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

Bai Jianan shook his head, his charming eyes slightly raised, and looked at Jian Yue with a special seriousness, saying, "How can you just give up such a life-long matter? If you give it up, wouldn't you miss out on a good match? Ah, right, I suddenly thought of something."

As he spoke, he suddenly looked at Jian Yue mysteriously, his tone rising and falling: "Three months ago, the Emperor issued an edict summoning the heir of the Marquis of Qingyan to the capital to form a marriage alliance with the Qiu family. He was to marry the eldest daughter of the Qiu family."

Rumor has it that the heir of the Marquis of Qingyan has an unusual appearance, and the legitimate daughter of the Qiu family vowed never to marry him. Qiu Zhenzhou, fearing the consequences, took back his illegitimate daughter who was being raised on the estate, intending to have her marry in place of the legitimate daughter. I wonder if this illegitimate daughter is you, young lady?

Upon hearing this, Jian Yue did not show any panic. She simply played with her teacup and said indifferently, "It is understandable that the Qilin Pavilion knows about these matters in the capital. But how could a young woman like me, who has just entered the capital, know about them?"

Even if I were the one to be married in place of others, I wouldn't know until Master Qiu informed me. But why does the young master ask this? Could it be that you also wish to cultivate a relationship with the heir of the Qingyan Marquis's mansion?

Trying to establish a connection with oneself?

Bai Jianan rested his chin on his hand and imagined the scene. He couldn't help but chuckle and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Among the high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital, which one would my Qilin Pavilion even look at? I'm just thinking, if the young master were to marry a girl, wouldn't that girl being with me make the young master of Qingyan Marquis wear a green hat?"

Upon hearing this, Jian Yue chuckled: "Young Master, aren't you exaggerating? Let alone the fact that this matter hasn't been accomplished yet, even if it were, do you think the young master would agree?"

Although the Qiu family holds a prominent position in the capital, they cannot possibly surpass the Emperor's own daughter, the Eldest Princess! The difference between a legitimate daughter and a concubine's daughter is immense; would the Eldest Princess agree to such an absurd substitution?

Instead of backing down, Bai Jianan pressed on, asking, "But what if the princess agrees? The only difference between you and that legitimate daughter is the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, isn't it? What's so difficult about that? To achieve our goal, we'll grant you the status of a legitimate daughter."

Moreover, I've heard that the prince has a penchant for beautiful women, and with your looks, you're certainly one of his favorites.

As he spoke, Bai Jianan felt something was off, and a sour feeling welled up inside him.

After a while, he was so angry at himself that he laughed.

Is this what they call being jealous of themselves? How bittersweet!

Jian Yue pursed her lips, then suddenly sneered: "This is really strange. Why is the young master questioning me so carefully? What do you want to say to me? Whether or not I am to go through the marriage ceremony with the heir of the Qingyan Marquis, it has little to do with the young master!"

Even if we are cooperating in a transaction, it is still a business of flesh and blood. Does the young master expect me to remain chaste for him?

However, having said that, young master, your disturbance at the manor today is likely not just about this question. There's no doubt that my mother is in that wine cellar, and I've been plotting to rescue her from her suffering. All of this is imperative. Or are you perhaps trying to use my mother to threaten me?

The word "concubine" disappeared when it came to Jian Yue's mother. Bai Jianan felt regretful. After listening to Jian Yue's words, Bai Jianan smiled and his eyes curved into crescents. He reached out and lightly stroked the side of Jian Yue's face, saying, "What my beauty said is really too heartbreaking for me. Putting aside the status of my Qilin Pavilion in the capital, I am, after all, the head of the Qilin Pavilion. I really have no intention of sharing a beauty with a mere prince."

How about... I take a drastic step and let that Prince Qingyan die on his way to the capital? That way, the beauty won't have to marry any prince, and she can spend the night with me. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

Naturally, my mother-in-law's affairs are my affairs, and I should put them above all else to help her escape her suffering as soon as possible. And my beloved needs no further worry; who can threaten the wife of the Qilin Pavilion Master?

Jian Yue paused, her expression turning cold: "You have quite the plan."

Bai Jianan shrugged: "Of course. If you like something, you should naturally keep it. If you can't have it, although I'm not the kind of person who treats human life like dirt, I will still resort to any means necessary. What do you think, young lady?"

Upon hearing this, Jian Yue's expression changed abruptly, and she looked sharply at Bai Jianan.

"How are you doing?"

"I just want to enjoy a drink with my beautiful lady under the flowers and moon."

Jian Yue smiled faintly: "Heh! Does the Lord of Qilin Pavilion need to go out and seek out women? Even if he's drunk and lying in bed, there must be countless beauties serving him. Why would he go to such lengths for a lowly concubine's daughter like me?"

Bai Jianan pouted, looking aggrieved, and looked at Jian Yue with starry eyes, saying, "How could you be so self-deprecating, comparing yourself to women in brothels?"

Jian Yue retorted, "Why not? Aren't we all human? Aren't we all women? Aren't we all women who have to sell ourselves because of poverty? You look down on us lowly people, so why pretend with me? Why not tell the truth, or even half the truth, then we'll be happier."

Jian Yue finally lost her patience under Bai Jianan's constant evasiveness, and her words naturally revealed her true nature. She was an eccentric person by nature. If she hadn't been blind in her past life, wholeheartedly following someone and afraid of being disliked, she wouldn't have learned those ridiculous rules and etiquette.

However, I should also thank Murong Chuan for giving her the leverage to disguise herself after being reborn.

Bai Jianan was taken aback and couldn't find any words to reply. He frowned and looked at Jian Yue for a long time before saying, "Never mind, never mind. I was just infatuated with you, Miss. You've misunderstood. It's just that you're unmoved by my feelings. I could only do some extreme things to make you remember me. I have absolutely no other thoughts."

As Bai Jianan spoke, he raised his hands above his head and looked at Jian Yue with pleading eyes. Jian Yue felt that the person in front of her was not the master of the Qilin Pavilion, but rather a child who hadn't gotten any candy and was feeling wronged.

She lowered her eyes slightly and said, "Young master, you are of noble status. Why would you make fun of someone as lowly as me? Young master, I admit that I did have the intention to use you, but I never thought of framing you."

If you, sir, act in this way and ruin my future path, I would never dare to make a deal with you. If you insist on doing so, then I will have no choice but to fight to the death to secure a place for myself.

Jian Yue's words were so resolute that Bai Jianan's gaze darkened. He couldn't understand why the woman in front of him would act this way.

His identity was exposed; shouldn't she be the one clinging to him and continuing to exploit him? She couldn't possibly be unaware that if she were to gain access to the Qilin Pavilion, everything she wanted to do would fall into place. So why did she refuse?

Since he couldn't get any information out of him now, he didn't intend to force the issue. After all, he was the heir apparent anyway, so he might as well go with the flow. What he wanted to know, he would eventually find out.

Thinking this, Bai Jianan approached Jian Yue and, unusually, saw a submissive look on her face. He smiled slightly and said softly, "How could I bear to force you, young lady? You are the apple of my eye."

Jian Yue didn't respond to the question, but said directly, "Is Young Master trying to play the innocent? There's no need for that. Even if I were incredibly skilled, I would still be no match for you, Young Master, who is a local tyrant. I can't stop you from doing whatever you want. I only ask that you stop while you're ahead."

As for Lan Yue Lou, I believe you will be interested in it, young master. I think that no matter how Lan Yue Lou is developing now, although it cannot compete with Qi Lin Ge, it has its own advantages. I believe this is why Qi Lin Ge has investigated Lan Yue Lou countless times in the past three years but has not made any move against it.

"And the day I succeed, I will be yours, young master. We'll each get what we need; it couldn't be better, young master, wouldn't you say?"

Bai Jianan paused, looked up at Jian Yue, and saw that Jian Yue was no longer timid as before. Instead, she looked up at him with a smile and said, "Young master, please don't think that I am scheming. After all, in this mansion, if one is innocent and harmless, one would probably be buried long ago."

Jian Yue looked at Bai Jianan with a smile in her eyes, her overconfidence making Bai Jianan unable to look away. He pursed his lips and said, "Indeed, no one can remain innocent forever. But I'm more curious. A woman should value her chastity, yet you use it as a bargaining chip, and repeatedly. Could it be that you do this often, and your body is already filthy?"

However, Bai Jianan regretted it as soon as he finished speaking. He was used to being sarcastic and couldn't hold back his words.

But the woman opposite him was someone he quite liked. If things continued like this, wouldn't they kill the conversation?

Seeing Jian Yue's silence, he couldn't help but feel annoyed. Just as he was about to say something, Jian Yue suddenly gave a sarcastic smile: "I thought you were being taboo about something, young master? It's actually such a worldly matter."

Bai Jianan shook his head, frowned slightly, and said seriously for once, "Worldly matters? I just feel that our bodies and hair are given to us by our parents. Even if we use any means to achieve our goals, you should still cherish your body."

Upon hearing this, Jian Yue's hands tightened slightly, then she smiled and said, "Cherish? Yes, we should indeed cherish, but if we can't even save our lives, what's the point of cherishing?"

Young master is right. Our bodies and hair are given to us by our parents, but my mother is still suffering, and I am powerless to help her. What can you ask me to do?

"But this body still has some use; it can help me achieve my goals. For my family, for my mother, what is there that I wouldn't sell?"

She spoke tragically, but there was no hint of bitterness in her words. She didn't care what fate awaited her. Her purpose in living this life was to atone for the mistakes she made in her previous life, to ensure her mother and family lived well, and to bring the adulterous couple to their due punishment. As for herself, she only needed to see that her loved ones were all well.

Bai Jianan stepped forward and rested his head on Jian Yue's shoulder, causing Jian Yue to stiffen slightly, but she did not move. He smiled and said softly, "It pains me to see you like this, young lady."