Chapter 125: Refusal Once More

Qiao Qingyun could only laugh heartily at this moment, having never imagined that one day Hongying would be so thoroughly managed. Since their very first meeting, Hongying had been an unruly, headstrong girl who never looked anyone in the eye. But seeing her now, it seemed the Emperor was determined to put her in her place.

The woman’s shoulders shook with laughter, and even Qingluo lowered her head, struggling to hold back her own giggles. What poetic justice!

"Um... answering the Emperor, Hongying is not yet in a rush..."

"Ah, since your father has already sent you here, it must be with the hope of strengthening our ties. As for Young Master Lu and my niece, we shall leave them to decide for themselves, but as a princess, you cannot simply drag your feet."

Hongying: ...

Zhong Shi suppressed a laugh and took a sip of strong liquor, nearly choking himself. However, seeing Qiao Qingyun laughing like this, he felt a strange sense of concern. In his mind, Qiao Qingyun was a delicate, fragile girl, though she possessed a resilient spirit that refused to be bullied. Still, she was a young woman; if she choked, would she be in pain?

"Many thanks for the Emperor's kind intentions, but this..." Hongying glanced around. She found no one to her liking. While their statuses were comparable, her years of martial arts training made her despise men who were weak and soft. What use was such a man?

"No matter. Neither the Young Master nor the Princess will be leaving anytime soon, so take your time to choose."

"Many thanks, Your Majesty."

Granted a reprieve, Hongying let out a long sigh of relief. Thank goodness... she wasn't that unlucky yet.

When the banquet finally ended, Qiao Qingyun had barely stepped outside when two figures chased after her.

"County Princess!"

Qingluo and Qiao Qingyun turned to find that it was none other than Hongying and Zhong Shi.

"You two... shouldn't you be heading to the guest quarters arranged for you?"

Zhong Shi’s face flushed red, and he lowered his head, remaining the silent, brooding type. Seeing this, Hongying grew anxious and quickly spoke up for him. "County Princess, you know how my brother is. I’m a blunt person, so I’ll speak for him: he’s sensitive to new beds. He didn't sleep for days when we returned to the Lu Kingdom, and so..."

"Ah, I see! Off you go then." Qiao Qingyun laughed until tears welled in her eyes. Who would have thought that a rugged man like Zhong Shi would be so particular about his sleeping arrangements? And that aside, why did he look like such a shy, bashful bride?

The four of them chatted and laughed as they walked toward Zijing Palace, while Yuan Zaichun and Bu Shenglian watched from behind. Seizing the opportunity, Bu Shenglian interjected, "My Lord, perhaps in a few days, the Emperor will bestow a marriage upon the County Princess, and then..."

"That will not happen." Yuan Zaichun cut her off with absolute certainty and led her directly to the carriage.

They swayed all the way back to the Crown Prince’s residence. Yuan Zaichun did not reprimand Bu Shenglian for following him inside, though she was left to wait outside his bedchamber, unable to enter. But once she stepped into his room, her heart could no longer be at peace. She had tried many times to spend the night here to no avail, so this time... Bu Shenglian made a firm resolution as she waited for Yuan Zaichun to emerge.

Less than half an hour later, the man changed his clothes. As soon as he came out, he saw that Bu Shenglian had also changed; she wore only a sheer gauze robe over a revealing bodice, her figure enough to make any man's blood boil. It was a sight that would be hard for any man to resist—such a woman was truly a rare gem.

"My Lord... let Lian'er serve you tonight? Even if I am just a concubine, that would be enough." Bu Shenglian could no longer tolerate this life without status. Her family had already disowned her, regarding her as a disgrace for throwing herself at a man. But she refused to accept her fate; she would pay any price to end up in Yuan Zaichun’s bed.

"Go out for now. Let it be for today." Yuan Zaichun used the same tactic as before. He didn't know why, but if it had been Qiao Qingyun, he would not have hesitated—yet, because it was Bu Shenglian, he felt differently. He knew exactly what schemes she had used to get here, so how could he convince himself otherwise?

Hearing this, Bu Shenglian burst into tears, her face a picture of delicate sorrow. She clutched his sleeve, kneeling on the ground, sobbing, "My Lord, did I do something wrong? I can change. Please, do not cast me aside."

"Get up." The man frowned, losing patience, and reached out to pull her up. But no matter how hard he pulled, she refused to rise, which infuriated him.

"My Lord, Lian'er doesn't know where I've gone wrong. You won't let me serve you, and now I’ve cast aside all my dignity, only hoping you'll keep me by your side, even without a title. The Bu family has already abandoned me; you cannot cast me away too."

Hearing this, Yuan Zaichun felt a sudden, inexplicable revulsion. Even though these words were meant to elicit sympathy, they felt like a form of coercion.

"Fine, get up. I know." Yuan Zaichun leaned against the bed, picking up a book with a look of irritation. "Tomorrow, I will have Liufu issue the order. You shall be a 'Beauty'."

"Lian'er doesn't care for the title..."

"Enough." Finally, unable to take it any longer, Yuan Zaichun barked, causing Bu Shenglian to flinch. She stared at him in disbelief. In the past, he had cherished and protected her, as if she were the most precious thing in the world. How had things come to this? Was it because she had been married before that he refused to...

At that thought, her hatred deepened. Why had she ever married? If she had known, she would have preferred to hang herself with a silk noose than endure this.

After being led away by the servants and returning to Tingzhu Courtyard, her maid Xiao Cai immediately fawned over her. "My Lady, you are now the only mistress in the residence. Surely, you will climb even higher in the future."

Climb higher? Bu Shenglian smiled faintly, her eyes clouded with a trace of sorrow. If she were truly accepted, she would not be a mere "Beauty" today, but a secondary consort. The difference in status was immense.

"Liufu." Yuan Zaichun called out from his room. Liufu entered immediately, standing respectfully to the side. "Your Highness."

"Now that Zhong Shi has become the Young Master of the Lu Kingdom, do you think I have any advantage left?"

Liufu: ...

This was clearly a trap. If he said yes, he would have to list reasons, and if he couldn't, he would be punished. But if he said no... wasn't that also a death sentence?