Chapter 141 Go Plead with the Crown Prince

“Why?” Yuan Zaichun frowned deeply. He had finally found an opportunity to spend time with Qiao Qingyun, so why was she keeping her distance?

Qiao Qingyun let out a long sigh. “Didn’t you notice the way so many people were looking at me just now? Don’t get me into trouble!”

With that, Qiao Qingyun ran a few steps ahead again. Just then, Red Tassel returned, and Qiao Qingyun drew her close with an intimacy that left no room for doubt.

The three men were soon left far behind. Just as Yuan Zaichun and Liu Fu were about to catch up, a voice suddenly called out from behind them.

“My lord!”

The voice was exceedingly familiar. Yuan Zaichun turned around almost instinctively, but when he saw who it was, a trace of confusion clouded his eyes.

She looked familiar enough, but why could he not remember where he had seen her before?

Qiao Qingyun had also turned back. Seeing Yuan Zaichun and the others standing there in a daze, she hurried over to join the commotion.

“What happened?”

“My lord! It really is you!”

The filthy little nun began wiping the dust from her face, revealing a row of clean teeth. Weeping, she fell to her knees at Yuan Zaichun’s feet.

“My lord! Please, take me back! I truly cannot bear being abused any longer. You have no idea what sort of life they make us live there!”

As Bu Shenglian spoke, she wiped away her tears, looking utterly pitiful. Qiao Qingyun stared at her for a long while before finally remembering.

“Oh! Miss Bu Shenglian?”

Zhong Shi took two steps back in disgust, simply leaving Yuan Zaichun and Liu Fu where they stood.

Liu Fu had intended to leave as well, but one glance from Yuan Zaichun made him freeze in place.

“Get up.”

The man stared coldly at Bu Shenglian, who clung to his leg and refused to let go.

“Shouldn’t you be at the nunnery?”

Bu Shenglian scrambled to her feet, nodding as she wiped her tears. “Yes, but the room they gave me was filthy and dilapidated. It has already ruined my health, and this is only the first day. I truly dare not imagine what it will be like in the future!”

Once gloriously admired, Bu Shenglian had been treated with deference wherever she went—not for any other reason than that her husband was Yuan Zaichun, and she had married him for the second time.

No one knew that the two of them had never consummated their marriage, but the title of the Crown Prince’s favored beauty had still proved extremely useful.

“Sister Shenglian!”

Bu Shenglian was still lamenting her misfortune when a girl of about her own age came running over. The moment she arrived, she was captivated by the handsome features of Yuan Zaichun and Zhong Shi.

The two men possessed entirely different auras, yet both carried the bearing of kings. They looked like men destined to rule the world one day—any woman would find it impossible to tear her eyes away from them.

“How did you get here?” Bu Shenglian asked in alarm. She hurriedly looked behind Yue Xian to make sure none of the nuns had followed her.

Yue Xian immediately understood and shook her head. “Do not worry. I did not lead them here.”

“Whew…”

Bu Shenglian sighed in relief. With both her dirty hands, she tugged at Yuan Zaichun’s sleeve and began pleading again.

“My lord, please take Shenglian back with you. I do not want a title anymore—never again. I only wish to remain by your side.”

Since being sent to the nunnery, Bu Shenglian had learned firsthand what it meant for life to be worse than death. Watching this scene, Qiao Qingyun sneered.

“Why not take her back and keep her at the residence? No one would ever know. With Your Highness’s abilities, changing her identity would hardly be difficult, would it?”

Every word of Qiao Qingyun’s was laced with mockery. Zhong Shi immediately stepped in front of her, afraid that Bu Shenglian might lose control and drag Qiao Qingyun down with her.

Yuan Zaichun frowned. “Let go.”

“No, my lord, please! Lian’er will never cause trouble again.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Bu Shenglian seemed to think of something. She rushed over to Qiao Qingyun, and, under everyone’s astonished gaze, dropped to her knees with a thud and slapped herself twice.

“Your Highness, please forgive me! I know that it was because of me that His Highness drove you from the Crown Prince’s residence. From now on—yes, from now on—you can still be the Crown Princess. Shenglian will not fight you for anything. Please, persuade His Highness to take me back!”

With no path left open to her, Bu Shenglian had decided to beg Qiao Qingyun for mercy. Perhaps, in time, she might even manage to reclaim her place as the Crown Prince’s favored beauty.

“I am truly sorry, but I have no interest in the position of Crown Princess anymore. Whether he takes you back is up to your master. What use is it telling me? Go beg the Crown Prince.”

Qiao Qingyun took a bite of the candied banana in her hand, then another of the sweet potato beside her, before casting Bu Shenglian a languid glance.

She did not even bother to conceal the disdain in her eyes. With a cold laugh, she turned away.

Yue Xian was stunned as well. She had never seen the Crown Prince before, only heard people say that he was extraordinarily handsome and immensely capable. Yet now he stood right before her.

He was exactly as the rumors described—except for the murderous aura between his brows, which made anyone instinctively wish to retreat.

Seeing that Qiao Qingyun was about to leave, Yuan Zaichun frowned and looked down at the woman kneeling before him—the woman he had once loved most.

“I will return to see you and make your life somewhat easier. But as for bringing you back, forget it. It was the Emperor’s decree, and there is nothing I can do.”

With that, he swept out his sleeve and sent Bu Shenglian sprawling to the ground. Then, as though nothing had happened, Yuan Zaichun strode forward, his steps unusually quick.

“My lord!”

Bu Shenglian cried out in anguish, hoping her voice would make Yuan Zaichun turn back.

But this time, he did not even leave her a glimpse of his back.

“Sister Shenglian, please get up. The ground is cold.”

Unable to bear watching any longer, Yue Xian hurried forward to help her up. Bu Shenglian rose shakily. Nearly all the food delivered to her room that day had already gone bad.

She had not eaten a single grain of rice and was now terribly weak.

“Why…? It is all because of that wretched Qiao Qingyun! It is all her fault!”

Bu Shenglian tightened her grip on Yue Xian’s hand until her fingers dug painfully into the girl’s arm. Yue Xian immediately cried out, “Gently! That hurts!”

Startled by the cry of pain, Bu Shenglian hastily released her.

She now had to rely on Yue Xian. Otherwise, her days would only become harder. Once they reached the Bu residence, she would find some way to obtain money from them.

Even though she had been sent to a nunnery, she was still the legitimate daughter of the Bu family.

“I am sorry. I hurt you just now.”

Bu Shenglian quickly used the same trick again, gazing at Yue Xian with a pitiful expression.

Yue Xian was kindhearted and softhearted by nature, so she immediately reassured her. “It is all right, it is all right. It did not hurt that much.”

“You saw her just now. Compared with me, who do you think is prettier?”

Unwilling to accept defeat, Bu Shenglian pressed Yue Xian for an answer. But she noticed a trace of embarrassment cross the girl’s face. After a moment, Yue Xian shook her head.

“Sister Shenglian and that woman possess entirely different kinds of beauty.”

“What do you mean?”

“She is… dazzling and boldly beautiful. Even the most flamboyant shade of red only enhances her appearance. Sister Shenglian, on the other hand, is more reserved and refined.”