Chapter 249 FCADW? IRTBTMOTMM

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 Favoring Concubines and Destroying Wives? I Refuse to be the Mistress of this Marquis' Mansion

 Chapter 249: 

Having Eyes But No Pearls 

"What are these?" 

There were many books on the table, and Qi Lingheng glanced at them. They were all family background information of unmarried young women. 

Lin Yunwan said helplessly, "These are the suitable young ladies my mother selected for Yunyi. She compiled them into books and sent them to me to help with the selection." 

"Are there any that match Yunyi?" 

Lin Yunwan smiled, "Even if Yunyi were a celestial being, these ladies are all elegant and outstanding. How could there be any who are not suitable for him?" 

Qi Lingheng gently stroked her eyebrows and said, "Then why are you bothered by it?"

Lin Yunwan held his hand, asking him not to tease. 

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

"Your Highness may not know, but Yunyi still holds the same attitude. He wants someone more stable, someone who can manage a household. While such women do exist, they are usually older than him and may come from families... who would willingly let their daughters remain unmarried until a later age? There are likely some underlying issues in their families." 

"Yunyi is considered a young achiever, and according to my mother, he is very confident about passing the imperial examination. My mother and the elders of the family are naturally inclined to be selective." 

"My mother sent these books to have me look them over and help persuade Yunyi. With the family background and status laid out in these books, it's easy to compare and evaluate." 

"What are your thoughts?" 

Qi Lingheng sat down beside her.

Lin Yunwan fell silent for a moment before saying, "Forcing something never ends well. I think it's best to let Yunyi make his own decision. After he finishes the exam, he can choose for himself. What does Your Highness think?"

Qi Lingheng nodded, "I've known Yunyi for a while now, and I know he's very independent. Although it might not be conventional, letting him decide on marriage matters himself shouldn't be a problem."

Lin Yunwan smiled, "Then I'll tell my mother that both His Highness and I support Yunyi."

"Dragging me into it?" Qi Lingheng chuckled, "Aren't you afraid your mother will be unhappy with me?"

"My mother won't mind; she highly regards Your Highness," Lin Yunwan said after chatting for a while, only to notice that Qi Lingheng had already changed into his outdoor attire. "Your Highness, where are you off to?"

Qi Lingheng stood up, saying, "I've arranged to meet someone to discuss some matters."

Understanding that there were many things in the court that couldn't be discussed openly, Lin Yunwan didn't inquire further. "Will Your Highness be riding out?"

Qi Lingheng replied, "I've ordered a carriage, and A'Fu will accompany me."

Lin Yunwan nodded and watched Qi Lingheng leave. Feeling a bit tired herself, she had intended to lie down for a nap, but ended up sleeping for an hour. 

Since arriving in the capital, she hadn't felt this tired before.

~

"Sir, the person is inside, waiting for you for half an hour," said the attendant.

Qi Lingheng had deliberately delayed his appointment with the person they were meeting at the bustling restaurant.

His expression cold, Qi Lingheng instructed A'Fu, "Change to another room. Let him come over."

"Yes, sir."

Qi Lingheng selected another clean private room, and A'Fu went to fetch Lu Zhengliu from the other room, informing him, "The master is waiting for you over there."

Lu Zhengliu pursed his lips.

Having waited for half an hour, he already felt somewhat frustrated, and now, with the sudden change of venue, it felt as if they were toying with him.

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

"Thank you."

Facing Prince Huan across the table, what could he do if he was being played?

He had learned to be patient now.

Moreover, he was now thinking... for Yunwan.

After Lu Zhengliu entered, he didn't see Qi Lingheng. Prince Huan was behind a folding screen, only a blurry silhouette visible.

"Your Highness?" 

He tentatively called out.

Qi Lingheng didn't respond to him. A'Fu walked up to him, frowned, and said, "Stripped of your title, and you come here without observing proper etiquette when meeting His Highness?"

Only then did Lu Zhengliu kneel down.

"Your subject..."

Qi Lingheng was leisurely listening to the man speaking behind the folding screen. His voice was gentle and light: "A'Fu, leave."

"Yes."

After A'Fu left, Qi Lingheng asked Lu Zhengliu outside the screen, "It seems that I have seen you before?"

Lu Zhengliu remembered the incident at the Xingguo Duke's residence that day, feeling a burning sensation on his face.

That day, he appeared too humble in front of Prince Huan.

"Yes, this humble one has been to the Xingguo Duke's residence, and with Your Highness..."

Qi Ling Heng grew impatient listening to this, and casually asked, "After going through so much trouble to see me, what is it you want to discuss about the princess with me?"

"Your Highness, I..." Lu Zhengliu's voice trembled a bit, and he felt some hesitation in his heart.

But if he didn't speak up, it would be the end of him and Yunwan.

Thinking of Ge Bao'er's words, he gritted his teeth and said, "Your Highness, the Princess Huan is... the former Madam of the Wu Ding Marquis's residence."

There was silence from behind the screen, only the sound of the teacup being moved. 

But he had already said it. Lu Zhengliu could only continue, steeling himself, and confidently added, "I have evidence."

Qi Lingheng remained silent as Lu Zhengliu repeated himself, "I have evidence of the princess's deception!"

"Bang."

Qi Lingheng set down his teacup and said slowly, "Have you ever considered that it's not the princess who deceived the emperor... but me."

Lu Zhengliu froze.

So Prince Huan was aware!

Didn't Prince Huan know what the crime of deceiving the emperor entailed?

Lu Zhengliu felt a bit absurd.

"Even if it's deceiving the emperor, Prince Huan, are you really going to... protect Yunwan?" He couldn't believe it, "This is the crime of deceiving the emperor!"

Even a prince couldn't deceive the emperor!

Prince Huan might even lose his future position as the crown prince because of this! He refused to believe that Prince Huan didn't care about the position of the crown prince, or even the imperial throne!

Quan Lingheng chuckled, saying nothing, yet it seemed like he had said everything.

Lu Zhengliu's heart was in turmoil, unable to calm down for a long time.

How could it be—

How could Prince Huan possibly stoop to this level?

After a long while, Qi Lingheng said coldly, "Get out."

Prince Huan cared not a whit about Yunwan's background, not even about her previous marriage to another man!

Lu Zhengliu weakly stood up and took his leave.

At the last moment, Qi Lingheng condescendingly remarked, "Fortunately, your Lu family lacks insight, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to marry the coveted Huan Wangfei."

Lu Zhengliu fled in despair, galloping away on his horse, unsure of where to go.

"Prince Huan knows everything! He knows everything!"

Yunwan's feigned death and departure from the residence of Wu Ding Mansion was secretly aided by Prince Huan!

They had done it right under his nose all those years ago...

And he knew nothing about it!

"Yunwan, you betrayed me. How could you—" Lu Zhengliu's heart was filled with resentment.

"Master, what happened?" Ge Bao'er had waited for Lu Zhengliu the whole day. He returned only after dark, looking dusty and disheveled. 

But Lu Zhengliu remained silent upon his return. 

Ge Bao'er kept asking for half the day, but she didn't get him to speak.

She tactfully refrained from asking further. 

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

"It seems that the Prince Huan doesn't care at all about Lin Yunwan's identity," she remarked.

"But even if Prince Huan doesn't care, the Crown Prince does," Ge Bao'er added as she entrusted Madam Chen to meet with the Crown Princess.

~

"The Crown Prince is actually planning a birthday banquet. Your Highness, take a look," she said.

The Crown Prince, who was weak in health, had never organized a birthday banquet before. Lin Yunwan had heard about this after arriving in the capital.

Lin Yunwan handed over the invitation and said, "When things go contrary to the norm, there must be something unusual happening. I heard that Madam Chen went to apologize to the Crown Princess Consort. It seems that this upcoming birthday banquet at the Crown Prince's residence is related to me."

"Are you afraid?" Qi Lingheng asked.

Lin Yunwan grasped his hand and said, "With you by my side, why should I be afraid?"

Instead, she was eager! She also had some good things to give to Lu Zhengliu and Ge Bao'er!

Qi Lingheng smiled faintly, holding Lin Yunwan silently.

In his eyes, a hint of killing intent arose.

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

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