Prince Jin’s words sent cold sweat beading on Marquis Su’s forehead, filling him with both shock and delight. He cast a meaningful glance at Su Leyun and cautiously ventured, “How could we trouble Your Highness with our household affairs? It is my daughter who lacks understanding. I apologize on her behalf.”
Prince Jin wore a faint, enigmatic smile, his gaze lifting slightly as he looked toward Su Leyun.
Su Leyun averted her eyes, a sense of unease stirring within her. Prince Jin’s visit was laden with implications—what exactly was his intention?
In her past life, she had only known Prince Jin as cold and aloof, never realizing he could be so brazenly unrestrained.
To openly meddle in the affairs of a minister’s household, without fear of being accused of forming factions or wielding power to oppress others.
Before she could finish her thoughts, Prince Jin spoke again, his words startling everyone.
“This is not merely the household affair of Marquis Su, but a matter of concern to this prince…”
He left his sentence hanging, the trailing tone rising slightly, leaving much to ponder.
Prince Jin stopped there, picking up his teacup once more. Everyone understood the implication behind his words, each lost in their own thoughts, and for a moment, the room fell so silent one could hear a pin drop.
Su Leyun tightened her grip on the jade pendant in her hand, her delicate brows furrowed. She never expected that a momentary whim at the courier station would lead to such a major complication.
Prince Jin intended to use her to bring both the Sun and Su households under his influence, adding another chip to his hand in the struggle for the throne.
The path to the throne had always been perilous, and she had no desire to wade into these murky waters.
Yet now, with Prince Jin speaking so unequivocally, she found herself powerless to refute him.
Sun Jiarou’s eyes sparkled with delight as she looked at Prince Jin, growing more and more satisfied—noble in status, dignified in character, and outstanding in appearance.
She took Su Leyun’s hand and patted it, her deliberately lowered voice unable to conceal her joy. “My daughter truly has excellent taste.”
Su Leyun could only offer a bitter smile, her eyes flickering slightly as she shot Prince Jin a discreet glare.
Prince Jin caught her subtle gesture and indulged in a smile, his interest growing even stronger. Among the noble ladies of the capital, which one did not exhaust every effort to marry into his Prince Jin’s mansion?
Yet here she was, frowning with worry as if he were unworthy of her.
Su Wan’er observed the interaction between the two, her fingers hidden in her sleeves digging fiercely into her palms.
At palace banquets, how many noble ladies—plump or slender—had vied for Prince Jin’s attention, yet failed to earn even a glance from him. How could a country girl like her catch Prince Jin’s eye!
Even if he were to choose a marriage alliance with the Su Marquis Manor, it should be her, Su Wan’er—how could it possibly be Su Leyun’s turn!
On the other side, Marquis Su pondered for a long while before suddenly breaking into a smile. He rose and cupped his hands toward Prince Jin. “Your Highness need not worry. I understand what must be done. Tomorrow, I will gather the esteemed elders of the clan, bring out the family register, and add Yun’er’s name.”
Now that Prince Jin was the most likely candidate to inherit the throne, forming a marriage alliance would elevate the Su household to new heights.
What was a mere marquis? If this succeeded, he would become the emperor’s father-in-law!
To align with Prince Jin now, the first step was to secure Su Leyun’s status as the legitimate daughter. Only the legitimate daughter of the Marquis Manor could be worthy of the imperial family.
Sun Jiarou stroked Su Leyun’s shoulder, her eyes growing slightly moist. Her daughter would finally be entered into the family register and regain her status as the legitimate daughter.
Su Leyun returned her grip, her heart cold as ice.
Even a biological daughter could not compare to power and wealth.
Noticing the sorrow in Su Leyun’s eyes, Prince Jin frowned slightly, set down his teacup, and exchanged a knowing glance with Marquis Su.
“That is excellent.”
Then his gaze turned to Old Madam, and he asked curiously, “When I first entered, I heard that your manor seems to have lost something and was about to conduct a search. Coincidentally, I brought some men who can help.”
Old Madam hurriedly rose to her feet, quickly saying she dared not trouble the prince.
Prince Jin merely took it as politeness and paid no heed, proceeding to give orders to his subordinates on his own.
“Yun’er’s courtyard has already been searched. Follow the Su Manor’s people and check the other places.”
As soon as his words fell, several palace eunuchs, along with the Imperial Guards, immediately dispersed to search the premises.
Marquis Su looked embarrassed, casting a somewhat reproachful glance at Old Madam.
It was just a jade bracelet, yet it had caused such a commotion with a house search, and Prince Jin had witnessed it all. With all this searching, where was the dignity of the Su Marquis Manor!
Marquis Su’s face flushed and paled alternately. Just as he was about to speak, Prince Jin cut him off.
“The Su Manor has lost something. It is only right for me to lend a hand. Rest assured, the inner quarters of the womenfolk will be inspected by the eunuchs, so no rules will be broken.”
After speaking, Prince Jin leisurely grabbed a handful of pine nuts from the table and began peeling them carefully.
Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, Su Leyun seized the opportunity to slip behind the screen, summon Cuiliu, and whisper a few words to her. Only after watching Cuiliu leave the courtyard did she return to her seat.
As soon as she sat down, she saw Prince Jin beckoning her over, signaling for her to approach.
Su Leyun frowned and reluctantly walked up to Prince Jin.
“I wonder what instructions Your Highness has.”
Prince Jin simply looked at her and smiled without speaking, waiting until she seemed about to lose her temper before speaking softly.
“Hold out your hand.”
Su Leyun was puzzled but complied, revealing her fair palm with slender fingers.
Prince Jin placed all the peeled pine nuts in his hand onto Su Leyun’s palm.
“I heard from Su Ye that you like these.”
As his warm fingertips brushed against her palm, a blush spread across Su Leyun’s face. She withdrew her hand and then curtsied in thanks.
“Thank you for the reward, Your Highness.”
Prince Jin raised an eyebrow. If she wanted to keep her distance from him, he would not let her have her way.
“When you asked me for the jade pendant that day, you were not this distant. Go back and sit down. Eat while you wait.”
Su Leyun felt a lump in her chest, turned, and returned to Sun Jiarou’s side, closing her eyes slightly.
It was over. Now, even the city moat could not wash away the connection between her and Prince Jin.
In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, a blue-clad eunuch approached Prince Jin with both hands holding a white jade bracelet.
“Your Highness, is this what you were looking for?”
Prince Jin sneered, “Foolish thing, take it to Old Madam.”
The eunuch obeyed, presenting the jade bracelet to Old Madam. Old Madam finally showed a smile, took the bracelet, and had Mama Zhao put it on for her. Then she rose to express her thanks.
“Thank you, Your Highness. This is indeed the one I lost.”
Prince Jin nodded and summoned the eunuch back to him, asking coldly, “Where was it found? Was the thief caught?”
The eunuch stammered, lowering his head even further.
“What? Have you lost your tongue?”
Prince Jin questioned with a cold glare, idly toying with the teacup on the table as if he could see flowers blooming on it.
The eunuch cautiously replied, “This servant finds it difficult to answer. It would be better to let the Su Manor’s steward speak.”
Old Madam froze, her heart, which had just settled, leaping back into her throat. The eunuch’s reluctance to speak plainly was partly to preserve the Marquis Manor’s dignity and partly to avoid disbelief from others.
Could it be… a family scandal!?
Prince Jin waved his hand, signaling the eunuch to step back. His cool, slightly oppressive gaze fell upon the steward.
The steward steeled himself and stepped forward, stammering, “This bracelet… this bracelet was found under the young mistress’s pillow.”
“What! You’re lying!”
Su Wan’er stood up, forcing herself to remain calm, and looked toward Old Madam as if seeking protection.
Old Madam was still in shock, unable to gather her thoughts.