Chapter 14: Chapter 14 Do You Really Dislike the Second Prince?
Jun Yuyan was about to come closer when Murong Jiu already sensed that it was inappropriate and let down her sleeve.
The fragrance vanished, and his confusion deepened.
That night, it couldn't have been her, the voice was different, and the scent was particularly strong, not something clothes could conceal.
Yet, why did she have a similar scent on her?
Was it a coincidence, or was the lingering scent at the tip of his nose just his illusion?
Soon, they arrived at Marquis Mansion.
Jun Yuyan put on his mask, accustomed to presenting himself with it.
"His Highness Prince Ling has arrived!"
Upon descending from the carriage, the doorman loudly announced their arrival, and immediately afterward, Marquis Murong and the Marchioness came out from inside the door to warmly welcome them.
"Ah Jiu, you've finally come, your father and I have been here waiting for you, hoping and longing for your arrival!"
The Marchioness, Lady Wang, stepped forward to grasp Murong Jiu's hand, displaying warmth and closeness.
Marquis Murong also nodded gently at her, complimenting that she now bore the demeanor of a Princess Consort since her marriage.
"Indeed, Ah Jiu is married now, and I'm still not quite used to it these past few days," said Lady Wang tenderly.
Lady Wang wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.
In her past life, thrilled by Lady Wang's enthusiasm, she thought her mother had finally treated her kindly, only to realize later that it was just an act put on by the couple for Prince Ling.
She withdrew her hand and looked on coldly, even making out the pretense in Lady Wang's expression. Indeed, the involved are blind while the bystanders see clearly.
Lady Wang, seeing her unmoved, could hardly believe it: was this still Murong Jiu? Shouldn't she be moved to tears?
Could it really be as Manman had said, that she had changed?
"His Highness Prince Ling, sister."
"Ninth Sister!"
Just as they entered the grand door of Marquis Mansion, Murong Man approached with a graceful stride.
Alongside her was a charming young girl, Murong Qian from Marquis Mansion's seventh daughter, a concubine-born daughter of the second branch, who previously had a good relationship with Murong Jiu.
She was the only one in the Marquis Mansion besides Murong Man who did not mock or scorn her.
But Murong Man's politeness was because she still had uses for her, while Murong Qian was not as scheming.
Perhaps it was also because they both shared the bond of being unloved.
However, in her last life, Murong Qian had liked Jun Yuyan and almost became a concubine, but for some reason, it didn't work out.
Murong Jiu still remembered the night Murong Qian sent a message wanting to meet her.
She went to the meeting, but was drugged and nearly lost her virtue, saved only by a coincidental appearance by Jun Yuyan.
She didn't make it to the meeting, and the next day the news of Murong Qian's death arrived; she was found dead in disarray on a main street.
Murong Jiu didn't know if the person behind the attempt to harm her was Murong Qian, and she never got to investigate further afterward.
Thus at this moment, seeing Murong Qian again made her feelings quite complex.
Facing Murong Qian's enthusiasm, she always felt there might be ulterior motives, perhaps it was all psychological, what could she have that Murong Qian would scheme over?
Once in the reception hall, more brothers and sisters arrived.
Marquis Mansion was lacking in many things, but not in offspring.
With her brothers, sisters, and cousins combined, there were eighteen of them, and she was the ninth, hence she ended up with the name Murong Jiu.
With so many people around, even if not everyone talked much, it still appeared noisy.
But Jun Yuyan sat calmly in his seat, showing no sign of impatience, his noble demeanor detached and superior.
At the same time, Murong Jiu noticed that Murong Qian frequently looked at Jun Yuyan.
Did she fall for Jun Yuyan so early?
In her previous life, Murong Jiu was solely focused on the affection her parents showed her and completely missed this detail.
"Sister, grandmother is calling you over to have a few words,"
Murong Man approached and said to her.
Murong Jiu knew what the Old Madam would say, she looked at Jun Yuyan, "Prince, I will go over."
Jun Yuyan nodded at her, "You go."
She followed Murong Man towards the Old Madam's courtyard.
Today the Old Madam used her ill health as an excuse not to come out, but in reality, this spiteful old thing was very healthy, she just didn't think highly of this prince at all.
"Ninth Sister, do you really no longer like the Second Prince?"
Before they arrived, Murong Man suddenly stopped, asking her softly.
Murong Jiu looked at her coldly, "Why ask such a question, Elder Sister, do you like the Second Prince perhaps?"
Murong Man quickly denied, "Ninth Sister, don't talk nonsense, there's nothing improper between the Second Prince and me, I've never harbored such thoughts."
"Then why are you so concerned about whether I like him or not? What does it have to do with you?"
"Ninth Sister, why are you speaking so sharply? I was just asked by someone to inquire about your feelings," Murong Man deliberately said.
She believed Murong Jiu knew who had asked her to inquire.
As expected, she saw a change in Murong Jiu's expression, but she stubbornly replied, "I am already married into Prince Ling's Mansion and am Princess Consort Ling; I harbor no other feelings. You need not ask further."
Seeing this, Murong Man mentally took note and subtly glanced towards a nearby rockery.
After bringing Murong Jiu to the grandmother's courtyard, she immediately returned to the rockery.
A handsome and gentle man emerged from the rockery, if not the Second Prince, then who?
"Your Highness, you heard her. She might be upset right now, but deep down, she still harbors feelings for you,"
Murong Man said with her head bowed, her lips slightly pursed, revealing only her fragile neck to Jun Haoze.
Jun Haoze, feeling pity, embraced her,
"Manman, don't be like this. I had you ask her just for the sake of our plan. How could I possibly like such an uninteresting and ugly woman? She spoiled my good deed yesterday; if not for her still being useful, I would really want to crush her throat."
He was referring to Yang Shan's matter.
Everything was going smoothly, but it all fell through because of Murong Jiu, frustrating his plans.
Murong Man subtly curled the corners of her mouth in his embrace.
"Manman knows, Your Highness. Manman is willing to do anything for you. Only, Ninth Sister has replaced me in marrying Prince Ling, she harbors discontent towards me, and is no longer willing to share her heart freely with me, it will be very difficult to regain her trust again," she spoke, somewhat distressed.
"No matter, once she comes out, just tell her that the man that night was me. I will take responsibility for her. Tell her to bear with it a while; I will marry her as Principal Consort,"
Murong Man's eyes flickered, looking aggrieved, "The man that night, it really wasn't Your Highness?"
"Of course, it wasn't me, Manman. Besides you, I haven't even touched another woman," Jun Haoze said near her ear with a mischievous smile, his hand becoming restless.
Murong Man, both rejecting and welcoming, twisted slightly, looking embarrassed.
"To make her wholeheartedly devoted to me, that night I arranged another man. She was drugged, and the room was unlit, so she assumed it was me. Over the past month, she's been probing indirectly several times. I've never answered directly, just waited to tell her after she was married off to Prince Ling's Mansion. Manman, what you don't know is that she's already carrying that man's bastard in her stomach,"
Jun Haoze's lips curled into a cold smile.
"What?"
She looked incredulously, eyes wide; Murong Jiu was carrying a child when she married into Prince Ling's Mansion?