Seeing Shen Caiyun's gloomy expression and her pensive gaze, Su Yuting thought to herself that the time was ripe and continued to persuade her: "Sister Caiyun is a smart and talented person. If you marry into the Southern Frontier, with your beauty and talent, you will surely win the Crown Prince's favor with just a little effort, and then you will enjoy endless wealth and honor..."
Shen Caiyun lowered her eyelids. She had been to prison, her reputation was ruined, and the fact that she had fallen from the high platform despite being among the top three in piano skills had made her lose face even more. Now, she had become the laughing stock of the nobles, and no young master would want to marry a woman with such a bad reputation.
Even if her father gave her a generous dowry and arranged for her to marry a commoner as his principal wife, the commoner would probably still look down on her.
Recalling the Southern Frontier Crown Prince at the Prime Minister's banquet, he was of ordinary appearance but possessed considerable strength, high martial arts skills, noble status, and a very arrogant personality...
"Your reputation in Qingyan is ruined, but in the Southern Frontier, it will be a new beginning. No one will mention your past. Everyone will know that you are the Crown Prince's concubine, the future Imperial Concubine, and that a noble status, wealth, and honor will accompany you for the rest of your life..."
Su Yuting vividly described a bright future for Shen Caiyun, but Shen Caiyun remained silent, preferring not to speak. Su Yuting could tell that she was considering the feasibility of the matter, so she tactfully took her leave: "I have said all I can say. Sister, you can make your own decision. If you agree, send someone to the Duke of Wen's mansion to let me know. If you don't agree, then forget it, and I will find someone else!"
Su Yuting turned to leave, but Shen Caiyun's gaze darkened, and she suddenly looked up at her: "Sister Su, it's not impossible for me to marry Qin Junhao as a concubine, but I have a condition?"
Su Yuting's lips curled slightly, and a faint smile flashed in her beautiful eyes. She knew that Shen Caiyun would agree.
Turning around, Su Yuting's beautiful face remained calm: "What are your conditions, Sister Caiyun? Please feel free to speak!"
---Aside---
Reader: Su Zha took it upon himself to arrange for Shen Caiyun to marry in his place. How could Qin Junhao agree to that? The plan has flaws!
Author: Su Zha is a clever kid who will make the plan work perfectly. To find out the details, stay tuned for tomorrow!
Chapter 103: Food fills the stomach, spring colors are boundless.
"I want to see the Crown Prince of Southern Xinjiang!" Seeing Su Yuting frown, Shen Caiyun hurriedly explained, "Sister Su is the Crown Prince's chosen concubine. I will marry in your place. It would be best if Crown Prince Qin knew beforehand!"
Su Yuting is the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Wen's mansion, while Shen Caiyun is merely a notorious concubine's daughter of the Prime Minister's mansion. Their status and position are worlds apart from Su Yuting's, so the Crown Prince of Southern Xinjiang might not agree to the marriage in her place.
Shen Caiyun suggested meeting Qin Junhao because she was confident that once he saw her, he would agree to marry in her place. She could also take the opportunity to learn more about the Crown Prince of Southern Xinjiang. However, she did not have a comprehensive understanding of him from their meeting at the Prime Minister's banquet.
"Of course!" Su Yuting nodded with a smile. She thought it was some extraordinary condition, but it turned out to be just a small matter. Qin Junhao gave her three days to capture Shen Lixue. Even if Shen Caiyun didn't say anything, she would bring people to see Qin Junhao once the three days were up.
"I'm available anytime, Sister Su!" Seeing that Su Yuting was sincere in asking her to marry in her place, Shen Caiyun's gloom of the past few days vanished, and she smiled slightly, in a very good mood.
With the problem solved, Su Yuting was delighted and immediately agreed with Shen Caiyun: "Then let's do it the day after tomorrow afternoon, I'll come pick you up!"
"Thank you so much, Sister Su!"
Su Yuting and Shen Caiyun felt like they had met a kindred spirit, and chatted for most of the hour before taking their leave.
Watching Su Yuting's slender figure disappear into the night sky, Shen Caiyun's radiant smile vanished instantly. Su Yuting used her to get rid of Qin Junhao, and she used Su Yuting to climb up to Qin Junhao and become the concubine of the Crown Prince of Southern Xinjiang. The two cooperated and used each other, and neither of them would blame the other.
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is at hand, and she will definitely seize it to strive to become someone of high standing!
Unaware that two maids dressed in scarlet and green robes had quietly left Yun Garden and were rushing off in one direction, Shen Caiyun, who was looking forward to a bright future, did not see them.
Two days later, after having lunch and taking a 15-minute nap, Shen Lixue changed her clothes and left the Prime Minister's residence.
"Manager, I'd like a box of walnut pastries!" Zuixianlou was the largest restaurant in the capital, and its pastries were quite good. In the afternoon, when there were few people, Qiuhe's voice, ordering pastries, was particularly loud in the quiet hall.
It was just past mealtime, and there weren't many guests in the living room. Shen Lixue waited a moment, then received the walnut pastries. As she was about to leave with the small box, a soft voice called out from behind her, "Miss Shen!"
Shen Lixue turned around and saw Dongfang Zhan standing in front of the second-floor railing, smiling at her. Dongfang Hong stood behind him, looking somewhat tired.
"Your Highness, Prince Zhan!"
"Miss Shen bought pastries to take back to the manor?" Dongfang Zhan's gaze fell on Shen Lixue. She wore a crimson silk dress with a loose neckline and flowing sleeves, similar to the silk dresses worn by noble ladies, yet somewhat different. Her beautiful face and aloof aura were like a lotus blooming in the water, making her someone to admire from afar, not to approach.
"No, I'm going to the post station to see Ye Qianlong!" Dongfang Zhan already knew that Shen Lixue and Ye Qianlong were acquainted, and she didn't intend to hide it.
Dongfang Zhan's smiling gaze froze for a moment: "The Crown Prince and I also happen to have business to attend to at the post station, so why don't we go together?"
"I shall obey your command!" With a cold gaze, Shen Lixue looked past Dongfang Zhan and at the Crown Prince, whose eyes remained gloomy. She smiled slightly, the corners of her mouth curving upwards, revealing a strange expression.
"Are Miss Shen and Crown Prince Ye good friends?" Walking on the empty street, neither Shen Lixue nor the Crown Prince spoke, and the atmosphere was eerily quiet. Dongfang Zhan glanced at the exquisite little box in Shen Lixue's hand and spoke first, breaking the stiff silence.
Shen Lixue nodded: "Qianlong is pure of heart and a rare confidant and friend!"
"To have a true friend in life is indeed a great joy!" Dongfang Zhan's smiling eyes gleamed with a unique light, as if he meant something.
Shen Lixue was taken aback, and replied perfunctorily, "A true friend depends on the right time, place, and fate. If any one of these is missing, then they cannot be called a true friend!"
“Miss Shen is right.” The implied meaning in his words was refuted, but Dongfang Zhan was neither anxious nor annoyed. He smiled slightly, but his gaze towards Shen Lixue became more thoughtful.
The inn was located in a bustling area, not far from the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. Shen Lixue and Dongfang Zhan walked quickly and arrived at the inn while they were talking.
The inn was heavily guarded. After passing through many checkpoints, Shen Lixue finally arrived at the courtyard where Ye Qianlong was. During the lunch break, Ye Qianlong did not rest. He sat under the shade of a tree in the courtyard with his back to Shen Lixue, and his arms could be seen moving slightly.
As she approached, Shen Lixue saw that Ye Qianlong was holding a snow-white rabbit in his beautiful hands, which complemented his black coat perfectly. To his left were pastries, vegetables, and fruit, which he piled in front of the rabbit and said softly, "Eat up!"
Shen Lixue: "..." Rabbits wouldn't eat these.
"Qianlong!" Shen Lixue called out softly.
Ye Qianlong quickly turned around, a pure smile appearing on her beautiful face. Holding the snow-white rabbit, she strode over to Shen Lixue and placed the rabbit in her arms: "This is for you!"
The little animal in her arms had snow-white fur, red eye circles, and long ears; it was extremely cute. However, Shen Lixue was a little puzzled: "Qianlong, how come you have a rabbit here?"
"I bought these from the street, and I also bought a lot of other things!" Fearing that Shen Lixue wouldn't believe him, Ye Qianlong quickly went into the room and brought out a bunch of small items. The items were all very ordinary, the kind that could be sold at any street stall. Ye Qianlong picked them up like treasures, examining this and looking at that, and finally picked out a cylindrical item and handed it to Shen Lixue: "This is for you!"
Shen Lixue was very familiar with the cylindrical kaleidoscope; it was the kind of kaleidoscope that children loved. Looking at Ye Qianlong, he was standing in front of the table, enthusiastically fiddling with the little objects, completely ignoring Dongfang Zhan and Dongfang Hong, who were two meters away.
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow. She felt that Ye Qianlong was more silent than before. Although he was happy to see her here, he seemed to be avoiding something. Was it just her imagination?
Dongfang Hong's mind was elsewhere; he gazed at the sky, lost in thought.
Dongfang Zhan looked at the pile of scattered small items in Ye Qianlong's hand, and his gentle smile deepened slightly.