After seeing Prince Jin off, Sun Jiarou gazed thoughtfully in the direction he had left, then turned a meaningful look toward Su Leyun.
Su Leyun felt a bit embarrassed under her mother’s gaze and lowered her eyes, speaking softly.
“Mother, what is it? Why are you looking at me like that…”
Sun Jiarou took her daughter’s hand and sat her down beside her, tucking the stray hairs by her cheeks behind her ears. The more she looked, the more pleased she felt.
“Silly Yun’er, Prince Jin’s words just now carried hidden meaning. Could it be that he has taken a liking to you?”
Su Leyun’s face flushed slightly, and she stomped her foot in playful protest.
How could there be anything between her and Prince Jin!
Not to mention that during their first meeting, she had swindled a jade pendant and a promise from him. Just considering Prince Jin’s troublesome status—not only did he die young, but he was also at the center of the struggle for the throne…
No matter what, she didn’t want to get involved in this muddy water.
“Mother, how could someone like me be worthy of a prince!”
“Nonsense! Whoever marries my daughter would be the fortunate one!”
Looking at Su Leyun’s shy little expression, Sun Jiarou affectionately smoothed her slightly disheveled hair, still weighing in her mind whether Prince Jin or Li Rui would be better and more suitable for her daughter.
Meanwhile, Su Ye escorted Prince Jin out. As the two walked through the carved gallery, Prince Jin paused by the lake, its surface covered with a thin layer of ice.
“Winter is approaching. Has Marquis Manor prepared for the cold season?”
Su Ye sensed the underlying meaning in his words and hesitated to answer lightly. Though straightforward by nature, he was not entirely ignorant of court affairs. Prince Jin’s visit to the manor, ostensibly to deliver an imperial decree, was actually to gauge the Marquis Manor’s stance toward the princes vying for the throne.
His family naturally wished to stay out of trouble, as a single misstep in the struggle for succession could lead to the destruction of the entire household.
Su Ye was Prince Jin’s study companion, and in the eyes of others, the Marquis Manor was likely already aligned with Prince Jin’s faction…
Prince Jin chuckled at his hesitant demeanor.
“A grown man, yet less decisive than your sister!”
Hearing this, Su Ye looked at Prince Jin in confusion, wondering to himself. Counting the previous occasion, Prince Jin had only met his sister twice—how could he know how she handled matters?
Before he could ponder further, Prince Jin spoke again.
“Your sister has been back for some time now. Why hasn’t your family publicly acknowledged her identity?”
At these words, Su Ye grew even more puzzled. Not only had Prince Jin personally visited, but he had also repeatedly brought up his sister. What could his intentions be?
“To be honest, Your Highness, the elders in our family were frightened by what happened before and fear this sister might not be genuine either.”
Su Ye spoke with a mix of helplessness and frustration, pouring out his thoughts in one go.
Prince Jin raised an eyebrow slightly—he knew his study companion was someone who couldn’t keep things to himself.
“My sister’s eyes and brows are exactly like my mother’s. How could she be fake? What’s most infuriating is that I found the midwife’s home from back then, but when I went looking for her, she had just moved away!”
Su Ye sat down on the gallery with a worried frown. He had been so close to proving his younger sister’s identity, but now the person was gone, and he didn’t know how to explain it to his mother and sister.
After hearing all this, Prince Jin understood.
There were no such coincidences in the world—only deliberate actions by those with ulterior motives.
“Don’t worry, I’ll have my people keep an eye out for this matter.”
Prince Jin patted Su Ye on the shoulder, glanced toward the inner residence, and then strode away.
Su Ye cupped his hands toward the direction of his departure. Only after the man had gone far did he remember that he had once again forgotten the cloak his sister had entrusted him to return to Prince Jin.
On his way back to Chaohua Cottage, passing by the Peony Garden where Su Wan’er resided, Su Ye spotted a man in a blue robe entering the courtyard through the flower gate from a distance.
“Isn’t that Li Rui?”
Su Ye frowned slightly but didn’t dwell on it, continuing on to find his mother and sister.
Upon entering the Peony Garden, though it was not the blooming season, the courtyard was still adorned with vibrant flowers. Chilly plum blossoms bloomed in clusters, as elegant and pure as the mistress of the garden.
Li Rui straightened his robes before stepping into the main hall. As soon as he entered, he saw Su Wan’er twisting a handkerchief to wipe her tears, her eyes red and pitiful.
“Wan’er, you’ve been wronged.”
Meeting those tearful eyes, Li Rui awkwardly withdrew his half-extended arm, which had intended to pull her into an embrace.
It was already highly improper to enter a lady’s private quarters without permission; how could he overstep further and offend the pristine beauty in his heart?
Su Wan’er noted his pity, a slight smile curling at the corner of her lips, her voice tinged with a faint sob.
“There’s nothing to feel wronged about. This is what I owe Sister Yun.”
Seeing her like this, Li Rui grew even more displeased with Su Leyun, saying indignantly, “Why should the mistakes of the previous generation be blamed on you?”
Li Rui slammed the table fiercely, rattling the tea set, then took Su Wan’er’s hand and vowed earnestly, “Wan’er, I’ll have my family propose marriage as soon as I return, so you won’t have to suffer such indignities in the Su Family!”
Hearing this, Su Wan’er blushed, biting her lower lip as she withdrew her hand, hesitating to speak.
“What, you don’t want to marry me?”
With his hand now empty, a void seemed to open in his heart. Li Rui looked at Su Wan’er with hurt in his eyes.
“I… I do want to.”
Su Wan’er lowered her gaze, turning away from him, sobbing softly. “But… the one originally betrothed to the Li Family was the legitimate daughter of the Su Family. What am I now…”
Her slender shoulders trembled, and Li Rui couldn’t help but pull her into his embrace, gritting his teeth as he asked, “Wan’er, have you heard something?”
Su Wan’er leaned into his embrace, a glint flashing in her tearful eyes. “Brother Rui is a renowned talent in the capital, with a bright future ahead. Sister Yun, coming from the countryside, how could she not be drawn to you…”
After saying this, Su Wan’er covered her face and wept, her cries filled with sorrow as if she had suffered a great injustice.
Li Rui clenched his fist and struck the carved antique shelf fiercely, unable to contain his anger. “A village girl dares to dream of marrying into the Li Family! What sheer delusion!”
Taking out a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe Su Wan’er’s tears, he waited for her emotions to settle before swearing an oath to the heavens and earth. “Wan’er, you are the only one in my heart. No matter what clouds or rain try to interfere, they will never take your place!”
Su Wan’er smiled through her tears, her cheeks flushing with a coy expression, and tentatively asked, “I know Brother Rui’s feelings, of course. But… have you made any progress with the matter I asked you to handle a few days ago?”
A few days earlier, Su Wan’er had accidentally learned that Su Ye was searching for the midwife from years ago and had immediately asked Li Rui to help find her. Although Li Rui was obedient to her, he was overly rigid and had hesitated about this matter.
“Don’t worry, I’ve already found the person and moved her elsewhere.”
“Elsewhere? Where?”
Su Wan’er suddenly raised her voice, startling Li Rui. Realizing her outburst, she immediately offered an apologetic smile and explained.
“I… I was just too afraid of losing you, and never truly intended to obscure Sister Yun’er’s status as the legitimate daughter. Once… once our matters are settled, we must still have the midwife restore her rightful name.”
Li Rui understood, his gaze toward Su Wan’er growing even more adoring and tender.
“Wan’er, leave these matters to me. You need not worry in the slightest—just wait to become my bride.”
Su Wan’er concealed the displeasure in her eyes and nodded with a smile.
She had resolved to hire assassins to silence the witnesses, but due to a lack of capable hands, she had asked Li Rui to find people for her. Who would have thought he would turn out to be such a fool!
It seemed she needed to cultivate a group of her own trusted followers outside.