Ye Jueyao's eyes almost blazed with anger.
[No way! The royal mansion is not yet fully confident. We mustn't let Cao Sheng get involved!]
Giving Cao Sheng a sorrowful yet tender look, Ye Jueyao said stubbornly and aggrievedly,
"Then I won't bother my sister and her sweetheart anymore. I came to visit my sister because I heard the outside world said that the Prince of Yu'an was cold - hearted and I was afraid my sister would suffer. But I never expected..."
Ye Jueyao shook her head self - deprecatingly. Then, looking at Cao Sheng with extreme disappointment, she said,
"I was being sentimental. My sister has someone to protect her. I, as the elder sister, seem to be redundant."
These words seemed to be teasing Ye Xi and Cao Sheng, but every sentence implied that Cao Sheng was heartless.
Even Sai Xing, who was inexperienced in matters of the heart, sensed something amiss.
"Sister, what are you talking nonsense about?" Ye Xi gently punched Ye Jueyao and chided, "Just now, sister offended the young heir. The prince couldn't defend you openly. But in a moment, he rushed me away and said that I shouldn't go back to the royal mansion if I couldn't explain things clearly. Sister, don't you understand?"
Since Yi Yuan didn't allow her to go back to the royal mansion anyway, Ye Xi decided to spread rumors about him without restraint.
As soon as her voice fell, Cao Sheng's face, which had just softened and even showed a bit of self - blame, instantly darkened again.
[The prince really values me so much.]
[Really, she shouldn't have said this at this moment. It would have been better to say it later.]
Ye Jueyao's heart was in turmoil. But because of Cao Sheng's presence, she could only force herself to explain,
"Sister, don't talk nonsense. I've never had any contact with the prince. How could he treat me differently? Stop talking about this. It's getting late. Let's go back first."
"Okay, then... alright..."
A rift had already formed. Whether they would mend it later and how they would do it, their interactions would surely increase. If they were seen by others at that time, it wouldn't be as easy to cover up as today.
Ye Xi decided to stop at the right time. However, she still pulled Ye Jueyao to go back to the Ye Mansion with her and Cao Sheng.
At the Ye Mansion—
Qian Fangxue was anxiously waiting for news of Ye Jueyao. When she saw the three of them come back together, she immediately had a bad feeling.
After a simple greeting, Ye Xi "reluctantly" went to see Cao Sheng off.
Ye Jueyao told Qian Fangxue everything that had happened today in detail.
"Oh, you! The Prince of Yu'an only has this one nephew. He treasures Yi Yaofeng like a rare gem. You offended him. No wonder the prince was angry with you."
Qian Fangxue poked Ye Jueyao's head in frustration.
"Mother is right. Daughter also thought she was too rash later."
Ye Jueyao rubbed her head and hugged Qian Fangxue's arm, coquettishly saying,
"However, since the prince sent Ye Xi to explain things to me, it shows that the prince still has some feelings for me. So daughter still has a bit of a chance. It's just the Cao family..."
"The Cao family can't be abandoned either." Qian Fangxue said firmly, "My dear daughter, as long as you haven't entered the royal mansion, and haven't had a proper wedding with the three - matchmaker and six - betrothal - gift ceremony, you must never give up on the Cao family. Do you understand?"
"Daughter knows," Ye Jueyao always saw eye to eye with Qian Fangxue, "But I saw that Cao Sheng was quite concerned about Ye Xi today. I'm afraid there will be a lot of trouble then."
"No matter how much trouble there is, it's only for a year. Can she turn the world upside down?"
Qian Fangxue didn't take it seriously. "Even if she can cause a big stir, when the time is up, she will end up the same."
"That's true..." Ye Jueyao felt a bit more relieved. The mother and daughter then discussed how to go back to the royal mansion again.
After seeing Cao Sheng off, Ye Xi didn't go back in a hurry. Instead, she walked around the streets for a few rounds.
Since she couldn't count on Yi Yuan anymore, she had to find someone else to help her invite Master Hunyuan to resolve her fate. And as for the Ye family, since it was a den of wolves and tigers, there was no reason for her to stay for long.
But at present, she could be said to be penniless. Even if she left the Ye family, she probably wouldn't live long.
So she still had to find a way to make money...
Thinking of this, Ye Xi suddenly felt something was wrong.
If the Ye family only wanted her to resolve Ye Jueyao's fate, they could just keep her in the mansion and give her something to eat. If they kept her under Qian Fangxue's care for better supervision, she still had a small monthly allowance since childhood, although it was pitifully small. And her other living conditions were not bad either.
Why did the Ye family go to so much trouble? Was it because they were afraid that outsiders would know that the Ye family was harsh on their daughter and then be impeached?
Unable to figure out the reason for a moment, Ye Xi felt a bit headache.
"I heard that the Curiosity Hall has recently got a new treasure. When lit, one can see beautiful dancers performing and the whole room will be filled with fragrance."
"I know, I know. I heard it's a small incense burner made of an unknown material. Although it's only the size of a palm, it's extremely delicate."
The peddlers nearby were vividly talking about the new items in the Curiosity Hall.
Ye Xi couldn't help but be attracted.
The Curiosity Hall had been open in the capital for more than twenty years and was very famous. However, Ye Xi had never seen it before.
Now that she heard there was such a strange object, she couldn't move on.
The mistress and maid glanced at each other, then went to a nearby teahouse, ordered a bowl of cold tea and sat down to listen carefully.
The peddler there continued,
"Yes. I heard that not only many high - ranking officials and nobles will attend the treasure exhibition in the Curiosity Hall tomorrow, but even the most favored Fourth Princess in the palace will come."
"Really? It seems that this treasure is not exaggerated. We must go and have a look at the treasure exhibition in the Curiosity Hall."
As soon as his voice fell, the peddlers nearby burst into laughter.
"You're daydreaming. The entrance fee for the treasure exhibition in the Curiosity Hall is ten taels of silver. It's not that easy to get in."
A peddler selling sachets said.
"But I heard that the Fourth Princess is very kind and approachable." Another peddler selling masks continued, "If you really want to have a look, maybe if you plead with the Fourth Princess, she might let you take a distant look."
"Hahaha..."
Everyone laughed. They were all joking. The man didn't take it seriously and just laughed with everyone.
Ye Xi took it to heart.
The Fourth Princess?
This Fourth Princess had a very good reputation. Ye Xi had heard of her but had never had any contact with her.
If the rumors were true, if she could win the Fourth Princess's favor and ask her to help find Master Hunyuan to resolve her fate, it would be great.
But where could she get the ten taels of silver?
Previously, because of Yi Yaofeng, the little silver she had had already been spent. And the Ye family had a fixed number of her jewelry, so she couldn't sell them.
Ye Xi was in a dilemma.
Looking at the row upon row of stalls around, Ye Xi suddenly had an idea.
"Sai Xing," Ye Xi waved to Sai Xing mysteriously, "Lend me some money to buy something..."
After a while, Ye Xi walked out swaggeringly in a Taoist robe and wearing a veil hat. Behind her was Sai Xing, who was dressed the same but looked much more nervous.
It was Sai Xing's first time doing such a thing, so she couldn't help but feel nervous.
"Miss, oops, I mean the Immortal Slow Ping. Will this method work?"
"I don't know either." Ye Xi was also nervous. After all, it was her first time making money by fortune - telling on her own.
"Let's try first. If it doesn't work, we'll think of something else."
But my purse might not allow it...
Sai Xing hesitated but finally swallowed her words.
Forget it. She was her own miss. What else could she do but spoil her?