Then Can You Disobey the Imperial Edict?

"Haha, of course not! Sister Ruoxi, you must have had a tiring journey. Let Eldest Sister and me bring you to get some rest! Father is still in the imperial court and has yet to come back. When he comes back and hears of your return, he would be ecstatic!" Su Ruolin replied awkwardly.

"That's right. Ruoqi and Ruolin, the two of you, quickly, bring Xi-er to get some rest. Find someone to clear out the Jade Garden for Xi-er to stay in!" Lin Yue ordered enthusiastically after composing herself slightly.

Hearing that, Su Ruoxi did not say anything and only observed the gleam in their eyes. It seemed like these people were planning to do something bad…

Their attitude toward her had unexpectedly changed so drastically. However, as the saying goes, there must be something strange when things were going the wrong way…

Since they wanted to play with her, then she should not refuse! She would like to see what exactly these three women were plotting…

Su Ruoxi did not voice out any objection and followed the pair of sisters—Su Ruoqi and Su Ruolin—to the Jade Garden, where honored guests were received in the Prince's mansion…

Su Ruoqi and Su Ruolin even purposefully sent many of their own servant girls to wait on Su Ruoxi and her companions, just in case 'other' servant girls were unable to please them…

Su Ruoxi only smiled without commenting. No matter what they were playing at, it was fine with her. Even if all the shadow guards in the Prince's mansion were sent to keep a close watch on her, no one could stop her from leaving if she wanted to, let alone these few servant girls…

Mo Lian waited until Su Ruoqi and her sister had left before she opened her mouth and asked, "Master, these people are so hospitable to you all of a sudden. They must have ulterior motives, right?"

"It's alright, we will just deal with whatever comes our way! Since they wish to play with me, then I shall grant them their wish since I have nothing better to do!" Su Ruoxi said indifferently.

"Master, should we let Ye go and find out what exactly they are plotting?" Mo Lian asked after a moment of thought.

"That's not a bad idea too. Alright, go ahead!" Su Ruoxi nodded after thinking about Mo Lian's suggestion.

She did not mind playing with them, but she had returned to the Prince's mansion for some serious business. She did not want to waste too much time on them…

She had always been lazy and didn't like to drag things on. If it wasn't because she wanted to find Sister Ruomeng and investigate the matter regarding the poison in her baby's body, she wouldn't have bothered to return…

In the study of Prince Su's mansion.

Every day, after Su Yunqi returned, he would always head directly to his study to work…

"Prince, your tea!" the Second Madam, Lin Yue, said as she walked in while carrying a tray of freshly brewed tea.

"Yue-er, why are you here? You can just leave these things to the servant girls!" Su Yunqi commented upon seeing Lin Yue, as his expression softened.

"It's ok. I was tired of being idle anyway. Also, I am here to tell you something, Prince," Lin Yue replied with a flirtatious smile.

"You are here to talk about the matter regarding Ruolin, right? In the morning, I already mentioned this to the Emperor at the imperial court, but the Emperor said that from what the Empress Dowager saw in her dream, the Crown Prince's wife has to be a daughter from the Su's mansion! Sigh, I am unwilling to let Ruolin marry the Crown Prince too, but we can't disobey the Emperor's command!" Su Yunqi said with some resignation.

He loved both his daughters dearly, especially for his little daughter Su Ruolin, who was gifted in alchemy, which made him adore her even more…

"Prince, I know that we can't disobey the Emperor's command! However, someone came to the Prince's mansion today, which gave me an idea!" Lin Yue said softly, while she poured a cup of tea for Su Yunqi.

"Oh? You have an idea? Let's hear it…" Su Yunqi put down the pen in his hand. He looked at Lin Yue and inquired curiously.

"Prince, do you still remember Xi-er?" Lin Yue questioned tentatively.

"Why do you mention her? Didn't she die six years ago?" Su Yunqi answered. His expression turning dark at the mention of her.

Every time someone mentioned this good-for-nothing, he would be reminded of that woman. If it wasn't for that woman, he would not have to let Yue-er and his missing son, whom he still had no news of, go through so much hardships all this while…

"Prince, I know you are doing this for my own good! It's just a title. I don't mind it at all. As long as I can be with you, Prince, it is enough for me!" Lin Yue professed as she leaned on Su Yunqi's chest.

"I have troubled you, Yue-er!" Su Yunqi whispered gently while patting Lin Yue's back.

"Prince, six years ago, Xi-er had already… That's why I think the woman that came today may be an impersonator!" Lin Yue continued.

"What? Someone actually impersonated that good-for-nothing?" Su Yunqi asked after hearing what she said, feeling somewhat displeased.

"Prince, just hear me out first. Today, a woman brought along a child and claimed that she was Xi-er. Even though she looks exactly like Xi-er, Xi-er couldn't cultivate ever since she was a child and was a fool. Moreover, six years ago Xi-er… How can it be possible for her to return with a child all of a sudden? That's why I believe that the woman must be an impersonator! However, I let her stay here because of our Ruolin…" Lin Yue said cautiously while observing Su Yunqi's expression.

Su Yunqi looked somewhat furious at first, but after hearing the latter part, he began to look somewhat confused. Hence, he asked inquisitively, "Yue-er, what has this got to do with Ruolin?"

"Prince, could it be that you want Ruolin to marry that fool of a Crown Prince?"

"Of course not!"

"Then can you disobey the imperial edict?"

"Well, no…"

"I knew it. That's why I let that woman stay! This way, she can replace Ruolin and marry the Crown Prince. Then our Ruolin will not have to become the Crown Princess as the wife of a fool, right?" Lin Yue smiled.

"Yue-er, how can we do this? Isn't this an act of deceit toward the Emperor?" Su Yunqi exclaimed in shock upon hearing Lin Yue's words.

"Prince, didn't you just say that the Empress only requested for a daughter from Su's mansion? Moreover, Xi-er is still a legitimate daughter of Su's mansion, isn't it? In the past, Xi-er was a good-for-nothing and a fool. If we let her marry the Crown Prince, it may be an act of deceit toward the Emperor. However, this imposter impersonating Xi-er is not only beautiful and not foolish, she is also not a good-for-nothing! When the moment comes, we just have to let her enter the bridal sedan chair in place of Ruolin. When what's done is done, I believe that the Emperor and Empress will not blame us even if they found out what has happened!" Lin Yue explained slowly.

Hearing that, Su Yunqi remained silent…

Lin Yue did not disturb him. She believed that since the Prince adored Ruolin so much, he would definitely agree…

Sure enough, after a long moment of silence, Su Yunqi raised his head and said, "Alright, I will leave this matter to you! But didn't you say that she has a child too? You must handle this matter properly, and don't cause any trouble! Since she dared to impersonate a person from my mansion, she should feel fortunate that I did not kill her, but instead, gave her the position of a Crown Princess for nothing. I hope she knows how to be grateful and not fail to see what's good for her!"

"Alright, please rest assured, Prince! I know what to do with a woman accompanied by a child!" Lin Yue promised, feeling relieved after seeing that Su Yunqi had agreed.

Outside the window, a shadowy figure left quietly after hearing the conversation between the two of them…

At Jade Garden.

"Master, this is preposterous! I shall go and kill these three shameless women now!" Mo Lian seethed in anger after hearing Mo Ye's recount.

"Haha, and I was thinking why these three women suddenly changed their attitude toward me today! It turns out that they were plotting such a scheme! Very well, very well indeed ah…" Su Ruoxi smiled.

She knew that something was wrong with their attitude today. She did not expect that they would scheme against her. However, Su Ruoxi also thought that Lin Yue's scheme was somewhat laudable…