mtl008 Chapter 317 Just an ant
Chapter 317 Just an ant
The maid looked at the glittering gold hairpin in her hand, a hint of excitement flashing across her face.
She hesitated for a moment, bit her lip, and finally nodded: "Alright, miss, I will definitely deliver the letter."
The maidservant left Yilan Courtyard, but instead of heading out of the mansion, she turned and went to Prince Yong's study.
She knocked gently on the door, and after hearing a "come in" from inside, she carefully pushed the door open and entered the study.
She walked respectfully to Prince Yong, gave a slight curtsy, and handed him the letter in her bosom. "Your Highness, Miss Su asked me for paper and pen to write a letter and asked me to deliver it to the Yun residence."
Prince Yong was looking down at the documents on the table. When he heard the maid's words, he slowly raised his head, his eyes cold and sinister, as if they were covered with ice.
He read the letter, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
He casually tossed the letter onto the table.
"This fool actually thought I was going to marry her."
The maid glanced curiously at the contents of the letter.
The letter was roughly about Su Qingchan telling Yu Wan that Prince Yong treated her so well and even arranged for her to live in Yilan Courtyard, a place only princesses were qualified to live in.
She told Yu Wan to think carefully about whether she really wanted to sever ties with her, the future Princess Consort of Yong.
Prince Yong casually waved his hand and said in a light tone, "Send the letter out and continue to keep an eye on Su Qingchan's every move. If she makes any move, report it immediately."
The maidservant quickly bowed her head and respectfully replied, "Yes, Your Highness, I will certainly do my best."
Not long after the maid left, there was another gentle knock on the study door.
It was Qin Zhaojie who arrived.
After entering, he first respectfully bowed to Prince Yong, then frowned slightly, his face full of worry:
"Your Highness, why did you bring Su Qingchan into the palace?"
Upon hearing this, Prince Yong leaned back in his chair, his eyes innocent. He glanced at Qin Zhaojie sideways and asked with a half-smile, "What? Does Mr. Qin find this inappropriate?"
Qin Zhaojie bowed slightly, his face filled with worry: "Your Highness, Su Qingchan is, after all, the last surviving member of the Su family. If she deliberately gets close to Your Highness... I'm afraid it will be detrimental to Your Highness."
A mocking smile curled at the corner of Prince Yong's lips.
Looking up at Qin Zhaojie, she said, "My strategies are no match for Mr. Qin's, but Mr. Qin's understanding of women is also no match for mine."
"Su Qingchan is nothing but a fool who has been blinded by love. After her father and brothers died, she was all alone and helpless. I showed her some kindness and she became devoted to me like a dog wagging its tail for mercy."
"What waves can mere ants stir up?"
Qin Zhaojie's brows remained furrowed. "Your Highness, that is true, but people's hearts are unpredictable. It's hard to guarantee that she doesn't have other intentions."
"If anything goes wrong, the consequences would be unimaginable."
Prince Yong waved his hand dismissively and said, "What scheme could she possibly have? She now completely believes that I will marry her and trusts me implicitly."
"She even wrote a letter to Yu Wan to boast that she was about to become the Princess Consort of Yong, and this letter is the best proof of that."
Qin Zhaojie lowered his head slightly, pondered for a moment, and still advised, "Your Highness, one should always be wary of others."
"The Yun family protected Su Qingchan so much before, and the Duchess of Anguo even recognized her as her goddaughter. It's clear that they care about Su Qingchan very much."
"Your Highness, it's better to avoid trouble. Your plan doesn't require bringing Su Qingchan back to the manor. What if she..."
As Prince Yong listened to Qin Zhaojie's rambling, he couldn't help but frown and interrupt him:
"When did Mr. Qin become so hesitant? I know how to act, you don't need to say anything more."
Upon hearing this, Qin Zhaojie was speechless and almost rolled his eyes.
Prince Yong has only been released from the Imperial Clan Court for a few days. Has he forgotten how Su Mu almost ruined his reputation?
If they forget their lessons so quickly, something terrible is bound to happen sooner or later.
Why did the King of Qi send him to serve as an advisor to the King of Yong?
Although Qin Zhaojie was inwardly furious, he forced himself to suppress his emotions and bowed again, saying, "Your Highness, I am only worried that this matter may encounter unexpected complications..."
Prince Yong rubbed his temples impatiently and waved his hand: "Alright, alright, I've already made my decision, you don't need to say anything more."
"Since Su Qingchan has come to me of her own accord, wouldn't it be a waste if I didn't make use of her?"
Qin Zhaojie gritted his teeth and decided to persuade him one more time: "Your Highness, Su Qingchan is in the manor. If she secretly colludes with the Yun family and passes on messages, Your Highness's situation will be in danger."
Prince Yong sneered, his eyes full of disdain: "If she really had that ability, she wouldn't have been so easily manipulated by me."
"Moreover, I have already arranged for people to keep an eye on her. Her every move is under my control, so Mr. Qin does not need to worry so much."
Qin Zhaojie sighed helplessly.
The Prince of Yong had made up his mind, and any further persuasion would be futile.
But he couldn't help but remind him in the end: "Your Highness, you must also be vigilant at all times, lest a moment of carelessness lead to a great disaster."
Prince Yong waved his hand, already quite impatient.
"Understood, Mr. Qin, you may return home if there's nothing else."
Meanwhile, the maidservant, following Prince Yong's instructions, delivered the letter to the Yun residence.
After receiving the letter, Yu Wan looked at its contents and felt increasingly uneasy.
It's impossible that Su Qingchan could have just been honest with her one minute and then be completely infatuated with Prince Yong the next.
How could someone like Su Mu raise such a brainless younger sister?
But since Su Qingchan had already moved into the Yong Prince's Mansion, she couldn't ask Su Qingchan directly what she wanted to do.
At present, all she could do was send someone to keep watch outside the Yong Prince's mansion, and to inform her immediately if they saw Su Qingchan go out.
Yu Wan never expected that Su Qingchan would not leave the Yongwang Mansion for three consecutive days.
On this day, Lady Anguo came to the Yun residence and delivered an invitation to the plum blossom appreciation party.
In the western suburbs of Shengjing, there is a plum grove planted by the Duchess of Anguo and several other duchesses who searched far and wide for the finest plums. Every winter when the plum blossoms are in full bloom, the duchesses would gather the nobles of the capital to appreciate the flowers and compose poems together.
Upon receiving the invitation, Yu Wan immediately had an idea.
She asked the Duchess of Anguo, "Mother, can this invitation be sent to the Prince Yong's residence?"
The Duchess of Anguo looked at her with surprise, her eyes full of doubt:
“We always sent gifts in previous years, to each prince, but since most of the princes rarely attended the banquet, we stopped sending them. Why are you suddenly asking about this?”
Yu Wan frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and then said, "Mother, could you please send a letter to the Prince Yong's residence for me?"
Lady Anguo was quite puzzled, but since her daughter rarely asked her to do something, she naturally agreed.
He immediately agreed, "Alright, in that case, I will send an invitation to all the princes and princesses."
Sending an invitation only to Prince Yong would be too conspicuous.
Lady Anguo seemed to realize something, and a look of worry appeared on her face. She asked softly:
"Did Qingchan really go to the Prince Yong's residence? And she's just living there without any official status? What... what is this child thinking?"
Yu Wan gently shook her head. "I don't know either."
"I just feel that Su Qingchan is not someone who covets wealth and status, so I want to find out what she really wants to do."
"But she hasn't come out since she entered the Yong Prince's mansion with him, so I thought I'd take advantage of the plum blossom appreciation event to see if she would leave the mansion."