The legitimate daughter returns to the capital and embarks on a splendid life, tearing apart the fak

Chunxi lowered her voice and said, "The Fifth Prince was also drinking with people at Zuixianlou at noon today. He went out to wash his hands and happened to bump into the eldest young lady. He recognized her and invited them to sit together. When they left, the Fifth Prince personally saw them off and even spoke a few words to the eldest young lady alone."

Yun Jin tapped her fingers lightly twice on the table. No wonder Yun Xiu came back looking so lovestruck; the Fifth Prince must have given her some kind of hint.

But she didn't believe it was a coincidence. Liu Zhixue wasn't in the manor, so no one was giving her advice. Moreover, her arrival at the Yun manor put pressure on her, so she was a little flustered.

She is now desperate to find a powerful backer, either to bring Liu Zhixue back or to marry a prince, preferably the fifth prince she likes.

Yun Jin guessed that she must have been keeping an eye on the Fifth Prince. It wasn't exactly a secret that the Fifth Prince was drinking with someone at Zuixianlou, and it was easy to find out.

She thought for a moment and then asked, "Did you find out what the Fifth Prince said to her?"

Chunxi shook her head: "I can't find out that. There were only a few of them in the private room at the time. After they left the private room, the Fifth Prince's entourage followed them the whole time and they couldn't get close."

Yun Jin nodded: "I understand."

She paused for a moment, then asked curiously, "How did you find this information?"

Chunxi pouted and said, "It cost a lot of money, but the waiters at Zuixianlou wouldn't say anything if they gave me too little."

Yun Jin asked with a smile, "How much did it cost?"

Chunxi hesitated for a moment before saying, "It's a full ten taels of silver."

Yun Jin took out twenty taels and gave it to her: "Take it. Do a good job, and you won't be treated unfairly."

Chunxi was about to kowtow to Yunjin when Yunjin stopped her, saying, "Alright, I don't need so many formalities here. By the way, tomorrow morning, go find Shiyong and ask him what those eight people can do. Ask carefully, I have arrangements. When you come back, bring Xiaoman back with you. You can take care of her and teach her well from now on."

Chunxi asked excitedly, "Miss, will Xiaoman be my apprentice from now on?"

Yun Jin smiled and said, "Alright, it's nothing now. Go and rest."

Chunxi smiled and agreed before leaving.

Yun Jin looked at the closed door and sighed softly: I really want to kill him.

Unfortunately, it doesn't work.

It's too slow; she's getting impatient.

Why don't we help Yunxiu out? Doesn't she want to marry the Fifth Prince?

Why not grant her wish? Once she successfully marries into the Fifth Prince's household, we can then drag the Fifth Prince into this mess. The outcome would certainly be quite interesting.

But how could a young woman from a respectable family do such a big thing?

Looks like I need to find an ally, but who should I choose?

……

Xuezhai.

Yunxiu sat before her dressing table, recalling the Fifth Prince's words to her earlier that day: "Miss Yun, your talent is exceptional, and I greatly admire it. If there is an opportunity another day, I would like to hear you play the zither."

He spoke with a gentle gaze and a faint smile on his lips.

Yunxiu covered her face, but couldn't help laughing again.

He admires her. He said he admires her.

"Lixiang," she called out.

Rika entered from the outer room: "Young Miss?"

"Bring me my zither," Yunxiu said. "I want to practice some more."

Pear Blossom responded and turned to leave.

Yunxiu looked in the mirror, touched her face, and smiled triumphantly.

Mother is right. She is so beautiful that the Fifth Prince will definitely like her.

Her father wanted her to marry the third prince, but she and her mother felt that the fifth prince was more suitable for the position. He just didn't have the chance. She would help her, because she had the General's Mansion behind her.

As for Yun Jin, a wild girl who grew up in the countryside, she was no match for her at all.

She remembered her mother's words: "Xiu'er, you must be outstanding enough for men to approach you, like you, and admire you, just like your father did for me."

She wanted to learn from her mother, who always seemed calm and composed, even when her hair was shaved, she didn't show any emotional fluctuation.

Lixiang brought over the zither, and Yunxiu began to practice. In a few days it would be the eldest princess's birthday, and she would use her zither playing to attract the attention of the fifth prince and the other princes.

Tonight, things are destined to get turbulent in Yun Mansion.

Yun Heting did not dine at his residence tonight. He sent someone to tell Chu Wanqing that he had gone out for drinks with his colleagues, but in reality, he went to the Fifth Prince's residence.

The Fifth Prince is currently in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, making him his direct superior.

After several rounds of drinks, the Fifth Prince put down his cup and said calmly, "Lord Yun, don't try to have your cake and eat it too. Once you're on my side, you can't just get off whenever you want. Do you understand?"

In front of the Fifth Prince, Yun Heting dared not admit that he was half-hearted, and quickly bowed and said, "Your Highness, rest assured, I will follow Your Highness's lead."

The Fifth Prince nodded, then changed the subject: "Lord Yun, your daughter is quite good, talented, and intelligent. But she shouldn't always stay cooped up at home. She should go out more often, like visiting her maternal grandparents..." He paused, looking at Yun Heting meaningfully, "Lord Yun, do you understand what I mean?"

Yun Heting's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly bowed and said, "This humble official understands."

He understood, of course. The Fifth Prince needed military power to succeed, and what he coveted was not Yunxiu, but the Chu family behind her.

The Chu family had no women of marriageable age, so they had to settle for Yunxiu as a second choice.

It seems that to get on the Fifth Prince's side, he must rely on the Chu family. But now that Yun Jin has joined the fray, he's not so sure anymore. He dares not tell the Fifth Prince about this.

After leaving the Fifth Prince's residence, Yun Heting stood at the door and looked back before getting into the carriage and heading back.

Yun Heting got out of the carriage, stood at the gate, glanced up at the plaque above the gate, took a deep breath, and started walking into the mansion. The gatekeeper came to greet him, but he waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to follow.

Walking along the corridor, the night breeze blew against his face, carrying a slight chill. His mind was in turmoil, one moment filled with the Fifth Prince's words, the next with the Third Prince's face.

The Fifth Prince needs to rely on the Chu family. But he's increasingly uncertain about the Chu family's future.

Chu Wanqing's attitude has been somewhat strange lately. She used to listen to him in everything, but now she constantly contradicts him. If she refuses to help Yunxiu with her plans, how will she explain it to the Fifth Prince? Will he still marry Yunxiu as his principal wife?

What about the Third Prince? He's not engaged yet. If Yunxiu could catch the Empress's eye, that would be a possibility. But he's not confident about the Empress's side, and the Third Prince's temperament is unpredictable; he's not sure.

He sighed, and suddenly remembered Yun Jin.

Regardless of whether she was that child or not, she was now Yun Heting's daughter, the second young lady of the Yun family recorded in the family genealogy. Although she was an adopted daughter, in the eyes of outsiders, there was no difference between her and a biological daughter.

If one of my two daughters could marry the Third Prince and the other the Fifth Prince…

However, he couldn't discuss it with Liu Zhixue, nor did he know why she favored the Fifth Prince so much; he could only devise a plan on his own.

He stopped and thought for a moment, then turned and walked towards Chu Wanqing's Qingshui Garden.