The Female Cannon Fodder With Boundless Merits-Chapter 102: The Romance of the Embroidered Ball (12)

Chapter 102: Chapter 102: The Romance of the Embroidered Ball (12)

Mr. Wen’s expression was a complex one as he lamented inwardly, "This woman is to be feared, this woman is to be feared indeed..."

This begins with the day he received the brocade box.

At first, Mr. Wen thought the Su Family was simply cutting their losses to survive, sacrificing nearly seven-tenths of their wealth to knock on his son’s door for association.

He was shocked by the Su Family’s determination to sever a limb to save the body.

Such a large sum of money would tempt even a man of his son’s status, and the fact that the Su Family could give it up so readily—this resolve alone was admirable.

But what took him even more by surprise was Miss Su.

He had already highly estimated her, unlike any other noble lady in the Capital, none showed the same poise and steadfastness as Miss Su.

Only, he hadn’t anticipated...

Had he known that the brocade box, hastily sent to the Capital, contained several ingenious plans, he might have risked his son’s suspicion and wrath to intercept it.

He never expected that these few strategies would make his son value the woman so highly.

Commerce, agriculture, current politics...

Each was included, this woman possessing such great talent, outshining many a literati and strategist—indeed, it was humbling.

Not even Mr. Wen could betray his conscience to say that Miss Su was inferior to his daughter Qing Lian.

With such cunning and courage, paired with her breathtaking beauty, he truly worried she might become a formidable rival for his daughter.

But then he relaxed, reflecting that her married status wouldn’t provoke his son into a scandal of such magnitude.

Thanks to the Second Prince for driving such talent into his son’s camp.

Regardless of what others were thinking on the road, the carriage rocked and jostled, hurrying through the night, and finally arrived in the Capital after half a month’s journey.

At this time, Su Li had no idea there was a surprise waiting for her in the Capital.

Once Mr. Wen and the others entered the city gates, the carriage slowly made its way along the streets. Every so often, Su Li, sitting inside, could hear through the carriage frame people enthusiastically discussing the scandals and gossip of the Capital’s nobility.

"Hey, did you hear about last night...?"

"What a commotion, who wasn’t woken up by it..."

"I heard it from my cousin’s wife, she’s in service at the Second Prince’s residence. She said that last night, Miss Wen almost flipped the whole house upside down, all because the Second Prince slept with his personal maid."

"Does she have that much ability, that the Second Prince didn’t cut her down?"

"Well, it is said she’s quite favored."

"Even if she’s favored, she should not be arrogant about it. What’s it to a Prince if he sleeps with a maid..."

"But really, it’s said the Second Prince has good fortune. I heard the Eldest Prince sent ten beautiful girls to the Second Prince at once..."

Once she reached her lodging and stepped off the carriage, Mr. Wen saw her smiling warmly, "Miss Su, did you enjoy what you heard?"

"A small token of my master’s sincerity, I hope you will accept it."

The sordid affair between Su Li and Xuanyuan Jian, including Wen Rou, was something the Eldest Prince had thoroughly investigated.

Su Li scoffed internally, realizing these Princes really were all characters of questionable integrity.

It was clear that he wanted to annoy the other party and had picked ten girls with similar dispositions yet different appearances than Wen Rou to disgust Xuanyuan Jian. But when it came down to it, she still owed him a favor.

Su Li: "Then thank you for your young master’s kindness."

Mr. Wen: "Rather than thanking me, you should thank my young master in person when you see him."

Su Li, slightly taken aback: "Is your young master already here?"

Mr. Wen: "Indeed, if you please...."

No wonder Mr. Wen had such complex feelings toward Su Li. With the Eldest Prince’s impatient demeanor, he couldn’t help but be vigilant.

He wouldn’t look down on Miss Su’s identity as a woman like others. After all, his own daughter, concubine Qing Lian, was also a woman, yet she was in no way inferior to men.

Her strategic acumen and the schemes of the inner court were all superb, thus holding a significant place in the Eldest Prince’s heart. In the inner court, her word was law, and even the esteemed Princess had to keep a respectful distance.

Su Li nodded slightly, "Your young master is thoughtful indeed."

Passing through the artificial mountain and stone bridge, she saw a group of people gathering around a small pavilion by the lake amidst the verdant grass from afar.

An attractive man wearing a purple crown, tall and graceful, with a complexion like jade, was sitting and playing chess.

The others, whether holding fruit plates, tea cups, or fans, were all standing a few steps away from the pavilion.

"Young master, Miss Su has arrived,"

Mr. Wen said with a smile, striding toward the pavilion and standing behind the man.

The Eldest Prince Xuanyuan Baiqi looked up and admired, "What a world-class beauty."

Su Li approached slowly, not performing the femininely modest curtsey, but instead adopting the full demeanor of a strategist like Mr. Wen, "Young master flatters me, it is but a willow’s grace."

Xuanyuan Baiqi was greatly surprised by Su Li’s attitude, his eyes shining, "Miss Su need not be modest; a woman as extraordinary as you deserves my praise...."

"Miss Su, do your ideas have any structured procedure?"

After seeing Su Li, Xuanyuan Baiqi was briefly dazzled by her beauty but soon eagerly began to inquire about the bait that Miss Su Li had thrown out.

Seeing this, Mr. Wen finally felt half of the weight lifted from his heart.

Su Li smiled faintly, "Young master need not be impatient. Since I managed to mention it, it shows that these are all feasible, and I also have detailed rules and procedures. Let me explain them to you in detail."

Xuanyuan Baiqi could only force himself to suppress his eagerness, signaling to the attendants nearby with a wave of his hand, "You may all leave...."

No one knew what the three of them discussed that day; they were only aware that Xuanyuan Baiqi left in a hurry with his entourage in the evening, not returning home, but went straight to the Imperial Palace.

"Have you all seen clearly? Mr. Wen brought a woman into the Eldest Prince’s private residence and she hasn’t left yet?"

"Reporting to the Second Prince, I witnessed it with my own eyes; Mr. Wen treated that woman with exceptional regard."

"Did you see the woman’s face clearly? Whose family is she from?"

"I do not know; she should not be from the Capital. Mr. Wen only returned from outside the city today."

A thought suddenly sprang into Xuan Yuan Jian’s mind: It couldn’t be her, could it....

Before Xuan Yuan Jian could ask further, a servant cleaning the study ran over, his face filled with panic, "Young master, the lady has shattered the Red Jade Guanyin in your study..."

Xuan Yuan Jian, annoyed, stood up, "Who allowed you to let her in?"

Between the women in the mansion, Wen Rou was the one who had the biggest quarrel with him, and he had explained many times that those were gifts from others, which he couldn’t refuse.

He wouldn’t take it seriously with them himself; they were just some trinkets, so why make such a fuss?

Xuan Yuan Jian paced back and forth in the room, his head pounding. He rubbed his temples, not wanting to see Wen Rou at the moment, so he turned to a servant and asked, "Is Xue’er free now? I shall go sit with her."