Chapter Forty-six: Guessing

  Yan Dai quickly recalled everything she knew about Bai Li Zhao, but after a while, she shook her head. Where did this old grandmother get the confidence to think that Rui Qin Wang would be willing to marry her?

  That Rui Qīnwáng, is the imperial family's eldest son, even if he's not in good health now, many people from prestigious families want to form a connection with him through marriage. Someone like her, a humble daughter of a marquis, probably doesn't qualify for that.

  But... perhaps... being a concubine would also be quite pleasant. Yan Dai thought to herself with a hint of sarcasm. As soon as this idea flashed through her mind, she couldn't help but smile slightly. Although she never hesitated to think the worst of people, deep down, she always had hope that things wouldn't be so bad. But perhaps, she was just thinking too much about this matter.

  Yuandai was quietly pondering, while Xiao Chengyan also restrained herself and waited for her to speak. After a long time, Yuandai suddenly raised her head, gazed at her with a smile, and said: "As the saying goes, an arrow shot cannot be taken back. Now that things have come to this point, it's clear that we can't avoid meeting the wise king of Lüying Ridge. If it's really unavoidable, then we'll have to meet him!"

  Xiao Chengxian heard this and thought about it carefully, but couldn't help nodding. Since she had already told Old Lady Xiao about the Green Jade Ridge matter, she couldn't take it back now. And since the Green Jade Ridge matter was inevitable, there was no need to think too much about it anyway.

  Yan Dai smiled and glanced at her, but suddenly said: "Moreover, I am also quite curious about that wise prince!"

  Xiao Chengxian listened to her words, but could only smile bitterly. After a while, he shook his head and said: "Sister may not know that when the Crown Prince Rui had an accident in the past, there was a period of time when the court was full of controversy and criticism, with many people pointing fingers at our Xiao family. At that time, my father even claimed to be ill for several months and refused to see guests! Moreover, this matter is now only our speculation, it may not be true!"

  Yuè Dài slightly nodded, but didn't say much.

  Ruizong of Tang was born to Empress Wu Zetian, and although he was not the oldest son, he was the only son of Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu. By this reasoning, he should have been the rightful heir to the throne of the Tang Dynasty. However, Empress Wei had originally been a concubine of Emperor Zhongzong, and after Empress Wei's death, she was posthumously honored as an empress, and she also had a son.

  Rui Qin Wang is not only the crown prince, but also has a handsome and elegant appearance, with high expectations from the people. If he were to be safe and sound, how could the throne of the Great Zhou dynasty fall into someone else's hands? And if Rui Qin Wang were to meet with an accident, the greatest beneficiary would naturally be Xiao Hou, yet it is also no wonder that both within and outside the court, people would rise up in unison to attack the Xiao family.

  Suddenly, a figure of Baili Yi appeared in his mind, and he asked, "I wonder what the relationship is between King An and King Rui?"

  Xiao Cheng's eyebrows moved slightly, and he looked at Yuandai with some surprise before saying: "Sister may not know that when Empress Yide was alive, she was very close to the empress. After her passing, Ruiqin Wang had even been raised by the empress for a period of time. Therefore, my brother and I got along quite well, but in recent years, we seem to have less contact. Ba Li also rarely mentions Ruiqin Wang in front of us!"

  Yan Dai nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, but then suddenly asked: "Sister, do you often go to the Green Lotus Ridge villa for a short stay?"

  Xiao Chengyan said: "If you say it often, it's hard to say, but every year, either at the end of the year or at the beginning of the year, I always have to go and stay for a few days!"

  Yan Dai then asked again: "I don't know if in these few years, have you seen Rui Qin Wang in another palace?"

  Xiao Chengxian listened to this and thought for a moment before answering, "I haven't seen him indeed! However, I vaguely recall someone mentioning Rui Qin Wang, saying that every year during winter, he would stay in another courtyard for several months until the next spring when he would return to the wangfu!"

  Yan Dai nodded slightly: "So to speak, the possibility of us meeting Rui Qing Wang at your Green Lian Villa is actually not great?" Although everything is still just speculation for now and it's not necessarily what Old Lady intended, but being cautious is always better than regretting later.

  Xiao Chengxian thought for a moment and couldn't help but laugh: "That's natural! Although my family's villa isn't very big, it has five or six courtyards. The Ruiqin King's villa is three to five times bigger than mine, and since the incident, he rarely goes out. I think that unless something unexpected happens, it's unlikely we'll meet!"

  Yuan Dai's eyebrows slightly raised, and she couldn't help but think to herself that perhaps Old Lady had deliberately arranged for Du Ruo to serve her in order to create that unexpected event. However, she didn't intend to mention this in front of Xiao Chengyan, so after smiling, Yuan Dai said: "Perhaps I'm just overthinking!"

  Xiao Cheng shook her head and said: "This is actually not sister's fault! It's just that Auntie's move was too abrupt, making it hard for people to suspect!"

  Seeing Xiao Chengyan's attitude, Yan Dai couldn't help but feel a warmth in her heart. She smiled and changed the subject, asking: "I wonder when sister plans to return?"

  Xiao Chengyan said: "I plan to go back in a day or two. The other courtyard also needs to be cleaned up!"

  Yan Dai nodded slightly, with a mischievous smile: "Before the frost is cold, after the snow is even colder. Today I went out, wearing thick clothes, but my body still feels chilly, I'm afraid I've caught a chill again, tomorrow I'll have to take good care of myself!"

  Xiao Chengxian looked at her and couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head. But soon he thought of something and asked: "Are you planning to go to Guanyin Mountain with your tenth sister?"

  Yuan Dai heard this and couldn't help but laugh: "Sister, rest assured! Actually, I'm just like you, I also love to watch the excitement!"

  Xiao Chengxian also burst out laughing.

  The two of them laughed and chatted for a bit before Xiao Chengyan stood up and bid farewell.

  Yuan Dai saw that she was about to leave and couldn't help but get up to see her off. The two of them had just walked to the door when Hui'er happened to come in from outside. As soon as she caught sight of Yuan Dai and the other person, Hui'er hastily paid her respects to them. Yuan Dai saw that it was her and nodded slightly. After Hou Xiao presented his gift and left, he went back inside and sat down on the kang again before asking Hui'er, "Is Auntie doing well today?" She was now living in Chunhui Garden, which was quite far from the West Wing, and to make matters worse, she was a person who feared cold and avoided activity. As a result, her contact with Zhou Yiniang over the past few days had been limited to Hui'er's daily visits.

  Hui'er smiled and said: "Miss hasn't seen it, these days, Auntie's body is not only very good, but also her spirit is surprisingly good!"

  Yuan Dai smiled slightly, knowing that Zhou Niang's poor health was more due to her mental state than physical ailments. Now that she had entered Chunhui Garden and gained the affection of Old Lady and Luo Shi, Zhou Niang's mood naturally improved, which in turn helped her physical health. As Yuan Dai thought about Zhou Niang, a hint of worry crept into her heart - how could she achieve both goals simultaneously?

  Hui'er didn't notice Yuedai's abnormality, she just said straightforwardly: "I came today, actually not for Auntie!" She said, and then took out a short letter from her sleeve and handed it to Yuedai with both hands: "This is the letter that Wenlv passed on in front of Liu Ye this morning, saying that Liu Ye wrote it to Miss, and I must hand it over to Miss personally!"

  Yuandai was taken aback, somewhat perplexed as to why Ling Yuqing didn't instruct Wenlu to deliver it directly to her, but instead had to go through Hui'er. However, in front of Hui'er's face, she didn't say much and simply accepted the note, opening it to take a glance. With just one look, she couldn't help but laugh. Ling Yuqing's note didn't have much content either, only briefly mentioning that he would be accompanying Madame Lu and Luo Shi to Guanyin Mountain, and asking Yuandai to tactfully inform Xiao Chengyan about this matter.

  Yan Dai looked and also understood in her heart. Ling Yuanqing's move was also not wanting to go with Xiao Chengyan to Guanyin Mountain. However, if he were to mention it to Madame Lu, she would inevitably ask for a reason, but if Xiao Chengyan were to mention it, although Madame Lu would be unhappy, she couldn't force him either. It seemed that her sixth brother had already made up his mind to draw a line with Xiao Chengyan.

  Hui'er saw Yuan Dai and only sighed without speaking, so she also didn't dare say anything else, just standing at the lower end, quietly waiting.

  …………

  Something came up today, so it's a bit less, and I'll make up for 1000 words tomorrow.