After these words left her mouth, she herself felt somewhat at a loss, even feeling as though she was being unreasonable.
The words "being unreasonable" flashing in her mind, Qin Linglong's face turned even paler.
No.
It wasn't being unreasonable.
It was the truth, just as she said it!
The truth was exactly as she had stated!
Yun Shu calmly watched Qin Linglong, waiting for her to finish speaking.
"Are you done?"
She asked indifferently.
Qin Linglong felt as though she had countless things she wanted to say, wanting to convince the woman before her, and also to convince herself.
However, at this clear, cold question, the words that were on the tip of her tongue, about to pour out, stopped.
Those words could no longer be spoken.
Qin Linglong suddenly felt like a clown in front of the woman, her lack of confidence laid bare.
She bit her lip so hard that it broke, the taste of blood thick between her teeth.
But she still endured the heavy feeling in her heart and replied, "I actually have a lot more to say, but I know you won't listen, so I won't. I just hope you'll take care of yourself."
Yun Shu let out a soft laugh.
This sound made Qin Linglong bite her lip again, completely disregarding the pain.
She just stared intently at the woman before her.
"Is that your answer?" Yun Shu asked.
Qin Linglong's body trembled violently. Her eyes turned redder, and tears streamed down her face. She didn't know why she kept crying, but she knew clearly that once the woman left, she would likely never see her again.
Nor would she be given another chance to choose.
She knew she was not satisfied, that she wanted more, but...
Was that wrong?
She bit her lip tightly and nodded forcefully, "Yes, that is my answer. I also hope you will no longer pester Prince Jin."
Yun Shu rose and, without another word, pushed open the door and left silently.
Qin Linglong scrambled out of bed and ran to the door, but in the quiet night, the woman's figure was nowhere to be seen.
Qin Linglong leaned against the door, tears streaming down her face.
She didn't know how she walked back to the table and sat where the woman had sat.
She said to herself with self-mockery, "She thinks I can't do it, doesn't she? She stopped talking because she knows I won't get what I want, right? Qin Linglong, you can't be looked down upon anymore, you must rise again! You can do it!"
"Prince Jin will fall in love with me, he will definitely fall in love with me. She is just a pitiable person who can't get what she wants; she is nothing."
"Prince Jin choosing me as his secondary consort is also a warning to her not to harbor any more illusions! It must be like this!"
But no matter how much she said, the stone pressing on her heart remained just as heavy.
Suddenly.
She looked down.
She saw a banknote on the table.
Her heart fluttered. Was it left by that woman?
She picked up the banknote. Even in the dim light, she recognized it. It was for ten thousand taels!
That woman had left her a banknote for ten thousand taels!
Instantly, Qin Linglong seemed shocked. To casually give away ten thousand taels meant that woman was no ordinary person. What was the past relationship between that woman and Prince Jin?
Even if she were foolish, she knew why the woman had left the banknote.
Her body trembled violently.
She could have chosen to walk away unscathed, not becoming Prince Jin's secondary consort, but still gaining a status she had never dared to imagine. Yet, she had chosen Prince Jin, unwilling to be mediocre, wanting to hold onto him tightly.
This banknote...
She clutched it tightly.
She needed money.
Even if her father knew she was going to marry Prince Jin, he would never prepare a generous dowry for her. And her stepmother and Qin Lingyue would be overjoyed if she had the smallest dowry among all the brides in the capital, thus becoming a laughingstock!
Thinking of this, she gripped the banknote even tighter.
This was what she deserved. If she hadn't been replaced by that woman entering the palace, that day she would have entered the palace herself, she would have personally experienced Prince Jin choosing her, and all these days of suspicion would not have existed.
Therefore, ten thousand taels, was rightfully hers.
She and that woman were now quits!
In the night, Qin Linglong's eyes were filled with longing.
And a light called hope.
She wanted to be at the top, she didn't want to stay in the Minister's mansion. With just a stretch, she could grasp something better. If she retreated now, the person she married in the future would never be comparable to Prince Jin!
And she herself would not be able to accept it then.
Besides...
The image of Prince Jin appeared before her eyes.
A man without peer in the world...
A beauty that could overthrow cities.
Making countless women dream of him.
And she was the one closest to him.
Close enough to touch him with just an outstretched hand.
"I will absolutely not back down! Even if the person who came to see me tonight was Princess Ningde, and she advised me to take a step back, I would not! No matter who came, I would not back down!"
At this very moment, Qin Linglong had no idea that reality would soon deal her a heavy blow.
...
The next day.
Not long after dawn, Qin Yiqing left the Prince Pingyang's mansion.
Today, she was going to see Ruan Xi.
She needed to carry out the tasks Yun Shu had assigned her.
As she hummed a tune and walked along the bustling street, she suddenly and keenly noticed someone following her.
Had they been following her since she left the mansion?
It seemed that the people in Prince Pingyang's mansion didn't trust her and Yun Shu, sending people to follow her even when she went out.
And the person sent was no mere cat or dog; they seemed to have high martial arts skills?
Qin Yiqing sneered inwardly. Did they think she, Qin Yiqing, was easy to follow?
She darted into an alleyway.
Immediately, a figure followed her into the alley.
And then Qin Yiqing appeared behind this person.
"Are you following me?" Qin Yiqing asked with a smile.
However, when the man turned around, Qin Yiqing's mouth twitched. "How can it be you? If you're going to appear, just appear, why follow me?"
"I was testing your alertness. Tsk tsk, I followed you all the way, and you only just noticed. Your martial arts have become weaker, haven't they? If we fought right now, you might not even be able to beat me." Ruan Xi leaned against the wall with a smug look.
Qin Yiqing's clenched fists itched. "Believe it or not, I'll beat you right now?"
"Don't you dare hit me. If you hurt me or make me angry, I won't tell you where Ji Rong is now, or if he has a new flame. Qin Yiqing, you need to think carefully." Ruan Xi grinned mischievously, looking even more provoking than before.
Hearing the name Ji Rong, Qin Yiqing's demeanor visibly weakened. She avoided Ruan Xi's gaze and said coldly, "I don't want to hear news about him."
"Really? If you don't want to hear it, I truly won't say it. I'll go tell Yun Shu." Ruan Xi crossed his arms, looking supremely confident.