eyes, implying that they should hurry up and leave. Interrupting their relationship would be a disservice.
Baili Gan was speechless. You're married, and Ouyang Yue even has a child, yet you haven't touched any other women. You're also inconsistent in your duties at court, often claiming illness to skip court sessions. You spend all your time with that woman, seeing the princess for who knows how long each day. Aren't you afraid of getting tired of her? What's there to be afraid of disturbing?
Baili Gan's expression was not good, and he stared at Baili Chen with wide eyes. When Baili Nan heard that Baili Chen was asking him to leave, his expression changed, and he couldn't help but say, "Anyway, I have nothing to do. I rarely come to the Prince Chen's mansion. Seeing that my cousin-in-law is also very bored, I'd like to stay a little longer and keep her company." Baili Nan said with a smile.
Ouyang Yue nodded: "That would be perfect, I also..."
At this moment, another servant approached the hall. Ouyang Yue turned her head to look, and the servant immediately replied, "Your Highness, Your Highness, General Xuanyuan, Acting Minister, and Miss Li Rushuang, Miss Qi, and Miss Lüyan from the Minister's residence have come to visit."
Ouyang Yue's eyes curved into a smile: "Quickly invite my brother and Ru Shuang in."
A moment later, Xuan Yuan Chaohua and Dai Yu walked in side by side, with Li Rushuang and the other two women following behind. Upon entering the hall, they saw Baili Gan and Baili Nan and bowed to them. Baili Gan waved his hand, saying, "Alright, alright, this is the Chen Prince's residence. I'm just a guest. Why be so polite? Please sit down." As he spoke, he smiled at Dai Yu, "Tsk tsk, Dai Yu seems even more dull than before. I say, cousin, look at you, getting more and more absurd, while Dai Yu seems to be getting more and more wooden. You two are truly oddballs."
Baili Chen glared at him and said, "How can a dog's mouth utter ivory? I'm not telling you to be mute. Dai Yu, just ignore this guy. He's just jealous."
Dai Yu nodded in agreement, his face very serious: "Your Highness, although you are very jealous of me, it is something I cannot avoid. If Your Highness goes anywhere next time, it would be best to inform me. I will do my best to avoid you and avoid provoking Your Highness."
Baili Gan's face darkened immediately: "Your mouth is still as foul and venomous as ever." He could curse without uttering a single swear word; his sharp tongue was truly remarkable.
Dai Yu clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Your Highness is too kind."
Did I compliment you?
Baili Gan snorted, his eyes glancing back at Li Rushuang and the other two women. He smiled and said, "What a coincidence, ladies. We meet again."
Li Rushuang and the other two women had dark faces, seemingly unwilling to acknowledge Baili Gan. However, given his high status, they simply lowered their heads and remained silent. Baili Gan, unconcerned, smiled and said, "Last time was just a small misunderstanding. It was a prank by this young master. Please forgive me, ladies." Baili Gan was quite flexible and his attitude in admitting his mistake was quite good. Helpless, the three women could only force a smile, and Baili Gan immediately beamed like a flower.
Seeing this, Xuan Yuan Chaohua narrowed his eyes: "The Prince of De is really free, but like this general, he has come to visit someone who is ill."
Baili chuckled and nodded, "That's right, that's right. But Princess Leng is resting, so we couldn't see her. We'll find another opportunity another day."
Xuanyuan Chaohua turned his head and asked, "Sister, how is Princess Leng's injury?"
Ouyang Yue's voice was calmer: "It's mostly fine now, but I bled a lot at the time, so I need to replenish my blood and rest properly."
At this point, Li Rushuang couldn't help but say angrily, "I don't know who was so bold as to hurt Young Master Leng. I only heard about it from my father. The matter hasn't spread yet, but it is said that he was robbed in the suburbs. There are rumors that Young Master Leng had some treasure on him that he showed off and was targeted by thieves."
Ouyang Yue sneered. Thieves dared to kill and rob in the suburbs? She knew all too well the abilities of Baili Chen's men. Although they weren't on the same level as Leng Sha, they were still comparable to the palace guards. Add to that Leng Caiwen's martial arts skills, and there shouldn't have been any problem. Of course, Li Rushuang and the others were oblivious and wouldn't understand.
Qi Qi said, "I'm afraid things aren't that simple." She took a barely perceptible breath. Qi Qi had been with her brother since she was a child. Although she was a woman, she would occasionally go to the military camp to play in the border region, so she had some exposure to military matters. She was not as weak and ignorant as she appeared.
Dai Yu glanced at Qi Qi, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes, then paused slightly before lowering her head.
Li Rushuang nodded. What she said was just a rumor she had heard, and she wouldn't believe such a ridiculous reason. It was probably because someone was targeting Leng Caiwen.
Green Beauty clenched her fists, looking extremely annoyed: "It's all my fault. I meant well by introducing the Canary's Nest, but who knew this would happen? If I hadn't gone, Young Master Leng wouldn't have been in this situation. It's all my fault for being so talkative."
Upon hearing this, Baili Nan was taken aback: "The canary's nest? Why would Young Master Leng go looking for the canary's nest when he's perfectly fine?" However, when he caught a glimpse of Ouyang Yue sitting in the seat of honor and her slightly protruding belly, he suddenly understood. His expression darkened, and he gripped the back of the chair tightly with his fists.
Baili Nan's question made the atmosphere in the room a little awkward. Lü Yan looked at Ouyang Yue nervously and asked, "Princess Consort Chen, is Young Master Leng really alright?"
Ouyang Yue said calmly, "It was Physician Liu from the Imperial Hospital who treated my cousin's wounds. Physician Liu would come to check on my cousin's injuries every day to make sure that his life was not in danger. As long as he kept resting like this for a while, he would recover."
Baili Nan said coldly, "Is that so? I hope you recover from the knife wound without any aftereffects."
Ouyang Yue remained silent, but Baili Chen's face darkened: "So Princess Nan also knows medicine? Physician Liu couldn't tell, but you were able to foresee it. It's truly remarkable. In the future, you'll likely become quite famous for your fortune-telling."
"You!" Baili Nan was even more furious. She was the Princess of De, who had been pampered since childhood. When did she ever need to learn those ghost and god arts? Could she be so poor that she had to do this to support herself? What kind of person did they take her for! However, when she saw Baili Chen's cold gaze, her heart tightened, and she pursed her lips without saying a word.
Although his brother and Baili Chen had known each other since childhood, Baili Chen had always been very cold towards him. Although his brother was a playboy, he had said that he would not dare to cause too much trouble in front of him. Baili Nan was naturally afraid, but he was also very angry.
She had been pursuing Leng Caiwen since childhood, and for so many years, Leng Caiwen had always been very indifferent to her, not even giving her a thought. But Baili Nan was like a madwoman. The more indifferent Leng Caiwen was to her, the more she couldn't let go of him. However, as the Princess of De, she didn't dare to go too far. People who weren't particularly close to her didn't know about this.
Yet Leng Caiwen, who was so cold to her, actually traveled far and wide to get some bird's nest for Ouyang Yue, even surviving an assassination attempt and nearly losing her life. However, Leng Caiwen still chose to return to the Chen Prince's mansion and stay there. This shows that Leng Caiwen didn't resent Ouyang Yue at all; in fact, she was happy to do what she did. How could Ouyang Yue feel at peace with this? Anyone would feel uncomfortable if the man they loved went to such lengths for a woman. Especially since this man was married. Knowing he wasn't married, he still made such sacrifices. He had someone better and who loved her more, but Leng Caiwen didn't appreciate it. Baili Nan knew it was wrong, but she couldn't control her anger.
Because of this, the atmosphere in the hall became somewhat stiff. Baili chuckled dryly: "By the way, I heard that General Xuanyuan is going back to the border again. I suppose he will have to fight two battles first after he returns to deter the border. Here, I, the young master, would like to congratulate General Xuanyuan on his victorious return."
Xuanyuan Chaohua clasped his hands in a fist salute: "This general thanks Prince De for his kind words."
Because of the fake weapons incident, the Great Zhou Dynasty suffered heavy defeats at two border posts, with many dead and wounded, causing a decline in army morale and the loss of the borders. Now that Xuan Yuan Chaohua is returning, he will naturally seek revenge, likely facing several tough battles upon his return. This is something that Princess Shuangxia and Ouyang Yue are somewhat worried about, but neither of them voiced their concerns. This is the fate of military generals; unless they can truly intimidate the border and prevent any further action, such struggles will continue indefinitely.
Baili Gan looked up at the weather outside: "Oh dear, look, the sun is high in the sky, it must be almost lunchtime. I've come at just the right time, so I won't stand on ceremony and will have lunch at the Prince Chen's residence."
Baili Chen said sarcastically, "It's amazing that you, the Prince of Chengde, can have such a thick skin, even though you've really entered the Prince of Chengde's mansion."
Baili Gan chuckled, not caring at all. Baili Chen still instructed the main kitchen to prepare double the amount of food. At this time, Baili Gan felt bored and insisted on suggesting that they go to the garden to spar. Baili Chen, Xuan Yuan Chaohua, Dai Yu and Baili Gan all had some martial arts skills. Men also love to fight, so the four of them agreed after a few words. Ouyang Yue and the others had nothing better to do, so they naturally went to watch.
The Prince Chen's mansion was very large, with three large gardens alone and nearly ten medium and small ones. Ouyang Yue's favorite was the garden with pavilions and water features, but it was not convenient for martial arts competitions there. So the group came to another large garden not far from the main courtyard. It was early winter, and the first snow had not yet fallen. However, many plants had already turned yellow. But the large garden of the Prince Chen's mansion, which was originally designed by Ouyang Yue, had an outer ring of evergreen trees planted, which were still blooming green. It had a unique scenery in this season. Dozens of red and white plum trees were planted on one side, and red maples were planted on the opposite side. When the wind blew, the leaves rustled. It was truly a beautiful scene.
The girls, all at an age where they loved beauty, looked at the garden with delight and praised it repeatedly. Meanwhile, servants had already set up charcoal stoves and brought hand warmers. The men were already standing outside the arena, discussing how the competition would be conducted.
Li Rushuang took over Baili Chen's work, and together with Qi Qi, they helped Ouyang Yue on either side. She couldn't help but smile and say, "Oh, Yue'er, you really have a knack for decorating. The decorations in Prince Chen's mansion are so beautiful. I remember when I came here a while ago, the begonias and hibiscus were so lovely. Now they have a kind of aloof beauty. It really feels like four seasons in one place. If I stayed in a mansion like this, I would never be bored."
Qi Qi chuckled upon hearing this and winked at Li Rushuang, saying, "That's right. The most important thing is that the male head of the household is happy too. As long as he feels happy, he can be happy wherever he is."
Upon hearing this, Li Rushuang nodded earnestly, glancing at Ouyang Yue with her eyes wide, and teasingly said, "Yes, yes, Qi Qi is absolutely right. The key is that the right person makes you happy no matter where you live. Tsk tsk tsk, look at Yue'er. I'm still going to the Beauty Pavilion with my mother from time to time, but it's not as good as Yue'er staying at home. Look at her smooth and tender skin, like a peeled egg. It makes people want to take a bite."
Qi Qi covered her mouth and chuckled: "You mustn't let Prince Chen hear you say that, or he'll definitely be angry with you."
Lü Yan chuckled along, "That's right, I've never seen a man who dotes on his wife like that. He might even get jealous of other women."
The three girls kept teasing Ouyang Yue, who was helpless but always forgiving of her friends. However, she couldn't help but squeeze Li Rushuang's hand: "There are more than just the prince among the good men in the world. Some are right in front of you. You have to seize the opportunity."
Li Rushuang and Qi Qi were taken aback. Lü Yan was a little confused. She was the kind of person who spoke her mind directly, so she couldn't help but ask, "Does it refer to the other young masters in the Prince's mansion?"
Some people blushed immediately, while others frowned.
Baili Nan looked at Ouyang Yue, who was smiling and looking at Baili Chen, who was talking to Xuan Yuan Chaohua in the courtyard, with tenderness in her eyes. But he was furious. Leng Caiwen had done so much for her, but she was being so affectionate with Baili Chen in front of others. Did she not care about Leng Caiwen at all? Did this misplaced sincerity deserve a woman like Ouyang Yue?
In Baili Nan's view, Ouyang Yue was clearly having her cake and eating it too. She clearly didn't like Leng Caiwen, yet she still took Leng Caiwen into her household. Wouldn't that make Leng Caiwen think of her every time she saw Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue being affectionate? How could Leng Caiwen feel good about it?! Now, she even almost lost her life for Ouyang Yue's sake, just for a little bit of bird's nest, and Ouyang Yue could accept it with a clear conscience.
"Hmph! She's not even the kind of fickle woman." The more Baili Nan thought about it, the angrier he became. His face turned cold, and he suddenly said sharply, "That's right. Relying on her beauty, she disregards other people's sincerity and only knows how to play with them. I'm afraid some of them just want to take advantage of their proximity to have an affair! On the surface, she pretends to be upright, but her heart is already rotten. This kind of person is the most despicable. All she thinks about is seducing men!"
Baili Nan's sudden sharp and sarcastic remarks stunned Li Rushuang and the other two. Ouyang Yue naturally realized that Baili Nan was talking about her, but the words were too harsh, so she narrowed her eyes and looked at Baili Nan coldly: "What does Princess Nan mean by this?"
"What do you mean? You know best in your heart that you are married and still trying to seduce other men. I, the princess, naturally despise such behavior!" Baili Nan said with a face full of hatred.
Ouyang Yue's face darkened, her eyes flashing with a cold, menacing light!
☆、217, kick them out!
“Princess Nan, there are some things that can be said and some things that cannot be said. As a royal princess, you should understand this principle, right?” Ouyang Yue said in a very cold voice.
Baili Nan's expression was even more sarcastic: "Indeed, there are some things that can be said and some things that cannot be said, but if you are afraid of others talking about what you do, then you will appear even more hypocritical and shameless."