Chapter 59: Will Your Childhood Sweetheart Choose You?

Miss Liu suppressed the wild pounding in her chest, anger and jealousy making her eyes burn with fury.

"Yu Sheng-sheng, how dare you!"

Forcing herself to calm down, she hurried back and lifted her gaze to find Su Zhiyi not far away.

Forgetting that she had also sneaked over, Miss Liu rushed anxiously toward Su Zhiyi.

"Princess, did you see that? Yu Sheng-sheng, that wretched woman, even with her face ruined, actually dares to seduce the Crown Prince."

"That is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince! How could Yu Sheng-sheng be so bold?" Miss Liu suddenly stopped and drew a sharp breath. "Princess, do you think she might have already..."

Su Zhiyi withdrew her gaze from the spot where Yu Sheng-sheng had vanished and looked up at Miss Liu.

Her chilling gaze was like knives and arrows, piercing straight into the depths of Miss Liu's eyes.

Startled by the stare, Miss Liu had never seen such a vicious look from Su Zhiyi, one that seemed capable of devouring her whole just by looking.

"Prin... Princess."

Su Zhiyi's tone was flat: "Why is Miss Liu here?"

Miss Liu gave an awkward laugh: "I... I came to the lotus pond to take a look and wanted to pick a few lotus seeds."

"Is it for my eldest brother?" Su Zhiyi pierced through the excuse effortlessly. "Miss Liu, do you fancy my eldest brother?"

Miss Liu's face flushed, revealing a hint of shyness: "Wh... what are you saying? I merely admire the Young General for being talented at a young age and wonderfully valiant—just a pure admiration."

Su Zhiyi rested her hands on her knees and cast her gaze into the distance again: "The weather is hot. We've prepared ice bowls and iced curds for everyone up ahead. Miss Liu should go enjoy some."

Miss Liu nodded, walked a few steps, and then looked back: "Princess, please don't tell the Young General just yet, okay? I want to find the right opportunity to tell him myself."

Su Zhiyi said indifferently: "Very well."

Blushing, Miss Liu ran off.

Yu Sheng-sheng was long gone, but Su Zhiyi continued to stare at the direction where she had disappeared. Hatred churned like waves in her chest, and frost slowly gathered in her eyes.

Miss Liu had gotten one thing right: Yu Sheng-sheng, how dare she!

Not only was she entangled with Shen Zhiyuan, but she had also come to seduce the Crown Prince.

It seemed her previous intuition was correct. When the Crown Prince sent her a gift while arranging for Yu Sheng-sheng's face to be ruined, his intention was focused on Yu Sheng-sheng, not her.

This realization made Su Zhiyi feel as though her internal organs were being roasted over a fire.

Yu Sheng-sheng, you even dare to compete with me for the Crown Prince? Then do not blame me for being utterly ruthless.

Originally, I only intended to ruin your face, but now, I want your life!

Rujian leaned over to soothe her: "Princess, do not be angry with her. Her face is already ruined; that injury was not shallow. And with her humble background, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will not—"

Before she could finish, Su Zhiyi struck her across the face.

Rujian was already injured, and the blow caused blood to seep from the corner of her mouth once more. Yet, ignoring the pain, she immediately dropped to her knees.

"Useless trash! If you hadn't failed to completely ruin her face earlier, would there be any trouble now?"

"Yes, it is this maid's incompetence," Rujian said, keeping her head low as she slapped herself a few times.

Su Zhiyi's eyes radiated a piercing chill: "Get out, clean up your face, and tell the opera troupe to change the play."

"Yes." Rujian scrambled up and retreated.

Su Zhiyi sat alone for a moment and clapped her hands.

A guard quietly materialized.

"How is the matter I ordered you to investigate?"

"Reporting to the Princess, there is already a lead. Yu Sheng-sheng used to have a childhood sweetheart named Qi Mubai."

Su Zhiyi furrowed her brows slightly: "Qi Mubai... that name sounds somewhat familiar."

"Reporting to the Princess, this person is the hottest candidate in the current imperial examinations. While the palace examination has not yet taken place, it is safe to say he is a top contender, at least ranking in the top three."

The corners of Su Zhiyi's lips curled upward, her tone light yet sharp: "So that's how it is."

So that's how it is.

Su Zhiyi remembered hearing Su Yanshu mention this person more than once, even saying that after the roster was posted, he intended to recruit Qi Mubai to serve the Crown Prince together.

The guard added in a low voice: "Princess, there is one more matter."

"Speak."

"Qi Mubai's courtesy name is Lanting."

Su Zhiyi paused, a series of scenes flashing through her mind before the clouds suddenly parted.

Qi Mubai, Lanting.

Shen Zhiyuan, Lanchi.

So, the handkerchief with embroidered orchids that Yu Sheng-sheng kept referred to Qi Mubai.

So, when Yu Sheng-sheng told Shen Zhiyuan that she had never fancied him, it was actually the truth.

Su Zhiyi burst out laughing.

Indeed. Compared to that good-for-nothing Shen Zhiyuan, who relied entirely on his father, Qi Mubai was the one with a boundless future.

Without a sound, Yu Sheng-sheng had made the most astute choice.

And she, along with the Su family, had foolishly assumed that Yu Sheng-sheng had set her sights on Shen Zhiyuan and wanted to steal her marriage.

Turns out, the girl had lofty ambitions and looked down on him entirely.

No wonder during that lotus-viewing banquet, Yu Sheng-sheng was supposed to be the one to suffer the mishap, yet it ended up being Rujian instead.

So that was it!

Very well, Yu Sheng-sheng, you truly are something!

Let me see whether your childhood sweetheart will still want you once your face is ruined and your reputation is stinking.

Faced with fame, wealth, and a promising official career, will that childhood sweetheart of yours choose you?

"Find him, keep a close watch, and I want to see him."

"Yes." The guard silently withdrew.

Completely oblivious to all of this, Yu Sheng-sheng returned to her courtyard, vaguely brushed off Jin Baobao and Nanny Zhou, and changed into a fresh set of clothes.

Inspecting her wound, she found it had indeed healed slightly compared to before.

For a moment, she didn't know whether to feel glad or worried.

The Crown Prince's words—"Soon, you won't have to suffer bullying from the Su family anymore"—kept echoing in her ears, yet they brought her no joy.

She knew the Crown Prince would never casually pull her out of a fiery pit; he would only push her into an even larger one.

The Crown Prince himself was the ultimate fiery pit.

The thought of still having to attend the opera filled her body and mind with exhaustion. She needed to rest for a while and catch her breath.

As she lay down and counted the time, every single day felt agonizingly long to endure.

She wondered how Qi Mubai was doing right now.

She truly hoped she could see him soon.

The Su family never skimped on matters concerning Su Zhiyi. The hired opera troupe was a famous and currently popular one, with a vast repertoire and superb vocal skills.

Guests already knew which troupe had been invited, so most of them remained after the banquet and gathered by the stage to watch the performance.

Soon, the seats below the stage were packed to capacity.

Madame Su was busy greeting the guests. Now that her anger had dissipated, she thought of Yu Sheng-sheng again—if only she hadn't caused such a scene, today would have been so perfect.

Oh well, she was flesh of her own flesh after all; what overnight grudges could there be?

She was just about to instruct a servant woman to ask if Yu Sheng-sheng wanted to come watch the opera.

Before she could give the order, she turned her head and saw Yu Sheng-sheng arriving of her own accord.

Madame Su felt a slight surge of displeasure. How thick-skinned! Creating a scene, getting her face injured, and yet still showing up eagerly to watch the opera.

Since she had already come, she couldn't just chase her away with so many people watching.

Smiling, she stepped forward and pulled Yu Sheng-sheng to sit in a corner.

Yu Sheng-sheng had no desire to come in the first place and didn't care about the seat.

Without even looking, she knew the Crown Prince was seated in the primary seat on the second floor, his cold and thin gaze sweeping across her back like a sharp, bone-scraping blade.

It wasn't just the Crown Prince; among the noble ladies and maidens, some hadn't seen her in the front courtyard but had heard the rumors. Catching sight of her stunning beauty for the first time, they were struck with awe, only to be startled upon noticing the wound beneath her eye.

Amidst this variety of gazes, Yu Sheng-sheng heard the sound of a gong.

The opera was beginning.