Chapter 25: Your Sweet Dream Has Fallen Through

"Hmph, it’s all an act. Luohua used to be the maid serving in her chambers; she dared not speak out before, but these past two days she has poured out so many grievances to me. Only then did I realize this woman is so vicious and cunning. The maids serving her haven’t received their fair share of slaps, that’s for sure."

The maids standing around whispered to one another as they looked at her.

Hearing these words, Sheng Yueying said indignantly, "I knew she was nothing good! And Father used to dote on her so much!"

Feeling increasingly aggrieved, she pursed her lips and sniffled.

Sheng Yunqing gave Jinxiu a cold snort and said, "Dahuang bit you because you deserved it."

Looking at the shocking wounds on her knees, Jinxiu was so frightened that she burst into tears. It was hard to believe that in just one day, she had fallen into such a pathetic state.

Madam Bai walked to Sheng Yunqing’s side and said with a bitter smile, "Yunqing, look... this girl has already been taught a lesson. Let her off just this once."

"Mother! Father has already cast her aside, yet you still favor her!" Sheng Yueying stomped her feet in anger, covering her face as she wailed, with only Sheng Qiuyao nearby to offer soft words of comfort.

Sheng Yunqing looked at Madam Bai and raised an eyebrow slightly. This woman had committed evil deeds and should have faced divine retribution long ago; her lifespan should have run out, yet she was still lingering on.

She narrowed her eyes slightly, discovering the underlying anomaly.

Life-stealing? Symbiosis?

Who was it? Who could have done such a thing for her?

She scanned the surroundings, her gaze locking onto Jinxiu.

She narrowed her eyes further. She had initially thought Jinxiu simply had a lot of ill-fated karma that was damaging her own longevity, but she had never expected that she was actually lending it to Madam Bai!

No wonder Madam Bai was so desperate to protect her; if Jinxiu died, she would follow!

What kind of shameful, hidden dealings had these two been up to?

Madam Bai felt a chill under Sheng Yunqing’s piercing gaze and guiltily turned her face away.

Could she have discovered something?

Daring not to dwell on it, she beckoned to the servants, "Come, take Jinxiu away and have a physician look at her."

Sheng Yunqing curled her lips and said, "Aunt, you are truly good to Jinxiu."

Madam Bai covered her face and coughed lightly, saying, "My health has been poor, and I have relied on her care all these years. In the end... in the end, there is still some affection."

Sheng Yunqing narrowed her eyes slightly and said, "Since your relationship is so close, why not let her take your surname, Bai?"

"Bai Jinxiu..." Madam Bai frowned, looking at her in confusion.

"You protect her so fiercely; if she takes your surname, then if anything happens, you shall bear the responsibility."

"I..." Madam Bai was terrified and wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Sheng Yunqing.

Sheng Yunqing stepped closer to her and said, "Or is it that you have already anticipated she would do something outrageous and tarnish the reputation of the Sheng family?"

With that, Sheng Yukun also cast a suspicious look at her.

He had always hated that imposter to the core; had it not been for Madam Bai intervening yesterday, he would have sent her to hell long ago!

Madam Bai shook her head hurriedly, saying, "Qing'er, you misunderstand. How could I do anything to harm the Marquis's estate?"

Sheng Yunqing stared at her with a mocking smile and said, "As long as that is the case."

This person had dozens of lives on her conscience; she was truly not simple.

Madam Bai did not stay long and left under a pretext.

Sheng Yunqing turned to Sheng Yukun and asked, "Uncle, where did that clever strategist beside Bai Jinxiu go? Where did she come from?"

"You mean Zhixing?" Sheng Yukun narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "She was originally the daughter of a merchant. Later, after losing her parents, she came to live in our house. She is Bai Jinxiu’s intimate friend and was inseparable from her in the past. Fearing trouble, I have already ordered her to be locked up, with only a maid sent to deliver meals on time. I have yet to deal with her."

Sheng Yunqing nodded. Since she was not a member of the Sheng family, leaving her aside for now would suffice.

At the moment, she had more pressing matters.

"Uncle, I am going to the Prince Ye’s Mansion."

The carriage stopped slowly in front of the Prince Ye’s Mansion. Sheng Yunqing got off and, seeing no one to block her, headed straight for the main hall.

Before she could even step over the threshold, she collided head-on with a wall of muscle.

She clutched her forehead, frowning and pointing at the person in front of her, ready to scold them, but as she looked up, she saw Ye Jinchen rushing out in a flurry.

Ye Jinchen looked down, saw it was Sheng Yunqing, grabbed the hand pointing at him, and glared at her, saying, "I was just looking for you!"

With that, he dragged her inside by the hand.

"I was looking for you too, what are you glaring at me for?" Sheng Yunqing frowned, unconvinced. "Ye Jinchen, why did you solicit that inexplicable imperial decree? What is the meaning of this!"

As they entered the room, Ye Qianning, who had been sitting and drinking tea, suddenly set her teacup back on the table and stood up: "Sister Yunqing?"

Ye Jinchen waved his hand and said, "Everyone out!"

Seeing Ye Jinchen’s great anger, Ye Qianning and the maids all bowed their heads and left, closing the door behind them.

Sheng Yunqing shook off his hand, snorted, crossed her arms, and lifted her chin, saying, "I tell you, your dream has already fallen through. The person you wanted to marry, you will never be able to marry!"

It was fortunate that Sheng Yukun had arrived in time; otherwise, that stinking girl Bai Jinxiu would have succeeded. If she had received the imperial decree today, the person becoming the future Princess Ye would have been her!

Ye Jinchen pinned her against the door, grinding his teeth in anger.

Last time... last time at Sansheng Hall, he had been the same...

Thinking of the intimacy with him that day, she flushed crimson. She struggled involuntarily, but could not overcome his strength. She frowned and said, "What are you doing?"

Ye Jinchen looked at her and said, "Are you that dissatisfied with this marriage?"

At the mention of that marriage, she became furious: "Of course I am dissatisfied! I am a thousand, ten thousand times dissatisfied!"

"Ning'er said that you want to marry my Imperial Brother?"

Sheng Yunqing bit her lip. So what? Did being his sister-in-law make him so angry?

Even though the imperial decree had already been received, she still stubbornly retorted, "That’s right, I am going to marry a Prince, so what? I am going to marry a Prince older than you and become your sister-in-law! Hmph!"

Ye Jinchen’s brows knit tightly: "Who is it?!"

"I..." Sheng Yunqing choked, turning her face away. "I haven’t decided yet. When I do, I will go beg the Emperor to change the decree."

"You dare!" Ye Jinchen was livid. He took a deep breath and said, "Aside from the Crown Prince, the only ones older than me are the Second Prince, the Fourth Prince, and the Fifth Prince. Tell me, who are you going to marry?!"

"The Second Prince!" The older the better!

"The Second Prince is twenty years older than you!"

"Cough, then the Fourth Prince." Sheng Yunqing chickened out immediately—maybe not that old...

"The Fourth Prince is also fifteen years older than you."

"Then... the Fifth Prince?"

What was wrong with Ye Qianning? Didn't she say there were many princes? After picking and choosing, there weren't many suitable ones.

Too unreliable!

"The Fifth Prince?!"

At the mention of the Fifth Prince, it was as if a reverse scale had been touched. Sheng Yunqing was startled by his reaction.