Chapter 338: Chapter 338: After Disguising Herself as a Man, the Rabbit Spirit Ran Away with a Baby in Her Womb 48
The young man before her was named Shen Qingman, the Crown Prince of a small country nestled at the foot of Sishi Mountain, but he was different from other power-loving princes. His greatest dream was to become a Demon Catcher.
His country was very small, but it boasted a prime geographical location, rich in resources, surrounded by other nations, serving as a hub, which made other countries want to annex them.
The rulers, meaning his own Imperial Family, were negligent; they spent their days drinking and indulging in pleasures, having given up on saving the nation. They did not want Shen Qingman to go out and become a Demon Catcher but rather hoped he would return soon to take over the reign.
“Why, then, are you seeking young women?” Su Zhiruan seized the essence of the matter. She looked at Shen Qingman and felt something was amiss, “Is there no one in your country who thinks of its salvation?”
Shen Qingman somewhat helplessly waved his hand, “The Emperor always says that if it weren’t for the Imperial Family having only me as an heir, he could escape this predicament. In his youth, he showed mercy, supposedly leaving a Princess among the common folk, who later got lost and could never be found. My current aim is to find a sister, or someone similar to a sister, to bring back and see how he could extricate himself from this situation!”
This matter, whether heard or seen, seemed quite absurd.
The young prince did not want to be the Crown Prince, but the responsibility of saving the country rested entirely on him, so he thought to look for a substitute to deal with his family.
“I wish you an early fulfillment of your wishes, sir. Now, I must be going,” said Su Zhiruan as she picked up her basket. She hid in a secluded corner and observed two old women hiding; upon her glance, they hastily withdrew their heads, hoping not to be seen by Su Zhiruan.
“Hey, hey, don’t leave , miss, please stop!” Shen Qingman hurriedly covered the distance in two strides to intercept Su Zhiruan, spreading his hands wide to block her path.
No wonder he was so anxious. He had been searching among the common folk for a long time, but most young women did not match what he envisioned, either lacking in temperament or appearance.
After several days of searching, only Su Zhiruan perfectly matched the image of the woman he had in mind in his heart,
With her sweet, endearing looks and exceptional demeanor, she fit his image of a sister.
Even though Su Zhiruan had no such intentions and had bluntly refused him, Shen Qingman had already decided in his heart that she was the ideal candidate.
“Sir, as I said before, I am a mother to several children, not the person you’re looking for,” Su Zhiruan said indifferently. She just wanted to find a place to raise her children.
Shen Qingman’s appearance was too coincidental, too absurd, seeking a young woman in this desolate area to pretend to be his sister was indeed strange.
Shen Qingman bit his lower lip, as if contemplating. The more he thought, the more resolved his gaze became. “If you would agree to impersonate my sister, I can assure you and your family enjoy abundant wealth and honor. I can provide the best Grand Tutor for your children. You wouldn’t have to do anything, just stay in the Imperial Palace.”
Su Zhiruan stared deeply into his eyes. What he was saying now was no lie. She was a demon who had cultivated for many years. Although Shen Qingman wanted to become a Demon Catcher, his current skills naturally could not reveal Su Zhiruan’s true identity, and even his Demon Mirror in hand couldn’t detect her real nature.
She was somewhat tempted,
She was alone with four children, without a place to settle, unsure of which country to head to or the local customs there. If there were people with ill intentions, she would still need to worry about handling them.
But if what Shen Qingman said was true, moving into the Imperial Palace with her children would naturally offer much better conditions than living among the common folk.