“This Princess Zhenguo truly has an enchanting beauty. Previously, she had Great Liang’s most beloved prince… prostrating himself beneath her pomegranate skirt, and now she walks the streets arm in arm with that world’s richest merchant, as if afraid others wouldn’t know how skilled she is at seducing men.” Liu Ruofu gritted her teeth, each word bursting with hatred.
Lu Baohua’s brow furrowed tightly, disapproving of Liu Ruofu’s words. She tried to persuade with kind words: “Back then, it was that Great Liang prince who mistook the person; it wasn’t Princess Zhenguo who deliberately made you lose face. Since the matter has passed, let it go. Look… now you don’t have to marry far away, you can stay in the capital city, and we two can be companions. How wonderful is that!”
Although the Great Liang prince wasn’t a good match, that Prince Liang… Liu Ruofu didn’t even want to spare him a proper glance.
If she weren’t pregnant, Liu Ruofu would never marry such a coward as Prince Liang.
Thinking of this, Liu Ruofu raised her hand to cover her abdomen. Her father, Prince Xian, had said that she and Prince Liang… were trapped in the Crown Prince’s scheme, that Prince Liang had also accidentally fallen into the trap. But this matter… how could they know it wasn’t Bai Qingyan’s idea?
Now, her father had already made all preparations. The generals and soldiers from the southern capital had all come to the capital under the pretext of attending the wedding banquet. Soon, the capital would be under her control. At this moment, she was no longer willing to endure.
Seeing that beside Bai Qingyan was merely a lowly merchant from Wei, Liu Ruofu wanted to vent her anger. She lifted her skirt and walked in Bai Qingyan’s direction. Lu Baohua couldn’t hold her back and could only hurriedly follow with her maidservants.
Bai Qingyan saw Liu Ruofu approaching with menacing momentum and paused her steps. Xiao Rongyan also stopped walking.
“Princess Zhenguo…” Liu Ruofu smiled without warmth and curtsied to Bai Qingyan.
Bai Qingyan stood with her hands clasped behind her back, nodding arrogantly: “Does the Southern Capital Princess have business?”
“Princess Zhenguo!” Lu Baohua hurried forward, properly performing a grand courtesy to Bai Qingyan, reaching out to pull Liu Ruofu.
“Princess Zhenguo is born with stunning beauty, the ministers beneath her skirt are indeed countless – from foreign princes… to foreign wealthy merchants, Princess Zhenguo truly welcomes all comers.” Liu Ruofu now carried Prince Liang’s flesh and blood in her belly. She didn’t believe Bai Qingyan would dare lay a hand on her.
Although Bai Qingyan was granted the title of princess, she wasn’t truly of royal bloodline. Would she dare harm the imperial offspring in her belly?
Moreover, as her father had said, as long as this time… while the Crown Prince and Empress were tearing at each other, Prince Liang succeeded… in the future, the child in Liu Ruofu’s belly would be the Crown Prince. Prince Liang was already quite manageable, so the Jin Kingdom would be under Liu Ruofu’s control. Why should she fear Bai Qingyan, this barren wench!
Lu Baohua’s eyes widened upon hearing Liu Ruofu’s words. Had Liu Ruofu gone mad?
Lu Baohua quickly smiled at Bai Qingyan: “Princess Zhenguo, please forgive us. The Southern Capital Princess just had some wine with me, perhaps she’s drunk! Please don’t take it to heart.”
Regardless, Bai Qingyan was personally granted the title of Princess Zhenguo by His Majesty. Even if Liu Ruofu was to marry Prince Liang, before the wedding she was merely a princess.
Bai Qingyan stood with hands clasped behind her back, looking at Liu Ruofu as if viewing a fool. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Xiao Rongyan laugh and say: “Princess, be careful not to disturb your pregnancy.”
Xiao Rongyan’s tone was very sincere.
Liu Ruofu’s face immediately turned pale, hastily protected her abdomen. Lu Baohua was startled and sternly rebuked Xiao Rongyan: “Master Xiao, although you are a merchant, you have good relations with the Crown Prince, and I regard you as a gentleman. How can you publicly slander the Southern Capital Princess’s reputation in broad daylight?”
“Then it’s acceptable for the Southern Capital Princess to publicly disregard hierarchy and commit offenses against her superiors, insulting the princess… slandering the princess?” Xiao Rongyan’s lips curved in a smile, his eyes filled with cold severity. The chill was like small snakes… silently climbing up Lu Baohua’s ankles, making her spine stiffen and forcing her to unconsciously step back.
Bai Qingyan glanced lightly at Lu Baohua, merely saying: “The princess should remember that there are no impermeable walls in this world. Since you already have plenty of vulnerabilities… don’t provoke more trouble, lest it backfire.”
“You think you can be smug for much longer?!” Liu Ruofu gritted her teeth.
Bai Qingyan’s hands clasped behind her back tightened slightly, hearing some different meaning in Liu Ruofu’s words.
Upon hearing this, Lu Baohua turned to look at Liu Ruofu, whose face was pale with anger, and suddenly understood that what Xiao Rongyan said was true. Her eyes widened as she stared at Liu Ruofu.
So that’s why Liu Ruofu ended up marrying Prince Liang – she was pregnant…
Pregnancy before marriage – if such a thing got out, not only would Liu Ruofu’s reputation be completely ruined, but since Liu Ruofu had been staying at Minister Wang’s residence during this time, all the daughters of the Wang family would be finished too.
Seeing Liu Ruofu’s expression, Xiao Rongyan knew she wouldn’t dare to provoke further. He made a gesture of invitation to Bai Qingyan: “Princess, please…”
Lu Baohua understood the gravity of the situation, tightly pursing her lips and gripping Liu Ruofu’s hand, stepping aside to make way.
Liu Ruofu bit her teeth hard, her eyes reddening, glaring with gritted teeth toward Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan’s direction, not knowing when Xiao Rongyan had also turned his head back…
Liu Ruofu’s eyes full of killing intent met Xiao Rongyan’s deep, calm gaze. Her throat rolled, and her heart inexplicably skipped a beat as she withdrew her gaze.
Lu Baohua said nothing more, pulling Liu Ruofu onto the carriage and lowering her voice to ask: “Don’t hide it from me… are you pregnant? Is it Prince Liang’s?”
Liu Ruofu’s brow furrowed tightly, tears streaming down. How could she speak of such a thing? Could she possibly tell Lu Baohua truthfully that the Crown Prince had schemed against her and Prince Liang?
“Did Prince Liang force himself on you? Prince Liang doesn’t seem like someone who would dare use force! Are you two in love?” Lu Baohua pressed urgently, but thinking more carefully, Liu Ruofu’s previous behavior didn’t seem willing either.
Liu Ruofu was pressed hard by Lu Baohua, her heart growing more hateful toward Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan, especially Xiao Rongyan, who had just exposed her pregnancy.
Just a Wei merchant – the Crown Prince gives him some face, and he thinks he’s somebody!
In two days, when the Crown Prince becomes a prisoner, let’s see how capital Xiao Rongyan has to be.
As for this Bai Qingyan… father also said she couldn’t be kept. Only two days left – even if she killed Bai Qingyan, what harm would there be?!
Liu Ruofu clenched her fists tightly, her entire being radiating killing intent.
·
“There’s another piece of news. I originally wanted to wait until I escorted you to the gates of the Grand Court of Justice prison before telling you…” Xiao Rongyan’s voice carried disdainful laughter as he spoke. “Prince Liang found Shangmo Bookstore and wanted Great Yan’s Ninth Prince to kill you for him, claiming… You are the obstacle to his ascension to the throne!”
“Mm…” Bai Qingyan responded, “Those words aren’t wrong either. I absolutely will not let him ascend to the throne.”
“Shangmo Bookstore replied that they need to consult the Ninth Prince and plan to drag it out like this. But since you’re in the capital, I worry Prince Liang might make other moves. You must be careful.” Xiao Rongyan reminded her.
“I will be careful, don’t worry…” Bai Qingyan looked up and rarely smiled at Xiao Rongyan.