The eldest daughter's scheming, the crown prince's exclusive favor to the venomous concubi

"Hey, hey, hey, stop calling me a thief. It sounds awful. I told you, this is business, much more sophisticated than being a thief. You're a strange little lady. Who I am is none of your business. The more you pry, the more I think you've really taken a liking to me."

Upon hearing this, Yipinhong held her breath and said, "As you said, we don't care about mirror polishing. We only asked you to confirm whether you and I are friends or foes. Today, you overheard my conversation with that person in front of me. If I leak this out, I will suffer heavy losses."

Hua Xiangrong picked her nose and said disdainfully, "I don't care to eavesdrop. It's just that you guys have been occupying my usual business meeting place for so long, just nagging about men. It's hilarious."

As she spoke, she looked at Yipinhong, rested her chin on her hand, and said, "You are a pretty woman, and that woman is also quite beautiful. Why would you do this for a man? It's really not worth it."

"Whether it's worth it or not isn't up to you to decide. Since you say you're doing business, I'll believe you for now. I happen to have a business opportunity here. I wonder if you'd like to take it?"

Hua Xiangrong raised an eyebrow upon hearing this: "You want me to kill your love rivals? I won't do it. That's a death sentence. Only a fool would do that."

Poinsettia smiled, a mysterious expression on her face: "We don't need you to kill anyone, we'll do it ourselves. The task you're asked to do is very simple and the pay is quite good, I just don't know if you're interested."

When Jian Yue returned to the General's Mansion and went to her room, Zhang Baicheng came over and said, "Young Miss, after you left, the old woman you brought back today came to see you."

Jian Yue turned around: "Oh? Did you say anything?"

"They didn't say anything. Knowing you weren't there, they went back. But that fool was wandering around the mansion and was dragged back by the guards. Now we're guarding the room they were staying in."

Jian Yue nodded upon hearing this and asked, "What is Grandpa doing?"

"The master is in his study, but the young master is not in the mansion."

Not at home? That's it, where did Shangguan Hanque go?

Jian Yue frowned and said, "Those two don't need to be guarded. They can both come back! Don't come into my room tonight if there's any noise."

Zhang Baicheng nodded, and Jian Yue then looked at Xiao Cui and said, "You should also go and rest. There's an even bigger battle to be fought tomorrow."

Qiu Mansion.

Sun sat in the room, her eyes fixed on the cloth doll in her hands. The doll was engraved with Jian Yue's birth date and name, and several sewing needles had been stuck into its body.

Qiu Lingfeng sat beside her, her eyes filled with worry, but she kept reassuring her, "Mother, don't worry, it'll be soon, we'll be able to avenge my sister soon."

Upon hearing this, Sun chuckled. After a while, she stared at the doll with a deep-seated hatred in her eyes. Then, she reached out, pulled a sewing needle from the doll, and stabbed it into the doll once more.

After pricking her for a while, she looked at Qiu Lingfeng seriously and said, "Feng'er, your mother can only rely on you now. You must hold the Crown Prince's hand tightly so that we can avenge your sister."

"I know."

As Qiu Lingfeng spoke, the worry in her eyes deepened.

Since the palace banquet, Murong Chuan has not come over, not even a single letter of comfort. And when she thinks back to the look in Murong Chuan’s eyes when he looked at Jian Yue at the welcoming banquet that day, her heart is filled with anxiety.

She looked at Madam Sun and said, "Mother, hasn't the Empress inquired about your well-being these past few days?"

Madam Sun shook her head, her eyes filled with resentment, and said, "These are turbulent times. The Empress and the Crown Prince should avoid suspicion. Otherwise, if the Emperor is displeased, no one will be happy. Don't be sad about this. The Crown Prince hasn't come to find you yet, which must be because of this. He will definitely come once the storm has passed."

Qiu Lingfeng didn't speak, and Madam Sun continued, "You should also try to win over the young ladies in the various officials' residences. This will be of great help to you in the future. The Crown Prince will eventually ascend to that position, and you will have to be the most important person by his side. At this time, making friends and winning over them is the most effective approach."

By the way, the other day the Prime Minister's daughter sent an invitation, saying that she was going to hold a banquet at the mansion and invites mostly sons of officials, as well as daughters like you. It seems that the Prime Minister wants to choose a son-in-law. You can take this opportunity to win over the Prime Minister's daughter. It will be helpful to the Crown Prince later.

As she spoke, Madam Sun got up, walked to the dressing table, opened the first drawer at the top, took out a gold-embossed invitation, and handed it to Qiu Lingfeng.

Qiu Lingfeng took the invitation and nodded, saying, "If that's the case, the invitations must have been sent to all the mansions. What about the Shangguan mansion?"

Mentioning the Shangguan family, Madam Sun gritted her teeth and said angrily, "It doesn't matter. If you go, then resolve the matter in advance. I have already written to your maternal grandfather, asking your cousin and cousin sister to treat her well. You just need to maintain your composure and not pay too much attention to it."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Lingfeng immediately felt relieved and said, "I understand, Mother."

"Well, in a few days it will be the seventh day after your sister's death, which will be very unlucky. So don't come out. Just stay in your room and pray for your sister. Also, keep a close eye on the old lady. Try to make some contact with her. Even if you can't see her, make sure you have a good impression of her. You'll benefit from that later."

"Mother, I know what to do. You just need to rest. You've been too frightened these past few days, and you've been worrying about my sister. It's not good for you."

"The deceased is gone, my sister is gone. Mother, you must grieve in moderation. Otherwise, if you harm your health, how will you avenge my sister? Wouldn't that just give those wicked people a chance to gloat?"

Sun rubbed her temples and said wearily, "I know, I'll be fine. I can't rely on your father, I have to take matters into my own hands."

Qiu Lingfeng disagreed, saying, "Mother, we should still be careful. That woman isn't just backed by the Marquis of Qingyan. Judging from the way that young prince looks at her, I think there's something going on. Maybe they're having an affair."

Upon hearing this, Madam Sun suddenly sneered, "That little slut's methods are quite good, so many men are revolving around her. However, it's about time. At the banquet at the Prime Minister's residence, I will definitely make her lose all her reputation."

Midnight.

Jian Yue was lying in bed in a light sleep when she suddenly heard a noise at the window. She opened her eyes abruptly and looked out the window at the figure reflected in the moonlight.

She smiled slightly, gently raised her hand, picked up the curved knife beside the bed, and then quietly got up and retreated to the foot of the bed.

The person outside the window remained motionless for about fifteen minutes before making a move. A dagger slipped through the window crack, gently pried open the window latch, and then slipped into the house.

Jian Yue stared intently at the man through the bed curtains, waiting for him to gradually approach her hunting range.

The newcomer was a man, not particularly strong but not weak either. He was covered from head to toe in black cloth, with only his eyes showing, and he cautiously walked toward Jian Yue's bedside.

Just as he pulled back the bed curtains, he suddenly felt a powerful killing intent emanating from them. His eyes widened, and he abruptly retreated. Instantly, a curved blade swept past his eyes, taking away a strand of hair he had been holding outside the black cloth.

He hastily retreated several steps, cautiously looking ahead.

Jian Yue emerged from the bed curtains, smiling as she looked at the man and said, "Your skills are quite good, but unfortunately, your lightness skill is lacking. Otherwise, I'm afraid I would have already lost my life."

The newcomer narrowed his eyes, remained silent, and gripped the dagger tightly in his hand, holding it horizontally in front of him.

Seeing this, Jian Yue smiled again and walked towards him, causing him to take a few steps back. Only then did Jian Yue sit down at the table, pour herself a glass of water, and say, "Playing the fool for months on end, what is your purpose? Surely that old woman's eyes aren't truly blind?"

Upon hearing this, the newcomer's eyes widened in surprise for a moment before returning to their indifferent state. He simply stared at Jian Yue, who nonchalantly downed her water in one gulp and said, "It doesn't matter if you don't say anything. Anyway, I've already brought you back. Now that you're recovering, you should stay here and not wander around. The General's Mansion isn't some marketplace. If you go too far, you might lose your head."

Don't take it lightly. After all, the Shangguan family has been military families for generations, and their guards are all pretty much the same. If you're from there, you should know this. Don't make a fool of yourself.

The man remained silent, lowered the dagger held across his chest, and looked at Jian Yue. He didn't speak, and neither did Jian Yue. The two remained like that for a long time, one sitting and the other standing, before the man finally removed the black cloth from his head, revealing himself to be the same fool whose head was covered in blood from the beating he had received during the day.

Seeing this, Jian Yue smiled and said, "You've already revealed your identity? So easily fooled, it seems you're not very bright."

The man's lips twitched slightly. He said, "Give me the thing."

"what?"

Jian Yue blinked, feigning ignorance. The man sneered, "Don't pretend you don't know. The stamp you found in your robe."

Jian Yue raised an eyebrow: "Since you already know, why come to me to ask for it? This was left to me by my mother, how could I possibly give it to you? It seems you've been isolated from the world for too long and have lost your mind?"

The man frowned, and the wrinkles on his forehead could instantly trap a fly.

Jian Yue smiled and continued, "Don't look so gloomy. I haven't done anything to you. Since you've come here to ask for it, you must know what it is. Can you tell me what you know?"

The man remained silent, and Jian Yue shrugged: "You're not going to talk? Fine, you can leave now. I will absolutely not give you that seal."

"What do you want?"

The man finally spoke, but Jian Yue smiled at him calmly and said, word by word, "What do you want? Haven't you already decided on Mao? Why are you asking me?"

A jade seal? The Qiu family's imprisonment, the Crown Prince's conspiracy? The downfall of the Shangguan family—didn't you all see it all clearly? Why are you pretending to know nothing now, yet still coming to ask for something? Doesn't that seem pointless?"