Too high to reach

Chapter 408 Extra: Willingly Listening to Bewitchment
At noon, Liu Jialiu's grandson ate lunch at home.

His many attendants carried over everyone's gifts.

Besides providing the household with medicinal herbs, fabrics, and valuable items, he also personally selected different things for each person to express his sentiments.

As for Liu Siwan's, it was handed to her personally by the Crown Prince.

"I remember when I was little, my family got a deer. We planned to keep it for a few days and then kill it to eat. My sister saw this and cried. She guarded it every day and wouldn't let us kill it... In the end, we kept it for many more years. This little table screen was painted by me and commissioned to be made by a Suzhou embroidery master. Sister, do you like it?"

A fawn in the woods, with a pair of innocent, big eyes.

Liu Siwan looked at it, her eyes reddening: "Chirp chirp. It has a name, it's called chirp chirp... You drew it so much like it... I like it very much."

"Yeah, I heard when I got back that my sister and brother-in-law's wedding is in three months. I'm so glad! I was originally going to go to one of those places, which would have meant I wouldn't be back for another six months... Thank goodness, otherwise I would have missed my sister's wedding. I'd be so annoyed... I can't catch them. I'd be furious and take it out on my brother-in-law!"

Young Master Zheng chuckled beside him, his face flushed, looking quite silly.

"Your Highness is so kind!" Liu Siwan said softly.

During the meal, the Crown Prince spoke to the Grand Secretary about the places he had visited, some of which the Grand Secretary had worked in. Therefore, the two had a particularly good conversation.

Everyone also discovered that no matter where the Grand Secretary was talking, the Crown Prince could always keep up!
What they were saying were things that nobody understood at all...

In fact, Madam Liu was extremely intelligent and had many interests. However, since the Grand Secretary was often away from the capital, she had to take on the family business. So she put everything aside and became a typical housewife.

But he still had a keen eye. Seeing Liu Nian's current appearance, he nodded repeatedly and said to his eldest grandson's wife and Liu Siwan sitting beside him, "His character truly embodies the best qualities of all three princes. He is gentle, intelligent, and resolute... rare qualities indeed!"

After saying that, he thought about the foolish things Hu had done back then... she almost ruined the Liu family!

I'm so angry.

Meanwhile, Madam Hu was staring blankly at the Crown Prince, her usual pretense and antics gone!

After the meal, the grandson left.

Liu Siwan returned to her room, sat in front of the mirror, and asked the maid to remove her hairpins and jewelry.

The maids all recognized the grandson and had just received their reward money. They kept praising him, saying, "...I never expected him to grow so tall. He's even taller than our young master!"

"Yes! He's become much more handsome... his demeanor... tsk tsk, it can't be described simply as good or bad looks." The girls were completely captivated, itching to possess him.

Opportunity... is right beside you.

"Young lady, you are the Crown Prince's elder sister... In the future, you will definitely be granted the title of princess or county princess!"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Liu Siwan said irritably.

“Miss… I’m telling the truth. You see, in the whole family, His Highness the Crown Prince is closest to you. Back then, Madam…” she began, then swallowed her words, “it was you who tipped him off! You saved him! You always helped him out of trouble. The good food was shared between you and His Highness the Crown Prince. He’ll definitely remember our past kindness.”

"Indeed! Look, young lady, this table screen is magnificent, made by a master craftsman. But what's most special is that it was painted by the Crown Prince himself! It's one of a kind in the world, a family heirloom!"

"Alright, alright! This noise is giving me a headache, everyone get out of here!"

The maids all went out, and she sat there silently.

Three years ago, she was quite shocked when she heard the news. However... her mother was so frightened that she fell ill.

The Crown Prince went on another mysterious trip, and we didn't even get to see him.

Therefore, I didn't have any particularly deep feelings about it.

Today, she finally understood what it meant...

Although he was only dressed in the prince's everyday robes, his composed and noble demeanor made him seem like someone who had grown up alongside me...

His thoughts, words, and actions made the gentle and mild-mannered Xiao Zheng seem as bland as a bowl of plain water.

These past few years, I've been living a good life, and Xiao Zheng and I are quite compatible. But I'm always busy: who has written a new good poem, which restaurant has launched a new dish, clothing styles, and constantly hosting various small banquets.

For Xiao Zheng, their wedding room seemed to be the most important thing in his life, and he personally took care of almost everything from the style to the decorations.

The father didn't take it seriously... believing that he should focus more on his studies.

But when his grandfather saw it, he nodded in praise, saying that as long as he could concentrate on his work and do it well, that was a strength!

Although the Liu family seemed harmonious, she knew that her grandmother disapproved of her mother.

The mother also harbored a great deal of resentment towards her grandmother.

My mother loved me the most and always kept me by her side, afraid that my great-grandmother would get too close.

Therefore, my habits and way of thinking are just like my mother's...

Until today, Liu Siwan suddenly felt confused: Xiao Zheng was very good to her...

But... look at the Crown Prince again...

My grandfather was notoriously hot-tempered, and he was a man of his word, never one to mince words. He was never polite and left no room for compromise, even when dealing with powerful figures… But today, his appreciation for my grandson was something I could clearly see myself.

The father, in particular, wore a smile that resembled respect.

She felt a huge sense of loss.

This confusion and pain caused her to lose her appetite and stay up all night. The next day, her body felt weak and she had a fever.

Mrs. Hu quickly called a doctor to take a look, but the doctor felt there was nothing wrong.

She was in her room, doing some work, spacing out... when Hu Hua'er arrived.

She was the daughter of her mother's dowry maid, and also once Liu Siwan's personal maid.

He's a few years older than her and got married the year before last.

She married into an official's family; her husband was also a minor military officer.

This is a leap across social classes, which is extremely difficult.

Last year, I gave birth to a daughter.

They lived a comfortable life, wearing fine silks and satins, and possessing plenty of gold and silver jewelry.

Not only was she incredibly fair-skinned, but she also possessed a voluptuous figure with ample breasts, a wide bottom, and a slender waist. Her peach-like figure was undeniably alluring.

"Miss, Madam said you seem unwell, so I've come to check on you... Do you have a fever?" She touched Liu Siwan's forehead. "You're alright... Your complexion is good. You should be fine!"

They were mistress and servant, and had a very good relationship.

After Hu Hua'er got married, she would come back every now and then.

“It’s nothing. Mother was just too nervous…” Liu Siwan replied.

"Madam is right to be careful. The wedding is just around the corner, so we need to be careful about everything!"

"Yeah, I know," Liu Siwan replied casually, her expression listless.

"Sigh..." Hu Hua sighed. "When I saw the Crown Prince that day, I really couldn't recognize him! Such a thing can't be true..."

"You've kept this from us for so long! Miss... do you think he's really changed? Or is it just that his status is different now, which is why we feel he's different?"

"What do you mean?" Liu Siwan understood what she meant, but for some reason, she wanted her to explain again.

"His demeanor and appearance are completely different from before... He even overshadows our young master! Look at the Grand Secretary, he's full of praise for him... Who has our Grand Secretary ever praised before?" After saying this, Hu Hua'er smiled, exuding a charming and coquettish air.

Liu Siwan shook her head: "Actually, the Crown Prince is very intelligent. In the past, Mother didn't like him, so he could only hide his talents... If he surpasses his elder brother again, he will only annoy Mother even more!"

"Yes...sigh..." Hu Hua sighed deeply, filled with regret.

She was three years older than the Crown Prince and Liu Siwan.

The lady once considered giving her to the master as a concubine.

She was naturally beautiful and possessed an alluring charm. Both Madam Hu and Liu Siwan treated her very well, and she lived a life better than most young ladies from ordinary families.

Moreover, it carries a shallow and vulgar flavor that makes men's noses bleed when they see it.

As a result, the old man respected his legal wife and refused to take her as a concubine...

Later, someone suggested that he go to the Crown Prince's room... This idea was ill-intentioned.

Because at that time, the Crown Prince was somewhat out of control of his wife... He was never home, and no one knew what he was doing.

The master forbade his wife from asking.

But it's obvious, he must have followed a wise teacher and gotten into the right path!

His wife was furious and thought of putting herself in his room to tempt him into doing bad things.

I knew what my wife was thinking... but given my circumstances at the time, what benefit would I have gained from doing this?
Therefore, I politely declined.

But now it seems like a huge mistake! If I had taken that step back then... I might very well have been the mother of the Crown Prince's first child.

If he ascends the throne in the future, he should be able to get a concubine!

Seriously... I'm so angry!

"Young lady, no matter what, you have lived a fulfilling life."

"How to say?"

"You have done a great favor for the Crown Prince. If he were to... there would surely be an explanation. Perhaps he would be given a princess or a noblewoman or something..."

"You wish! You can't just say things like that!" Liu Siwan was surprised to hear this. Why was she saying that too?

"What nonsense! I saw it all. His Highness the Crown Prince treats you differently from others!"

"Really?! How is it different?" Liu Siwan's eyes narrowed.

Originally, Hu Hua'er's meaning wasn't that complicated. But Liu Siwan's reaction surprised her...

Having been by the girl's side for so many years, she could understand even the girl's subtle expressions.

Could it be that the girl...

A surge of emotion welled up inside her… “Young lady, I feel so sorry for you… The marriage arranged for you by Madam is a bit too early…”

“If he ascends the throne in the future, he can surely become an empress!” — Mo Yuan No. 2

My dears, just one chapter today.

I need to take a shower and get dressed to attend the class reunion.

(End of this chapter)