Yun Shu had met many arrogant people.
But this was her first time encountering someone so arrogant and utterly dismissive.
"Fine, I wish you success," Yun Shu said with a smile.
"What do you mean by that?" Jiang Luoxi's heart grew more flustered.
She felt that Yun Shu's words, "I wish you success," were laced with sarcasm.
Not far away, Old Master Qin hurried over.
Perhaps he was walking too fast, or lost in thought, he didn't notice Yun Shu and Jiang Luoxi ahead.
He only saw them when he got closer.
Upon seeing them, his eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Yun Shu, why haven't you left yet?"
Yun Shu quirked the corner of her lips. Though she was already growing angry, she didn't want to retort to Old Master Qin in front of others.
"Old Master Qin," Jiang Luoxi was extremely courteous and bowed to him.
Old Master Qin hadn't noticed Jiang Luoxi at first. When he saw her, his eyes lit up. "You are the Miss Jiang sent by the Emperor to look after Prince Ye?"
Jiang Luoxi curtsied again. "I am."
"Good, good. You look like someone who'd be caring. Not like certain people. How did you attach yourself to Prince Ye? No matter how we try to get rid of you?" Old Master Qin said, glaring angrily at Yun Shu.
If Yun Shu still didn't leave after this, she would truly be shameless!
"Old Master Qin, this is your last chance. Don't regret it in the future," Yun Shu's tone carried no trace of anger or any other emotion. She simply said it lightly.
Hearing this, Old Master Qin knitted his brows.
Yun Shu had already turned to leave.
Her back was graceful.
Jiang Luoxi watched Yun Shu leave so nonchalantly. She should have felt relieved, as she had gotten her way.
But for some reason, the more Yun Shu seemed unconcerned, the more she deviated from Jiang Luoxi's expectations.
This was not how it should be.
The more Yun Shu unreasonably pestered Zhan Tianye, the more Zhan Tianye would realize Yun Shu was nothing special.
While she was lost in thought, Old Master Qin suddenly narrowed his eyes and scrutinized her. "I can see that you like Prince Ye, can't I?"
Jiang Luoxi immediately lowered her head shyly. "Old Master Qin, this... I am merely here on imperial orders to care for the Prince. I dare not have any other thoughts."
"Now you can. Did you see Yun Shu just now? She's not worthy of Prince Ye, and I don't want her to marry Prince Ye. I think you're quite good, a sensible and obedient young lady." Old Master Qin felt that after his scrutiny, he could discern that Jiang Luoxi harbored feelings for Zhan Tianye.
However...
She was somewhat two-faced.
It didn't matter. As long as she could be used now, to make Yun Shu back down, he knew that brat. He wouldn't easily develop feelings for anyone sent by others.
Qiu Lu, who had witnessed this from afar, was dumbfounded. What was Old Master doing?
Breaking up the Prince and the second young lady of the Yun family, and then wanting the Prince and Jiang Luoxi to be together?
This Jiang Luoxi was sent by the Empress Dowager!
To break up the Prince and the second young lady of the Yun family, Old Master was truly disregarding everything.
Thinking this, Qiu Lu felt he had to do something.
He strode over quickly, approaching them, and said, "The Prince's affections lie solely with the second young lady of the Yun family. Anyone else attempting to seduce the Prince is a futile fantasy! Miss Jiang, I advise you to stop dreaming. The Prince wouldn't even spare you a glance. If I were you, I'd leave the Prince's mansion immediately, and go back from whence you came."
His words were extremely impolite.
He then turned to Old Master Qin and said, "Old Master, I implore you, please stop trying to force couples together. Even if you want to find a woman for the Prince, you should find someone the Prince finds appealing. If the Prince finds her unappealing, wouldn't that be disgusting to him?"
Old Master Qin's mouth twitched violently. "You brat, when did you learn to talk like that? Coming to me and lecturing me!"
"Your subordinate speaks the truth," Qiu Lu straightened his back, believing he had done the right thing.
Listening to the conversation between the elder and the younger, Jiang Luoxi's complexion turned dark.
Seeing Jiang Luoxi's displeased expression, Qiu Lu said with a fake smile, "Miss Jiang, my thoughts represent the Prince's thoughts."
These words were direct enough, weren't they?
Clear enough, weren't they?
Jiang Luoxi's hands beneath her sleeves tightened, the veins on the back of her hands bulging.
But her expression, apart from looking displeased, didn't reveal her true emotions.
She wanted to kill Qiu Lu.
Jiang Luoxi said with a dark face, "I just returned from the palace and am a bit tired. I shall take my leave."
Watching Jiang Luoxi walk away quickly, Qiu Lu snorted and, imitating Old Master Qin's tone, said, "Even after all that, she still won't leave. Truly hard to drive away."
"You brat, you're just like your master! Such a wonderful woman, clearly a gentle haven. Why can't she be kept by your side? A few words of warning, and perhaps she wouldn't do things for others. Now you've ruined everything with your words!" Old Master Qin was truly exasperated.
Qiu Lu rubbed his nose. "But the Prince has to find her appealing, Old Master! Old Master, please don't break up lovers. Don't even suggest the second young lady of the Yun family leave the Prince. The Prince spent a lot of effort to get the second young lady of the Yun family to agree to marry him. If you ruin it again, even the little heir won't forgive you."
Old Master Qin angrily smacked Qiu Lu on the head. "What do you know! What could you possibly know! Get lost, go back to your master and let him think things through!"
"It hurts, Old Master!" Qiu Lu clutched his head, tears welling up in his eyes from the pain.
Can't afford to provoke them, can afford to avoid them.
He quickly put distance between himself and them!
...
The General's Mansion.
As Yun Shu entered the gates of the General's Mansion,
She was met by Yun Changfeng, who had been waiting expectantly.
Yun Changfeng strode towards her.
His face was practically etched with question marks.
"What's going on with Old Master Qin? Why does he suddenly want to break you and Prince Ye up?" Yun Changfeng couldn't figure it out no matter how much he thought about it.
Yun Shu shook her head. "He didn't give a reason at Prince Ye's mansion either."
"Listening to Old Master Qin's words, it seems you have some unspeakable secret. Shu'er, has someone slandered you to him?" Yun Changfeng guessed.
Yun Shu still shook her head. "Old Master Qin is not someone easily deceived or misled. Moreover, in such a short period of time, there must be a reason that compels him to act this way."
The more she thought about Old Master Qin's reaction, the more peculiar she found it.
"He used to pester me, asking me to treat Prince Ye differently, and seeing that Prince Ye truly cared for you. Now he's done this. If I weren't so steady, I'd go to Old Master Qin's residence right now to have a good argument! Don't think that because I've been on the battlefield, my tongue is clumsy. When I truly start an argument, I might be faster than the blade in my hand, killing without a trace!" Yun Changfeng said indignantly.
Yun Shu was no longer angry.
There was clearly something strange going on.
She just needed to find out.
"Father, I..."
Before she could finish, she was interrupted.
"Is the second young lady of the Yun family at home? Our young lady has woken up and wishes to see the second young lady of the Yun family. Could you please ask the second young lady of the Yun family to visit the Gu mansion?" Wan Qing asked anxiously at the gate.