I have suffered enough in my previous life, my cousin will never marry me

Chapter 23 Stepmother
Hearing this, Ye Wanshu's eyes darkened slightly.

Although it was her own enthronement ceremony, she was still an unmarried girl. Her father wanted her to come out and toast Prince Qi. His intention was obvious.

It seems that his love for herself could not withstand the instigation of Aunt Zhou.

She knew Zhou Ru's character very well. Since she had gotten involved with Prince Qi, she would not be willing to give up unless she got a result.

When she was a child, she drank her mother's blood but always schemed to make things difficult for her mother. Now she wants to use herself to secure a future for her daughter. This account must be settled.

The best way at the moment is to arrange a marriage between Ji Ningxi and King Qi. Then both mother and daughter will suffer.

"Father, please go and entertain the guests. Your daughter will be back soon."

Ye Wanshu responded to his words with a forced smile, then led Chunhong back to Mucangzhai.

Chunhong helped her change into a light pink satin dress with hundreds of butterflies. When she came out of the inner room, Xingtao had already slipped back quietly and secretly stuffed two small packages into Ye Wanshu's hands.

"Miss, if you use Yin Yang He Huan Powder, remember to take the antidote first," Xing Tao instructed, then leaned over and warned mysteriously, "The person said that this medicine is very potent and shouldn't be used too much."

Ye Wanshu nodded thoughtfully, "Did you notice anything on your way back?"

Xing Tao rubbed the back of her head and said, "When I entered the inner courtyard, I noticed a sturdy stranger acting suspiciously. I hadn't seen him in the past few days. I wonder if he's one of the guests' followers."

"Why would the guests' entourage wander around the inner courtyard? Wouldn't that just invite criticism?" Ye Wanshu already had an idea in her mind.

Chunhong was confused and asked hurriedly, "Miss, you and Xingtao are acting strangely today. Did something happen?"

Xingtao chuckled, and Ye Wanshu didn't explain much, simply saying, "It's nothing serious. I'm afraid Mu Cang Zhai will be very busy today. You and Xingtao should be careful to serve."

After he finished speaking, he immediately called the two of them: "Let's go to the front hall."

Today's banquet was divided into separate seats for men and women. The male guests dined in the living room in the front yard, while the female guests dined in the flower hall in the inner yard, where they were entertained by Aunt Zhou.

When Ye Wanshu led Chunhong and Xingtao back to the front hall, Ji Yuan was whispering with Prince Qi about something, while Prince Qi's eyes were fixed on the dancing prostitutes in the hall.

Upon seeing Ye Wanshu, Prince Qi quickly withdrew his gaze and glanced at Ji Yuan with a little surprise.

Ji Yuan simply smiled calmly and said, "I am extremely grateful to Prince Qi for his kindness and for condescending to visit my humble home. I want to personally offer a toast to Prince Qi as a token of my gratitude."

After hearing this, Prince Qi's face was quite moved. He respectfully picked up the wine glass and said solemnly: "My princess is thoughtful. Please rest assured, Prime Minister and my princess, I will never let the Ji family down."

Such a harsh statement was made for no reason, and not only the guests present, but even Ji Yuan was a little surprised.

I haven't even mentioned this marriage yet, but Prince Qi seems to have decided on my daughter.

Ye Wanshu silently observed the strange expression on her father's face. It was obvious that he had no other plans for inviting Prince Qi into the mansion today, but Prince Qi's attitude clearly showed that he had already secured the marriage.

It seems that Zhou Ru's invitation to Prince Qi into the mansion today was just as she expected, with a hidden meaning.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Ye Wanshu didn't say much, but obediently took the wine that Ji Yuan had asked the nanny to prepare, covered her face and drank it.

The other guests probably saw that the Prime Minister wanted to make friends with Prince Qi, and they flattered him one after another and praised him.

Ji Yuan nodded in satisfaction, looked at Ye Wanshu, and said with great relief: "Wanwan, today is your wedding day. Two princesses have come to Prince Qi's Mansion. Go to the flower hall and ask your concubine Zhou to introduce you to them." After that, he gave Mama Liu a few more instructions and asked her to lead her daughter over.

Ye Wanshu bowed and followed Mother Liu to the flower hall.

Prince Qi saw everything and always felt that this woman was not as cold and aloof as Aunt Zhou said. Instead, she was graceful, generous and polite.

The toast he just made showed his self-cultivation, dignity and seriousness, without any trace of frivolity or flattery.

If he wasn't in a hurry to make friends with Ji Yuan, he really wanted to marry her in a proper manner.

When Ye Wanshu arrived at the flower hall, Zhou Ru was already chatting and laughing with the ladies from various mansions.

Although those officials' wives despised her identity in their hearts, they had to pretend to be flattering and fawning on her because they knew the situation in the Prime Minister's mansion.

Seeing all the mistresses and daughters of the family in the courtyard being so warm and attentive to a lowly concubine, Ye Wanshu felt mixed emotions.

I'm afraid that in the entire Lin'an City, only the Ji family can see such a situation.

As soon as she stepped forward, Zhou Ru greeted her with a flattering look on her face: "Your father is also confused. How could he let a girl like you go to the front hall to toast? Your sisters are waiting anxiously."

To highlight her status as a concubine, she deliberately took Ye Wanshu's arm and said affectionately, "Young lady, please take a seat quickly. You've only just arrived in Lin'an. Let me introduce you to the distinguished guests who are visiting us today."

The status of a princess who was forced to be promoted did not seem very noble in front of this group of royal family members and dignitaries, but for the sake of Ji Yuan's face, everyone stood up and bowed, even the two princesses of Prince Qi's Mansion bowed respectfully.

Just looking at that young face, and thinking that she was married into Prince Qi's mansion because her engagement was broken off, and that she would have to call her mother in the future, he felt a little resentful in his heart.

"I heard that Princess Tongyang just had her coming-of-age ceremony not long ago, and she was born into a merchant family. Has she learned the art of managing a household?"

The leading Princess Anping was the eldest daughter of the deceased Princess Qi. She was two years older than Ye Wanshu and was very arrogant. Even though she had received instructions from her father before entering the mansion, she still found it difficult to remain calm when she saw her stepmother who had not yet married into the family.

"The Qi Palace is a noble family. If Princess Tongyang doesn't know how to manage the household, it might be difficult for her to enter the palace in the future." She sneered and curled her lips.

Ye Wanshu found it quite amusing.

She had never thought of marrying into Prince Qi's mansion, but this man seemed to be determined to rely on her family.

"Princess Anping, you're joking. Although I come from a humble family, didn't you also say that my Ye family is a family of merchants?"

She said in a quiet voice, "Merchants don't live the comfortable and luxurious lives of a princess. If they don't know how to be frugal, how can they accumulate such a large fortune? It's the princess who is eager for me to enter Prince Qi's mansion, but doesn't even know the most basic principles of seniority and inferiority. That's really laughable."

"you"

Princess Anping was quite annoyed and wanted to scold her, but Princess Qingning beside her secretly pulled the hem of her skirt.

Looking at Ye Wanshu, she said with a forced smile, "My sister didn't mean any harm. Princess Tongyang, please don't take it to heart. After all, you know that Prince Qi's mansion is prosperous, and managing the household is indeed a science."

When she thought of the bitches her father had around, she actually hoped that this woman would marry into the palace as a successor. At least she was young and had no children, so she would be easy to control in the future. Maybe she could even help her brother after her father ascended the throne.

Immediately picking up a glass of wine, Qingning said very respectfully, "Today is the day when the princess is crowned. I wonder if the princess likes the gift my sister and I have prepared. My sister and I would like to congratulate the princess."

After saying this, he deliberately gave Princess Anping a look.

(End of this chapter)