tallest building

Chapter 189 Beating the Drum Again

"Seeing you like this puts my mind at ease," Wen Mingqian said with relief. "You must take good care of your health."

"Sister, are you really not angry with me?" Liu Cuiyi asked cautiously. "Or don't you think my actions are shameful?"

Liu Cuiyi may not care about the opinions and views of the world, but it's different with Wen Mingqian. She is not only his good friend, but has also done him too many favors.

Moreover, Wen Mingqian was originally a person of integrity and uprightness.

"Are you afraid I'll look down on you because of this?" Wen Mingqian looked at her, smiled, and asked.

Liu Cuiyi nodded; she was naturally afraid.

"I feel sorry for your hardships, but I have no right to interfere with your choices. If I were to use my past help to restrict your actions, I would disdain it."

Cuiyi, I dare not say that I will remain with you forever, but if one day we disagree greatly, you must not go against your own heart to appease me.

I'm helping you without expecting anything in return. I just hope you can stand on your own two feet. Even if you need help from others, ultimately you have to rely on yourself to survive in this world. Do you understand what I mean?

Wen Mingqian's voice was gentle, yet it was like a gentle rain that sprinkled on Liu Cuiyi's heart, where a flower bloomed, swaying with fragrance, and never fading.

At the Prince of Shoushan's residence, Princess Jiang remained silent with a somber expression.

The steward stood with his head bowed, carefully observing his master's expression, and said, "It was truly our oversight; we did not expect that Cao Hongyu would actually leave the capital."

“It’s not entirely your fault, even I didn’t expect it.” Jiang said, taking a deep breath. “Cao Hongyu came to me like a hot stove, and I thought it was a done deal.”

It is true that Cao Hongyu is determined to marry into the Zhou family, and Jiang Shi has no doubt about her sincerity.

When they finally sent the steward to check because they hadn't heard any movement, they discovered that Cao Hongyu and her daughter had left the capital three days earlier and had disappeared without a trace.

The steward said, "It was my oversight that I underestimated the methods of that man surnamed Wen."

Although they didn't know where Cao Hongyu had gone, they knew that she had met with Wen Mingqian, and the two of them talked about something. Cao Hongyu left early the next morning.

“This woman surnamed Wen is indeed quite capable. I originally thought she was just good at flattery and winning people over, but she actually managed to help the man surnamed Cao leave without us finding him. That shows she’s more than just a pretty face,” Jiang said.

"Master, what can a discarded woman like her do on her own?" the steward guessed. "Even if she can bribe one or two people, she shouldn't be completely without any clues. Could it be the Princess...?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Jiang immediately shook her head: "Absolutely impossible. Even if the Princess appreciates her, she would never help him do such a thing. I am certain of that."

"Then who else could have such methods?" the steward continued to speculate. "Could it be... could it be the Prince of Changliu?"

Jiang was taken aback by his words and said, "Could it be true, as some people have said, that she was with the prince at the border..."

“There’s no smoke without fire, Master,” the steward said. “To be able to take someone out of the capital without our knowledge is not something an ordinary family can do.”

"Besides, I've already inquired, and the men Wen Mingqian brought that night were all burly and spoke with a border accent; they're very likely the Prince's men." "Then...if that's the case, it means the Prince still trusts her." Jiang Shi hesitated, then added, "Wouldn't he be secretly targeting us?"

Jiang naturally feared the Prince of Changliu, partly because he held a high position and wielded great power, and partly because of his unyielding nature.

Secondly, his daughter has always been in love with him, and if any discord arises, the marriage will be completely ruined.

She didn't want her daughter's years of devotion to go to waste, and she was even more afraid that her daughter would take her own life because of it.

“My lord, I’m just being silly. Even if it really was Prince Changliu who got involved, we can’t just give up now. Think about it, if we never mention this matter again, the prince will definitely think we’re guilty.”

I think that woman surnamed Wen must have used her sweet words and charm to bewitch the prince. If the prince knew the truth, he would naturally see her as a promiscuous and unworthy woman, and would surely despise her. Don't you think so?

Jiang frowned and thought for a long time before saying, "What you said makes sense. There's no turning back once the arrow is released. She may have the ability to get that Cao guy away from here, but she can't wipe out the Zhou family, can she? As long as the Zhou family is around, they won't have to worry about kicking Liu Cuiyi out."

“Master is right, that’s what I think too. Their eldest son spends his days gambling and whoring. If you want to whisper something sweet or sour in his ear, isn’t that a piece of cake?”
No man could remain calm upon hearing that his wife was having an affair. Besides, a single thread cannot make a line; Cao Hongyu has already been whispering rumors. If we add fuel to the fire again, the Zhou family will surely boil that Liu fellow alive!

“In that case, we should act sooner rather than later, lest things get complicated.” Jiang stood up and said, “I’ll go check on Chun’er; the child hasn’t eaten properly for many days.”

When she arrived at Liu Huanchun's room, she saw that all the servants and maids were holding their breath, and she knew that her daughter had lost her temper again.

Then he said, "My darling, have you eaten properly? Your uncle's family sent over some delicious water chestnut cakes this morning, isn't that your favorite?"

"Mother, I only have one question for you: why is there still no movement from the Zhou family?" Liu Huanchun was an impatient person by nature, and the most patient thing she had ever done in her life was waiting for the Prince of Changliu.

"It'll be soon, don't worry." Jiang didn't dare tell her the details, afraid that she would get anxious and upset.

"Mother, you must help me ruin that Wen woman!" Liu Huanchun gritted her teeth. "She's a withered flower, how could she be worthy of the prince?"

"Alright, alright, yes, yes, don't worry, my son. As long as you don't make yourself sick, anything is fine," Jiang said. "Your brother is away from home most of the year, and you're all I have by my side. What would I do if something happened to you?"

At this moment, the maids and servants below hurriedly brought up the food, and a group of people coaxed and begged Liu Huanchun to eat a few bites.

Meanwhile, the Liu family's butler went out to inquire about the whereabouts of Liu Cuiyi's husband, Zhou Jingsan.

When the lamps were lit that day, Zhou Jingsan returned home drunk.

Instead of going to Madam Zhou's room, they went straight to Liu Cuiyi's courtyard.

"Young Master is back," Zhao Mama said, quickly stopping him as he looked aggressive. "Madam has already retired for the night."

"Get out of my way, you old hag!" Zhou Jingsan shoved Zhao's mother aside with a swift movement. "I want to see what kind of sleep that bitch is having!"

He stormed into the inner room, just as Liu Cuiyi got out of bed. Zhou Jingsan slapped her across the face, and Liu Cuiyi fell back onto the pillow.