"Suffer the consequences of your own actions. Who else can you blame?"
Cheng Xiran blurted out suddenly, her face cold and aloof.
Sun Yanyan suddenly felt that Cheng Xiran had changed. Rather than saying she had changed, it was more like she had seen through the situation and had already taken a stance, ready to handle any inconvenience.
"Don't look down on me just because I was a beggar. I've read a few books before, and I've often heard your father talk recently. Actually, I understand everything. I'm sure you understand even better than I do..."
She paused for a moment, with a pleading look in her eyes. After a while, she continued, "All I ask for now is to save my own life in the end. I think you know that after staying in the gutter for a long time, one hopes even more to live on in obscurity."
"I don't understand what you're talking about." Cheng Xiran pretended to be stupid.
But Sun Yanyan said straightforwardly, "I know everything. You don't have to hide it from me. There are two forces in the court. Once Cheng Zhiyue marries into the palace, the entire Cheng family will side with the Empress Dowager and share weal and woe with her. Do you have the confidence to withdraw now and fight against them with the prince?"
Cheng Xiran was stunned. She never expected such words to come out of Sun Yanyan's mouth. It seemed that she had really underestimated her all along, thinking that she just wanted to rely on her father to ensure a peaceful life for herself.
"Some things I can't tell you. Who knows if you were sent by my father?"
Cheng Xiran said half-jokingly. Sun Yanyan's face showed obvious disappointment when she heard this. "If I really wanted to be against you, do you think I would still be here now?"
After all, the matter was of great importance, so Cheng Xiran didn't go into details. She just said that she would ensure Sun Yanyan's safety anyway. Only then did Sun Yanyan stop asking.
"Then I'll go back first. You should also get ready. I guess it won't be long before the prime minister comes to invite you in person."
"I'll be waiting for him."
After Sun Yanyan left, Cheng Xiran didn't think about this anymore. After finishing the manuscript for tomorrow, she returned to the prince's mansion. Originally, she planned to go directly to the Cheng mansion to pick up her grandmother, but she was afraid of running into those people, so she gave up this idea.
When she returned to the prince's mansion, she saw the carriage from the Cheng mansion at the door. She hurried in. When she came to the front hall, she saw her grandmother sitting there, drinking tea and having snacks.
Seeing her coming, her grandmother smiled at her.
"Grandma, you came so early."
"Not early, not early. I just arrived."
After they sat down, her grandmother began to ask about her well - being, making Cheng Xiran feel like an outsider.
However, she was indeed an outsider in the Cheng mansion now.
"I've heard about what happened this morning. You've suffered grievances."
Her grandmother said earnestly, with a hint of guilt in her words.
Cheng Xiran didn't dare to accept it and quickly said, "Grandma, what are you talking about? Xiran doesn't take this matter to heart. Grandma, don't worry too much."
Her grandmother shook her head slightly and said helplessly, "Actually, I know very well in my heart that Zhiyue, no matter how indulgent she is, wouldn't think of such a thing. She's always been simple - minded. Later I found out that Xiao Qi has been coming to see her frequently these two days, so you should be more on guard, lest she do something to hurt you again."
These days, people kept talking about the topic of someone trying to hurt her. Cheng Xiran knew they were concerned about her, but more than that, she really didn't care much.
"Now Xiran has the prince to protect her. Xiran is not afraid."
Seeing Cheng Xiran looking so confident, the old lady couldn't help laughing and joked, "Now you've really learned to find a reliance for yourself. This is a good thing."
She paused for a moment and then continued, "Even if the prince loves you very much, he has his own things to do. He can't always remember and accompany you. So you should also learn to protect yourself."
"Oh, Grandma..." Cheng Xiran stepped forward, squatted down, and gently stroked her grandmother's wrinkled hand, consoling her, "Xiran knows in her heart that the prince invited you here today so that our grandparents and grandchildren could have a good get - together. Let's not mention these annoying things, okay? Let's talk about something happy."
Seeing her grandmother looking so worried, Cheng Xiran suddenly understood that she had another purpose for coming today.
"Xiran, for my sake, please go back to the mansion with me after dinner. You don't know how big a commotion the second girl has caused. Although he is the prince and no one can criticize him, you're different. You're not the princess yet. You can't let others easily seize the handle. What will others say about our Cheng mansion then?"
Cheng Xiran forced a smile. "Okay, I'll go back with you later. I just feel that there's no place for me in this family. Every minute and every second I stay there makes me feel uncomfortable all over."
"It will be okay once you get married early. I think it won't be long."
Grandma seemed to think things too simply.
However, Cheng Xiran didn't intend to dampen her spirits. Moreover, because of Hua Bairu, she had also thought about advancing her engagement with Helian Duo. But shouldn't such things be proposed by the man?
Dinner was deliberately served late, but they still didn't wait for Helian Duo to come back.
Seeing that the night was getting deeper and her grandmother couldn't afford to wait, Cheng Xiran left a message for Zuo Yan, asking him to inform Helian Duo later.
Zuo Yan agreed and personally sent them back to the Cheng mansion.
The Cheng mansion was very quiet today. There was no Prime Minister Cheng or Mrs. Liu in the front hall. It was empty.
For the first time, Cheng Xiran felt a bit of desolation in this huge mansion.
After returning to her room, she was about to go to bed when she saw Yun'er rushing in from outside.
"Miss, guess what I heard?"
She looked very proud.
"What?" Cheng Xiran showed a curious look while playing with the teacup in her hand.
Yun'er got closer. "Sure enough, Cheng Zhiyue is pregnant. Just now when I passed by their yard, I happened to hear the conversation between Mrs. Liu and her. Mrs. Liu told her not to think too much and just keep the fetus well so as to stabilize her position in the future."
Cheng Xiran was not surprised. "This mother - daughter pair really deserve to be mother and daughter. Their methods are exactly the same."
"And I also heard them talking about Young Master Gu. It seems like they have some new plan."
Would Gu Yuanqing be deceived a second time? Even if Cheng Zhiyue was so bad, she was still the woman of the Prince of Qi. Gu Yuanqing surely wouldn't be stupid enough to fight against the Prince of Qi. This was an obvious fact, wasn't it?
"Forget it. I don't want to care about their mess anymore. Don't tell me about it in the future."