Chapter 429: Chapter 429: You Really Don’t Want to See Me?

After escorting Song Lianhe back to the Prince Mansion, Zhou Cangyan left.

Cao Jin was not around, so Yan Huan was on guard duty at the gate.

"Princess Consort, you’re back." He proactively stepped forward, all attentiveness.

"Huan, remember to go to the Medical Clinic for a follow-up tomorrow. It’s about your... kidney deficiency."

"Thank you, Princess Consort! I’ll remember, I’ll remember..."

Yan Huan wiped the sweat from his forehead, respectfully saw her into the mansion, and upon turning back, drew a round of stifled laughter from his men.

"What are you laughing at?" Yan Huan shot them a glare, walked over, sat down, and continued their game of Pai Gow. "Come on, come on, let’s keep playing."

His days at the Prince Qing Mansion couldn’t have been more carefree. There was not only roasted whole lamb but also delicious pastries. When he was bored, he played Madiao and other card games with his men. When he was tired, he would bask in the sun. It was incredibly pleasant! Most importantly, Princess Qing, the best physician in the city, was personally helping him restore his health!

To put it one way, if he were made to return to the Imperial City right now, he wasn’t sure he could handle the downgrade.

Just then, a sedan chair was set down before the gate.

A person got out of the sedan and hurriedly walked into the Prince Qing Mansion.

"Deputy Commander Yan, someone just went in. Should we..."

"Someone?" Yan Huan’s eyes went wide as he looked around. "I didn’t see anyone."

Everyone chimed in in agreement: "Right, right, no one! We didn’t see anything!"

Meanwhile, Manager Pang stepped forward to greet her. "Miss Cao..."

"I need to see your Princess Consort."

Cao Ying, knowing the way, ran straight to the rear courtyard. "Lianhe! Lianhe!"

Inside the room, Song Lianhe was going over the accounts.

’Although Zhou Cangyan hasn’t said it outright, I know that as the now-official male lead, the storyline has to move forward. What if he suddenly decides to raise an army and seize power? That would require a massive amount of silver!’

’Earlier, when I was in Sui Bei, I gave them a sum of silver. Now that the Medical Clinic has paid next year’s franchise fee, that money can be put to good use. The remaining profits will be used to purchase all sorts of medicinal herbs! I also plan to buy a plot of land on the outskirts of the city to grow sweet potatoes...’

"Lianhe!"

Cao Ying pushed open the door, strode to the desk in a few steps, and grabbed her hand. "You have to save me!"

"What’s wrong?"

Song Lianhe was happy to see it was her.

She hadn’t seen Cao Ying in a long time. She looked even more beautiful than before she’d left.

’They say one’s heart shapes one’s face. It seems to be true.’

’Now that she’s no longer fixated on men and relationships, her mind has become open and clear. Even her features have become more striking and radiant.’

"My father wants to marry me off to that Prince Hang as a concubine!"

Song Lianhe was shocked to hear this.

She immediately asked, "Has Scholar Cao chosen a side?"

"Who knows! After he came back today, he was dead set on marrying me to Prince Hang! I refused, so he punished me by making me kneel in the ancestral hall! I was so angry I ran out. Anyway, if someone has to marry him, he can do it himself! I absolutely will not! Especially not as a concubine! I refuse to fight with other women over one man!"

Cao Ying said it all in a rush, then took the tea Shuang Ye handed her and drank it in one gulp.

"In my opinion, Scholar Cao wouldn’t have agreed to this marriage without good reason. There must be something more to it."

’Scholar Cao may be strict, but he dotes on his daughter. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have let her chase after Zhou Junlin for all those years, letting her best years slip by.’

Cao Ying lowered her gaze and sighed. "I can guess the reasoning behind it, but I just can’t stand that he’s using me as a political pawn. Or... if he’s really in some difficulty, he could just tell me!"

"He didn’t tell you because he was afraid you’d act on impulse."

Xuan Mei pushed the door open and came in.

Song Lianhe looked up at her. "Sister Mei, how do you know that?"

"After Cao Ying left her mansion, Cao Jin followed her. He’s outside this one right now." Xuan Mei looked at Cao Ying and said, "Consort Zhao Hui has been trying to win over Scholar Cao. Even before Prince Hang was the Crown Prince, she had already proposed a marriage to the Cao Family, but Scholar Cao rejected it. This Consort Zhao Hui is a vengeful person, and what’s more, she needs the Cao Family’s influence. You have to understand, Scholar Cao is a role model for all the scholars in the land, and many of the civil servants in the Court are his former students. Consort Zhao Hui is determined to make this marriage happen."

Xuan Mei continued, "Now that Prince Hang is the Crown Prince, appointing a consort for him is done by imperial decree. Refusing to marry is defying that decree. Scholar Cao knows your temper all too well. Rather than have you resent Prince Hang and take extreme measures against Consort Zhao Hui in a direct confrontation, it’s better to let you hate him. That way, things are simplified, and at the very least, he can protect you."

Cao Ying was completely stunned.

She lowered her head and murmured, "My father never told me any of this... Why didn’t he tell me?"

Cao Ying quickly deflated, her head hanging low, the rims of her eyes turning red.

Song Lianhe frowned deeply and asked Xuan Mei, "What did Cao Jin say?"

"He said there might still be room for negotiation."

Cao Ying’s eyes instantly lit up. "I knew my big brother would have a plan! Quick, tell me, what do I need to do?"

"You can’t do it." Xuan Mei looked at Song Lianhe. "It requires the Princess Consort’s help."

—

「Dao Yuan Temple」

Ling’an’s largest Taoist temple, it was bustling with worshippers year-round.

The carriage stopped, and Song Lianhe was about to get out.

Suddenly, her hand was grabbed.

Zhou Cangyan frowned at her. "You never discussed this with me. You made this decision on your own. I’ve thought it over, and it’s still not right!"

Song Lianhe found it ridiculous. They were already here, and he was trying to back out now?

She reached out and pushed him away. "I’m just trying to help Cao Ying. Don’t overthink it."

"I’ll go find him myself."

Song Lianhe sat back down. "Fine. Then let me ask you, if Zhou Junlin came to you and told you to take a woman as a concubine, would you agree?"

Zhou Cangyan sneered disdainfully. "Of course not!"

"So now you see why you can’t be the one to go, right?"

"And you think he’ll agree if you’re the one to talk to him?"

"At least there’s a chance."

’We’re all ’awakened’ characters,’ Song Lianhe reasoned, ’so we should have some empathy for each other. That’s why I want to try persuading him.’

’Of course, I know it’s a huge ask.’

’But who else could be more suitable for the job?’

Zhou Junlin had been building his influence in the Court for years and had many of his people there. Although Consort Zhao Hui and her son saw Zhou Junlin as a thorn in their side, they would still avoid a direct confrontation with him.

Therefore, only if Zhou Junlin intervened could Cao Ying escape this fate.

Zhou Cangyan understood the reasoning, but he just didn’t like her meeting with Zhou Junlin in private!

’In private?’ Song Lianhe’s eyes raked over him. ’He tagged along all the way here, and he calls this a private meeting?’

Zhou Cangyan said, agitated, "I’ll give you the time it takes for one incense stick to burn."

Before getting out of the carriage, Song Lianhe reminded him, "Don’t you forget, you also have important business to attend to."

After alighting from the carriage, she was led by Xuan Mei straight to the rear mountain.

But no sooner had she left than Song Xilan’s carriage arrived.

A Shadow Guard stepped forward and reported, "My Lord, Princess Consort Ling requests an audience."

Zhou Cangyan was already annoyed. The thought of Song Lianhe going to see Zhou Junlin put him in a foul mood.

"I won’t see her."

"Are you sure you don’t want to see me?"

Song Xilan’s hesitant voice sounded out.

For some unknown reason, hearing her voice sent a strange pang of tenderness through his heart.

Zhou Cangyan frowned in suspicion.

’This feeling is so abrupt,’ he wondered. ’Where... did it come from?’