Back to the marriage proposal, helping the incompetent husband to rise to the top

Chapter 88 I'm afraid there's no chance

Ye Wanqing and Liao Fuyu walked for a long time before they found a deserted pavilion beside a lotus pond halfway up the mountain.

Just as the two were about to go in, they saw a green shadow step into the pavilion before them, sit with his back to them, and lower his head to massage his legs.

Liao Fuyu immediately became unhappy: "What's going on? I was the one who saw this pavilion first!"

Ye Wanqing said gently, "First come, first served. Let's go find another pavilion."

Liao Fuyu puffed her lips in anger.

Suddenly, the noble lady straightened up and turned to look at me: "Princess?" She quickly pulled up the hem of her skirt and stood up to salute: "Greetings, Princess."

Ye Wanqing smiled lightly: "Miss Cao, you don't have to be polite."

Cao Shuwan took the initiative to invite: "This place is quiet and has a great view. If the princess and Miss Liao don't mind, why not come and sit here?"

Liao Fuyu wanted nothing more than to say, "Okay, okay!"

Ye Wanqing nodded: "Okay."

The hexagonal pavilion with golden tiles and red pillars has carved beams and painted pillars, and bronze bells are hung on the six eaves. When the spring breeze blows, the bronze bells emit ancient and clear sounds.

The lotus pond beside the pavilion has clear waves.

The three of them sat in the pavilion, looking at each other in silence.

Because of her marriage, Cao Shuwan has been avoiding people from the Princess's Mansion for the past few months. She had no choice but to come to this Spring Appreciation Banquet because she had no choice but to do so.

She grew up in Sichuan and was not familiar with the noble ladies of Jindu. After entering the palace, she took her maid to avoid the crowd and enjoy the scenery alone.

Before New Year's Eve, the Queen summoned her once.

That day, after meeting her, the Queen Mother was delighted and asked her about the books she had read, her daily preferences, and her marriage.

On that day, she was accompanied into the palace by an elderly nanny who served as the wife of the Earl of Yongchang.

That nanny had been her mother's wet nurse, so she was deeply trusted by the wife of the Earl of Yongchang and was very powerful in her daily life.

The Queen asked her a question, but before she could answer, the maid spoke first, saying, "My granddaughter knows the "Instructions for Women" and "Instructions for Women" by heart, and spends her days immersed in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. She has not yet been betrothed."

The queen smiled meaningfully.

The nanny looked pleased with herself, but Cao Shuwan felt chilled to the bone.

After returning home, Cao Shuwan cried for a while. Earl Yongchang felt sorry for his granddaughter and ordered that the talkative nanny's tongue be pulled out, beaten to death with sticks, and thrown into a mass grave outside the capital to feed the wild overnight.

As for marriage, he dared not mention it again.

Cao Shuwan vaguely felt that she and Ye Chenting were not destined to be together. It took her more than two months to convince herself to move on.

Ye Wanqing glanced at Cao Shuwan and saw that she was staring at the water in the pond in a daze, so she didn't say anything to interrupt her.

At this time, Qianxi came over with several palace maids carrying trays.

The leading maid knelt and saluted: "Greetings, Princess. I am here on behalf of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to bring you some refreshments."

Ye Wanqing nodded: "Thank you, Your Highness, for me."

The maid responded, carried a tray into the pavilion, and placed plates of exquisite cakes on the clean stone table.

Peach blossom cakes, crab roe cakes, chestnut cakes... they are beautifully made and suitable for the occasion.

Liao Fuyu looked at them with envy.

Seeing that the palace maid put down the plate and stood outside the pavilion without leaving, Cao Shuwan's palms began to sweat.

Suddenly, a cup of tea was handed to her.

Cao Shuwan raised her eyes.

Ye Wanqing rolled up her sleeves with one hand, put down the teacup with the other, and said gently: "The wind in the mountains is a bit cold, drink a cup of hot tea to warm yourself up."

Cao Shuwan took the teacup: "Thank you, Princess..."

Ever since Ye Wanqing entered the pavilion, she could tell that Cao Shuwan was worried about something and didn't dare to look her in the face.

She was confused.

Could it be that Earl Yongchang wanted to send his granddaughter to the harem to be the Crown Princess? That shouldn't be the case.

In his previous life, Ye Chenting's marriage with his sister-in-law was very smooth, and there had never been these twists and turns.

What's more, there are many noble ladies in Jindu who are both virtuous and talented, and there is no shortage of Cao Shuwan.

But, it’s hard to say…

Looking at the table full of exquisite snacks, Ye Wanqing frowned.

Could it be that these palace snacks were really given to Cao Shuwan by Chu Gongxiao under her name?

Thinking of this, she picked up a piece of peach blossom cake.

The originally crispy and delicious peach blossom pastry doesn’t seem to taste as good as before.

At this time, Cao Shuwan drank a sip of tea and finally couldn't help but ask: "I heard that the princess has been learning horse riding and archery these days?"

Ye Wanqing nodded: "Father taught Chenxi and Anlan horse riding and archery. I am quite interested and I will learn a little bit from them."

"Is horse riding... fun?" Cao Shuwan asked with curiosity.

Ye Wanqing smiled: "It's fun. When you ride on a horse, you will feel a kind of joy that is free from restraints. If you have the chance, Miss Cao can also try it."

"I..." Cao Shuwan lowered her eyes: "I'm afraid there is no chance."

"You have to fight for opportunities yourself." Ye Wanqing said in a gentle tone: "In the past, I followed the rules and was very strict. After being a little willful, I found that being a woman can also be very happy."

Cao Shuwan blinked.

On the side, Liao Fuyu had already eaten half a plate of crab roe cakes.

As she ate, she said, "Qing'er is right! If you like something, you have to fight for it yourself, and the same goes for the person you like! Look, she got An Lan, and she is so happy! An Lan gave her a horse and taught her to ride it, caught little foxes for her, and spent a lot of money to hire a gardener to grow peonies for her in winter... I heard from Chen Xi that these days, An Lan is preparing a big surprise for Qing'er!"

"Prince Dun is so nice." Cao Shuwan showed envy.

At this time, a chuckle came from outside the pavilion: "Big surprise? I would like to know what surprise An Lan is preparing."

solitary?
The three people in the pavilion looked up at the same time.

Crown Prince Chu Gongxiao wore a light-colored brocade robe. If he stood further away, he could hide among the flowers and trees.

There was another person standing next to him - Lu Jilian.

Ye Wanqing frowned.

It was the first time that Liao Fuyu and Cao Shuwan met the prince.

The two men quickly stood up and saluted: "Greetings, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Then they looked at Lu Jilian: "Prince Lu."

Ye Wanqing lowered her eyes and stood up: "Your Highness, Prince Lu."

Lu Jilian bowed in return.

"No need to be polite." Chu Gongxiao said, "I and Master Lu have important matters to attend to in the palace, so we passed by here and came to say hello."

The three of them responded.

It was the first time for Liao Fuyu and Cao Shuwan to face the prince in person and speak to him, so they were inevitably a little nervous.

Chu Gongxiao put one hand behind his back and said, "Qing'er, before I return to the palace, I want to ask you for a favor. Can I have a word with you for a moment?"

Ye Wanqing nodded: "Okay."

Liao Fuyu and Cao Shuwan bowed together: "We respectfully send off His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Chu Gongxiao nodded and walked along the stone steps into the depths of the flower shadows.

As the prince's companion, Lu Jilian naturally came along as well. However, he stood there politely and waited until Ye Wanqing and Chu Gongxiao had walked for a while before following them at a distance.

When the spring breeze blows, petals fall like rain.

Chu Gongxiao walked for a while, then stopped and looked back at Ye Wanqing who had deliberately slowed down two steps. He said slowly, "Before Menglian got married, she loved flowers the most. When she was still alive, I told her that if she survived the winter, I would take her to see a flower rain on Feihong Mountain. The flowers on Feihong Mountain were so beautiful, but she didn't have time to take a look..."

Ye Wanqing advised: "Your Highness, please accept my condolences."

(End of this chapter)