The male supporting character was actually myself.

I'm worried I won't be able to control myself after meeting Young Master Yu, so please listen carefully and remind me if anything seems inappropriate.

"Don't worry, miss, I'll keep an eye on things for you!"

The maid Honglian lifted the curtain and immediately caught sight of Xiao Wu, who was riding a tall horse and protecting her. The two exchanged a knowing glance and saw the deep affection in each other's eyes, and both blushed slightly.

She hurriedly lowered the curtain to calm herself down, thinking about what the prince had said to Xiao Wu, and whispered in the young lady's ear: "I'll tell you a way, if you can't control your wandering heart and want to be good to Young Master Yu, just think about Princess Guangping's male favorites!"

Anyway, he's only trying to curry favor with you to steal secrets. No matter how badly you treat him, he'll still fawn over you. Why demean yourself like that?

Wouldn't it be more comfortable to sit back and wait for your sweetheart to go to great lengths to please you?

With encouragement from her maid, Shen Qingluan nodded, covered her mouth, and laughed, "That's right, now he should be doing everything he can to get close to and please her, so why should I worry?"

“That’s the right way to think! You can’t force things. Whoever takes the initiative first will lose out.” Honglian helped her adjust the hairpin in her hair and gently advised, “Miss, just be assertive. The more difficult it is for him, the more he will care.”

The prince often said that all things in the world are interconnected by fundamental principles.

Take the rouge and face powder that the servants use every day, for example. Everyone gets their share from the government, so they don't cherish it much because it's so easy to get. But if they save up for a long time to buy rouge and face powder from Lan Caijin Rouge Shop, they treasure it!

To put it bluntly, isn't it just about the difference between what's easy to get and what's hard to get?

People are all pretty much the same: the harder something is to obtain, the more they cherish it; the more easily something is obtained, the less they value it.

He hadn't experienced much in his daily life, but he never expected that the little maidservant beside him would know so many profound truths.

Shen Qingluan looked at her with eyes full of affection, "Honglian, if Young Master Yu and I are destined to be apart and have no other connection, when I choose a husband and get married in the future, you will naturally have to go with me. There will be a place for you then."

But if fate brings us together in a tragic marriage, I certainly won't be able to get married smoothly. What will you do then?

Chapter Thirteen: Spring Outing Outside the City

Upon suddenly hearing her mistress mention her future, Honglian blushed and lowered her head, saying softly, "If you do not marry, I will follow your and the prince's arrangements!"

“Although we are master and servant, we have become like sisters over the years.” Shen Qingluan held her hand and said earnestly, “You have always been there for me in every little way.”

If I cannot break free from this ill-fated relationship with Young Master Yu, I beg my brother to allow me to establish my own household in the future.

At that time, I will definitely help you find a good marriage!

Just like my brother told me, I'll find you a perfect husband who loves you back, and you'll have a grand and glorious wedding!

Honglian hurriedly straightened her clothes and knelt before her to express her gratitude.

Not long after the master and servant finished their private conversation, they could vaguely hear the sounds of carriages and sedan chairs outside.

Shen Qingluan lifted the curtain and looked out, discovering that many carriages of various colors had gathered on the main road leading out of the city, including familiar ones from her close friends and many others she didn't recognize.

"Qingluan!" Yue Xiuer, the daughter of the Capital Commander, casually leaned half her body out of the window, waving and shouting at the carriage she was riding in, "I was worried you wouldn't come! Great, let's go out and have fun together!"

Shen Qingluan pouted and said helplessly, "Honglian, go and say hello to Xiuer for me. It's inconvenient for me to reply to her on the street."

The maidservant agreed, got off the carriage, walked to Yue Xiuer's carriage, and said a few words to her.

Shangguan Xuanyu witnessed this scene from afar.

“Miss Shen’s behavior is dignified and elegant, without the slightest transgression.” The subordinate in charge of driving the carriage leaned over and whispered, “In addition, with that squad of guards never leaving her side, it is really difficult for the young master to get close.”

"Given the current situation, she is the most suitable candidate. Taking advantage of today's outing, I'll try to see if we can formally befriend her." Shangguan Xuanyu's gaze swept over Xiao Wu, and he asked, "I haven't seen that personal guard captain named Xiao Wu make a move. How strong is he?"

The subordinate also glanced at him and lowered his voice even further, "The Regent Prince has immense power. Apart from the period at the beginning when there were assassination attempts but no one was able to get close to him, in recent years no one has dared to offend him, and naturally no one has seen him make a move."

But to serve as the regent's personal guard captain, one must be highly skilled in martial arts and utterly loyal. If we were to estimate, one's strength would likely need to be at least at the upper ninth rank to assume such a responsibility.

"Now that most people have arrived, let's set off," Shangguan Xuanyu said, lowering the sedan curtain.

He then sat in the elegantly decorated carriage and closed his eyes in deep thought.

The fluffy ball squatted down in front of him, holding its paws and looking him over from left to right. It couldn't help but click its tongue in admiration, "As expected of the male lead, he's really good-looking! Emmm... he's only a tiny bit less handsome than my host."

The carriage began its journey out of the city. The wheels churned, and the master and servant said nothing more. The dog hopped over to the woman and stared at her.

Shangguan Xuanyu chose a location five miles east of the city.

In the distance, there are green mountains, and nearby, a stream murmurs. The trees in the forest exude the unique vitality of spring. Clusters of peach blossoms are in full bloom. Wild grasses are bursting with vitality, and various wildflowers dot the landscape. Amidst the cheerful chirping of birds, the spring breeze caresses the face, bringing joy to the heart.

With young ladies from various households traveling, this place, suitable for spring outings, had been thoroughly cleared the day before.

Xiao Wu led his guards to inspect the carriage again to make sure there were no problems before instructing the driver to stop the carriage in a secluded spot. The maid, Honglian, helped Shen Qingluan out of the carriage.

"Qingluan, let me tell you, there's a really good storybook out on the market recently!" Lin Muwan, the young lady of the Lin family, whispered as she leaned over. Only after seeing Qingluan's beautiful and eye-catching peach-pink spring dress did she cover her mouth and exclaim in surprise, "'Begonia in Spring Slumber'?! My God, Qingluan, you're so lucky!"

Waaaaah~ Do you know how long I've been craving this spring outfit?

But the original Banyan Tree design is too expensive; I saved up my allowance for so long and it wasn't enough... It's so beautiful! How much did you pay for your custom-made one?

Shen Qingluan blushed and shook her head with a faint smile, saying, "I don't know the price. It was arranged by my brother. He invited the master craftsman from Banyan Tree to our residence to take measurements. I didn't even see the catalog. My brother chose the styles himself."

"The Regent is simply the most perfect man in the world!" Lin Muwan's eyes were burning with longing. "As the Regent's sister, Qingluan, you are so lucky."

Oh right, I almost forgot about the important thing.

Dali Bookstore has released a new storybook, personally written by the renowned editor Ye Lingfeng, and it's a limited edition!

It's still being printed at an expedited pace, and you should be able to see the book in about two days. Do you want it?

Upon hearing that it was a new story written by her favorite author, Shen Qingluan's eyes immediately lit up. "Of course I want it! Are limited editions hard to buy? How much does it cost? What kind of story is it this time?"

"Since Ye Lingfeng accepted a high-priced commissioned writing project last year, he hasn't written any new stories. I found out some inside information that he wrote about the extraordinary adventure of a common girl who, by chance, rescues a prince who is being hunted down, but is then forced into a chaotic undercurrent."

The youngest grandmaster with unparalleled martial arts skills and burdened by the grudges of the martial world; a cold-faced but passionate prince; a cheerful and meticulous prince; a mysterious and handsome man who always appears and disappears; and a super handsome prince from a foreign land—five male protagonists entangled in love and hate with a delicate girl. Sounds amazing, right?

As Shen Qingluan listened to her animated narration, she too became captivated and inspired.

Then she recalled Honglian's mention of the dozen or so gentle and considerate male concubines of the former dynasty's princess, each with their own unique style, and she couldn't help but feel a longing. "Were all the limited editions already reserved? Are there any spots left?"

"Hehe, I knew you'd be interested. Don't worry, I ordered two sets as soon as I heard. I'll deliver them to your door as soon as they're printed!"

"As expected, Mu Wan is the best!" Shen Qingluan was overjoyed. Thinking that her friend always shared good things with her, she felt she should repay her. So she happily said, "When I get back, I will tell the people in the manor to go to the Banyan Tree and ask the master chefs to expedite the custom-made 'Begonia Spring Sleep' set for you as a thank you gift."

Lin Muwan was startled. "This gift is far too expensive. It's just a few books. Why do we need to be so generous?"

"Our friendship is deep, so what's the big deal about a set of spring clothes? It's settled then. Remember to hide the storybooks you bring into the manor well. Last time my brother caught me reading a storybook, and he didn't seem to like it very much."

"Don't worry, as long as you don't get caught, there won't be any problems with this part of the process. But you need to be careful. If you anger the Regent, Ye Lingfeng might get implicated, and then things won't be interesting anymore..."

…………

The two strolled hand in hand across the grass, chatting as they went. In the distance, they saw a pavilion by the lake filled with pastries, tea sets, and other items. Scholars were gathered around a table by the river, laying out brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, seemingly preparing to paint.

Shangguan Xuanyu was also among them, dressed in a light blue dress with dark floral patterns, her hair adorned with jade hairpins and black hair, holding a paper fan and exuding an outstanding temperament.

"Should we go take a look?" Shen Qingluan was swayed by just one glance and her eyes were glued to the other person. Although she asked the question, she had already led her friend toward the river.

Seeing this, the maid Honglian quickly followed behind, never leaving his side.

Xiao Wu, carrying a long sword, followed along.

Chapter Fourteen finally turned things around!

Shangguan Xuanyu was mentally prepared, knowing that getting close to a girl even more noble than the current princess of Southern Qi would be a difficult task. But for the sake of Yong'an and the border army, he had to do everything he could to befriend her and even take the initiative to show his affection and pursue her.

"What a dazzling protagonist aura!" The little white cat covered its eyes with its paws, spat, and turned to look at Shen Qingluan.

She was clearly enveloped by it, and felt as if her heart had been struck instantly.

Shen Qingluan felt as if the spring breeze was blowing on her face and the whole world had shrunk to just her and Young Master Yu, gazing at each other from afar for eternity!

"Miss!" Honglian saw her staring blankly at the other person and hurriedly nudged her from behind to remind her, "It's not polite to stare at a strange man like that."

Let's wait for him to take the initiative!

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingluan lowered her gaze slightly and casually lifted the hem of her skirt before turning around to speak to Lin Muwan, who was lagging behind.

Shangguan Xuanyu closed his paper fan, picked up his brush and painted the delicate and beautiful posture she had inadvertently revealed. His exquisite painting skills attracted a crowd of onlookers who praised him.

After finishing his painting, Young Master Yu, who never took the initiative to chat or befriend women, personally presented the artwork, just to win a smile from the beauty.

As long as it doesn't involve personal safety or harassment, Xiao Wu will naturally remain silent and won't interfere; while Hong Lian will stay on high alert, constantly guarding her mistress and reminding her when she can't control herself.

After a long day of outings, Shangguan Xuanyu finally managed to achieve his goal of getting acquainted with Miss Shen.

"As I observed, Miss Shen is indeed similar to her brother. Although she is only a young woman of sixteen, she is dignified and composed, and her actions and words are never improper. What do you think of your meeting with her today, young master?"

Upon returning to Lan Garden, the subordinate took the hot tea brought by the maid and placed it on the study table, inquiring about its contents.

Shangguan Xuanyu leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and pondered for a moment, reviewing the other party's words and actions as well as his own words and actions today, concluding that he had not made any mistakes.

As my subordinate had said, she was very careful with her words and actions, and quite proper. However, judging from her bright, affectionate eyes, she clearly had feelings for me.

"A young lady from a prominent family who can be pampered by the Regent already has a more noble status in Southern Qi than the current princess, so she is naturally dignified and elegant. If the Regent's power does not diminish, she will at least be a princess when she marries in the future. She will have to manage the entire inner courtyard of the royal palace and handle interpersonal relationships. She cannot be lacking in shrewdness and skill."

Shangguan Xuanyu closed his eyes to calm himself down and said in a light tone, "However, she is at the age when she is just beginning to experience love. The Regent obviously did not let her come into contact with men her age. In addition, the storybooks recommended to her by Miss Lin probably had some effect. I can feel that Shen Qingluan has feelings for me."

If all goes as expected, things should progress even more smoothly in a few days!

The subordinate was overjoyed upon hearing this, "Congratulations, young master, on the success of your plan! With Miss Shen's assistance after we capture her, your scheme to conquer Southern Qi will surely succeed in one fell swoop!"

"Let's calm down and wait and see. I've already invited Miss Shen twice. If she invites me again soon, I'll be 90% sure; if she doesn't, I'll have to think of another way..."

While Shangguan Xuanyu was analyzing and thinking about his next plan deep in the Orchid Garden, Shen Qingluan was sitting in her brother's study, feeling helpless.

She stole a glance at her brother, who was looking at the portrait with his hands behind his back and a serious expression. Her face was slightly flushed, and she was twisting her handkerchief with her hands, feeling very worried.

The other party is a spy from an enemy country!

Given his brother's unwavering loyalty to the country, he would likely harbor strong hostility towards Young Master Yu. But what if he truly missed out on such a perfect person…

"It's not bad, the expression is captured quite accurately, and it captures the charming and innocent look of a young girl." Jiang Chen looked at the painting seriously, shook his head and sighed, "It's just a pity that the brushstrokes are heartless. This painting of a girl in spring is no different from the original work of the painter."

Qingluan, you must know that if you like someone, whether you're painting or writing poetry, your emotions will naturally flow.

Although this painting is of excellent quality, it reveals that Shangguan Xuanyu has no real feelings for you; everything he does is merely to complete his mission. After today's interaction, are you sure you like him?

"I..." Unexpectedly, her brother did not get angry but only sighed for her. Shen Qingluan felt a warmth in her heart but also a bit bitter. She clenched the handkerchief in her hand even tighter, and her fingertips turned white. "Brother, don't be angry. I really like him!"

I'm sorry, I know this is wrong.

But I can't control my feelings. He's like a root in my heart. If my brother insists on stopping me, I... I can only dig him out of my heart little by little..."

As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, and her voice became choked with emotion.

The fluffy dumpling sighed and rubbed its forehead, "Host, the female lead seems rather pitiful from this perspective."

She was completely enveloped by the male lead's aura, utterly unaware of whether she truly loved him, and was simply placed in this script, like a puppet unable to make her own decisions. "You didn't see it, the male lead's aura was blindingly focused on her, who could resist that?"