The next day, the Crown Prince came to the Rong family's old residence in person to pick up Cheng Simian.
"Mianmian, what's this..."
Cheng Simian slightly raised her hand. Standing upright, she smiled brightly.
"Your Highness, do you think it looks good?"
The woman in front of him was wearing a rouge - colored embroidered dress with gold threads and scattered pearls. Her hair was styled in a high - cloud topknot, adorned with a gold hairpin. Rubies were used as hair ornaments around it. On her ears were a pair of Dongzhu earrings.
On her wrist was the jadeite bracelet with a peach - blossom and intertwined - branch pattern that the Queen had bestowed last time.
Even her belt was inlaid with jade.
She looked extremely noble.
The Crown Prince only felt that she was radiant and dazzling.
However, she was like a different person from the usually simple and elegant Mianmian.
"Your daily dresses are mostly jade - colored, light indigo, misty purple, or apricot - yellow. Why are you dressed so flashily today?"
Except for the time when she deliberately set a trap to get rid of her engagement with Liang Yuchuan and wore peach - red, the Crown Prince had never seen Cheng Simian wear such a bright red.
Cheng Simian gave a charming smile. "If I dress flashily, those people will think that I'm arrogant because of the favor I've received and that I'm impetuous. They'll think it's easier to deal with me."
She took out a handkerchief from her sleeve and gently wiped the corner of her forehead.
The Crown Prince frowned slightly.
This handkerchief was made of the most precious rain - silk brocade, embroidered with big pink flowers.
It was beautiful, but paired with the rouge - colored dress, it seemed a bit gaudy.
His Mianmian was elegant and pure. She shouldn't have such a worldly taste.
"The color of this embroidery thread is called 'maiden's blush'. It's the light pink that appears on a maiden's face when she's shy. I heard it's Miss Qin's favorite color."
Cheng Simian patiently explained it to the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince wrinkled his nose in disgust.
"What she likes is not necessarily good."
The face of Qin Xuanyan had already become blurred in his mind. The Crown Prince only remembered that she was flamboyant and arrogant. After receiving the Queen's reward, she showed off in front of him like a hen that had laid an egg, which was really annoying.
How could his Mianmian have the same taste as Qin Xuanyan?
"Did you change this handkerchief on purpose?"
It was really easy to talk to a smart person.
"Yes. Miss Qin likes this kind of handkerchief. I specifically asked Qiluo about it."
Only then did the Crown Prince notice that there was a new maid behind Cheng Simian. She was beautiful and well - dressed.
Her expression showed a bit of aloofness, and her temperament was somewhat similar to Cheng Simian's.
"New here? Do you know her background?" The Crown Prince was very vigilant.
"She used to be a third - class rough maid in Qin Xuanyan's courtyard in the Rongxiang Duke's Mansion."
Cheng Simian told the Crown Prince in detail about Qiluo's background.
The Crown Prince helped her into the carriage first and then got in himself.
On the way, Cheng Simian told the Crown Prince her many speculations.
This included her thoughts on the use of the wooden - printed erotic pictures.
The Crown Prince didn't speak immediately. He sat upright, his expression solemn. A cold and deep light surged in his eyes.
He exchanged a look with Cheng Simian.
"It seems that we're going to watch a good show today."
"Your Highness, to ensure that today's incident will definitely happen, should we plan in advance?"
Cheng Simian didn't need to say much. The Crown Prince understood her immediately.
He sent a female official. "Go to the palace and invite the Queen. Since the weather has warmed up, let her go for a stroll in the Chunling Villa. The Queen loves calligraphy and paintings. Watching the younger generation discussing them will surely brighten her mood."
...
After Qin Feng had breakfast, he was about to go to court.
Suddenly, he remembered Qiluo and casually asked Mrs. Yang, "What did you do with that maid last night?"
Mrs. Yang was a bit surprised. Qin Feng never usually asked about the inner courtyard. Why was he so concerned about a maid?
A huge suspicion suddenly welled up in her heart. Could this little slut be trying to seduce even the master?
"I sold her. I specifically told the human - trafficker to sell her to the Red - Blossom Tower. Mama Lin is very good at disciplining people. Once she gets there, she'll be obedient and won't dare to gossip about the master's family."
The Red - Blossom Tower was a luxurious and charming place, catering to high - ranking officials.
In the world of romance, gossiping about the inner affairs of noble families was strictly forbidden, and Mama Lin did a very good job in this regard.
Mrs. Yang was glad about her decision last night.
Otherwise, this little slut would have even stolen the master's heart!
Qin Feng was shocked. There was a fire that couldn't be suppressed between his eyebrows. "Sold her? I told you to give her a small punishment. Who told you to sell her?"
Mrs. Yang was scolded. She was both aggrieved and angry. After being stunned for a while, she defended herself, "It's just a third - class maid. What's so surprising about selling her?"
"Do you know what kind of background that maid has?"
Mrs. Yang stared at him with her mouth wide open. "What kind of background can a maid have?"
"She's the illegitimate daughter of my subordinate Zhuang Qixian. Because his wife is so shrewd that she won't allow him to take concubines or keep mistresses, he was afraid that his wife would find out about his daughter outside and make a scene, which would be embarrassing. So he begged me to take in this maid and give her a job. I was soft - hearted and agreed. But you were so self - righteous and sold his daughter. How can I explain this to him?"
Qin Feng didn't really feel sorry for failing Zhuang Qixian's trust.
He knew exactly what Zhuang Qixian was up to.
However, it was easier to deal with a gentleman than a villain.
He just turned a blind eye and didn't want to offend this villain.
Therefore, he strictly prohibited Qin Ziqi from associating with maids before his marriage.
When Qiluo grew older, Zhuang Qixian would surely be impatient and take his daughter back when he found that putting her in the Qin family's inner courtyard didn't achieve his goal.
Qiluo was beautiful. With his connections, he could marry her into a good family. That wouldn't be a bad deal.
Zhuang Qixian had a good plan, but Qin Feng wasn't going to be fooled.
By keeping him on tenterhooks and giving him a glimmer of hope, making him think he could be promoted through his daughter, Qin Feng could make him work hard for him.
In terms of manipulating people's hearts, Zhuang Qixian was no match for him.
But Mrs. Yang had messed everything up!
"Stupid woman, what are you still standing there for? Go now and redeem her immediately!"
The head steward of the Qin family personally went to the Red - Blossom Tower.
When he came back, he looked dejected.
"Master, Madam, Mama Lin said that Qiluo was redeemed last night and is no longer in the Red - Blossom Tower!"
"What? So soon? Who redeemed her?"
Qin Feng's face was gloomy. His look made Mrs. Yang tremble with fear.
Mrs. Yang was afraid of Qin Feng. Knowing that she had messed up, her heart felt cold.
The head steward said, "Mama Lin said it was the daughter of the convicted official, Cheng Simian, who redeemed Qiluo!"
Mrs. Yang's heart turned completely cold. Her legs went weak, and she slumped into a chair.
Veins popped up on Qin Feng's forehead. His eyes were bloodshot.
"Look what you've done! Cheng Simian is in the Queen's good graces. Yan'er has to find a way to outshine her to have a chance to become the Crown Princess. Now that Qiluo is by Cheng Simian's side, won't that expose all the inner - courtyard affairs of our family? Idiot! How could I have married such a stupid woman!"
He used to think that Mrs. Yang was imposing and had the demeanor of a mistress. He was very relieved to leave the inner courtyard to her.
But now he found her annoying in every way.
Thinking it over, his daughter was domineering and irritable, always taking out her anger on the maids. His son was all show and no substance, forcing maids. Weren't all these the results of Mrs. Yang's spoiling and indulgence?
Mrs. Yang felt cold all over and kept shivering.
It was just about selling a maid. How could it end up backfiring on her?
Fortunately, if today's plan succeeded, Cheng Simian would never have a chance to rise again.
No matter how much Qiluo knew about the Qin family, it wouldn't matter.
She quickly forced out a smile that was uglier than crying and tried to comfort Qin Feng. "Don't be anxious, Master. Today the Second Prince is holding a famous - painting banquet in the villa. Our Yan'er will surely outshine Cheng Simian and win the Queen's favor!"