Chapter 552
Chapter 552
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Shangguan Yun was furious when she heard this.
She had indeed been deceived by that Prince Lanhuai into staying at his residence for a few days.
But nothing had happened between them.
Yet hearing her own imperial elder brother speak of it, it sounded as though she had already become involved with Prince Lanhuai.
Did she really have no standards to sink so low?
Besides, why had she been tricked into Prince Lanhuai's residence in the first place? Wasn't it all because of him?
If he hadn't insisted on taking her away from this courtyard.
Why would she have fallen into Prince Lanhuai's trap?
"Imperial Brother, you had better handle this matter properly. Otherwise, when Lord Yan arrives, do you think everything you say and do won't be reported to Father?" Shangguan Yun finished speaking and left with a flick of her sleeve.
That Shangguan Mu was simply too disgusting.
She had kindly spoken to him, and yet he could slander her like this.
And he was supposed to be her elder brother.
"Princess, please don't be upset. It's all A Nan's fault for not protecting you properly back then." Looking at Shangguan Yun's indignant expression, A Nan quickly stepped forward to soothe her.
"I'm fine. I won't get upset over someone so heartless." Shangguan Yun took a deep breath before speaking.
"Princess, are we still going out today?" A Nan tried to distract Shangguan Yun and asked quickly.
"We are. Why wouldn't we? Bring the silver with us, and let's have a proper look around the capital of Lannuo." Shangguan Yun said boldly.
She wouldn't let Shangguan Mu's foolishness ruin her good mood.
Seeing that Shangguan Yun was no longer angry, A Nan breathed a sigh of relief.
She thought to herself that the Third Prince had truly gone too far, speaking about their princess like that.
With that thought, A Nan glanced in the direction where Shangguan Mu was and fell into quiet contemplation.
At Jinhua Hall
Cheng Qingli was idly fiddling with an abacus, looking utterly bored.
Wen Xiu had gone to Lucheng with Jiang Yuanrang.
Soon Li Zhiwei would also be leaving for Lucheng, leaving only herself to mind Jinhua Hall.
"Ugh..." Cheng Qingli let out another sigh.
"Oh my, could it be that our Jinhua Hall isn't doing any business?" A teasing voice sounded out.
"A'He, why are you here?" Cheng Qingli looked up at the young woman before her and said happily.
The newcomer was none other than the Eldest Princess born of the Empress herself — Miaohe Zhu.
"Isn't it because little aunt hasn't come to the palace to see me in so long? I thought maybe little aunt had run off with someone." Miaohe Zhu said with a hint of dissatisfaction.
In truth, Cheng Qingli had indeed been quite busy these past days.
But it wasn't because Jinhua Hall had no business — it was because business was too good.
"You child, you've learned to tease your little aunt now." Cheng Qingli helplessly poked Miaohe Zhu's forehead and said with exasperation.
"What? Little aunt lost money and won't let me mention it?" Miaohe Zhu said with a pout.
"Fine, fine. My Jinhua Hall has no business. How about our great princess advertises for me? Bring your little aunt some customers?" Cheng Qingli deliberately put on a troubled expression.
"Little aunt, do you really think I'd believe that?" Miaohe Zhu covered her mouth and chuckled.
Miaohe Zhu was not much younger than Cheng Qingli. Although they were a generation apart, the two got along very well.
Miaohe Zhu would go to Cheng Qingli for anything.
And Cheng Qingli always reserved the best things for Miaohe Zhu first.
"Ah, don't expose me so quickly. Is A'He planning to go somewhere recently?" Cheng Qingli asked with a puzzled look at Miaohe Zhu.
"Grandmother is going to Mount Wutai to pray for blessings, and I may need to accompany her for a while." Miaohe Zhu said reluctantly, holding Cheng Qingli's hand.
After all, her grandmother went to Mount Wutai every year, and the return date was never fixed.
Sometimes it was ten days to half a month, sometimes a month, or three to five months — there had been instances before.
"How did this fall to you? What about your father's other princesses?" Cheng Qingli asked in confusion.
After all, Zhu Jingchen was not old, yet he had quite a number of children, and several princesses at that.
A'He was the Eldest Princess, but the other princesses were not much younger than her.
"Ah, it's because I wanted to go myself." A'He stuck out her tongue and said sheepishly.
"You wanted to go yourself? Why? What's so fun about Mount Wutai?" Cheng Qingli asked, puzzled.
"Let me tell you — my mother has started looking at prospective consorts for me. I don't want that, so I told Father that I would accompany Grandmother to Mount Wutai." Miaohe Zhu leaned close to Cheng Qingli's ear and whispered.
"Is that all? Why didn't you talk to my elder sister about it?" Cheng Qingli asked with confusion, thinking that her sister was not the unreasonable type.
"I don't know. My mother seemed quite anxious about it." Miaohe Zhu shook her head, truly unwilling when it came to this matter.
"Could it be that my sister is worried you might be sent for a marriage alliance?" Cheng Qingli thought for a moment and then whispered.
She and Miaohe Zhu had never kept secrets from each other.
This matter was Miaohe Zhu's own affair, and Cheng Qingli felt there was no harm in making her guess known.
But if that Shangguan Mu wanted to seek A'He's hand in marriage, what then?
So the best course of action now would actually be to settle a suitable marriage for A'He.
Yet clearly, A'He did not understand her mother's well-intentioned plan at the moment.
"It can't be, right?" Miaohe Zhu said, and felt a bit uncertain herself. If her mother was truly acting out of kindness, and she had merely thought her mother was making things difficult for her, she would indeed be somewhat unfilial.
"So little aunt, is that also why you hurriedly settled your own marriage back then?" Miaohe Zhu suddenly recalled that Cheng Qingli's marriage had also been arranged in haste.
Could it be that she too was avoiding marrying that so-called Third Prince?
"You, my marriage with Zhaonan had always been what I wanted in my heart. It wasn't decided out of fear of a marriage alliance." Cheng Qingli spoke frankly without hiding anything from Miaohe Zhu.
"Oh my, what your heart wanted!" Miaohe Zhu said, feeling a sour taste in her mouth.
Was this the bitter-sweet smell of love?
"Little aunt, do you think that prince really would make me marry him? I haven't even had my coming-of-age ceremony yet." At the thought, Miaohe Zhu could not help feeling anxious.
"Not necessarily. I see no sign that your father intends to form a marriage alliance with the Qinling Kingdom. But this is only my guess." Cheng Qingli thought for a moment and cautiously shared her speculation with Miaohe Zhu.
"But what if we refuse the marriage alliance and the Qinling Kingdom decides to send troops against us?" Miaohe Zhu frowned, speaking with deep concern.
At that moment, she deeply regretted that she had only thought of accompanying her grandmother to Mount Wutai, neglecting something so important.
She was her father's Eldest Princess. If the Kingdom of Lannuo truly needed her, she should step forward.
How could she run away?
That was not how a royal princess should behave!