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

Murong Yan stared wide-eyed. Don't think you can fool her just because she's never met the Qiu family's child. She's never met him in person, and there's no portrait to show for it.

Bai Jianan looked at Jian Yue with a wronged expression, but Jian Yue was still gloating and had no intention of clarifying the situation. He said helplessly, "Mother, my dear mother, please be careful. If your son's ear is pulled off, he will really be crippled."

Murong Yan sneered: "It's good that she's crippled. It saves me from wearing that damn mask and pretending to be ugly all the time. Tell me, what exactly do you want? Why give up a perfectly good daughter and bring back this little vixen?"

Moreover, this little vixen bore a striking resemblance to someone she once knew, which made her think a lot.

Bai Jianan looked distressed and said plaintively, "Mother, look closely, she is the daughter of the Qiu family, the one who is to marry the son of the Qiu family. I really don't have any other women."

Murong Yan frowned, then turned to look at Jian Yue, who smiled and then took out a mask from her bosom. Right in front of her, Jian Yue slowly put the mask on, which made Murong Yan's eyes widen in surprise.

Jian Yue put on her mask and bowed to Murong Yan, saying, "Junior Shangguan Jian Yue greets the Princess. I am Qiu Lingxiu from the Qiu family. There was a reason for this, and I hope the Princess will forgive me."

Shangguan Jianyue?

Murong Yan's expression changed, and Bai Jianan took the opportunity to escape Murong Yan's clutches, saying, "I told you, look, she really is."

"you shut up."

Bai Jianan immediately shut up, and then saw Murong Yan walk towards Jian Yue. She looked at Jian Yue for a long time, then turned around and sat down. She frowned and seemed to be thinking about something. After a while, she asked, "You said your name is Shangguan Jian Yue. Are you from the Shangguan family that I know?"

Jian Yue nodded: "Exactly."

Murong Yan smiled and glanced at Bai Jianan, saying, "What are you standing there for? Go make me some tea."

Bai Jianan was taken aback: "Make tea? Aren't there servants? If all else fails, just have Cang Feng do it."

"Why are you talking so much nonsense? Get out of here right now."

Murong Yan impatiently shooed him away. Bai Jianan glanced at Jian Yue, and seeing that she wasn't looking at him, he turned and left dejectedly.

Before leaving, he gave Murong Yan a look that said, "Don't bully my wife," but unfortunately, Murong Yan didn't even look at him and didn't see it.

She looked at Jian Yue and said, "This, I can hardly believe it. The Shangguan family has had only one son for three generations, and we have never had a daughter like you."

Jian Yue lowered her eyes and said, "This junior is not a daughter of the Shangguan family. My mother's name is Shangguan Linglong, and she is a daughter of the Shangguan family. General Shangguan is my maternal grandfather."

Murong Yanhuo stood up and looked coldly at Jian Yue: "Is what you said true? Don't try to fool me. Shangguan Linglong has been missing for sixteen years, and we've searched the entire capital without finding her. How could she possibly have a daughter as old as you?"

Jian Yue smiled and said, "Indeed, Princess, please don't be impatient. After I tell you about what has happened over the years, you will understand."

Next, Jian Yue recounted the events of the past sixteen years in detail, speaking slowly and calmly, without a trace of extra emotion on her face.

It was as if this matter had nothing to do with her; she was detached and merely recounting someone else's story.

Outside the door, Bai Jianan leaned against the door with a teacup in his hand, listening quietly. Every word Jian Yue spoke was deeply engraved in his heart. Every time she talked about what she had experienced, his heart ached.

After Jian Yue finished speaking, he suddenly smiled, his eyes filled with coldness.

Upon hearing this, Murong Yan slammed her hand on the table and stood up angrily, saying, "Outrageous! What a Qiu family! They actually dared to injure Qijun and act recklessly, causing such chaos in the capital and imprisoning an official's daughter. How can such things be forgiven?"

"Mother, please calm down. Have a cup of tea and soothe your anger."

Bai Jianan walked in with a smile, placed the teacup on the table next to Murong Yan, helped Murong Yan sit down again, and then said, "What Mother Consort said is true. The Qiu family is indeed lawless, but even if we make this public now, we still cannot give Miss Shangguan an explanation."

Murong Yan frowned immediately, displeased, and said, "What? Has the capital city fallen into the hands of the Qiu family? Can't I deal with him?"

Bai Jianan shook his head and comforted her, "Mother, don't be angry. The Qiu family may not be that great, but have you ever thought about whether the capital city is still the same capital city without the smoke of war? The situation has changed, and the capital city is no longer as peaceful as it seems on the surface."

Back then, the Shangguan family was at the height of its power. If no one had been backing him up, how would he have dared to touch the Shangguan family?

Moreover, back then, the entire Shangguan family mobilized, yet they still couldn't find Miss Shangguan. It's conceivable that the person behind everything the Empress Dowager did was far more capable than the Qiu family.

Murong Yan looked at Bai Jianan and, seeing that he showed no surprise whatsoever, asked, "So, you already knew about this?"

Bai Jianan made no move, which made Murong Yan even angrier.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? Huh?"

“What can I do if I tell you? The Qiu family is still the Qiu family, and the Shangguan family is still the Shangguan family. We still can’t find out who’s behind them. It will only make you angry, Mother. I’d better handle it first and then tell you.”

"So, what about now? Have you resolved it?"

Murong Yan asked, and Bai Jianan smiled and looked at Jian Yue.

Jian Yue's expression remained unchanged, and there was no surprise in her eyes. She knew that Bai Jianan was standing outside earlier, but now that she was standing here, she couldn't believe that Bai Jianan hadn't investigated everything about her.

However, she wasn't sure how much he actually knew, so she decided to lay herself bare before them, leaving nothing hidden, to see his true purpose.

However, seeing Bai Jianan's confident demeanor, she couldn't help but feel a little nervous. Bai Jianan's gaze had a powerful penetrating quality, making her feel like she had been seen through.

After a long pause, she licked her dry lips, calmly looked at Bai Jianan and chuckled, "So, I also want to ask you, Your Highness, what do you want to gain from this illegitimate daughter after all this trouble? After all, I don't have anything that would warrant your attention."

Bai Jianan smiled and said, "Not a single word I have ever said to you has been a lie. My wife, you might as well think back carefully and consider what I have said. That way, you will know what I really want."

Jian Yue was slightly taken aback; Bai Jianan had said a lot.

She was domineering, arrogant, playful, and affectionate—all these qualities were present in her words, and every single one of them was inseparable from her.

Suddenly, she realized that she still remembered every single word he had ever said, so clearly. And now, with him looking at her with those deep, affectionate eyes, how could she not feel it?

But, how is this possible?

Murong Chuan once looked at her with the same eyes and spoke to her in the same tone of voice, but what was the end result? Didn't he still use her, betray her, and end up with nothing but a fleeting dream? His bones turned to grievance?

Her hands tightened slightly, her palms sweating. She suddenly sneered and looked at Bai Jianan, saying, "Since Your Highness doesn't want to answer this question directly, then there's nothing I can do. In any case, Your Highness has everything in your hands right now. Whatever Your Highness wants to do, I can't do anything about it, can I?"

Bai Jianan raised an eyebrow, quite dissatisfied with the other party's silent resistance. He felt that what he had given was so obvious, so why couldn't this little thing feel it?

Moreover, his gaze suddenly darkened, and he stared intently at Jian Yue.

He took in the despair and disappointment in her eyes, which made his heart ache and the chill around him intensify.

His beloved had someone hidden in her heart, something hidden in her heart, something she couldn't find out no matter how hard she tried, and someone she couldn't find out no matter how hard she tried.

Bai Jianan's expression suddenly changed. Jian Yue was a little confused. Seeing that Bai Jianan did not speak, she continued, "The young master has changed his double identity many times to approach me and test me. All he wants is what he thinks is the benefit. Now I just want to know what the young master wants to get from me. If I have it, I will definitely give it all to the young master. I hope the young master can put my mind at ease and stop torturing me."

Murong Yan was stunned for a moment before she suddenly realized that this marriage was still a one-sided affair, and her son hadn't even succeeded yet. He was really hopeless.

However, it's also interesting that this kid has never encountered such a tricky situation before. Now, he can finally watch a good show.

After thinking for a moment, she suddenly stood up and said with a smile, "It seems there are still some things between you that haven't been resolved. In that case, I'll go ahead and prepare some food. We can talk about our business later."

After saying that, she turned and walked towards the door, giving Bai Jianan a encouraging look. Her teasing expression made Bai Jianan both laugh and cry, feeling that his mother was not blessing him, but rather had ill intentions.

Murong Yan walked to the door, as if she had thought of something. Then, she smiled and sighed, "Sixteen years ago, when Shangguan Linglong first entered the palace, she amazed the emperor. It's just a pity that the late emperor decreed that daughters of the Shangguan family were not allowed to enter the palace, which caused her to miss a marriage opportunity."

Now, these descendants have crossed paths again. Ancestors, oh ancestors, isn't this what people often call fate? A match made in heaven? Hehe, wonderful, wonderful indeed.

After saying that, Murong Yan turned around, glanced at the door, and left, saying as she went, "Keep a good watch on the door for your young master. This is related to his lifelong happiness. If anything happens, you'll have to pay for it."

Hidden in the shadows, Cang Feng suddenly felt wronged. He was just a henchman, so why was he responsible for the young master's life-long happiness? Princess, are you really not joking?

"What are you afraid of?"

"What does the young master think I'm afraid of? Naturally, I'm afraid that the struggle between the powerful and wealthy will affect me, an ordinary concubine's daughter."