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

Before the welcoming banquet, Jian Yue stayed at the princess's residence. Apart from going to find Xiao Cui that day, she did not go out at all, and did not even send a message to Hua Xiangrong.

Xiao Cui wanted to tell Hua Xiangrong about the current situation, but seeing Jian Yue looking at her coldly, she shut her mouth. She would just stand at Jian Yue's door from time to time, always on edge, watching to see if the young master had overstepped his bounds.

It was quite remarkable that she wasn't directly taken away by Zang Feng in this princess's residence. Her furtive behavior was so unsettling that even Jian Yue couldn't stand it anymore.

Why won't you let me go back?

"Why go back? To see those girls' disdainful looks?"

Bai Jianan couldn't understand why Jian Yue always wanted to go back to the Qiu family. Her mother had already been rescued, so wouldn't it be better to leave the Qiu family now?

He looked at Jian Yue, but saw no expression on her face. She just smiled and said, "The Qiu family has its own unique uses. Don't you want to see Qiu Zhenzhou's anxious face?"

She hadn't worn a mask for the past few days, and her smile made her face radiant. Bai Jianan was so captivated by her that he forgot to answer her. She wasn't annoyed, but continued, "It's been a few days. Qiu Zhenzhou must already know about the cellar. Otherwise, why would he come over to ask me to go home so many times in just two days, even bringing up a woman's reputation and the family's honor?"

If we don't go now, the reputation of the Princess's residence will likely be ruined next time. Do you want the Princess's residence to become the target of everyone's criticism?

As she spoke, she shoved the teacup in her hand into Bai Jianan's hand, forcing him to come back to his senses.

After considering what Jian Yue had just said, he smiled and said, "Do you think my mother is the kind of person who can be bullied? If she were to become arrogant, even the Emperor would have to give her some leeway. You can rest assured."

"But if you want to go back, then go back. The Qiu family is nothing but a bunch of dogs; they can be slaughtered at will to vent your anger."

Upon hearing this, Jian Yue raised an eyebrow: "Have you forgotten that I am also a member of the Qiu family?"

Bai Jianan raised an eyebrow: "Isn't his surname Shangguan? What's his relationship with the Qiu family?"

Jian Yue chuckled, her eyes filled with mockery: "But the person engaged to the Marquis of Qingyan's heir is Qiu Lingxiu, the eldest daughter of the Qiu family. Has the young master included himself in the insult?"

Bai Jianan was taken aback, then saw the woman in front of him smiling sweetly, indulging in a variety of verbal sparring. He smiled and didn't bother arguing with her, but simply squinted and said, "What does my wife think? Once my wife has avenged her great grudge, I can go to the Shangguan residence again and propose marriage again."

Jian Yue smiled and shook her head. She didn't care about betrothal or anything like that. In her past life, she was deceived by those superficial sweet words and illusions. In this life, she didn't think about so much. Perhaps it was because Hua Xiangrong always whispered in her ear about being a couple for life that she had some hope.

Looking at Bai Jianan, whose peach blossom eyes shone brightly, Jian Yue thought to herself, if the outside world knew that the young master was so handsome, he must already have a large number of wives and concubines.

Now, she couldn't help but ask out of curiosity, "Why are you pretending to be ugly?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Jianan remained calm and smiled, "My wife only just remembered this?"

Jian Yue nodded: "I've thought about it for a long time. I've always wondered why, given his status as the heir apparent, the eldest son of the Princess, and the Emperor's favor, he wouldn't need to pretend like that."

The Marquis of Qingyan only has one wife, the Eldest Princess. As the heir apparent, you have brothers born of the same mother, so there will be no struggle for the throne. Even if there is, as long as the Eldest Princess and the Marquis of Qingyan don't give in, the position of heir apparent will be yours. You have no reason to do anything unnecessary.

As for the identity of the Pavilion Master of the Qilin Pavilion, to be honest, the Qilin Pavilion is shrouded in mystery. No one knows what the Pavilion Master looks like. Even if the young master were to show his true face, no one would guess that.

As Jian Yue spoke, she rested her chin on her hands, leaned on the table, and blinked her big eyes at Bai Jianan, waiting for his explanation.

Bai Jianan didn't speak, but lowered his eyes, seemingly lost in thought. Seeing this, Jian Yue didn't wait any longer and said with a smile, "It's okay if you don't want to talk."

"It's not that I don't want to say it, it's that I don't know how to say it."

Bai Jianan smiled and shook his head, a hint of melancholy in his eyes. Jian Yue was slightly taken aback; it seemed to be the first time she had ever seen such an expression in Bai Jianan's eyes.

Bai Jianan raised his head, his eyes filled with confusion. After a long while, he shook his head and chuckled, "My wife, there are some things I don't know how to say right now, but I don't want to lie to you. So, can you wait? Let me sort everything out, and then I'll tell you everything, little by little, okay?"

As he said this, he looked at Jian Yue, whose heart skipped a beat, and she nodded.

He didn't want to lie to her, but what about her?

Her story is too bizarre to be told casually.

While gods and Buddhas are certainly worshipped, if something were to actually happen, she might be seen as a monstrous evil that brings disaster to the world. Wouldn't that mean she would have no chance at all to seek revenge?

Clenching her fist, Jian Yue remained silent for a moment before saying, "I'm going back to the Qiu residence."

"Ah."

Bai Jianan didn't stop her, only giving a faint "hmm." Jian Yue opened her mouth, then lowered her head slightly, looking a little uncomfortable, and whispered, "Don't you want to ask something?"

Bai Jianan smiled, his eyes filled with stars, softening Jian Yue's last remaining emotion.

"No need. I said I would spoil you, even if it meant giving everything, I would hold your hand and grow old with you."

Jian Yue turned and walked away. After taking two steps, she stopped. After a long while, she forcefully wiped away the tears on her face and said, "My hatred is not just about the Qiu family."

There's also Murong Chuan, and Yue Leyun.

"Ok, I know."

So I'll wait here until you tell me yourself.

Bai Jianan continued to smile, while Jian Yue's lips curled slightly upward. Without turning around, she said, "Okay, wait for me."

As Jian Yue stepped out of the room, before the door was closed, Bai Jianan said, "On the day of the welcome banquet, just wait in the courtyard. I will come to pick you up in person."

"know."

They don't need many words; it's as if they've already formed a unique understanding. They don't need to say much; they just need to point it out, and they'll understand each other's meaning.

Back at the Qiu family home, Qiu Zhenzhou was indeed anxious and immediately came to see her. After observing her for most of the day, he found that Jian Yue was still as weak and timid as before, and he even saw the deep joy in her eyes when he came over. Only then did he feel relieved.

However, as if remembering something, he suddenly brought it up again, saying, "How have you been these past few days? Has that young master done anything to you? Or have you heard anything about it?"

When Jian Yue heard the first question, her face lit up with joy, but after the second question, she became shy, and finally, she looked puzzled.

The change in his facial expression was completely genuine, which reassured Qiu Zhenzhou. Jian Yue asked timidly, "Father, has something happened to you? Lingxiu is fine. She has been surrounded by the princess's people at the princess's residence these past few days, and the young master has treated her very politely. Lingxiu has not felt unwell at all."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Zhenzhou was taken aback, then nodded. Jian Yue's words seemed casual, but the key point was already clear.

First, she sensed that something had happened to Qiu Zhenzhou, but she didn't know what it was, so she was very worried that something had happened to the father she had finally managed to reunite with.

Secondly, it was to show that she was doing well, that the eldest princess treated her well, and that she had even sent people to keep an eye on the young master to prevent him from being disrespectful. Indeed, the eldest princess was a woman of pride; the woman she was proposing to marry wasn't even her preferred daughter-in-law, so how could she allow her son to act recklessly?

Knowing what he wanted to know made Qiu Zhenzhou feel more at ease, but after thinking about it, his heart started racing again.

Before the Crown Prince's instructions could be fulfilled, this incident occurred. Thinking of the rotting and stinking corpses in the cellar, he felt a chill run down his spine and broke out in a cold sweat. He was no longer in the mood for fatherly affection.

He stood up abruptly and said, "Since there's nothing else, I'll be going now. You should get some rest."

Qiu Zhenzhou left in a panic, without ever mentioning the welcoming banquet for the Marquis of Qingyan's heir to Jian Yue. Jian Yue smiled slightly, turned to Xiao Cui, and said, "Xiao Cui, go to Sister Hua's place and give her this letter."

Xiao Cui nodded, looking at Jian Yue as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. Jian Yue knew what she was struggling with, and smiled, saying, "Xiao Cui, do you think the young master is not good enough for me?"

Xiao Cui hesitated for a moment, nodded slightly, and then shook her head.

Jian Yue chuckled: "What exactly do you mean by nodding and shaking your head like that?"

Xiao Cui scratched her head and shook her head, saying, "This servant doesn't know what to say. Originally, this servant really didn't think much of the young master. After all, the young master's face is not pleasing to the eye, and he is also a playboy. If Miss marries him, it will be like falling into an abyss, and there will definitely not be a good outcome."

However, these past two days, I've observed that the young master treats the young lady with utmost care, inside and out. Although he sometimes tries to take advantage of her verbally, he never oversteps his bounds. And the eldest princess—she's not like those arrogant, disdainful people at all; she's very easy to get along with and treats servants like me exceptionally well.

"So, you've lost your judgment?"

Xiao Cui did not deny it and nodded.

She didn't know what kind of person was worthy of Miss, but when she was little, her mother told her that if she really wanted to get married, she had to find someone who was good to her, regardless of his appearance, as long as he cherished her, that would be the greatest happiness.

Just like her mother and father.

Now, she feels that the young master treats the young lady the way a father treats a mother—attentive and caring, but not deliberately so.

This really made it impossible for her to judge.