The Second Prince, Xuantian Ce, took a liking to a little-known concubine-born daughter from the Protectorate Great General’s Mansion. Latest content published on novel-fire.net
This matter owes its thanks to a few rich and idle youths.
That day, a few notorious youths in the Imperial City saw an incredibly beautiful woman at a tavern. Judging by her appearance and attire, she seemed to be of humble origin, which sparked their romantic interest. The woman, however, steadfastly refused their advances, and in the ensuing chaos, she accidentally pushed open the door to a private room.
Inside that room, the Second Prince and a beautiful woman in white were adding fragrant touches to their sleeves, leaning close to each other, and sharing tender feelings...
Undoubtedly, what followed was purely the observers’ own imagination, as Xuantian Ce and Cheng Lingyu were merely engaged in a perfectly normal conversation.
However, rumors are such that they spread from one person to another, and from two to three, until everyone knows.
By the time everyone knows, the involved parties themselves don’t even recognize the story as being about them.
The most popular version now circulating within the Imperial City is: At the Old Madam’s birthday feast at the Protectorate General’s Mansion, among countless beautifully dressed women, the Second Prince instantly noticed the unappreciated Fifth Miss, and, after returning home, he couldn’t stop thinking of her, eventually succumbing to his yearning and secretly arranged a meeting.
Such stories involving noble figures, tinged with a trace of scandalous intrigue, are the public’s favorite.
The Protectorate Great General’s Mansion.
"I didn’t know that among my daughters, there was such a person as you."
The Protectorate General, Cheng Qugang, looked at Cheng Lingyu with a grave expression.
He had many children, and aside from a select few who were particularly outstanding, he didn’t pay much attention to the others. This fifth daughter he wouldn’t have even remembered if not for this incident.
"Reporting to Father, your daughter... your daughter and the Second Prince merely had a chance encounter." Cheng Lingyu appeared frightened.
"A chance encounter?" Cheng Qugang sneered, "What kind of person is the Second Prince? If it’s someone he truly doesn’t know, how could you meet him face-to-face, and in a private room at that?"
He waved his hand to stop Cheng Lingyu from saying more: "You don’t need to explain anything further. I will send people to the Second Prince’s Mansion. If he has intentions towards you, you can go to his mansion as a legitimate concubine. If not..."
The Great General’s tone became exceedingly cold: "Our Protectorate Great General’s Mansion doesn’t need a daughter with a tarnished reputation!"
Cheng Lingyu returned to her courtyard.
Closing the door, her face turned somber.
She hadn’t expected that something she had done so secretly could be discovered.
But everything seemed to be so coincidental. Those rich and idle youths always engaged in cockfighting and dog-rearing, and taking a fancy to a beautiful woman and attempting to flirt was common.
Was it really just her bad luck?
Recalling the words of her so-called "father," a fierce look crossed Cheng Lingyu’s eyes: There isn’t a good person in this mansion; they all deserve to die!
She needed to make plans for herself. As for the Second Prince, Xuantian Ce, although they hadn’t interacted much, Cheng Lingyu completely understood what sort of person he was.
He was the epitome of someone with the face of a good woman but a heart like Yama.
Whether she was worth his rescue was still unknown, so she had to prepare an exit strategy for herself.
At the Second Prince’s Mansion, after sending off the people from the General’s Mansion, Xuantian Ce’s smile disappeared.
"Do they want this prince to marry that woman?" His voice dragged out, and the servants in the room serving him were as silent as cicadas in winter.
Those serving close to the prince knew that whenever he used such a tone, his mood was certainly foul.