Outside the carriage, Nanzheng shuddered upon hearing the words “seeing is believing.”
How dare this woman say such a thing to the prince, who had been blind for years? Did she have a death wish?
Sure enough, in the next moment, he felt the prince’s murderous intent erupt. He couldn’t help but shrink his neck, thinking that the woman was likely doomed.
However, inside the carriage, Xiao Changheng’s hand, which was gripping the slender neck of the young woman, hesitated to tighten.
Staring at her face, covered in unhealed scars and bloody sores, he was stunned.
He… could actually see again?
Yun Qingqing smiled calmly, withdrew her hand, and then expressionlessly removed the large hand from her neck before speaking unhurriedly:
“Your Highness, are you willing to take me as your wife?”
She was already certain that the Regent King was shrewd enough. The troubles entangled around him were fatal, and she was likely the only one who could resolve them for him.
This deal—she wasn’t afraid he would refuse.
Xiao Changheng stared at her in a daze, remaining silent for a long while.
Outside the carriage, Xiao Zirui didn’t know what had happened, but he clearly heard Yun Qingqing’s final words.
“Yun Qingqing, how can you be so shameless!”
He could hardly believe his ears!
“Uncle, don’t be deceived by this woman! She is inherently malicious. Half a year ago, she committed arson and harmed others, only to suffer the consequences and become this ugly monster. Yet she has been pestering your nephew relentlessly. I never imagined that, to take revenge on me, she would dare to use you as a pawn. It is utterly unforgivable!” Xiao Zirui was furious, determined to expose Yun Qingqing’s scheme on the spot.
Xing Changheng frowned, his eyes turning cold. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Yun Qingqing roll her eyes toward the outside of the carriage and spread her hands, saying:
“Ah! Your Highness, I was forced into this by the Crown Prince! Who’s pestering him? It’s clearly him who won’t leave me alone! And he even falsely accuses me with baseless charges!”
“Today, I was genuinely determined to cut ties with him. I even tore up the marriage contract right in front of him. Who would have thought the Crown Prince would be so relentless? He’s not even in a hurry to deliver the betrothal gifts to the Prime Minister’s Estate’s young lady, insisting on staying here to cause trouble for me instead!”
“So, Your Highness the Regent King, I beg you to marry me. That way, the Crown Prince can give up sooner, and I can finally be free of him!”
The coldness in Xiao Changheng’s eyes faded, replaced by an amused interest as he watched her vivid performance. The corners of his eyes curved almost imperceptibly.
However, the young woman before him gradually grew blurry, the light dimmed, and eventually everything returned to silence, sinking back into pitch darkness.
He could no longer see.
In his moment of melancholy, he suddenly heard the young woman’s hushed voice whisper in his ear:
“Don’t worry. As long as you marry me and make that scoundrel outside stay far away, I promise to restore your sight completely—so clearly that you could see a mosquito’s leg from a mile away!”
Xiao Changheng was taken aback for a moment, then couldn’t help but curl the corners of his lips upward.
Outside the carriage, Xiao Zirui was so enraged that he nearly jumped out of his skin. He longed to charge into the carriage, drag the woman out, and hold her accountable, but he dared not offend his uncle, the Regent King. Clenching his fists, he gritted his teeth and said:
“Uncle, you heard her! She is clearly using you!”
He refused to believe that, given his uncle’s temperament, he would tolerate such insolence!
Beside him, Nanzheng was utterly dumbfounded.
Was this ugly woman insane? Just listen to what she was saying! Once the prince lost his temper, even the Zhenyuan Marquis Estate wouldn’t be able to protect her!
However, a low chuckle suddenly came from inside the carriage, followed by Xiao Changheng’s magnetic, deep voice:
“Lady Qingqing is beautiful, kind-hearted, clever, and intelligent, quite to this prince’s liking. She is indeed suitable to be the Princess Consort of the Prince Regent.”
Xiao Zirui: ?
Did he hear that right? Could it be that his imperial uncle has been bewitched?
Nanzheng was also shocked. No one understood his own prince better than he did. How could this woman sway him into wanting to marry her as his Princess Consort with just a few words?
And leaving everything else aside, the word “beautiful” had absolutely nothing to do with this young lady!
He very much wanted to remind his prince not to be deceived into marriage by an ugly woman, but then he suddenly remembered that the Crown Prince had clearly mentioned her disfigurement earlier… which made it even more incomprehensible.
The Regent King paid no heed to his nephew’s or subordinate’s feelings, calmly ordering:
“Nanzheng, arrange immediately. This prince will go to the Zhenyuan Marquis Estate to propose marriage.”
“Ah, this…” Nanzheng was utterly bewildered. “But Your Highness, preparing betrothal gifts now is simply impossible…”
“Hmm…” Xiao Changheng pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled faintly. “I see the Crown Prince’s betrothal gifts are not in urgent need of delivery. Why not lend them to this prince for use, how about that?”
“What!” Xiao Zirui’s eyes widened. “Imperial Uncle, this…”
“Hmm? Do you have an objection?” Xiao Changheng’s tone was light.
Xiao Zirui suddenly shivered, his thoughts snapping back from Yun Qingqing as he realized the other party was not negotiating with him.
The Regent King held immense power, always decisive and unwavering. Even his own father, the Emperor, showed him respect. Since he had spoken, there was no room for refusal; otherwise, his recently acquired position as Crown Prince might become unstable!
“…I dare not object!” Xiao Zirui clenched his fists and replied in a low voice.
So this was Yun Qingqing’s scheme!
No wonder she specifically sought out the Regent King—it was because he was paralyzed and blind, unable to see how ugly she was, giving her the chance to bewitch him!
This treacherous woman even incited him to seize the betrothal gifts meant for the Prime Minister’s Estate, preventing the marriage proposal, and she actually succeeded!
Xiao Zirui gritted his teeth so hard they nearly shattered.
Inside the carriage, Yun Qingqing stared at Xiao Changheng in astonishment.
Could things really be handled this way??
…Simply brilliant! That scumbag must be fuming with rage right now, hahahaha!
However, before she could laugh out loud, she suddenly noticed another thick, black strand had appeared on the Karmic Threads entwined around her body—it was practically solidified Malevolent Qi.
Ah, this…
Her smile gradually faded.
…
At the Prime Minister’s Estate.
The Su family gathered together, each beaming with joy.
“The Crown Prince will come today to propose marriage to Yurou! Our Su family will have a Crown Princess!”
“This is a grand, glorious event that brings honor to our family! I’ve always said our Yurou has been promising since childhood!”
“Indeed, Yurou is the capital’s top talented lady. Throughout the entire capital, no one is more suited to be the Crown Princess than Yurou!”
Su Yurou stood gracefully behind her mother, listening to the elders lavish praise upon her. Her face wore a hint of shyness, but the proud curve at the corner of her mouth was already impossible to suppress.
“However… I heard that ugly girl from the Zhenyuan Marquis Estate still refuses to break off the engagement with the Crown Prince. Could this pose any problems…” someone suddenly voiced a concern.
Su Yurou pursed her lips, a flash of coldness passing through her eyes, yet her tone remained gentle and magnanimous:
“Esteemed elders need not worry. The matter of breaking the engagement is under His Majesty’s authority; the Yun Estate dare not disobey. Brother Crown Prince has long since severed ties with Yun Qingqing. Now it is merely her own wishful thinking; it holds no weight.”
Su’s mother sneered coldly:
“That ugly girl isn’t even worth one of Yu Rou’s toes. The Crown Prince’s betrothal gifts for our Yu Rou are already halfway here, so what is there to worry about!”
Everyone chimed in agreement:
“Exactly, how could the Crown Prince possibly have even the slightest interest in that ugly creature anymore.”
“Indeed! Just now, a servant came to report that the Crown Prince’s gift procession stretches as far as the eye can see—enough to show how much he values this marriage!”
“From now on, our Su family will be part of the imperial relatives!”
Just then, a servant suddenly rushed in from outside, panting breathlessly:
“N-No good! The Crown Prince’s gift procession turned at the crossroads and headed toward the Yun Estate!”