In the study
Xiao Wang narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze sharp.
His deep voice sounded, "Do you know what you were just doing?"
"Sure, I was just admiring a handsome man."
Xiao Wang looked at Song Qingyu's nonchalant expression, and his eyes darkened again.
He gave a cold snort. "Don't you forget what you promised me."
Song Qingyu lowered her eyelids. "Wasn't the show I staged today to the Crown Prince's satisfaction?"
Xiao Wang stared intently.
The scheme Song Qingyu had cooked up today had indeed lured out the partisans behind Song Yanran.
However...
Suddenly, Xiao Wang closed in on her, exuding a menacing aura all over.
He raised his hand and pinched Song Qingyu's chin.
"I won't allow you to look at other men with this face."
A cold glint flashed in his eyes, showing none of the doting he had shown in the palace earlier.
Song Qingyu raised her eyes, frowning tightly as she met Xiao Wang's sharp gaze.
She let out a cold laugh. "Do you think I cherish this face?"
Hearing this, Xiao Wang paused for a moment and let go of his hand.
But his face still remained ashen.
"Don't forget, we're in the same boat now."
Song Qingyu puckered her little face and scolded, "Do you think I want to get involved in this mess!"
Xiao Wang, however, smiled unhurriedly.
"You have no choice."
Leaving this sentence behind, he flicked his sleeve and left.
Song Qingyu was left alone. Her body went limp, and she almost collapsed to the ground.
She walked over and sat in front of the dressing table, gazing at herself in the bronze mirror.
She reached out and touched her unfamiliar face, her eyes filled with desolation.
Yes, she had no choice.
...
Three days later, in the Eastern Palace, Song Yanran had a maid beaten to death with a cane.
It was said that this maid had resented Song Qingyu for often scolding and beating her, so she had used black magic against Song Qingyu.
For a while, rumors spread like wildfire in the capital.
Everyone said that Song Qingyu was a ruthless and evil woman.
Hearing this news, a sneer appeared on Song Qingyu's lips.
This Song Yanran, even when finding a scapegoat, didn't forget to pour dirt on her.
However, since she had accepted this slander, she surely wouldn't let Song Yanran off easily.
"Lan Yu." Song Qingyu called out softly.
Instantly, a valiant woman with her hands behind her back appeared in front of Song Qingyu.
Lan Yu was a secret guard specially arranged by Xiao Wang beside Song Qingyu to protect her safety at all times.
"What are your orders, my lady?" Lan Yu said expressionlessly.
"Has my dear elder sister had any recent activities?"
Lan Yu immediately replied, "The Crown Princess returned to the Prince's Mansion yesterday. I heard that she was discussing your marriage with the Prince."
Hearing this, Song Qingyu let out a cold laugh.
It seemed that Song Yanran couldn't wait to marry her off.
Lan Yu then continued, "However, the Prince is still a bit hesitant. Presumably, the Prince still cares about you."
Song Qingyu frowned tightly.
The ancestors of the Song family had been granted the title of a Prince of a different surname for their meritorious service in founding the dynasty.
Thanks to the blessings of their ancestors, the descendants of the Song family had inherited the title from generation to generation.
But now, the Emperor had taken back the fief of the Song family, leaving only an empty title.
Her father didn't care about her at all.
Instead, he was thinking about how she should marry and to whom in order to maintain the glory of the Prince's Mansion.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so eager to send Song Yanran into the Eastern Palace right after Song Qingyu was framed back then.
"Lan Yu, send someone to convey a message to Prince Song. Tell him that the seventeenth day of the eleventh lunar month is a good day for choosing a husband."
A flash of surprise crossed Lan Yu's eyes. She pursed her lips. "The Crown Prince won't allow you to act so recklessly."
Song Qingyu coldly scolded, "Since you now call me your master, you should naturally understand whose orders you should follow."
Hearing this, Lan Yu lowered her head and replied.
Then she immediately went to do as Song Qingyu had ordered.
-
On the seventeenth day of the eleventh lunar month
The Song Prince's Mansion held a grand banquet for Song Qingyu to choose a husband.
For a while, the Song Prince's Mansion was bustling with activity.
Song Qingyu didn't expect that with her current reputation, there would still be so many princes and nobles coming to propose marriage.
However, there must be Song Yanran's instigation behind this.
Prince Song was sitting upright in the main seat, with Song Qingyu sitting beside him.
And Song Yanran was sitting on the other side.
After all, it was Song Yanran who had personally organized this banquet for Song Qingyu to choose a husband. Naturally, she had to come and watch the fun.
Just then, Prince Song's steady voice sounded, "Presumably, everyone knows that today's banquet is to choose a suitable husband for my youngest daughter."
Prince Song scanned the people sitting below, but his face didn't look very good.
Although many noble young men had come today, generally speaking, their family statuses were not high.
If he really chose one of them, it presumably wouldn't add any help to the Prince's Mansion.
"I wonder what kind of husband the Prince wants to choose for Miss Song Er?" the young master of the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Rites directly asked.
But before Prince Song could say anything, a sneer suddenly sounded from among the guests. "Come on, everyone knows that Miss Song Er contracted a serious illness and was sent to the manor to recuperate. Who knows if her health has recovered now? What right does she have to be so picky?"
Song Qingyu stared intently and looked up.
The person speaking was none other than Mo Shaoyu, the legitimate son of the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Rites, who had made things difficult for her at the Crown Prince's birthday banquet that day.
True to his name, he really didn't have a shortage of words.
Prince Song gave a cold snort, his face gloomy. "Since Young Master Mo says so, you might as well not have come to the banquet."
Mo Shaoyu smiled and teased, "If it weren't for the sake of the Crown Princess, do you think I would have been willing to come?"
Then he spread out his arms and said playfully, "Why don't you ask, Prince Song, and see how many of these people didn't come here just because they wanted to become the Crown Prince's in - laws."
"You!" Prince Song was so angry that his whole body trembled.
He didn't expect that the Song Prince's Mansion had declined to such an extent that it was being publicly ridiculed by a young upstart!
Song Yanran concealed the smile in her eyes and immediately stepped in to smooth things over.
She advised Prince Song, "Father, don't be angry. Although Young Master Mo's words are disrespectful, his father is at least the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Rites."
Then she leaned over and whispered in Prince Song's ear, "With younger sister's current reputation, it would be a great blessing for her to marry into the Deputy Minister's Mansion."
After hearing this, Prince Song glanced at the noble young men sitting at the table.
Mo Shaoyu was indeed the one with the highest family status among them.
But he still couldn't quell his anger.
After all, Song Qingyu was his legitimate daughter whom he had carefully cultivated since childhood. She was proficient in all kinds of arts.
If that incident hadn't happened back then, how could Song Qingyu be willing to marry into a mere fourth - rank Deputy Minister's Mansion now.
However, Song Qingyu wasn't in a hurry. It seemed that Song Yanran indeed had a close relationship with the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Rites.
Then the corners of her eyes drooped, and she covered her mouth and let out a sneer.
Mo Shaoyu asked suspiciously, "What are you laughing at?"
Was this woman crazy? How could she still laugh after being publicly humiliated?
Song Qingyu coughed lightly. "Young Master Mo makes me sound so bad, as if your reputation in the capital is so good."
As soon as these words were said, everyone turned to look.
There was a sneer in their eyes as they looked at Mo Shaoyu.
Mo Shaoyu was furious and roared, "I'd like to see who in this capital would still be willing to marry a woman like you!"
Before Song Qingyu could retort.
Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded from outside the door.
"I am."