"But I don't want to," Xue Xingchen said directly.
"Why?" Lin Shishu asked.
"Sister Lin is good to me, and I can't bring myself to dislike her. Therefore, I don't want Sister Lin to be a concubine. You can be a wife, so why settle for less? Mother always said there are plenty of men in this world, so why confine yourself to just one person? That's just restricting yourself."
Lin Shishu smiled, but her smile held a hint of sadness. "But my heart has already been bound."
She could never break free.
Xue Xingchen looked up at the sky and said slowly, "That would be too tiring. And I won't support you, nor will Father."
"Little one, have you ever been persistent about something?"
Xue Xingchen nodded honestly. "Yes." He felt he had been very persistent in his pursuit of recognizing his father.
"Then you should know that this is an obsession, a demon of the heart, and it won't change just because someone says something."
Her obsession was Yan Jin Chao, her demon of the heart was Yan Jin Chao. It might never change in this lifetime.
"Sister, I won't agree," Xue Xingchen stated his opinion.
Lin Shishu smiled. "Alright, I understand."
"Doesn't Sister Lin feel disappointed?"
"Why should I be disappointed? What you think is your business, and I have no right to interfere. How I act is also my business, and you have no right to interfere with me."
Xue Xingchen looked up at Lin Shishu. He truly didn't dislike Lin Shishu; in fact, he felt she was forthright in her actions as a woman. However, as he had said, only matters concerning his father were something no one could interfere with.
"So, little one, don't interfere with me…" Lin Shishu put him down and said earnestly.
Xue Xingchen nodded. "I won't, but you also cannot stop my determination to have Father."
Lin Shishu smiled. "Good, then we will each strive with our own abilities."
Xue Xingchen nodded. "We will each strive."
After Lin Shishu left, Xue Yan emerged from the shadows, picked up Xue Xingchen, and asked, "His Highness doesn't dislike this Miss Lin?"
Xue Xingchen shook his head. "No."
Xue Yan remarked, "She is also a forthright woman."
"Aunt Xue, there are many men in this world. Why did she set her sights on Father?"
Xue Yan couldn't help but chuckle and flick his nose. "You're asking me this? Of course, it's because your father is too attractive."
"Then why doesn't Aunt Xue like Father?"
Xue Yan almost choked on her spit, but seeing the little one's serious expression, she knew he wasn't joking. "Because Aunt Xue already has someone she likes. So, no matter how good your father is, how wonderful he is, I only like the person I like."
Xue Xingchen's eyes lit up. "So, does that mean if Sister Lin has someone she likes, she won't pester Father anymore?"
"Theoretically, yes. But, Your Highness, do you think there is any other man who can compare to your father?"
Xue Xingchen's previously bright eyes dimmed. Because what Aunt Xue said was true. There probably wouldn't be another man in this world like his father.
Seeing Xue Xingchen's dimming eyes, Xue Yan couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, don't be discouraged. There will be."
Xue Xingchen nodded. "There will be."
Xue Xingyue woke up to find herself not in the carriage but in a strange room. She figured Yu Xiaoyu had mixed medicine into the snacks, fearing she would learn the route, and made her fall asleep.
Now, with no one to call for help, she could only rely on herself.
Her mother would never give up searching for her. In this short period, she had to protect herself well.
"Five hundred taels." A voice came from outside the door. It sounded somewhat familiar, like Yu Xiaoyu's.
Xue Xingyue quickly got out of bed and crept closer to listen. "Five hundred taels? She's a girl, not a boy. Are you robbing me?"
"Five hundred taels of gold." Yu Xiaoyu said each word deliberately.
The man on the other side almost fainted from anger. "Miss Yu, that's highway robbery. I don't want it anymore."
"Fine, then I'll go to the yamen right now and report you for kidnapping a child."
"How dare you!" The man's eyes flashed with ferocity.
Yu Xiaoyu, far from being scared, continued, "Don't show me those conniving thoughts you have. Do you know I am the daughter of the Grand Prefecture Governor of Jiangnan? Do you think if you lay a hand on me, you'll come to a good end?"
"Aren't you afraid I'll report you to the authorities?" the man asked indignantly.
"Report to the authorities? Very well, go ahead and report me quickly. I'll just report you for abducting the Grand Prefecture Governor's daughter. Do you think the Prefect of Jingzhao will believe you or me, the Governor's daughter?"
"You…" The man gritted his teeth in anger but dared not do anything to Yu Xiaoyu.
The capital city was no longer what it used to be. Kidnapping women and children was punishable. Minor offenses included being paraded through the streets and spending the rest of one's life in prison, while more serious cases could result in beheading. Who would dare to engage in such a suicidal business?
However, where there was a generous reward, there would be brave men. The temptation of money was great, so some people took risks, but they were not entirely reckless. Like this man now, he was hesitant, undecided.
In the end, the transaction was made for five hundred taels of gold. The reason he paid such a high price for a girl was that not long ago, an official's wife had found him through intermediaries, wanting to buy a girl, and offered six hundred taels of gold.
He was tempted. Most importantly, the "goods" brought by this Miss Yu were excellent. Even he wanted such a finely crafted, doll-like baby.
Yu Xiaoyu entered the room and saw the little one looking at her. "Are you selling me?"
Yu Xiaoyu's expression changed. "You heard?"
Xue Xingyue nodded. "Yes."
"Since you heard, I won't hide it. I'm selling you for five hundred taels of gold." Yu Xiaoyu stated it without concealment.
Xue Xingyue tutted twice upon hearing this. "You're losing out."
Yu Xiaoyu sneered. "Losing? Do you really think you're a princess? Five hundred taels of gold is a sky-high price, in my opinion."
Xue Xingyue shook her head. "You wouldn't understand. However," she added, "you will pay the price for your actions today."
"Is that so? Then I'll wait." Yu Xiaoyu said with confidence.
If it weren't for getting rid of herself, why would she go to such lengths?
The little one obediently followed the man. The man was somewhat surprised that such a small girl knew everything.
"Little one, aren't you afraid?" the man couldn't help but ask.
"If I'm afraid, will you let me go?" Xue Xingyue looked up and asked with her big eyes.
The man shook his head. "No, I spent five hundred taels of gold to buy you. If I let you go, I wouldn't be able to live."
"Since that's the case, isn't it superfluous for you to ask if I'm afraid? Whether I'm afraid or not, my fate is already sealed."
The man was astonished and said, "Don't worry, I'll find a better buyer for you, so you won't suffer."
"Five hundred taels of gold. It should at least be for the home of an official of the fourth rank or higher," Xue Xingyue stated.