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

Upon hearing this, Xiao Tao was taken aback, a fierce glint flashing across her face. She then smiled and said, "Greetings to Sister Xiao Cui. Of course, all those things have been finished. I was just thinking that Miss needs to have lunch, and Sister Xiao Cui must be too busy to handle everything, so I came to check on her."

Inside the door, Jian Yue and Bai Jianan looked towards the entrance at the same time, and then heard Xiao Tao outside the door continue to say, "Sister Xiao Cui, what are you doing? Where is Xiao Rou? What's wrong with Miss? I think I heard Miss crying."

Outside the door, Xiao Tao raised her eyebrows and looked at the door, as if she wished she could see what was happening inside through the door.

Xiao Cui glared at Xiao Tao and sneered, "What? Are you trying to interfere in Miss's affairs now?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Tao immediately smiled and said, "How could that be, Sister Xiao Cui? What do you mean? I was just concerned about Miss. Although you've been with Miss the longest, my feelings for Miss are as clear as day. Can't I even show some concern for Miss?"

Xiao Cui sneered: "I'm afraid you're just crocodile tears. When you're serving the young lady, why aren't you this eager? You're just a second-class maid, how dare you speak to me like that? What about the rules of the Qiu family? Have you forgotten them?"

Xiao Tao was so angry that she immediately shouted, "Xiao Cui, I'm only speaking to you like this because you're the young lady's head maid. Even if you're just using her power, you should know when to stop. Don't wait until I gain power and then you're crying and begging me."

Xiao Cui raised an eyebrow, as if looking at an idiot: "You? You think you're in power? Whose power do you have? You're dreaming in broad daylight. Don't you even look in the mirror and see how pig-like you look?"

Just a few days ago, they were saying Xiaorou was ungrateful, but I think Xiaorou is much better than you. At least she learned her lesson after being beaten and knew when to back down, thus winning Miss's favor. As for you, well, there's no place for you in our courtyard. I'll have Miss go find Madam later. You can go back to where you came from!

Xiao Tao glared, still trying to argue with Xiao Cui, but Xiao Cui impatiently said sternly, "Don't forget, I'm still the head maid. If you continue to disrespect me, I'll slap you right now. Don't think I wouldn't dare to do it. My young lady is now the young master's favorite. Even if she beats a few servants to death, I believe the master won't pursue it because of the young master. So, do you want to die, or do you want to die?"

Xiao Tao immediately shut up, but still said maliciously, "You just wait and see."

After saying that, she turned and left. Xiao Cui sneered, "Just you wait and see? Alright, I'll wait and see how you rise to the top and turn from a sparrow into a phoenix."

The outside world finally calmed down, and Bai Jianan, holding Jian Yue, laughed and said, "You're quite an interesting girl."

Jian Yue composed herself, emerging from her previous sorrowful emotions, and said with a smile, "Not bad, a complete selection. Shall I take them all to the Prince's residence to broaden his horizons?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Jianan quickly blinked and begged for mercy: "My wife, please spare me! I only want to fly away with you as a couple, and I don't want anything unpleasant to appear in the peaceful Hidden Beauty Pavilion."

Jian Yue squinted at Bai Jianan: "Hidden Beauty Pavilion?"

Bai Jianan said smugly, "Naturally, it's the Hidden Beauty Pavilion, where my wife is hidden."

Jian Yue pursed her lips and murmured, "What exactly do you see in me? My face?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Jianan looked at Jian Yue, frowned slightly, and said, "Does my wife think so? If it's this face, then disguise techniques would be sufficient. Why do I insist on chasing after you?"

"My dear wife, don't dwell on such sad things. Some things have happened, and that's that. Why not just pretend they never happened? No matter who hurt you in the past, you have me now, what are you afraid of?"

Jian Yue listened and fell silent. She was truly afraid. She wasn't afraid of being abandoned by Bai Jianan again, but she was afraid of being abandoned again after falling in love with him.

Her heart, riddled with wounds, could no longer tolerate even the slightest betrayal. No matter how magnanimous she was, she still couldn't heal the wounds Murong Chuan had inflicted on her.

She couldn't imagine the humiliation her daughter and son would suffer without her around.

Fortunately, she is still alive, and her child has not yet been born. There is still a chance to salvage the situation. She cannot make a mistake, she really cannot make a mistake. But her heart is filled with an uncontrollable sense of loss, and she is somewhat afraid.

Bai Jianan sighed and patted her back. After a long while, he said, "You always keep me out of your world. You never really look after me properly. You always compare me to the person who hurt you. I want to know who that person is and what he did to make you so terrified and restless."

Jian Yue smiled and said, "What will you do if you find out?"

"kill him."

A murderous glint flashed in Bai Jianan's eyes as he said, "Since he has become a thorn in your heart, I will remove this thorn and destroy him, and see if you still have him in your heart."

Even if it's disguised as hatred, he won't allow it.

Only someone who has experienced love can hate so deeply.

Bai Jianan's gaze remained domineering and fierce. Jian Yue smiled; she was used to it, it was truly terrifying.

But thinking about it, it's actually quite heartwarming. She looked up at Bai Jianan and said, "Okay, once you know, you can kill him. But right now, I can't explain these things clearly."

Bai Jianan nodded: "If you don't want to say it, then don't. I'll find out someday. But if you're heartbroken over this again, I will never let you off the hook."

Jian Yue, from now on, you are not alone. You have family, your mother, and me. No matter what happens, you don't need to shoulder everything alone. You can try to rely on others; after all, you've relied on Hua Xiangrong for many years, haven't you?"

Jian Yue nodded, then suddenly laughed and said, "So, I'm free to do whatever I want at the welcome banquet?"

Bai Jianan raised an eyebrow and asked, "How about I pick some for you?"

Jian Yue immediately smiled brightly: "Excellent."

At this moment, Jian Yue's emotions had truly returned to normal. After venting her feelings, she had also thought things through.

Shangguan Linglong doesn't want revenge; perhaps she just wants a peaceful life. She herself might act in secret, but whether Shangguan Linglong allows her to participate or not is no longer important, because she has to keep going.

As for Shangguan Linglong, she was content as long as she focused on recuperating and getting better.

So, after tidying herself up, she asked Xiao Cui to bring her lunch. She ate some with Bai Jianan and then went with Bai Jianan to Qilin Pavilion to visit Shangguan Linglong.

Shangguan Linglong looked much better today; her previously dry face had regained some color, likely a result of the careful treatment she had received over the past few days.

Upon seeing this, Jian Yue said happily, "It looks like you'll be able to get out of bed and walk again soon, Mother."

Shangguan Linglong smiled and said, "That Mr. Jia said that my bones are not seriously injured, but because I have lived in a cold and damp place for many years, my bones have been infected with wind and cold, and I need to have them all pulled out before I can walk."

But things are already very good. I eat well, live well, and can see my daughter. I'm already very content.

Jian Yue immediately said, "How can this be enough? You still want to see your maternal grandfather, uncle, and cousin. Mother, don't think too much, just focus on taking good care of yourself."

"I'll handle the rest. Don't worry, absolutely don't worry. I absolutely won't let myself get into trouble. Besides, if you don't trust me, don't you trust the young master? He's a powerful backer."

Bai Jianan smiled slightly, stood behind Jian Yue and nodded, saying, "Mother-in-law, please rest assured, I will definitely protect Jian Yue well and not let her suffer the slightest harm."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Linglong immediately fell silent, just like a few days ago. Seeing this, Jian Yue shook her head and said, "Mother, don't overthink it. You know my personality; I'm just like you, so I naturally understand what you're thinking."

But you must know, what you hope for is also what I hope for. There is no one between us, Mother. Don't worry, really, I will do very well. I did very well five years ago, didn't I?"

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Linglong sighed, looked up, took Jian Yue's hand, and placed it on her face, saying, "Yueyue, I'm sorry."

Jian Yue smiled and said, "What do you mean, 'I'm sorry'? Mother, without you, how could I have lived this long? How could I have met someone who likes me? And you, you have gained a lovely daughter just like you, isn't that wonderful? You mustn't cry."

"Yes, Mother, don't cry."

Shangguan Linglong choked up. Jian Yue also smiled and then burst into tears, but this time, they were not tears of sorrow or pain, but tears of joy.

Bai Jianan lowered his eyes for a moment, then broke the silence between the two and said, "I haven't given any information to Old Master Shangguan yet. Firstly, I'm afraid that someone with ulterior motives might notice something. After all, Qiu Zhenzhou has already discovered what happened in the cellar and is now hesitating whether to tell Murong Chuan."

Jian Yue nodded, then saw Shangguan Linglong's pupils shrink: "You're saying the Qiu family is backed by Crown Prince Murong Chuan?"

Bai Jianan nodded, but Shangguan Linglong shook her head violently and said, "Impossible."

Jian Yue asked in disbelief, "How is that impossible?"

Shangguan Linglong said, "Fifteen years ago, Murong Chuan was still an innocent child. How could he have planned such a shocking conspiracy? It's absolutely impossible."

Bai Jianan frowned: "But this time, it was indeed Murong Chuan who came to the Qiu family. Qiu Zhenzhou went to the cellar. The two seemed to be plotting something, which allowed me to take advantage of the situation and find the place where you were hidden."

Shangguan Linglong closed her eyes slightly, and after a while, she opened them, her eyes filled with coldness.

"If that's really the case, then I believe the biggest contributor here is none other than the current Empress Sun Rouxiang."

Jian Yue was taken aback: "The Empress?"

Shangguan Linglong nodded, and Bai Jianan followed up, "It's not impossible. After all, what they want is something that no one else knows except the Shangguan family, so they can only get their hands on the Shangguan family."