Chapter 87: Feigning Retreat to Lure the Enemy Qingqing burst into a soft laugh, “Puchi,” and looked at Mr. Liu. He said, “Both the young master and the young lady will serve the country in the future; naturally, they must not let others see through their thoughts first.” He then explained, “Although the eldest miss is not a man, the gentleman she marries will naturally assist him in restoring the state.” Hearing this, Qingqing blushed with shame and lowered her head without speaking. At nineteen, she was old enough to know embarrassment. She said, “How can I decide my own lifelong matters? Even if father betroths me to a vulgar rogue, I’d have to accept it.” Lin Hong laughed, “Then wouldn’t the eldest sister’s knowledge be wasted?” Mr. Liu responded, “Even if the young lady marries a beggar, she could turn him into a dragon. You can’t rush these things; haste makes waste.” Qingqing nodded, though she didn’t speak, she was anxious inside. At her age, many girls already had children. Oddly enough, Yu Zhen of the same age was still unmarried. It wasn’t because she couldn’t find a match; on the contrary, suitors had worn a path to her doorstep, unlike the lack of interest in Qingqing. Sometimes, both the overly beautiful and the overly plain have difficulty finding a suitable partner. Observing Qingqing’s expression, Lin Hong casually asked Mr. Liu, “Sir, is this what they call ‘playing hard to get’?” Mr. Liu nodded in agreement, feigning deep thought, “Ah, yes, ‘playing hard to get’ does mean that.” Qingqing, both embarrassed and anxious, said, “You little rascal, just because Mr. Liu and father dote on you, you’re becoming more and more unruly.” She raised her hand to strike him, but Lin Hong quickly begged for mercy, thus sparing Qingqing from further awkwardness. Amidst their laughter, a servant hurriedly approached, announcing, “Miss, someone from the palace says Miss Chen and the Crown Prince have invited you for an outing this afternoon; please prepare.” Qingqing didn’t dare to make the decision alone and looked towards Mr. Liu, who nodded, “You’ve been studying hard these days, take half a day off this afternoon.” Lin Hong, arms crossed, laughed, “The eldest sister truly knows how to ‘play hard to get’, and the ‘catch’ here is the biggest ‘fish’ in our kingdom.” Chapter 88: The Crown Prince’s Good Friend Just as Qingqing was about to rebuke him, Mr. Liu interjected, “Young master, such words should only be spoken in the study; if others hear, it would be considered treason.” Lin Hong stuck out his tongue and lowered his head, not daring to reply. Qingqing felt a twinge of bitterness, suddenly recalling the promise made by the Fourth Prince years ago. But now, he probably wouldn’t even remember who Lin Qingqing was. She sighed, her smile fading. Mr. Liu, seeing through her thoughts, said, “Miss, please go prepare.” Qingqing nodded and left with measured steps. Mr. Liu then turned to Lin Hong, “Young master, while the young lady often jests freely, such matters should not be made light of.” Lin Hong clasped his fists, solemnly stating, “I will keep that in mind.” Mr. Liu nodded, saying no more. After all, which woman would want her lifelong matters to be a jest? Even someone as beautiful as Yu Zhen would not wish to hear such things. Lin Hong, although unintentional, had said something not at all amusing. At noon, Yu Zhen and Li Qin had been waiting in a large carriage at the Lin residence’s gate. The youngest madam scoffed, whispering, “A little girl always makes us wait at the door, what’s that about? The third madam doesn’t even care…” The second madam coughed lightly, “Sister, don’t let the master hear such words. We are waiting for the Crown Prince’s friend, do you understand?” Although reluctant, the youngest madam had to agree. Indeed, the Crown Prince’s friend was far more significant than a mere girl, but this girl was Qingqing. Qingqing hurried to the gate, complaining as she ran, “At this age, still liking to fly kites, isn’t that just for kids?” But since it was something the Crown Prince enjoyed, even if it was childish, she had to act delighted. Perhaps this could also be seen as “smiling with a dagger hidden,” though that might be an exaggeration. “Qingqing, hurry up!” Yu Zhen waved from afar as Qingqing emerged. Today, she had styled her hair in a towering hairdo, her black tresses shining like silk in the sunlight, adorned only with a few small pearls, making her hair seem like clouds. She had grown even more charming since a few years ago, dressed in delicate attire, exuding an indescribable allure. Her smile seemed to erase all worldly troubles, bringing joy to anyone who saw her. Chapter 89: A Very Attractive Piece of Soft Bone From behind, her figure alongside Qingqing’s was undoubtedly the most graceful. They bid farewell to the Lin family, laughing and chattering as they boarded the carriage. This carriage was much more luxurious and larger than the one Qingqing had first experienced, but she no longer marveled at such things. Now, hand in hand with Yu Zhen, they checked each other’s outfits and shared some girlish laughter. “People who don’t know might think you two are lovers,” Li Qin chuckled, teasing them. He lounged lazily on the cushions like a piece of boneless meat, but this piece of soft bone was indeed quite attractive. Despite the carriage’s smooth yet bumpy ride, he reclined in the corner as if in the most comfortable and warmest place on earth. His posture was awkward, yet his casual demeanor combined with an air of royal dominance made him exude an inexplicable nobility. “You seem to be in a bad mood?” Qingqing glanced at him, ignoring his jest. Yu Zhen’s eyes twinkled, and she laughed, “He’s worried about the concubines in the palace.” “Another one is about to join my harem,” Li Qin shot her a look, lazily smiling. Qingqing laughed, “Is one of your consorts pregnant?” Yu Zhen was about to continue the banter, but upon meeting Li Qin’s murderous gaze, she decided to drop it. “My father wants me to take a Crown Princess,” he said, clutching his head in distress, “I’m about to get married.” Although he had several concubines, he did not yet have a Crown Princess. “You and Sister Ya Fu can finally become a couple,” said Yu Zhen with a sweet, sincere smile that almost dazzled the eyes, but a fleeting look of loneliness passed through her eyes, gone so quickly that Qingqing thought she might have imagined it. With Yu Zhen’s beauty and talent, why hadn’t she married yet? Perhaps she believed only the most noble man in the world was worthy of her.
Perhaps she was too competitive, unwilling to lose to someone like Yafu, who was not as good as her? Women can be quite strange sometimes; the things they strive for might not be what they truly like. Chapter 90: Yuzhen Admires the Crown Prince
Her heart clearly admired Li Qin, otherwise, why would she have seemed so forlorn just now? Li Qin shrugged noncommittally, “I mean, in the future, there will be one more person in my Eastern Palace to control me, and it’s a woman.” “Are we women very troublesome?” Yuzhen immediately returned to her playful self, and a beauty like her wouldn’t remain downhearted for long. Li Qin raised a finger and waved it, “Women are very talkative.” Only then did the three of them understand, and they burst into laughter.