The cruel little princess

Even his own mother hadn't kept her promise to stay with him. Of course, his mother had fought tooth and nail to build a future for him! He also understood that.

But now, when he heard Shen Youyou say that she would be with him forever, he hugged her tightly for a long time without saying a word.

"Okay! It's getting late, you should go to bed quickly! I have to get up early tomorrow to give Qingqing acupuncture! In a few days she won't need acupuncture anymore and can only take medicated food. I can't let all my efforts go to waste!" Shen Youyou said to His Royal Highness Prince Jin half-pushing and half-coaxing.

His Royal Highness Prince Jin felt warm in his heart when he heard Shen Youyou's gentle voice, but he couldn't help but ask, "Really? Will you always be by my side?"

Shen Youyou looked at the nervous expression of His Royal Highness Prince Jin and nodded with a smile, "Of course, I will always be with you, forever."

When His Royal Highness Prince Jin heard this, he was deeply moved. He hugged Shen Youyou tightly, feeling her warmth. After a while, he let go of her hand and looked at her affectionately, "Thank you, Youyou."

Shen Youyou looked at His Royal Highness Prince Jin, her eyes full of love, "You're welcome, this is what I should do."

His Royal Highness Prince Jin gently stroked Shen Youyou's hair, "Then I'll stay outside. Remember to write a letter to my father-in-law tomorrow morning to let him know about this so that I can come and propose marriage!"

Shen Youyou nodded shyly, "Yes, I understand."

His Royal Highness Prince Jin kissed her pink and tender cherry lips reluctantly and asked her to write a letter.

"I know! I will definitely write a letter to tell my dad tomorrow." She answered him shyly and quickly.

His Royal Highness Prince Jin returned to the outer room and lay down on the Arhat couch in his clothes, feeling satisfied.

After a good night's sleep, Shen Youyou woke up early in the morning to find it snowing. She looked out the window and saw that the world outside was covered in white. Snowflakes fluttered down from the sky, like a group of happy elves dancing in the air.

Shen Youyou quickly got out of bed, put on a thick cotton-padded jacket, and walked to the window to admire the beautiful snow scene outside. Snowflakes gently fell, covering the earth with a layer of white carpet, and the whole world became peaceful and beautiful.

After she hurriedly washed up, Chuntao helped her tidy her clothes and served her dinner. Breakfast was a bowl of steaming hot mutton noodle soup. Chuntao's noodles were perfectly thick, and the broth was rich and delicious, without any fishy smell. The milky white broth was sprinkled with emerald green chopped scallions and cilantro, making it mouth-watering. Furthermore, Shen Youyou's own blend of cumin powder and pepper added a unique flavor.

Shen Youyou ate two small bowls in succession before standing up contentedly. However, Chuntao was worried and quickly called out, "Miss, you should put on another vest." Shen Youyou nodded, put on another vest, and prepared to go to the herbal medicine shop.

At this moment, Chun Tao reminded again: "Miss, why don't you add another cloak? This cloak was made for you by the young master using the red fox he hunted at the border! The young master said that red foxes are scarce, and there are only enough to make one like this. It's just right to wear it in such a cold day!" Shen Youyou looked at the heavy snow outside and felt that she really needed thicker clothes, but she didn't want to wear a fur cloak, so she went back and chose a thick cotton cloak. The gorgeous red color matched her fair and tender face, which naturally complemented each other!

Chun Tao tied the cloak carefully for her young lady and said, "Miss, please go back quickly. It depends on the weather. It may rain again!"

"Okay Chuntao, I get it!" Shen Youyou said to Chuntao in a coquettish manner.

Shen Youyou went to the herbal medicine shop to give Zuo Qingqing acupuncture. On the way, she encountered a gorgeous carriage. Fortunately, Xuanwu Street was quite spacious, and since it was snowing today, there were not many people on the street. So there was just enough space for the two carriages to pass by.

A cold wind blew past, lifting a corner of the carriage curtain. At a glance, half of Shen Youyou's beautiful face was revealed, while the person emerging from the other carriage was Zhang Yuyan from the Left Prime Minister's Mansion!

However, at this time, they were still two strangers, but each of them was heading in a different direction in life.

After a night of careful consideration, Zhang Yuyan decided to take advantage of the snow today. She sent someone to the palace to deliver a letter early in the morning, saying that the weather was cold and that she was sending some supplements to her aunt.

In view of the strength of Concubine Shu's maternal family, the Empress did not make things difficult for them and quickly instructed the Zhang family: because of the cold weather, there was no need to pay respects to the Empress, and they were allowed to visit Concubine Shu directly.

That's why Zhang Yuyan packed up her supplements early in the morning and asked the coachman to take her to the palace gate. She then told the coachman to go back to the palace without mentioning when he would come to pick her up.

The maidservants in Concubine Shu's palace carried a sedan chair to the palace gate. Zhang Yuyan got off the carriage and sat on the sedan chair. Another young eunuch quickly opened an umbrella for fear that the distinguished guest would get wet in the snow.

Zhang Yuyan arrived at Consort Shu's palace and felt a rush of warmth the moment she entered. A maid came up to untie her thick white fox fur cloak and hung it up to drain the melted snow.

Zhang Yuyan quickly entered the main hall and saw her aunt, Concubine Shu, sitting in the main seat and smiling at her!

"Aunt! You have to do the decision for Yan'er!" Zhang Yuyan quickly calmed down, her eyes were red, tears rolled down her cheeks, her voice was filled with tears, and she choked with sobs.

After hearing Zhang Yuyan's crying, Concubine Shu showed a look of heartache on her face. She immediately stood up and walked down from the main seat, walked quickly to Zhang Yuyan, gently held Zhang Yuyan in her arms, stroked her back and comforted her: "Yan'er, don't cry. You can tell your aunt anything. I will never let Yan'er suffer any grievances. Your aunt has no daughter, and you are such a legitimate niece. Who else can I favor if not you? Yan'er, just tell me what's the matter!" Concubine Shu said domineeringly.

"Aunt! I heard a few days ago that my cousin said he wanted to... said he wanted to... marry that Rui'an County Lady!" Zhang Yuyan said while choking.

"Don't worry, Yan'er! Your cousin did mention it, but I won't agree! In my heart, only you are worthy of Xing'er! You are my only daughter-in-law! I won't let anyone else take advantage so easily!" Concubine Shu said firmly. She whispered to comfort her niece, repeatedly reiterating that her position was unshakable!

"That Princess Rui'an has caused unrest in our mansion before she even entered the house. It's obvious that she is a troublemaker! And I heard that her mother died of complications during childbirth when she gave birth to her. She was born to bring bad luck to her mother! Aunt, you must not let her enter my cousin's Rui Wang Mansion. After she enters, I, your aunt, will be her mother! Who knows if she will continue to bring bad luck to you, aunt!" Zhang Yuyan continued to throw out the words she had thought of last night.

"Yan'er has been deeply in love with her cousin since she was young, and she vowed not to marry anyone else in this life! But compared with her aunt, Yan'er would rather not marry in her life than see her aunt get into any accident with that troublemaker Rui'an County Master! In Yan'er's heart, her aunt is like another mother! Yan'er would rather shorten her life than pray for her aunt's health and safety!" Zhang Yuyan said sincerely, and gently wiped the tears that kept sliding down the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief. She looked so pitiful and lovely!

Zhang Yuyan's words moved Concubine Shu even more. She only had one son, His Royal Highness Prince Rui, and now that he was older, he wasn't very close to her. He only came to the palace to pay his respects when he needed something from her, and he never shared any intimate conversation with her on a daily basis. Only her niece would often come to the palace to keep her company and chat.

Now that she heard that her niece would rather shorten her life in exchange for peace and happiness in the second half of her life, she felt so relieved!