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"Auntie, why has the Crown Princess gone to Mobei?"

The Empress didn’t hide the truth from her niece and slowly began, "The Crown Prince has had an accident, and the Crown Princess has gone to look for him."

Lady Chang Liangyu pressed for details, "Auntie, what exactly happened to His Highness?"

The Empress sighed, "The Crown Prince fell off a cliff and is missing. He has not been found yet; I hope they can return soon."

Only then did Lady Chang Liangyu realize that Xiao Jinyan had fallen off a cliff and gone missing. Fallen off a cliff and missing? I’m afraid the odds are not in his favor, are they?

She had yet to become Crown Princess, so how could Xiao Jinyan have an accident? If something happened to him, how could she become the Crown Princess?

The Empress stared at her niece for a while; she had been only sixteen when she first entered the East Palace and was now twenty. If the Crown Prince kept refusing her his bed, staying in the East Palace was just a waste of time.

"Lanlan, the Crown Prince only has the Crown Princess in his heart. I fear that you are wasting your youth by continuing to stay in the East Palace. Why not take this opportunity to leave the palace and marry someone of equal status?"

Lady Chang Liangyu was still immersed in whether Xiao Jinyan might return wrapped in a shroud when she heard her aunt’s words and froze on the spot.

She had entered the East Palace with the intention of becoming the Crown Princess, and now that she was already there, she merely lacked the opportunity. Yet they were asking her to leave the palace?

How could she accept this?

"Auntie, Lanlan entered the East Palace because of her admiration for His Highness. Now you’re asking Lanlan to leave, how can I be willing?" As Lady Chang Liangyu spoke, she started to cry.

The Empress felt somewhat soft-hearted when she saw Lady Chang Liangyu crying. Who didn’t want to marry the person they loved? But one-sided affection would only lead to hurting oneself.

She continued to persuade, "I’m doing this for your own good. I don’t want you to waste your time. If you get older, it will be harder to find a suitable marriage once you leave the palace."

Lady Chang Liangyu cried even harder, feeling even more wronged. She raised her handkerchief to wipe the tears from the corner of her eyes, "Auntie, but Lanlan is not willing. Can you help Lanlan, please?"

The Empress helplessly replied, "How can I help with this? There’s nothing I can do if the Crown Prince is not willing."

Lady Chang Liangyu lowered her eyes to wipe away her tears and sneered inwardly; it’s not that there’s nothing you can do, you just favor Shen Chuwei, an outsider, and won’t help your own niece.

The Empress spoke gently, persuading, "You should go back and think it over; I would never harm you."

Lady Chang Liangyu just kept her head down, crying, and did not speak.

Seeing this, the Empress felt a pang of distress and comforted her for a long time.

After leaving Fengyi Palace, Lady Chang Liangyu’s expression immediately changed. She had realized that the Empress was not considering her own niece’s best interests at all.

To have her leave the palace to make room for Shen Chuwei?

She refused to leave the palace; Shen Chuwei’s departure was the perfect opportunity to get rid of her.

Once back, Lady Chang Liangyu wrote a letter and had Huai Xiang send it out.

She asked her elder brother to find some assassins to ambush Shen Chuwei on the road and ensure she never returns.

After sending the letter, Lady Chang Liangyu waited calmly for news.

It had rained the day before and the weather had cooled down a bit. While walking in the garden, Lady Chang Liangyu saw Susu and noticed the inseparable white tiger; she had never had the chance to strike.

As soon as anyone approached, the white tiger would assume a menacing stance as if ready to eat someone. How could anyone dare to come close?

Watching Susu play carefree, Lady Chang Liangyu clenched her teeth in frustration but was powerless to do anything.

*

Regarding the 25th time Xun Qingqing had men arranged for her to meet, she completely gave up. The more she met, the stranger they became.

She thought such dramatic scenarios only existed in storybooks, yet she had encountered them herself.

For instance, a certain Master He, the son of a wealthy merchant and a second-generation rich kid with money to burn.

Compared to before she entered the palace, Xun Qingqing had become much more demure, at least able to quietly drink tea with the other person.

Master He sized Xun Qingqing up and down with a lecherous smile; Xun Qingqing could hardly keep from throwing up.

Master He asked, "Miss Xun, I really like your looks. There’s just one problem that I’m curious about, and I wonder if Miss Xun can clarify for me?"

"Aren’t you asking knowingly, Master He? If I had served in the Crown Prince’s bed, would I be able to leave the palace? If I had, you likely wouldn’t have the chance to see me at all," Xun Qingqing said and stormed off, slapping the table as she left.

Xun Qingqing was absolutely right; having served in the Crown Prince’s bed meant she belonged to him and couldn’t possibly be touched by some rich kid. Being in the Imperial Palace naturally meant not seeing each other.

Then there was a certain Young Master Liu, a son of an official, whose sister had entered the palace and became a junior concubine from a noble family.

Young Master Liu took a sip of tea and began, "Miss Xun, you’ve been in the palace for so long, and the Crown Prince hasn’t touched you. You couldn’t possibly have some illness, could you? Like, do you have some unsightly birthmarks on your body, or perhaps..."

Xun Qingqing almost spit out her tea in shock; even with her good temperament, she couldn’t hold back anymore. Without waiting for Young Master Liu to finish, she splashed the hot tea right in his face.

"You’re sick, your whole family is sick. I was born beautiful and have skin as white as snow. A toad lusting after swan meat; don’t you even look at yourself," she scolded.

After finishing her tirade, Xun Qingqing felt it wasn’t venting enough. She punched Young Master Liu then brushed off her hands and walked away.

Having seen too many oddities, Xun Qingqing instinctively rejected the thought of meeting men.

Today, Xun Changfeng once again tried to introduce a suave and dashing young master to his sister, only to push open her boudoir door and find it empty.

His sister had run away~

At that moment, on the bustling Main Street, Xun Qingqing had successfully snuck out and was happily strolling around.

Cai Xia was a bit worried, "Miss, by running out like this, Young Master will surely be worried, right? Maybe this time Young Master might introduce a reliable man?"

"A reliable man?" Xun Qingqing snorted, "Haven’t I been duped several times already? I won’t believe in their judgment anymore. Anyway, I would rather die than go to another arranged meeting."

Xun Qingqing saw a clothing shop not far away and happily dragged Cai Xia over, "Let’s go buy some new clothes."

"Miss, how many new clothes have you bought already? Your wardrobe can’t even hold them and you still haven’t worn them," Cai Xia remarked.

Xun Qingqing seriously explained, "You don’t understand. A woman’s wardrobe always lacks one piece of clothing, and that is the latest style."

Cai Xia, "...I’m ignorant, I have never heard of that saying before."

"As long as I’ve heard it, that’s enough," Xun Qingqing cheerfully entered the clothing store.

Cai Xia followed behind helplessly.

While Xun Qingqing was walking around, Mei Yisi noticed her. Every time he saw her, he felt an irresistible urge to make her regret accepting his proposal.

"Are you ready?"

"Master, rest assured, everything is in place. This time, I guarantee that we will fulfill your wishes," Wan Cai said with a wicked grin. He too was eager to share the spoils.