The carriage soon arrived at Prince Rong's Mansion.
As the biological brother of the soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Rong Huaishu's future colleague, and the eldest son of uncle Xie Guo, Princess Rong naturally entertained them warmly and ordered someone to prepare a table of delicious food for them.
Xie Yi'an was calm and courteous: "Thank you, Princess, for your hospitality. This junior is frightened."
Princess Rong was about to speak when she heard footsteps outside and couldn't help but turn her head and look outside.
Princess Rong Huaiyue of Prince Rong's Mansion stepped into the threshold, holding an invitation in her hand: "Mother, just now Miss Qin sent me an invitation, saying that she had painted a painting recently and invited me to her home to appreciate it. "
"What can you taste?" Princess Rong was surprised. She obviously knew her daughter's abilities better than anyone else. "She is not proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. How can you compare with other talented women? Have someone reply to the post. Recently in the Qin family, you are still It’s better to avoid suspicion——”
"Mother." Rong Huaiyue frowned, "Miss Qin invited me, wouldn't it be inappropriate for me not to go?"
"Let my sister go." Rong Huaishu suddenly said, "Although the engagement between the two families has been cancelled, it has nothing to do with my sister. Besides, the break-up of the engagement has no impact on her or me, so there is no need to hurt the relationship."
Princess Rong frowned slightly, thinking you know nothing.
However, since the legitimate son of the Xie family was present, she didn't want others to think she was narrow-minded, so she had to agree: "You should go early and come back early. You can't stay too long in the Qin family."
"Thank you, mother." Rong Huaiyue changed her clothes, took her maid, and quickly took a carriage to Qin's house.
Qin Zhilan is indeed painting.
Rong Huaiyue arrived at Qin's house and was quickly taken to Qin Zhilan's attic. After the maid reported, Qin Zhilan welcomed her to the case with a smile: "See how my painting goes?"
Rong Huaiyue was startled after seeing the painting, "Miss Qin, you——"
Qin Zhilan looked sad: "I regret it."
Rong Huaiyue didn't know how to react.
On the painting is her eldest brother Rong Huaishu, a gentle and elegant young man, as graceful as jade, with such upright and pure eyes, he looks exactly like the young man who should be hidden in the painting.
"Miss Qin's superb painting skills are admirable." Rong Huaiyue considered her words, "But isn't it inappropriate for you to paint my elder brother's portrait now?"
Qin Zhilan turned around and walked to the inner room. When she came back, she held an exquisite brocade box in her hand. She held Rong Huaiyue's hand and put the brocade box in her hand: "Sister Huaiyue, I can't let him go. "
Rong Huaiyue was a little at a loss and took two steps back unconsciously: "Miss Qin, don't be like this... The marriage between eldest brother and Miss Xie has been decided, I... I can't make the decision..."
"I know." Qin Zhilan lowered her gaze with a sad expression, "I just want to see him and have something to explain clearly."
Rong Huaiyue looked down at the brocade box in her hand, as if holding a hot potato. After hesitating for a long time, she returned the brocade box to Qin Zhilan: "The betrothal gift has been given, it's too late to say anything now, Miss Qin—— "
"If Miss Xie hadn't fallen into the lake, the prince would still be my husband." Qin Zhilan's voice was bitter, "Don't you think this is unfair to me?"
Rong Huaiyue was speechless.
She really didn't know who was right or wrong in this matter, but after the incident, didn't Qin Zhilan just call off the engagement?
She didn't say it then, so what's the point of saying it now?
What's more...
Rong Huaiyue thought that the King of War had become the prince, and the Xie family was now the most powerful supporter of the prince. It was a wise choice to marry the Xie family. If she went back on her words now and canceled the marriage with the Xie family, wouldn't her eldest brother be reduced to a Quan Shengjing’s laughing stock?
Rong Huaiyue was silent for a moment: "I want to go back."
"Huaiyue." Qin Zhilan lowered her head and smiled bitterly, "I have no choice. If the prince hadn't rejected me repeatedly, I wouldn't have had to look back. But Chu Yunfei is narrow-minded and can't tolerate the prince having a concubine. Can you...can you? Help?"
Rong Huaiyue was stunned: "How can I help?"
"Xie Danshu fell into the water on purpose and wanted your brother to save her. If this matter was publicized, it would be bad for your eldest brother and Xie Danshu's reputation. But their marriage is about to happen. If I didn't have to, I wouldn't ask you for help." Qin Zhilan said lowly. He tilted his head and hid the gloomy color in his eyes, "On the day of your eldest brother's wedding, the prince and the princess should also go to the wedding banquet. I hope..."
"No!" Rong Huaiyue shook her head, panicking, "This is absolutely impossible! Miss Qin, have you forgotten what happened to the person who drugged the prince during the seventh prince's wedding? I...I can't help you……"
After saying this, Rong Huaiyue did not dare to stay any longer and hurriedly walked out.
"If you don't help me, the news of Miss Xie's deliberately falling into the water to seduce someone else's fiancé will soon spread." Qin Zhilan brushed off her disguise and her voice became gloomy, "Rong Huaiyue, you'd better think carefully."
Rong Huaiyue froze, turned her head, and looked at Qin Zhilan in disbelief: "You are the granddaughter of Master Qin, are you so unscrupulous in doing things?"
"People are all for profit. Isn't it also for profit to show reputation in the eyes of outsiders? Everyone has different purposes." Qin Zhilan smiled faintly, with a bit of sarcasm, "Some people like to be praised and praised, and they like to be famous forever, and some people chase them. Fame, wealth, and power at all costs are essentially what you want, and you don’t have to imagine human nature too beautifully.”
Rong Huaiyue was not as talented as Qin Zhilan, and her articulation was not as sharp as hers. She did not know how to refute her specious words.
After thinking about it, she said, "Let me think about it for two days."
"Give me an answer tomorrow." Qin Zhilan threatened, "Otherwise, there will soon be overwhelming rumors in the capital. Don't blame me for being cruel."
Rong Huaiyue nodded in panic and left the attic in a hurry, not daring to stay a moment longer.
She felt that Qin Zhilan was really going crazy.
She had no idea what she was doing.
Until she returned to the palace, Rong Huaiyue was still a little distraught. Princess Rong noticed something strange about her and asked worriedly: "Huaiyue, what's wrong?"
"Mother." Rong Huaiyue bit her lip and looked at her mother, hesitant to speak, "I..."
"What happened?" Princess Rong frowned, "Your eldest brother and Miss Xie are about to get married. There is no room for any surprises. If you have anything to do, you'd better tell me."
Rong Huaiyue bit her lip: "Miss Qin said she regretted it and wanted to marry her eldest brother."
Princess Rong's face changed: "How is this possible? How can the marriage given by the Emperor allow her to cancel it if she wants to, and to restore it if she wants to? It's simply ridiculous!"
"She said that Miss Xie fell into the water on purpose that day to attract Big Brother's attention." Rong Huaiyue said uneasily, "I don't know whether what she said is true or not, but once this rumor is spread, it will definitely affect Miss Xie And the reputation of big brother..."
Princess Rong's face was as dark as water and she didn't say a word.
"But her goal is not entirely for eldest brother." Rong Huaiyue was a little uneasy, "She said that if she doesn't want the truth about Miss Xie falling into the water to be spread, let me agree to her a condition."
Princess Rong quickly asked: "What are the conditions?"
Rong Huaiyue bit her lip and her voice was much lower: "She...she wanted me to drug the prince on the day of my eldest brother's wedding..."
Princess Rong looked at her in shock: "You won't agree, will you?"
"No, mother, I didn't agree!" Rong Huaiyue shook her head quickly, "How could I agree? Isn't that asking for death?"
After saying that, Rong Huaiyue lowered her voice: "But she only gave me one day to think about it, and said that if I didn't agree, she would spread the truth about Miss Xie falling into the water."
"What a vicious person." Princess Rong gritted her teeth coldly, "Your eldest brother is right not to marry her. If such a woman really comes in, the palace will be turned upside down by her."
"Mother, then...then what should I do now?"
"Don't worry about this matter. Leave it to your elder brother to handle it." Princess Rong said coldly, turned around and walked out, "I'll go find your elder brother to discuss it."
