This time, everyone understood.
The person pointed at was Yun Shu!
It was Qin Lingyue's elder sister, Qin Linglong!
Qin Linglong, who had always been like an invisible person in everyone's eyes!
At this, everyone was shocked. How could it be her? Even more shocked and disbelieving than when they thought it was Qin Lingyue just now!
This was too unbelievable!
Qin Linglong, who hadn't participated in the talent show and had always been timid and insecure, had actually caught the eye of Prince Jin?
"What? Prince Jin, Prince Jin couldn't have made a mistake, could he? How could it be Qin Linglong?" Qin Lingyue's face immediately became even more unpleasant.
How could it be Qin Linglong?
Madam Shangshu and Minister Qin also looked at Qin Linglong.
The current 'Qin Linglong' was in stark contrast to Qin Lingyue's excitement just now. 'Qin Linglong' lowered her eyes slightly, making her expression unreadable.
She pursed her lips slightly, a faint frown appearing between her brows.
"Yes, Prince Jin, are you sure there isn't a mistake?" Madam Shangshu asked in astonishment.
She felt her face burning, and the gazes of those around her made her restless.
How could it be Qin Linglong?
Prince Jin must have made a mistake!
Qin Linglong hadn't done anything; she had just been eating and drinking here. How could she have caught Prince Jin's eye?
Princess Ningde was somewhat surprised. The person chosen was Qin Linglong?
As far as she knew, Qin Linglong was mistreated by her stepmother and had always been timid and humble. At the palace banquet today, she was so insignificant and unnoticeable that no one saw her, yet Prince Jin saw her?
Perhaps it was just Prince Jin's random selection?
He didn't find anyone he truly liked, but he couldn't offend the Emperor, so he picked someone at random?
Princess Ningde seemed to have found the answer.
At this moment, some people also arrived at the same conclusion.
It had to be said that Qin Linglong had struck gold!
Zhan Tianye's deep black eyes looked at Yun Shu.
No one saw the dark light surging in his eyes.
Under his and everyone else's gaze, Yun Shu slowly raised her head, feigning a look of just realizing what was happening and a bit of helplessness, and could only utter one word, "Com...moner..."
This one word was utterly exasperating.
It even made people want to roll their eyes.
How could such a timid person have such incredible luck?
This was clearly Prince Jin's random pick!
Perhaps he chose Qin Linglong because she was the most obscure and had the least presence.
"She is the one this Prince wants," Zhan Tianye said again.
This declaration disappointed those who still held out hope, believing that Zhan Tianye would change his mind after seeing Qin Linglong stand up in a flustered manner.
Madam Shangshu and Qin Lingyue's mouths hung open, looking at Qin Linglong in disbelief.
The two of them wished they could strangle Qin Linglong right then and there.
How could this kind of good fortune, to ascend to nobility, have been snatched by Qin Linglong?!
Why did they bring Qin Linglong to the palace today? Wouldn't it have been better to find an excuse saying Qin Linglong was ill and couldn't attend?
"Jin'er, are you sure it's her?" The Emperor was slightly displeased with this choice. Although the distance was considerable, he couldn't see the woman's appearance clearly, but her posture and the nervousness when she spoke indicated that she was likely not a great beauty, not even as attractive as the palace maids.
Therefore, did Jin'er truly know who he was choosing?
Such a woman as Prince Jin's concubine was truly unworthy.
However, since it was Jin'er's choice, let it be.
"Yes," Zhan Tianye's tone was decisive.
His attitude was incredibly firm.
The Emperor nodded, "Good, Minister Qin, you have raised a good daughter!"
Minister Qin couldn't tell if he was happy or unhappy. If he were happy, then Lingyue should have been chosen! Lingyue was so intelligent and clever; she would surely please Prince Jin by his side. But Linglong...
Linglong was too dull. What would happen if she angered Prince Jin in the future?
For a moment, Minister Qin's heart was filled with mixed emotions, but he couldn't say anything. He could only smile and kowtow his thanks for the imperial grace.
As everyone's thoughts swirled, Yun Shu looked at the teacup in front of her and sighed inwardly.
It seemed things had become more troublesome.
"Miss, that's wonderful! Heaven has eyes! Miss has finally seen the dawn after the clouds!" Xiao Huan said excitedly.
Miss was about to become Prince Jin's concubine. From now on, Madam and Second Miss would not dare to bully her anymore, and no one in the capital would dare to look down on her. She knew that good deeds would be rewarded, and Miss would surely receive good fortune!
Just now, she had felt that heaven was blind.
Now, she felt that heaven had opened its eyes!
Yun Shu looked at the excited Xiao Huan, but her heart grew heavy. What did Zhan Tianye mean by this?
A palace banquet was about to end under such an incredible turn of events.
As it neared its end, the Emperor once again bestowed a marriage in front of everyone, granting Princess Ningde to Prince Jin as his Princess Consort.
This was something everyone knew, so no one was surprised.
They all congratulated Princess Ningde.
It was at this moment that a guess suddenly arose in many minds: Prince Jin probably liked Princess Ningde so much that he didn't want any other woman to steal her spotlight tonight. Therefore, he chose someone as unremarkable as Qin Linglong?
The thought was immediately confirmed.
It must be so!
The palace banquet ended.
Everyone left the palace and boarded their respective carriages to return home.
Yun Shu rode in a carriage by herself. She had come alone, and that family of three rode in one carriage.
Sitting in the carriage, she listened to Xiao Huan excitedly recount the events of the evening.
"Miss, you've had me say so much, why aren't you saying anything? Don't you feel excited? Miss, you've been chosen by Prince Jin to be his concubine! Didn't you see Madam and Second Miss's expressions? Even when we got into the carriage just now, Madam and Second Miss's faces looked like... like they had eaten shit." Xiao Huan struggled to find a descriptive word.
Since it was just the two of them in the carriage, she used the most fitting description.
It was truly like eating shit!
She had never seen Madam and Second Miss look so unpleasant!
It was simply beyond words!
Even Master was the same. He wanted to say something to Miss, but it seemed he didn't know what to say.
Yun Shu smiled faintly, "I will rest for a moment. Call me when we reach Minister Qin's manor."
"Ah?" Xiao Huan was stunned. Why did she feel Miss wasn't very happy!
However, Xiao Huan also thought that Miss might be too happy! So happy that she didn't know how to express her feelings, or perhaps it was a sense of melancholy after seeing the dawn, making Miss want to rest for a while.
Yes!
That must be it!
Soon, they arrived at Minister Qin's manor.
Two carriages, one in front of the other, arrived at the same time.
Yun Shu opened her eyes the moment the carriage stopped.