It's a pity that Ye Xi didn't fulfill his wish this time and directly proposed to break off the engagement.
She didn't care how much the broken engagement would damage her reputation. She didn't even know how long she could live, so how could she have the time to care about other people's gossips?
"What?"
Cao Sheng didn't expect Ye Xi to act so unexpectedly this time.
"You'll never succeed!" The suppressed anger flared up again. Cao Sheng didn't expect that Ye Xi would propose to break off the engagement before he did.
Did she want to get rid of him after getting involved with the Prince of Yu'an? Cao Sheng would never let Ye Xi have her way.
"Don't think the Prince of Yu'an takes a fancy to you! The marriage of the State Uncle's Mansion is not something you can break off as you like!"
After saying that, he angrily shook off Ye Xi's arm and stormed off.
The wrist grabbed by Cao Sheng ached. Ye Xi felt extremely disgusted and took out a silk handkerchief to wipe it hard again and again.
It was indeed not easy to break off the engagement of the State Uncle's Mansion, but...
Ye Xi gave a soft smile: This time, she would have the final say!
The next day—
The carriage from the Prince's Mansion slowly stopped in front of the Ye Mansion.
Just as Steward Chen walked to the door of the Ye Mansion, the servant's announcement spread throughout the Ye Mansion.
"Is it really the carriage of the Prince of Yu'an?" Hearing the maid's report, Ye Jueyao couldn't help smiling even though she tried to maintain her reserve.
"Absolutely!" The personal maid Tongyun also looked delighted. "I think it must be that at last night's banquet, the Prince saw the young lady's celestial beauty and extraordinary talent, so he sent someone here today.
"I heard from the little maid in the front yard that Steward Chen is here to pick up the young lady of the Ye family. In our courtyard, only the eldest young lady is worthy of such an honor."
"Yes, that makes sense." Ye Jueyao nodded slightly, showing a hint of pride.
After all, among the Ye family's marriageable girls, there were only herself and Ye Xi. Ye Xi was neither talented nor beautiful and couldn't compare with her in any way. So the Prince's Mansion must be here to pick her, Ye Jueyao.
Ye Jueyao had every confidence in herself.
"Tongyun, quickly find my floating light brocade dress." Ye Jueyao suppressed her inner ecstasy and ordered. "Dress my hair again. Hurry up and don't keep the Prince waiting."
The Prince of Yu'an, Yi Yuan, was not only highly regarded by the current emperor, who even allowed him to participate in state affairs and gave him military power. He was also second to none in terms of power and wealth. Just his handsome appearance and noble demeanor made him the dream lover of countless girls in their boudoirs.
If it weren't for the Prince of Yu'an's not-so-good reputation and his indifference to women, the position of the Princess of Yu'an would have been fought over by the noble girls in the capital.
Even so, there were still many people who wanted to curry favor with him. But most of them were either driven away or publicly humiliated until they almost jumped into the river in shame. If someone could catch the Prince of Yu'an's eye, it would truly be like ascending to heaven in one step.
Qian Fangxue and Ye Yudong also received the news and rushed over in a hurry.
"Yaoyao, Yaoyao, my good daughter!" Qian Fangxue's voice came before she did. "You really make me proud. You're really my good daughter!"
Then came Ye Yudong's excited voice:
"Sister! I heard that the Prince sent Steward Chen here in person to pick you up to the Prince's Mansion?"
Ye Jueyao was putting on makeup, and the smile on her lips couldn't be suppressed. But she still said reservedly:
"Yes, but I don't know what the Prince wants to see me for."
"What else could it be!" Qian Fangxue waved her handkerchief. "An unmarried man sending someone to pick up an unmarried woman to his home as a guest. Isn't it obvious?"
"My good girl, although people say that the Prince of Yu'an is cruel and tyrannical, for those he loves, he would even try to pick the moon in the sky for them.
"Now that he has sent someone to pick someone up from our mansion and specifically sent the steward of the Prince's Mansion, that's such a great honor! You must seize this opportunity!"
"Exactly." Ye Yudong echoed. "My good sister, the Prince values you so much. When the time comes, could you please introduce me to the Prince's Mansion?"
The two of them flattered her one after another. Ye Jueyao thought that becoming the mistress of the Prince's Mansion was a sure thing.
"Okay, I know." Ye Jueyao smiled coquettishly and checked her makeup and hair in the mirror.
Then she frowned and said:
"Just be careful not to spread any bad news about Young Master Cao, or else the Prince might be disgusted."
"Don't worry." Qian Fangxue carefully arranged Ye Jueyao's sideburns. "Cao Sheng is originally the fiancé of that Ye Xi girl. Even if you two have some interactions on weekdays, it's normal. Who would dare to say anything?"
"Now the most important thing is to capture the Prince's heart. The Prince's Mansion is much better than the lukewarm State Uncle's Mansion! You must seize this opportunity."
"Okay, Mother, I know." Ye Jueyao gave a gentle smile and walked proudly towards the front hall.
On the other side, Ye Xi also belatedly received the news that someone from the Prince's Mansion had come.
She picked up the food box full of snacks on the table, took a deep breath and said:
"Let's go."
It was all or nothing.
In the spacious waiting room, Steward Chen was chatting with Ye Pengcheng.
He knew that it would take a while for a girl to get ready to go out, so he didn't rush and just sipped his tea casually.
After all, this matter concerned the young heir, and the Prince always attached great importance to it. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been sent here in person to pick her up. If this young lady of the Ye family really had the ability, he might even have to take orders from her in the future.
Just as he was thinking, he saw Ye Jueyao coming over in a flurry of excitement, surrounded by a group of people.
Steward Chen couldn't help frowning.
He had seen too many such women, all of whom were only after the Prince and not here to comfort the young heir.
While he was thinking, Ye Jueyao had already floated over and saluted Steward Chen coquettishly:
"Greetings to Steward Chen."
Although he didn't like her in his heart, Steward Chen was just a servant after all, so he didn't dare to accept Ye Jueyao's salute.
"You're too kind, Miss Ye. This is not necessary."
Steward Chen quickly reached out to support her.
Seeing that Ye Jueyao was quite sensible, Steward Chen's dislike for her faded a bit. He thought maybe he had misunderstood. Maybe this Miss Ye Xi really had some skills.
"Miss Ye, please." Steward Chen put on a smile again and made a gesture of invitation.
Just as Ye Xi arrived at the front hall, she saw this scene.
Qingyuan gloated beside her:
"Second Miss, I told you that the Prince's Mansion was here to pick up the Eldest Miss, but you just didn't believe me. Now that you've seen it with your own eyes, are you convinced?"
Saixing was afraid that Ye Xi would be sad, so she quickly pulled Qingyuan's skirt gently, signaling her to stop talking.
Although Saixing herself didn't believe that the Prince's Mansion had come to pick up the Second Miss, she still couldn't bear to shatter Ye Xi's hope.
Poor Second Miss, in order to please everyone in this family, she always endured everything and didn't even dare to show her peerless beauty.
And Ye Xi had already realized that the Prince's Mansion had picked up the wrong person.
She took a few steps forward, pretending not to see anything, and saluted Ye Pengcheng and Qian Fangxue:
"Daughter Ye Xi, pays respects to Father and Mother."
Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for the two people in front to hear.
Ye Pengcheng and Qian Fangxue were busy seeing off the guest, so they waved impatiently:
"Okay, go down."
But Steward Chen's face changed. Ye Xi?
Then who was this person beside him?