lcionline Chapter 189 The prince has scratches on his face!
Chapter 189 The prince has scratches on his face!
Yinshuang was taken aback at first, quite surprised that she would have this idea.
In fact, Yinshuang was very happy about Shen Murui leaving the Prince of Qin's mansion.
I'm happy for Shen Murui, and I'm also happy for Su Mowan.
She felt sorry for Shen Murui. Because of Su Mowan's existence, Shen Murui was destined never to win the heart of Prince Qin, so it was better for her to leave as soon as possible and find someone she could rely on.
As for being happy for Su Mowan, it's naturally because there's one less woman in the harem, which will make the relationship between the prince and Consort Su smoother.
Therefore, as soon as Su Mowan said this, Yinshuang subconsciously replied, "This servant thinks it's not bad either."
After she finished speaking, Yinshuang belatedly realized that she had spoken too quickly.
Jiang Zhuo is in Jiangnan. If Shen Murui goes to Jiangnan and hears news about Jiang Zhuo intentionally or unintentionally...
Su Mowan turned around and saw that Yinshuang had a complicated expression, so she raised an eyebrow.
"What's wrong? You said it was good, so why are you making that face?"
"nothing."
Yinshuang shook her head and, unusually, made a joke: "Going to Jiangnan is fine too. Jiangnan not only has many beautiful women, but also many handsome men."
Su Mowan understood what Yinshuang meant and immediately smiled.
"That's right, there are many handsome men in Jiangnan, so I'm planning to bring you along to see them too. What do you think? No objections?"
Yinshuang's expression froze.
After a moment, she nodded: "That's fine too, I have no objection."
This reaction was both reasonable and unexpected.
Su Mowan felt that outsiders should not interfere in matters of the heart, because only the person experiencing it truly knows whether it is hot or cold.
While an outsider's perspective can provide a clearer view, it also has a drawback: it can easily lead to a loss of impartiality and bias.
Take her for example, she admits that she is more inclined to side with Yinshuang in this matter.
But she can't completely ignore it either.
After hesitating for a moment, Su Mowan still asked, "Yinshuang, has there been no movement from Young Master Chao's side?"
Su Mowan later learned about Chaoyang's identity from Feng Yue; he was the second son of the Imperial Guard Commander.
Chaoyang's status is neither particularly high nor low.
But without a doubt, it's much, much better than being an orphan like Yinshuang.
Yinshuang shook her head.
"I don't know. I guess our fate is over. It's my fault for forgetting to consider that his status is too unsuitable for me."
Su Mowan glanced at Yinshuang and wanted to say that when it comes to feelings, sometimes status and position are not important.
But when Su Mowan thought about how marrying someone of equal social standing was as natural as fuel for an airplane in ancient times, she couldn't bring herself to say it.
So he could only manage a smile to ease the tension.
She patted Yinshuang on the shoulder: "That's perfect. Let's go take a look at some handsome men first, relax, and then we'll talk again when we get back."
The two first wandered around the pond, and then went directly to the Yingyue Pavilion next door.
Su Mowan felt it was best to tell Shen Murui about this beforehand, since she was leaving for Jiangnan in a few days anyway, and it would give Shen Murui time to consider it.
When the two arrived at Yingyue Pavilion, the maid Xiaoyun was carrying a basin of water out of the inner room. She quickly bowed to them upon seeing them.
Su Mowan waved her hand, telling her to dispense with the formalities, then gestured with her eyes toward the inner room and asked, "Has your young lady gotten up?"
Xiaoyun nodded, not daring to look at Su Mowan.
"Reporting to Consort Su, Miss has finished washing up. Please wait a moment while I go in and call her."
Actually, she didn't need to call her. Shen Murui, who was in the inner room, came out when she heard the noise. When she saw that it was Su Mowan, a hint of embarrassment flashed in her eyes. She quickly asked Xiaoyun to make tea.
Su Mowan smiled gently.
"No need to trouble yourself. I can't drink tea right now either. I just came to talk to you about something."
As she spoke, she gestured for Shen Murui to sit down.
The two found chairs and sat down.
Su Mowan got straight to the point: "I'm going to Jiangnan in a few days. Would you like to come with me?"
Shen Murui's eyes lit up, but then dimmed again in an instant.
Su Mowan asked, puzzled, "What's wrong? If you don't want to go, you don't have to. There's no need to make things difficult for you."
Su Mowan could tell that Shen Murui's initial joy was due to her desire to go, but she couldn't figure out why her eyes later dimmed.
Yinshuang stood silently to the side, naturally noticing the change in Shen Murui's eyes and knowing the reason for it.
Shen Murui looked up and glanced at Yinshuang discreetly. She saw that Yinshuang was also looking at her, but her face was expressionless. This made Shen Murui even more determined to refuse.
Su Mowan told her that she was going to Jiangnan to expand her business.
Shen Murui finally said, "I... it's not that I don't want to go, it's just... it's just that I won't be of any help if I go, and I'll only be a burden."
Su Mowan had naturally considered this issue as well.
After a moment's hesitation, she asked gently, "Do you know how to use a pen and ink?"
Shen Murui looked at her, puzzled, and then nodded somewhat awkwardly.
"They only know a little bit and are not as good as those who have read the Four Books and Five Classics."
That's enough.
Su Mowan nodded and said with a smile, "If you haven't decided what you want to do in the future, you can come to my restaurant to help with the bookkeeping. Don't worry, I won't let you show your face in public."
"Bookkeeping?!"
Shen Murui seemed a little flustered.
"I...I'm afraid I can't do this well!"
"You can learn at your own pace if you're willing."
Seeing that she was interested, Su Mowan breathed a sigh of relief.
If Shen Murui is determined to leave, she will definitely have to give her enough money to spend, but money will eventually run out. If Shen Murui is willing to help out at the restaurant, she can earn several dozen taels of silver a month.
Shen Murui really wanted to go and was very touched that Su Mowan was willing to help her, but when she thought of what Yinshuang had said about Jiang Zhuo's family being in Jiangnan, she hesitated again.
She decided to stop having any inappropriate thoughts, but what if she ran into someone?
She wasn't good at hiding her feelings, and if she lost her composure in front of Jiang Zhuo, it would be better to stay far away.
Thinking of this, Shen Murui opened her mouth to refuse.
Knowing what she was thinking, Yinshuang said almost as if possessed, "Miss Shen, there's no need to rush to answer. You have a few more days to consider. However, Jiangnan is indeed a good place to go. You might as well go and take a look."
Yinshuang felt that Jiangnan was so big, and Jiang Zhuo wasn't the kind of person who would wander around the streets all day, so the chances of them meeting were almost nonexistent.
Yinshuang had witnessed firsthand how busy the restaurant was, and Shen Murui didn't have the time to listen to any news.
Shen Murui was stunned, not expecting that Yinshuang's words actually meant she supported her going.
It was only when the maid Xiaoyun came in that she was startled back to her senses.
With a determined effort, Shen Murui blurted out, "Consort Su, I've made up my mind, I'll go with you!"
Su Mowan smiled, stood up and said, "Actually, there's no rush. You can think about it for a few more days. I'll ask you for your answer when it's time to leave."
Shen Murui nodded hurriedly.
After Su Mowan and Yinshuang left, Xiaoyun approached and asked, "Miss, what did Consort Su just say to you?"
Shen Murui excitedly grabbed Xiaoyun's hand.
"Xiaoyun, we can leave soon! Once we leave the Qin Prince's mansion, we'll be free!"
Xiaoyun was completely confused.
"Miss, where are we going? When are we leaving?"
In Xiaoyun's opinion, it must have been Consort Su who forced her young lady to leave as soon as possible. Xiaoyun also overheard Shen Muyue instilling in Shen Murui the idea that Su Mowan was a bad person.
Therefore, his words inevitably carried some dissatisfaction.
Shen Murui naturally understood as well. Looking at Xiaoyun with her almond-shaped eyes, she solemnly said, "We're going to Jiangnan, far away, and we'll never live that kind of life in the Prime Minister's residence again! Besides, it was Consort Su who helped me leave, so we should thank her properly in the future!"
Xiaoyun disagreed.
She whispered, "Miss, you're just too naive and kind. Do you think helping you makes you a good person? Consort Su is just hoping you'll leave!"
Shen Murui rarely put on a serious face.
She said earnestly to her maid, "Xiaoyun, we were deceived by Shen Muyue before, thinking that what she said was true. But think about it, Shen Muyue bullied us when she was in the manor. We all know what kind of person she is. I only just realized that the reason she said that was to make us hostile to Consort Su, so that we would stand on her side."
Xiaoyun bit her lip.
"But Miss..."
“Xiaoyun, you can trust me. You don’t know what Father told me on the day I left the manor. He wanted me to help Shen Muyue get rid of Consort Su because Shen Muyue is not favored in the Prince of Qin’s manor and has even been overshadowed by Consort Su. I originally intended to listen to Father’s words, but... but Shen Muyue actually put that kind of thing in the tea without my knowledge. Isn’t she using me as a pawn to die?”
If she had been informed beforehand, she wouldn't have been so disheartened.
As Shen Murui spoke, her face darkened.
This incident greatly affected her.
Xiaoyun was stunned by the phrase "get rid of Consort Su" and stared blankly.
Shen Murui gently shook her arm and continued, "Shen Muyue can treat me like this now, who knows how she will harm me in the future? So Xiaoyun, rather than staying here to die, I'd rather go far away and never come back!"
Xiaoyun finally came to her senses.
She said softly, "But Miss, Xiaoyun is incompetent and can't support you..."
Shen Murui finally smiled.
She said softly, "Silly girl, why would I need you to support me? Consort Su said that I can help out at her restaurant in the future, so we won't starve."
Su Mowan walked quickly back to Huangfeng Garden.
If Murong Jing was still not awake, she planned to shake him awake directly.
Today is the last day of the martial arts examination, and Murong Jing, as the chief examiner, cannot be absent.
As soon as they entered the main house of Huangfeng Garden, they saw Qinghe coming out of the inner room carrying a basin of water. Su Mowan raised an eyebrow: "She's awake?"
Qinghe's eyes lit up, and she nodded, saying, "Your Highness is awake!"
Su Mowan didn't notice Qinghe's strange smile and went straight into the inner room. Yinshuang couldn't stand it anymore and gave Qinghe a cold look.
Why are you laughing like that?
Qinghe covered her mouth and chuckled, then pulled Yinshuang aside and whispered, "You have no idea, the prince has a very obvious fingernail mark on his face!"
"..."