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

Suddenly, she stiffly grinned and said with a calculating look in her eyes, "I dare not accept such praise. If Miss Yue is indeed the principal wife, you should personally take charge of the affairs of the mansion. Otherwise, how can His Highness's good intentions in choosing a principal wife be reflected?"

"What a coincidence! Your Highness brought back a beautiful lady last night, and she's currently staying at Qingsu Zhai, right next to Your Highness's bedroom. I'm here so early today because, as the host, I couldn't neglect Your Highness's guest, so I wanted to go and check on her. But I didn't expect to run into Miss Yue here. In that case, why don't we go over and see her together?"

After saying this, Yue Leyun paused for a moment while smiling. Then, she looked at Qiu Lingyu with a questioning look in her eyes. Qiu Lingyu continued to smile, but instead walked towards Qing Su Zhai. As she walked, she said mysteriously, "This woman is quite beautiful, and she looks familiar. I believe Miss Yue will be very surprised when she sees her."

Thus, the two arrived at Jian Yue's door with their own thoughts, but were stopped by the golden-armored guards and could not get in.

Then, Jian Yue heard the two of them start arguing outside.

One reprimanded the Golden Armor Guards for their lack of manners, even trying to stop the concubines in the mansion, while the other feigned generosity, suggesting that it was best not to disturb their peaceful sleep and to wait a little longer.

Then, as they talked, the two suddenly started to argue.

Qiu Lingfeng was not an impulsive or easily angered person, but she was angered by Yue Leyun, and was provoked by Jian Yue's avoidance and the disrespect of the Golden Armor Guards. So she started to lose her temper without caring about anything else.

She looked at Yue Leyun and said, "Miss Yue, even if you are about to become the mistress of this Crown Prince's mansion, the imperial decree has not yet been issued, and my marriage with His Highness the Crown Prince has already been made public. In any case, I can still make decisions about the affairs of this mansion. How can I not speak for a mere guard?"

Upon hearing this, Yue Leyun narrowed her eyes and smiled, "What do you mean by that, sister? I was just thinking that harmony brings wealth. Even if you are a concubine in this mansion now, the wedding has not yet taken place, and you are still a young lady of the Qiu family. We are all equal, so how could you possibly order the guards in the Crown Prince's mansion? Especially since these guards are the Crown Prince's personal attendants, the Golden Armor Guards."

It has to be said that Miss Qiu is so clever and perceptive, yet she doesn't even know the identities of the people in the Crown Prince's residence? This is really unacceptable. These Golden Armor Guards belong only to the Crown Prince, and no one else can command them, not even the future Crown Princess.

Secondly, Miss Qiu, disregarding her image and reputation, insisted on seeing this distinguished guest of the Crown Prince, and now that she has been turned away, she should understand the Crown Prince's meaning. Does she intend to be foolish enough to continue arguing here, hoping to force him out so he can complain to the Crown Prince?

Upon hearing this, Qiu Lingfeng immediately bit her lip and retorted, "So, according to Miss Yue, none of us can do anything? But the guest is still in the room. Even if we can't wake him up, he still needs to have breakfast, right?"

Upon hearing this, Yue Leyun suddenly smiled, looking at Qiu Lingfeng with a mocking gaze, and said, "Is this Crown Prince's residence some kind of hellhole? How can people starve to death here? Miss Qiu's worries are a bit excessive."

The two argued at the door, but they both had the same thought in mind: even if they couldn't get in, they would wake up the person inside and make them come out.

Especially Yue Leyun, whose mind was stirred by Qiu Lingfeng, wanted to find out who the people here were and why Murong Chuan treated them so well.

It's a pity that the two argued so fiercely that they were almost ready to fight each other, abandoning their status as young ladies, while the people inside the house remained silent, as if no one lived there at all.

In the end, Qiu Lingfeng left with gritted teeth and an angry face, while Yue Leyun, after watching Qiu Lingfeng leave, turned her eyes and decided to go to the study to find Murong Chuan.

She hadn't taken three steps when she heard the door behind her, which hadn't moved an inch, creak open. She turned around and was met with a familiar face. She froze, staring blankly at the person in front of her.

"You are...Miss Shangguan?"

Jian Yue looked puzzled, tilted her head, opened her mouth, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Miss Shangguan? Who is she?"

The voice was like the cawing of a male duck, which immediately made Yue Leyun's ears very uncomfortable. She frowned, but still maintained a respectful attitude as she looked at Jian Yue and smiled, "Are you really not Miss Shangguan from General Shangguan's mansion? You look so much like her."

Jian Yue shook her head, looked at Yue Leyun curiously, but didn't say anything more.

Seeing this, Yue Leyun asked, "What's wrong with your voice?"

Jian Yue shook her head, opened her mouth but made no sound, and whispered, "It was like this when I was a child."

Her voice was bad, and she wasn't familiar with the title "Miss Shangguan." In addition, her features were much more alluring than Shangguan Jianyue's. Yue Leyun's doubts lessened a bit, but she still stepped forward with admiration and said, "If it's really not her, then it's too similar. I don't know how His Highness discovered you. It's truly astonishing."

Thinking about it, Yue Leyun suddenly remembered the look of astonishment and disbelief in Murong Chuan's eyes when he looked at Jian Yue at the welcoming banquet for the heir of Qingyan Marquis. Could it be that Murong Chuan knew this woman before that, and was so surprised because Jian Yue resembled her?

But what are they doing now? Bringing such a woman back to their residence, aren't they afraid of arousing suspicion?

At this moment, Yue Leyun was also somewhat confused, and began to not understand what move Murong Chuan was making.

Originally, she thought that Qiu Lingfeng must have plotted something to enter the mansion, so that Murong Chuan had no choice but to acknowledge her existence and marry her as a concubine. This was already proven when she and her father entered the palace to meet the Empress.

But then suddenly there was another person who looked very similar to the former wife of the Marquis of Qingyan who had fallen into the river and died. Could it be that the Crown Prince's next step was to deal with the Marquis of Qingyan?

But this...

Yue Leyun dared not think any further, and smiled as she looked at Jian Yue. Jian Yue's eyes still held doubt and inquiry, but she ultimately did not speak, seemingly concerned about her voice.

Yue Leyun then said with a smile, "No wonder you didn't say anything while we were making a fuss outside. Were you afraid she would make sarcastic remarks about it?"

Jian Yue nodded silently, her eyes suddenly dimming. Yue Leyun's eyes flashed with light, and she gently comforted her, "It's okay, don't mind it. Even if she wants to suppress you, His Highness will stand up for you. There's no need to care."

If you truly dislike me, then you should simply avoid me like you did today. However, I am quite pleased that you actually took the initiative to come and see me.

Yue Leyun's face was amiable and harmless, which made Jian Yue's heart turn cold. However, she still wore an innocent smile, pointed at Yue Leyun, then pointed in the direction Qiu Lingfeng had left, and then put her two thumbs together and shook them gently.

Yue Leyun glanced at it, thought for a moment, and then smiled, "Are you saying that the two of us are different?"

Immediately, Jian Yue's eyes lit up with surprise, and she nodded vigorously.

Yes, a person with a damaged voice who doesn't like to talk will definitely show trust when they meet someone who understands them, just like Shi Jianyue, who approached him with joy mixed with caution.

Yue Leyun couldn't be happier. If this were the case, it would be a natural progression for her to understand and control the Crown Prince's new favorite. Seeing Jian Yue's reaction, she affectionately placed Jian Yue's hand in her own and said, "We are naturally different. Just because she doesn't like you doesn't mean I don't like you. You are so well-behaved and adorable, so of course I won't dislike you."

Jian Yue nodded, then her expression changed as if she had thought of something. She looked at Yue Leyun and said softly, "His Highness is in the study."

Her voice, though strained to be calm, sounded slightly darker than before, though still hoarse and grating to the ear.

Yue Leyun's expression changed, and she asked in surprise, "How did you know?"

"That's what His Highness said when he left last night, and he looked unwell, as if he had encountered some trouble."

After saying that, Jian Yue stopped talking, covered her throat, shook her head, and turned back into her room. Yue Leyun followed her and saw Jian Yue drinking water in large gulps. The teapot on the table was emptied, but she still desperately wanted to drink water. She turned to Yue Leyun and looked pleadingly, as if she didn't know how she could get water again.

Seeing this, Yue Leyun didn't know what was wrong with her, but she understood that she wanted water, so she shouted to the golden-armored guards outside, "You don't listen to others' orders, but you should understand that this girl wants water right now, right?"

Upon hearing this, one of the Golden Armor Guards nodded to the two of them and quickly disappeared from the spot. In just a moment, he reappeared, carrying two teapots. Jian Yue was delighted to see this and immediately stepped forward, took the teapots from the man, smiled gratefully at him, and then began to drink heartily.

After drinking another pot of water, Jian Yue's breathing finally calmed down, and she couldn't help but curse Hei Feng in her heart.

Is this supposed to be a miracle drug? It's a ridiculously funny drug that's going to kill you! She's so uncomfortable, her stomach feels like it's going to burst.

Seeing that she had calmed down, Yue Leyun sat down beside her and said, "If you need anything in the future, just tell them. His Highness wants them to guard you, so they are your servants. There's no need to be polite."

"But what happened to you just now? Drinking water like that isn't good, especially since you haven't had breakfast yet."

Jian Yue smiled gratefully at Yue Leyun, suppressing her intense disgust for the woman, and said, "It's an old problem. I only feel better after drinking water. I feel much better now."

Yue Leyun frowned, feigning concern as she scolded, "This won't do. Haven't you seen a doctor?"

"I've seen it, but it's an incurable disease, and I don't know where to begin."

Yue Leyun still didn't believe it and tentatively asked, "Did the Crown Prince find a doctor for you?"