Chapter Fifty-Six Suspicious

  Yuan Dai listened to her words and found them quite reasonable, so she didn't say anything more. Xiao Chengxin pulled Ling Yuanxuan over and told him everything that had been discussed with Yuan Dai earlier, but he was shocked to hear it, his eyes wide with surprise.

  Xiao Chengxian explained: "Earlier, I only discussed it with Ninth Sister and not you, because you were betrothed since childhood, fearing unnecessary complications and trouble. However, I also thought that Tenth Sister is not someone who doesn't understand things, thinking that..."

  She wanted to continue speaking, but Yuandai had already hastily covered her mouth with a handkerchief and started coughing lightly. Ling Yuanshu's pretty face turned red and then white, and then back to red again in just a few sentences, looking very embarrassed. Xiao Xianyu was also taken aback, seeing this situation, she didn't dare say anything else, so she hastily stopped speaking, glancing at Yuandai and then at Ling Yuanshu.

  The atmosphere in the room was momentarily frozen. After a good while, Yuandai finally smiled and said: "This journey has been quite long, but actually it's just as sister said earlier, I'm really a bit tired!"

  Xiao Chengxian was both surprised and suspicious at the moment, but upon hearing this, she immediately went along with it and said: "If that's the case, then you all go back to your rooms and rest for a while. I'll come call you again when it's time for dinner!"

  Xiao Chengxian had arranged for Yuandai to stay in the west wing of this small courtyard. As soon as Yuandai entered the room, she couldn't help but secretly praise her. It turned out that Du Ruo had arrived before her and had already arranged everything in order. Just as Yuandai was about to enter, someone had already brought water for her to wash her face. Even though Yuandai was wary of Du Ruo, she couldn't find any fault with her.

  Yan Dai smiled and nodded at Du Ruo, then washed her face again and accepted the tea that Du Ruo handed over. She took a sip of it lightly. This time when she came out, she brought Wen Ping, Du Ruo, and Cui Yi with her, but left Hui Er behind in the Ling manor. Before leaving, Yan Dai called Hui Er over and carefully instructed her on various matters regarding the flowers in the house. After all, Hui Er had followed her for nearly three years and had some experience in these things, so Yan Dai was relatively at ease with her.

  She had only taken a few sips of the tea when footsteps were heard outside, and Farong Dai looked up to see Xiao Chengyan hurrying in. With a faint smile, she shook her head and said, "You really did wait!"

  Xiao Cheng Yan frowned and said, "You all left. I was alone thinking about what happened earlier, but the more I thought about it, the stranger it seemed, and the more I couldn't sit still. So I couldn't help but hurry over to ask you!"

  Yuandai sighed, but first waved her hand at Wenshuang and the others. Wenshuang and the others understood and retreated on their own. Following Xiangyun's arrival with Qiaolan, they also hastily followed suit and left. Yuandai glanced at Xiaocheng, carefully choosing her words before slowly saying: "That day we went to Guanyin Mountain to burn incense, that Lu Weijie actually went too!"

  Xiao Chengxian listened to this, but was even more puzzled, and said vaguely: "Didn't you say before that San Shu went to Guanyin Mountain to burn incense, but actually had other plans? If so, then shouldn't Lu Weijie's past be a matter of course?"

  Yan Dai listened with a faint bitter smile, and after a while, she said: "That Lu Wei Jie went. It's only natural! But the one who went that day wasn't just Lu Wei Jie alone!" Even facing Xiao Cheng Xian, she couldn't directly point out Ling Yuan Xuan's girlish thoughts, and could only vaguely mention it.

  Xiao Chengxian was such a clever person, just mentioning this one sentence. She already fully understood. Incredibly wide-eyed, she exclaimed: "Besides you, who else knows about this?"

  Yan Dai shook her head and said in a soft voice, "Except for me, I'm afraid it's only you! Third Aunt is quite satisfied with Lu Weijie, thinking he's steady and introverted, making him a good match for Tenth Sister. Although she has seen Tenth Sister's strange behavior these past few days, she probably won't think much of it."

  Xiao Cheng was stunned for a moment, then thought about what he had just said to Ling Yuexuan, but couldn't help feeling helpless, and sighed: "Today's matter is also my fault for being too impatient. I should have discussed it with you first before talking to her!"

  Yuandai felt a deep sense of helplessness in her heart: "I also have my own fault in this matter, but I didn't expect you to speak so quickly!"

  Two people in the room couldn't help but laugh, and after exchanging a glance, Xiao Cheng said with a helpless tone: "What's all this fuss about? Now that I think about it, recently these things haven't been going smoothly at all!"

  Yuandai thought about what Xiao Chengyan said, and indeed felt a pang in her heart. She sighed and said, "Isn't that exactly the case?"

  The two sat in silence for a moment, but Yuande suddenly thought of something and asked: "Sister, do you know the whereabouts of Prince Rui?"

  Xiao Chengxian listened to her ask about Rui Qin Wang, his face expressionless, as if he was thinking deeply, looked at Yuandai far away and said: "Rui Qin Wang has been living in seclusion since he resigned from the position of Crown Prince. He rarely goes out and only does simple things, so you asked me, I really can't answer you!"

  Yuandai suddenly realized that Xiao was showing a puzzled expression that he had never expressed before, and couldn't help but smile wryly, saying: "On Guanyin Mountain, I once met him in person! Although I didn't ask about his identity at the time, I knew - it must be him!"

  Xiao Chengxian was shocked when she heard this and immediately blurted out: "This thing can't be a coincidence, right?"

  Yan Dai slightly shook her head and then mentioned what Luo said in the car on their way back.

  Xiao Chengxian remained silent for a while before saying: "Actually, if he really had intentions, this matter wouldn't be bad either!"

  Yuan sat silently, a hint of sadness on her face, but she didn't respond to Xiao Xian's words.

  Xiao Chengyan had intended to say something else, but at this moment, seeing Yan Zhi's face, she still swallowed those words and smiled: "Speaking of which, my mother seems to like you very much! I rarely see her evaluate others like that!"

  Yan Dai heard this and smiled faintly, but didn't refute Xiao Cheng's words. She only said: "I suppose it's because my appearance is ordinary, even Auntie can't find anything to praise me about, so she had to say something like that!"

  Xiao Cheng smiled and shook her head: "Ninth sister's words are too modest!"

  The two of them chatted for a moment, and Xiao Chengyan saw that although Yuandai was laughing and talking as usual, there was a hint of fatigue between her eyebrows. He hurriedly smiled and said: "Look at me, I actually forgot that my sister always takes a short nap every afternoon! You take a rest first, we'll talk again later!"

  After Hou Xiao Xian left, Yuan Dai was stunned for a moment, and then suddenly shouted: "Du Ruo!"

  It was clear that she had not expected Yan Dai to call her in by name, and when Du Ru entered, there were still a few hints of doubt on her face: "Miss called me?" She asked uncertainly.

  Yan Dai nodded slightly, then raised her hand and pointed to a brocade stool beside her: "Sit! I have something to ask you!"

  Her tone was flat and calm, seemingly no different from her usual self, but to Du Ye's ears, it was an inexplicable chill, and in his heart, a thread of fear rose, his voice also trembling slightly: "I...it's fine standing! Miss, just say what you have to say!"

  Yan Dai didn't force her either, seeing that she was unwilling to sit down, so she gave up. She raised her eyes and looked deeply at Du Ruo, asking in a gentle voice: "Tell me, when you came to Lü Yuè Ridge, did the old lady have any special instructions for you?"

  Du Ruo suddenly heard this and was shocked, her face changed color. She abruptly lifted her head to look at Yuan Fei: "Miss, what do you mean by these words?"

  Yan Dai's eyes were calm and deep, without a single ripple: "My intention, I think you understand! Du Ruo, both of us understand that once the old lady lets you come to my house, there is no possibility of letting you go back! You are an intelligent person, should be able to understand, with your identity, even if you get what you want, how can you? Not to mention other families, even our own family's concubines are not just one, how they live, can't you see clearly until now?"

  These words were just ordinary to Yuandai, but when they reached Du Ruo's ears, they were like a thunderclap. In the Ling manor, there was no shortage of concubines, and among these many concubines, the one who had it the worst was undoubtedly Yuandai's birth mother, Zhou Yiniang.

  The reason is actually very simple, because of the legitimate wife of the master.

  The Second Master Ling Hui is a romantic and charming person, with many concubines in his house. However, because Madam Zhao comes from a merchant family and has no children, she only cares about money and doesn't bother with the emotional relationships between husbands and wives. Although the days of the many concubines in Second Master's house are quite difficult, they can still manage with Second Master's secret support. In contrast, it is Madam Lu.

  Du Ruo thought to herself, and couldn't help but glance at Yuan Dai. Yuan Dai sat calmly on the kang, her expression serene, with no joy or anger on her face. Although her complexion was only average, upon closer inspection, it was elegant and refined beyond words. If this young lady were to become the official wife, would she really be able to obtain a good life under her care? This thought flashed through Du Ruo's mind, and suddenly made up her mind. Staring blankly at Yuan Dai for a long time, Du Ruo suddenly felt her knees weaken, and knelt down on the ground: "Miss, please save me!" Before she had even finished speaking, two streams of clear tears rolled down her jade cheeks.

  Seeing her like this, Yuandai's heart suddenly relaxed. The words she had just said, although they were also the result of careful consideration, but after all, there was no 100% guarantee, so why did she say it? In fact, it was just to test Du Ye a little. And this unguaranteed test, unexpectedly worked, and for her, it was indeed an unexpected joy.

  She was delighted in her heart, but her face didn't show it at all. She said softly, "Tell me, how did the old lady instruct you?"

  She pursed her lips and bowed her head, saying: "The old lady... she said... after Miss arrives at Lü Yuè Ridge, it will be no more than three days before Prince Anqin arrives. She... told me that on the second day after Prince Anqin's arrival, I should go to the back mountain to blow the flute by the water stone shore!"

  Yan Dai nodded and thought for a moment, then turned to look at Du Ruo with an inexplicable expression: "But what makes you think that just playing the flute under the moonlight will win over Prince Rui's favor?"

  Du Ruosheng is indeed good-looking, but if one carefully evaluates him, whether in terms of appearance or temperament, compared to beauties like Xiao Chengyan and Ling Yuexuan, he still falls far short. Therefore, Yuan Cai really can't understand why Old Lady Xiao would make such arrangements.

  Du Ruo heard the voice, and couldn't help but lightly bite her red lips. After a while, she spoke in a soft voice: "This matter... Granny actually didn't tell me about it in detail either. She just told me that I look very much like someone. But who that person is, I really don't know!"

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