Xiao Yun was actually very afraid of death.
The world believed that the Prince of Ding'an indulged in drinking, gambling, and women, being capable of anything.
But in reality, he only drank moderately, ate only seven-tenths full, discussed elegance without approaching women, woke and slept early, and insisted on exercising...
He was undoubtedly the foremost practitioner of healthy living in the capital.
He certainly didn't want to ruin his health before he could overcome the curse.
Of course, there were those who mocked him for fearing death, but due to his status, they mostly spoke of it in private. Someone like Wang Qingyao, who openly mocked him without reservation, was truly one of a kind.
It was impossible for him not to be angry!
Xiao Yun walked a few steps forward in anger, afraid Wang Qingyao wouldn't keep up, and then quietly slowed his pace. Hearing someone follow behind, he thought with a stern face: The young girl is thin-skinned; if she just mumbles a few apologies, I'll consider it an apology and won't bother with her.
The person behind him said, "Young Master, slow down..."
It was Yuan Bao's voice.
Xiao Yun turned his head and saw Wang Qingyao standing at the flower stall, cheerfully haggling with the vendor.
Truly heartless...
He was, after all, her fiancé...
Xiao Yun thought sullenly, but then he reconsidered. Being heartless had its advantages; when he died, she wouldn't be as sad, and her widowhood would be easier.
Xiao Yun had always felt his mother lived like a nun, precisely because she was too kind-hearted.
---
When the boss gets angry, the consequences are severe.
Wang Qingyao only realized it belatedly: she had actually dared to mock the boss!
Did she have the guts of a leopard?
But it was genuinely funny, and she couldn't hold back for a moment...
Who starts practicing healthy living before twenty?
Wang Qingyao, just thinking about it, felt like laughing again.
She quickly suppressed her laughter and went to the flower stall to buy a large bunch of flowers, including apricot blossoms, magnolias, gardenias, and roses. She had them wrapped and held them in her hands, not much different from modern flower shops.
She quickly walked up to Xiao Yun and, seeing his expression had softened, offered him the flowers, coaxing, "Here, for you. Young Master, you are magnanimous, don't take it to heart. It's not worth it to ruin your health by getting angry. Let's go home now; we can see them again another time."
Xiao Yun, the Prince of Ding'an, had lived this long, but it was the first time a girl had given him flowers to appease him.
This feeling was... indescribable.
If he accepted, he would seem petty, arguing with a young girl. If he didn't, it would be a waste of her sincerity...
He was so conflicted that the smile on Wang Qingyao's face gradually faded.
No way, is he really that stingy?
Boss, you are a big boss, the richest man in the country, with assets of over a hundred million. Shouldn't you be able to accommodate a lot, like a prime minister?
Wang Qingyao was almost in tears. Would she be unemployed because of this?
Xiao Yun coughed and pushed the flowers back into her arms, "I'm not angry. You keep these flowers. Don't young girls like flowers and plants?"
Relieved that he wasn't angry, Wang Qingyao happily returned his smile, "Young Master, you are truly magnanimous, broad-minded, and generous, able to accommodate a lot like a prime minister."
Xiao Yun: "..."
He escorted her home. At the entrance of the Wang residence, before the carriage had even stopped, she nimbly jumped off and waved to Xiao Yun, "Thank you, Your Highness, for the escort. See you tomorrow!"
Xiao Yun watched her enter the gate, his mind filled with doubts.
Didn't she know nothing about chess, calligraphy, painting, or literature? How could she speak four-character idioms so fluently? Did she learn them from reading books herself?
That's not right. Given her situation in the Wang family, she shouldn't even know how to read!
What did she say at the Sang family's entertainment district? She said she wanted to write books!
Xiao Yun suddenly realized. When he thought back to Wang Qingyao's words and actions, he found countless inconsistencies.
How could an orphan with no parents and no importance in her family possess such demeanor and character?
How could a young girl who never stepped out of her house dare to lie to the Empress Dowager on her first visit to the palace?
How could a girl who had only recently sneaked out, and didn't even know about the Wan surname market day or the entertainment districts, be so commanding in a casino? How could she dare to negotiate terms with him at the Apricot Blossom Pavilion?
Xiao Yun fell into deep thought. There were too many suspicious points about this girl.
"Yuan Bao," he ordered in a low voice, "go investigate this second daughter of the Wang family."
Wang family doorkeeper: How touching. The second daughter is already out of sight, and the Prince of Ding'an is still reluctant to leave.
---
Wang Qingyao returned to Lengxiang Courtyard with a bouquet of fragrant fresh flowers. Seeing this, Yin Zhu quickly found a rough porcelain vase, filled it with water, and arranged the flowers.
"They're so beautiful," she said, standing back to admire them for a moment, then asked Yin Zhu, "Has anything happened at home?"
Yin Zhu clapped her hands, "I almost forgot. The First Madam sent someone with eight new sets of clothes and a new fox fur coat—" As she spoke, she opened the wardrobe, and she and Zhizi took out the new clothes to show her.
Wang Qingyao saw that they were made from the fabric gifted by the Empress Dowager. Four sets were suitable for the current season, and the other four were spring outfits. She didn't understand the styles, but they looked beautiful.
Yin Zhu strongly suggested she try them on one by one, but after a long day, she was exhausted and just wanted a hot bath and to go to bed. Seeing the white and lovely fox fur, she asked the two maids to help her put it on and try it on perfunctorily.
As soon as it was on her, she felt a prick on the back of her neck. Touching it, she found blood beads.
Yin Zhu and Zhizi were terrified, their faces pale. They hastily helped her remove the fox fur. Upon inspection, they found three embroidery needles stuck in the collar of the fur coat!
"How... how did embroidery needles get there?" Yin Zhu took a lot of effort to pull out the needles, trembling with anger, "How could such a careless embroiderer do this? I'll go settle the score with them!"
The fabric gifted by the Empress Dowager would not be handed over to ordinary embroidery shops. Even ordinary embroiderers wouldn't make such a basic mistake.
Wang Qingyao understood immediately; this was the First Madam taking her revenge!
This was a minor wound, not poisonous, and would only hurt for a second with no significant impact.
The First Madam was so furious that she resorted to such ineffective tactics.
"Forget it," she said, "I'm fine. You two go check the other clothes."
Zhizi and Yin Zhu meticulously felt through the other eight sets of clothes. Wang Qingyao also scanned them with her clairvoyant eyes. Well, the First Madam still had some sense; apart from the fox fur, the other clothes were all normal.
She chose the outfit she would wear tomorrow and went to bed early to find the Duke of Zhou.
However, the next morning, a maid from Lijing Courtyard arrived early.
Wang Qingyao changed into her new clothes and spent some time patiently applying makeup.
The original host had a good foundation, but due to long-term malnutrition, she looked plain and unremarkable.
Since transmigrating, Wang Qingyao had never scrimped on her food. Coupled with the tonics and medicinal herbs gifted by the Empress Dowager, she had become much plumper and her skin had become delicate and fair in the past few days.
She usually didn't like to fuss over herself, but today she woke up early and put on light makeup. Just as she was about to go out, the maid from Lijing Courtyard ran over and said, "Second Miss, our young lady has recovered from her illness and asks you to come to her place to practice calligraphy as usual today."
As she spoke, her gaze swept over Wang Qingyao's face, and she paused, as if stunned by her beauty.
Wang Qingyao smiled, "Your young lady's recovery is truly fast, as if she were faking it."
The little maid's face turned red. She forced herself to explain, "Our young lady has a good constitution..."
Wang Qingyao said, "I don't have time. I have an appointment with the Prince of Ding'an today."
The little maid hurried to say, "Our young lady said that excellence comes from... diligence, and is ruined by... idleness..."
This sentence was likely instructed by Wang Qinglin, and the little maid repeated it like a parrot, stammering.
Wang Qingyao smiled gently at her, "What you said makes sense."
The little maid just breathed a sigh of relief when Wang Qingyao continued, "However, the Old Madam has given me a few days off from practicing calligraphy, so... goodbye!"
While the little maid was stunned, Wang Qingyao had already walked out of the courtyard. The little maid wanted to chase after her but dared not, so she could only watch Wang Qingyao walk further and further away.
She returned to Lijing Courtyard to report, trembling.
"Sec... Second Miss said, the Old Madam gave her time off..."
Wang Qinglin's face was stern, "Did she go out?"
"She said... she had an appointment with the Prince of Ding'an..."
"Crash!" Wang Qinglin threw the teacup in her hand to the ground, her chest heaving with anger.
Yesterday, when she learned that the Prince of Ding'an had come to their house to find Wang Qingyao, she had thrown a huge tantrum.
Tian Yu was supposed to accompany her to the Wan surname market day at Da Xiangguo Temple, but he had sent no news at all!
They had just become engaged. Wasn't this clearly an insult to her?
It was one thing for Tian Yu not to come, but who was Wang Qingyao? The Prince of Ding'an actually doted on her and came to their house! Had he never seen a woman before? To treat a woman with no looks and no merit like a treasure?!
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became...