"Then I shall discuss this with your father." Qi Jingrong seemed very pleased as he pulled her into his arms, "Zhenzhen’s feelings for me, I shall certainly keep in my heart. In fact, I fell in love with you at first sight..."
"Prince..." Shen Yizhen appeared to be very moved, "Zhenzhen is truly happy..." Saying this, she attempted to kiss his lips again.
However, Qi Jingrong turned his head to dodge the kiss but bent down to lift her up and started walking toward the bed in the inner room.
"Prince..." Shen Yizhen became a bit afraid, knowing what was about to happen, yet she still felt some uncertainty, making her body stiffen.
"Zhenzhen, I thought you had come prepared," Qi Jingrong stopped in his tracks, putting her down, "Go back..."
"Zhenzhen is willing..." Shen Yizhen quickly shook her head, embracing the turned Qi Jingrong, "Zhenzhen is willing to give herself to the Prince without reservation, only hoping that the Prince will treat Zhenzhen kindly in the future..."
Qi Jingrong smiled slightly and lifted Shen Yizhen up once more, but made no promises.
Meanwhile, in another courtyard.
Hun Ling listened to the servant’s report and immediately grew anxious, "What did you say? Shen Yizhen went to the residence where Prince Jingrong lives?"
The servant nodded hurriedly, "The young miss brought some ginseng soup there, has been inside for half an hour, and still hasn’t come out..."
"No, we can’t let that little slut succeed." Hearing this, Hun Ling could no longer sit still, and rushed to Shen Yilan’s courtyard, thinking her daughter was set to be with the Eighth Prince. However, since Qi Jingyi had left, there had been no news, and now only the Tenth Prince remained in the residence. If Shen Yizhen snatched him away, what would happen to her own daughter? Would she not be suppressed by that wily woman Ge Yunfang from now on?
Shen Yilan was also feeling restless. Previously, with both the Eighth and Tenth Princes present, there was no need for her to compete with Shen Yizhen; each could have one, which was what father intended. Her last meeting with Qi Jingyi in the garden had gone quite well, and she believed the arrangements were nearly settled. Relying on the Shen Family’s connections, she thought she would at least become Consort to Prince Jingyi. But then the Eighth Prince suddenly left, and everything went silent. Now the Tenth Prince had returned, but the Eighth Prince was still unresponsive. What was she to do? If she couldn’t marry Prince Jingyi, her father would surely kill her.
While she was brooding, her Aunt Hun Ling arrived in a flurry.
"Greetings to the Second Young Miss." Hun Ling was still very proper upon seeing Shen Yilan.
"Aunt, please rise." Shen Yilan, too troubled to strategize on her own, was naturally glad to see her mother and quickly sent the servants out, "Has Mother come to see me because there’s a matter?"
"Listen, that wretched Shen Yizhen has gone to the Tenth Prince’s residence and hasn’t left yet. I’m afraid..."
Shen Yilan suddenly lost interest, "She’s always been fond of Prince Jingrong."
"Are you foolish?" Hun Ling became agitated, "Now that the Eighth Prince isn’t coming, you have no chance to interact with him, and there’s no opportunity to marry into Prince Jingyi’s residence. You can’t just watch Shen Yizhen become Prince Jingrong’s wife, right?"
"Mother means..."
"You’re younger and prettier than Shen Yizhen. If she can hook the Tenth Prince, can’t you?" Hun Ling raised her eyebrows slightly and stuffed a small packet of medicine into her daughter’s hand, "How has Mother always taught you? Whether it’s Prince Jingrong or Jingyi, as long as you marry into the Wang Residence, then we mother and daughter can raise our heads high..."
Shen Yilan stared at Hun Ling for a long time and finally nodded, "Alright, I’ll go!"