Harem Daily Life

Jing Yuwei never imagined that her long-planned scheme would end like this!

She returned to the Han Prince's mansion in a daze, and rushed into her boudoir, crying uncontrollably.

Upon hearing about tonight's events, Princess Han sneered, "Did she really think that with her seductive appearance she could win over Prince Jin, whom the Emperor favors? Ha, now she's met her match, serves her right!"

The old nanny beside the princess chimed in, "That's right. This second young lady is arrogant and thinks she's beautiful. She never takes anyone seriously. When you tried to arrange a marriage between her and your nephew, she didn't even glance at our young master. She doesn't understand her own position. She thinks the prince appreciates her because he loves her. Little does she know that the prince only likes her because of her beauty. He sends her out to make friends with powerful people and consolidate his power."

Princess Han sneered, "Just like her mother, she's all beauty and no brains. All she does is dress up and doesn't read much. His Majesty's son is such a talented person, the youngest student in the Imperial Academy of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Why would he be interested in her? Even if he likes her seductive charm, taking her as a concubine would be an honor for him. How could he possibly give her his heart?"

The old woman nodded: "That's right. I heard that Prince Jin has been looking at all the noble ladies in the capital, but he hasn't found anyone to marry yet. He has very high standards. But it's strange, how come he agreed to a merchant's daughter's marriage right there on the street?"

Princess Han smiled and said, "Perhaps it's just a temporary measure. They're just doing that girl a favor and giving her a way out because she's being bullied. It won't count in the future."

The two, master and servant, laughed behind closed doors, making them the happiest people in the Han Prince's mansion because of Jing Yuwei's defeat.

The King of Han was furious. He paced back and forth in his study more than a dozen times, looking at his son who dared not utter a sound, and said angrily, "You too! I asked you to accompany Yuwei this time so that you could help her get on the good side and become Prince Jin. Why weren't you there? If you had been there, perhaps we could have salvaged the situation."

The Crown Prince of Han's eyes darkened, and he clenched his fists: "It was Yuwei who wouldn't let me come along. She wanted to be alone with Prince Jin. Besides... the Fourth Princess also needs someone to accompany her, so I..." Faced with the choice of being a third wheel or accompanying a beauty, the Crown Prince of Han naturally chose to accompany the beauty; he wasn't stupid.

King Han glared at him, finding fault with everything about his son.

"What do we do now? Are we just going to let this thread break?" King Han asked in a cold voice.

The Crown Prince of Han thought for a moment and said, "Father, that woman is just a merchant. Perhaps..." He made a throat-slitting gesture.

The King of Han frowned: "Killing someone at this time would make us the prime suspects. Besides, every cloud has a silver lining; who can guarantee it won't be dug up later?"

"Then... we can only help my sister win over Prince Jin as soon as possible. Once Prince Jin takes a liking to my sister, it won't matter whether that merchant girl is there or not."

The King of Han stroked his beard: "Go and inquire again, see if there is any way to send Yuwei to Prince Jin."

At Yueyan Xiaozhu, He Jin'an knelt before He Linzhang and Tao Yanyan, both of whom were somewhat at a loss for words.

"Jin'an, are you serious? It's not just a temporary measure to help that pretty girl out of a predicament..." Tao Yanyan realized that the way she addressed her was inappropriate and changed her words, "It's just a temporary measure to help that Yue Rong girl out of a predicament?"

He Jin'an nodded: "Mother, I am serious. I find her to be frank and generous, with a straightforward personality. I think it would be good to marry a girl like her, so I agreed. With so many people as witnesses and my younger siblings watching, I will not go back on my word."

Tao Yanyan glanced at He Linzhang, who said, "I sent people to investigate. Her background is quite clean, but her social standing is a problem..." Among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, merchants are considered the lowest class. If a prince with a fiefdom were to marry a merchant's daughter as his principal wife, the court officials would likely object, and the imperial relatives would gossip. As for He Jin'an, this marriage would be a source of ridicule for the rest of his life.

Tao Yanyan frowned. Although she didn't care about social status, she was still unwilling to let He Jin'an marry a stranger.

"How about this, I'll meet her first. If she's a good girl, then I won't object to the marriage. What does Your Majesty think? Would you like to meet her as well?"

He Linzhang naturally obeyed the Empress in everything. When the Empress wanted to meet her future daughter-in-law, he was happy to accompany her.

Ever since Hua Yurong tore up her engagement certificate in the street and broke off her engagement with Zhou Chen, her parents were so angry that they locked her up for a day. Adding to the turmoil, Hua Yurong had arranged the marriage in the street, knowing only that the man's surname was He, that he would raise three younger sisters and two younger brothers, but without his name or address, and after a day without even a sign of the suitors, her parents were so angry that they locked her up for another day. After two days without food, Hua Yurong was on the verge of death from hunger.

Hua Ruyan was crying her eyes out in front of her parents. With the Zhou family pleading for her, the engagement was rescheduled. Hua's parents had no choice but to acquiesce to the marriage. They only detained Hua Ruyan for one day before releasing her.

After being released, Hua Ruyan deliberately passed by Hua Yurong's courtyard with her maid, intending to take advantage of her misfortune.

"My dear sister, you've lost your marriage and been locked up in confinement, how pitiful! By the way, my marriage with Brother Chen is settled, and the dowry that Father and Mother prepared for you is now mine. Don't you want to congratulate me on finding my ideal husband?"

Through the door, Hua Yurong rolled her eyes several times.

"A dog and a dog, you two are quite a match."

Hearing her cursing, Hua Ruyan sneered, "I thought you'd starved to death after two days without eating, but you're still got plenty of energy and can even curse. Humph, your cursing won't do any good. There aren't even any strong men you've recruited on the street. The whole neighborhood is laughing at you! Wait until you come out tomorrow, then let's see if you'll have the face to go to the shop and do business!"

After Hua Ruyan finished speaking, she yawned and said, "Let's go back to sleep. I'm going to dress up beautifully tomorrow and go boating on the lake with Brother Chen."

"A boat trip on the lake? Pshaw—the cold wind on the lake will freeze you two scoundrels to death."

Hua Yurong got up, reached under the bed, and found a jar containing candied fruit she had hidden earlier. She was so hungry she was dizzy, and soon the jar was almost empty, with only a few pieces left.

"My parents are so heartless, they really dare to let me go hungry for two days! When I get out, I'll go to Xiangmanyuan to buy three roast chickens and half a pound of spicy dried fish. Tsk tsk tsk, it's simply a delicacy."

While thinking about the taste of Xiangmanyuan roast chicken, Hua Yurong silently ate the last few candied fruits, smacked her lips, and fell asleep with lingering satisfaction.

The next morning, after being released from her room, Hua Yurong ate five large steamed buns and a bowl of egg noodles before heading to the shop with her entourage. The Hua family's business mainly focused on grain and oil shops and cloth shops, with other miscellaneous businesses as well. After touring the shops, she returned to the cloth shop just before it was time for her meal.

She had just stepped inside when a very good-looking middle-aged couple walked in.