Cui Lai’s father, Cui Yin, served as the Yann County Chief when Yuan Yindi held the position of Yann County Governor. Their partnership enabled Yann County to experience a very different developnt over eight years.
This ti, Yuan Yindi was summoned back to the Capital by Emperor Xia, and Cui Yin was also transferred back.
To be specific, Cui Yin was transferred back to the Capital even before Yuan Yindi.
After all, the Cui Family is an established aristocratic family in Daxia, with considerable influence in the imperial court.
When Cui Lai left Yann County, Yuan Bao was still wondering when they would et again.
Unexpectedly, Yuan Yindi was also soon transferred back to the Capital, directly promoted to an important position as Imperial Censor.
This position is only slightly lower than the Pri Minister, considered the Pri Minister’s deputy, with the authority to oversee all officials.
...
Yuan Bao swiftly rushed out the door to greet Cui Lai, who was visiting.
Even though they hadn’t seen each other for a few months, Yuan Bao noticed that Cui Lai seed even prettier than before.
"Little fairy, you’ve beco even more beautiful!"
Compared to Sheng Xueyi, Cui Lai seed more like a true little fairy.
Sheng Xueyi’s ethereal aura stemd from her makeup and clothing, whereas Cui Lai was the fairy herself.
She is the daughter of Cui Yin, but not the legitimate daughter, rely a concubine’s daughter.
The first ti Yuan Bao saw her, she was being punished to kneel by her stepmother.
The small figure knelt silently on the cold stone slab, not crying, not fussing, not begging for rcy, just quietly kneeling there.
Seeing Cui Lai kneel quietly like this, Yuan Bao felt a pang of heartache and wanted to take care of her.
Thus, she reached out to Cui Yin.
As Princess Jiafu, Yuan Bao had a knack for making things difficult for Cui Yin. Additionally, Cui Yin’s direct superior was Yuan Yindi, who happened to be Emperor Xia’s favored minister.
To curry favor with Yuan Yindi, Cui Yin naturally had to cater to Yuan Bao’s wishes.
Thus, Yuan Bao beca Cui Lai’s protector.
The two beca close friends who often played together.
Of course, if it were just for this reason, Yuan Bao might not have beco so close with Cui Lai.
The main reason was that Cui Lai was soone worth befriending.
Cui Yin’s intention to leverage Cui Lai to curry favor with Yuan Bao was fully disclosed by Cui Lai to Yuan Bao. She even quietly inford Yuan Bao of so of Cui Yin’s sches.
As the saying goes, sincerity begets sincerity.
Cui Lai treated Yuan Bao with sincerity, so Yuan Bao naturally wanted to treat this good friend well.
"Really?"
Upon hearing Yuan Bao’s words, a blush spread across Cui Lai’s face, "Why didn’t I notice?"
"Because you’re directly involved!"
Yuan Bao giggled, holding Cui Lai’s hand as they walked into the room, "Let’s go, let’s talk inside, it’s still a bit chilly outside!"
Today’s weather wasn’t good, gloomy and cold.
Cui Lai obediently followed Yuan Bao into the room, then they climbed onto the major bed.
"Jiaojiao, I have sothing to tell you!"
Once they settled on the bed, Cui Lai eagerly spoke.
"What is it?"
Yuan Bao blinked.
Cui Lai glanced at Hu Niuniu and Xii standing on the floor, softly saying, "Hu Niuniu, Xii, you two step outside, I want to share sothing secret with Jiaojiao!"
Hu Niuniu and Xii looked at Yuan Bao upon hearing this.
Yuan Bao nodded slightly.
The two imdiately bowed and exited the room.
"Little fairy, do you have so great secret to tell ?"
Yuan Bao leaned towards Cui Lai, smiling mischievously as she asked.
Lowering her voice, Cui Lai said, "Jiaojiao, today, I overheard my stepmother talking with our family’s big room’s fourth aunt. They are planning to propose you to the Twenty-Ninth Prince!"
"...?! "
Yuan Bao was dumbfounded upon hearing Cui Lai’s words.
The Twenty-Ninth Prince?
"Jiaojiao, don’t doubt it!"
"I heard them say this was the idea of Imperial Concubine Yi!"
"The Twenty-Ninth Prince’s birth mother is only a concubine in the palace. Imperial Concubine Yi promised her that if the Twenty-Ninth Prince marries you, she would raise her rank with the Emperor’s favor!"
"Oh, and the Twenty-Ninth Prince’s birth mother is from our Cui Family’s collateral branches!"
"...?! "
Yuan Bao was utterly speechless.
Regarding the situation Cui Lai described, Yuan Bao had no doubt whatsoever.
Only, she couldn’t fathom what Imperial Concubine Yi’s intentions were?
Previously, it was the Fourteenth Prince who ca knocking.
And now, another Twenty-Ninth Prince appeared!
Then, the Fourteenth Prince’s arrival, was it indeed Imperial Concubine Yi’s idea, or was it the Fourteenth Prince’s own intent? If it was Imperial Concubine Yi’s idea, what was the deal with the Twenty-Ninth Prince?
If Imperial Concubine Yi had no such intention, then why would she vent anger on her own dry nurse?
Yuan Bao, who once felt in control of everything, was now utterly confused, unable to comprehend the current situation.
"Jiaojiao, I’m telling you, quickly inform your little uncle not to agree to this marriage!"
"The Twenty-Ninth Prince has issues!"
As Cui Lai spoke, she raised her hand to point at her head.
The aning was simple—the Twenty-Ninth Prince was ntally troubled.
"Little fairy, thank you for informing !"
Yuan Bao grasped Cui Lai’s hand, "Don’t worry, I know how to handle this!"
Regarding her marriage, Yuan Bao felt quite powerless.
It’s still the sa old saying: she is on the board, life is the knife, and she is simply the fish fillet.
"Ultimately, it seems misplaced!"
Yuan Bao sighed deeply in her heart.
Once her master revealed her possessing the Immortal Treasure to Emperor Xia, it ant her marriage would inevitably face nurous obstacles.
Emperor Xia would never stand idly by and watch soone like her fall out of control.
How would she remain under control?
This question was sothing Yuan Bao couldn’t figure out in a short ti. As for whether Emperor Xia had figured it out, Yuan Bao didn’t know either.
But, from when Emperor Xia noticed her anomaly to now, eight years had passed.
Eight years, Emperor Xia should have figured it out by now, right?
"Master, you’ve ssed up badly, you know that?"
"No way!"
"This isn’t sothing I can bla on my master!"
Yuan Bao quickly realized her space anomaly had long been under the watch of the Fourteenth Prince. Even without her master’s report, the Fourteenth Prince would likely have reported it to Emperor Xia.
Thus, her current predicant was already destined from the mont Sheng Xueyi died.
"Little fairy, what do you think I should do now?"
"Engagent!"
Without hesitation, Cui Lai directly offered her solution.
"As long as Jiaojiao gets engaged, then the matter will be settled!"
"Impossible!"
Yuan Bao shook her head vigorously, "I can’t just marry off casually due to this, right?"
"Furthermore, engagents can still be broken!"
Yuan Bao found Cui Lai’s idea sowhat inappropriate.
This thod is purely escapism.
But thods of escape only solve the problem temporarily, not permanently.
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