Chapter 26: A Daughter Wins the World, a Beautiful Temptation

In the blink of an eye, the group from the Luo manor burst in. Leading them was a maid dressed in yellow. Her appearance was unremarkable, yet she was far more refined than the locals in this small village. Throughout the journey, even though she traveled by sedan chair, she drew many lecherous gazes.

In this dilapidated little town, seeing so many women was a stroke of fortune for any lecherous man!

"Sister Cai'er, does the Third Young Miss really live here?" asked a woman walking behind the maid in yellow.

Could people even live in such a place?

The maid in yellow rolled her eyes and sneered, "Our Third Young Miss caused such a massive disaster back then. If it weren't for the Master and Mistress's kindness in sparing her life, it’s a question whether she’d even be alive today. Living here is already a mercy!"

Upon arriving at the destination, the maid in yellow walked straight into Luo Qianfan’s room without a second thought.

*Bang.*

A thunderous noise erupted. The door was kicked open violently.

Before the maid in yellow could enter, she saw a cold, stern-faced youth standing there—it was Luo Yi.

The others behind her caught sight of him as well, and a faint blush inexplicably rose to their faces. What a handsome young man!

But wait, this was Luo Qianfan’s boudoir; why was a man here?

Just as Cai'er was pondering this, a clear, smiling voice drifted over from behind them.

"My, my. Does the dignified Luo manor lack such basic manners?" The woman curled her lips in a mocking smile. "Logically speaking, I am the mistress and you are the servants. Yet, you barge into a mistress's room so brazenly. Tell me, has it only been a short while since I left, or have you all forgotten your place?"

As she finished speaking, Luo Qianfan stepped into their view, standing tall and solitary.

The hearts of the group instantly sank to the depths. Looking at the familiar yet distant face before them, they couldn't help but feel a wave of fear.

Right, this was the Third Young Miss. Even at her worst, she was still a legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s residence. While the manor might ignore her living conditions abroad, she was not someone they could bully at will; after all, it concerned the reputation of the Prime Minister's residence...

Moreover, the Third Young Miss of the past was not someone to be trifled with!

And who knew what she was like now...

The women trailing behind the maid in yellow observed Luo Qianfan in silence, their resolve beginning to waver.

The lead maid, Cai'er, hesitated for a few seconds. But then she reconsidered: so what if she was the Third Young Miss? The Fourth Young Miss had the manor under her thumb; what kind of trouble could a Third Young Miss, discarded in a mountain ravine, possibly stir up?

She hadn't been able to defeat the Fourth Young Miss back when she was in the manor, so she was likely even more withered now. After living in this mountain ditch for a few years, she must be unaccustomed to everything; she would probably be begging to be taken back soon enough.

With this thought, the maid in yellow regained her courage. She shouted directly at Luo Qianfan, "Third Young Miss, we respect you because you are a daughter of the Prime Minister’s residence, but you caused the manor to lose all face and become a laughingstock for everyone."

"Don't talk about how you’ve been cast out. Even if you were still in the manor, do you think you could still act as recklessly as you did in the capital?" Her tone was dripping with sarcasm, lacking any shred of a servant's duty.

Seeing that Luo Qianfan’s expression remained unmoved, the maid in yellow assumed she was afraid and became even more arrogant. She snorted coldly, two faint streams of air puffing from her delicate nostrils.

So much for her having any real talent—she was just bluffing. It figured; how impressive could she possibly be in this state?

"To tell you the truth, we aren't bringing you back to enjoy life..." the maid in yellow trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.

Luo Qianfan watched the arrogant woman before her, the smile on her lips deepening!

With a sudden pivot, Luo Qianfan darted through the crowd like a phantom. Before anyone could react, she raised her foot and kicked Cai'er squarely in the backside.

Cai'er felt the world go dark, and Luo Qianfan’s figure vanished from her sight.

Then came a violent crash!

The table, already old and dilapidated, splintered instantly under the force of the kick, taking several nearby shelves down with it. Cai'er was left half-unconscious, only a flicker of weak awareness forcing her to stay awake.

Luo Qianfan’s sudden show of force left everyone stunned!

"Th-Third Young Miss?" another maid stammered, unable to finish her sentence.

Luo Qianfan didn't even spare them a glance, keeping her eyes fixed on Cai'er, considering how to dispose of this woman.

"Oh?" The young girl tilted her head, a beam of light catching her clear, bright eyes, which were as bottomless as the dark abyss. She let out a low chuckle. "Why don't you tell me, what does the Prime Minister want with this 'laughingstock daughter'?"

The maid in yellow felt a sudden shudder in her heart.

...

Far away, at the Prime Minister’s residence.

"I wonder if Fourth Sister has heard? Third Sister is coming back. Father has already sent people to fetch her; I expect she’ll arrive before long."

In a room decorated in shades of pink, a woman in a pale blue dress stood looking joyous, speaking as if in casual conversation. Beside her sat a girl in a pink dress with a doll-like face and a beauty mark between her brows. She looked only twelve or thirteen, but if she grew into her features, she would surely be a beauty of the first order.

"Yes, Fourth Sister. That woman has been sent away for so many years; I wonder if she has changed. I only hope she doesn't cause any more trouble to bring shame upon the manor."

*Pfft*, returning! As if she could ever come back!

Another woman in the room chimed in with spiteful additions. This was Luo Xiang'er, the Sixth Young Miss, born to a concubine. She had no real talent, only a knack for sowing discord. She and the Second Young Miss, Luo Yunyun, who had spoken first, were the perfect "partners in crime."

A brief silence fell over the room.

After a moment, the girl sitting down slowly raised her head. Her fair hands gripped both ends of a whip. With her chin held high and a languid expression, she said, "Second Sister and Sixth Sister are overthinking this. 'Third Sister' is, after all, a daughter of the Prime Minister’s residence; it is only normal for her to return."

"Father must miss Third Sister, which is why he sent for her. Second Sister and Sixth Sister, don't complain—we are all sisters. Even if Third Sister did something to wrong you in the past, for my sake, let it go this time."

Luo Yuhuan spoke in a soft, gentle voice that would melt anyone’s heart. Yet, in that room, not one of the three was a kind soul.

While the two women didn't speak against Luo Yuhuan on the surface, they were cursing her internally. All this talk of kindness and magnanimity—it was all an act.

Who didn't know that Luo Qianfan and Luo Yuhuan had been the fiercest of rivals? Especially now that the latter had snatched away the man the former loved.

The Crown Prince was the man Luo Qianfan had set her heart on seven years ago, yet now he was Luo Yuhuan’s fiancé. How could one ever forgive the theft of a husband?

The smile at the corner of Luo Yuhuan’s eyes slowly faded.

She didn't need to guess what these so-called sisters were thinking. They all wanted to use her as the spearhead. Did they really think she was that stupid?

The Prime Minister’s residence was a sprawling estate with many concubines; there was no shortage of schemes from these sisters. Others might not know the reason, but she knew exactly why her father and mother were bringing that woman back.

She had heard every word of her parents' conversation in the study that day.

Rumor had it that in a corner of the Southwest of the Fengyue Kingdom, there existed a woman of peerless beauty, possessing the talent to win battles from a thousand miles away. She was a woman of unparalleled grace, and whoever possessed her would possess the world! She was the "Daughter of Destiny!"

What a joke. Just because of a rumor, they were bringing that woman back. Even if such a person existed, it certainly wouldn't be Luo Qianfan.

Peerless grace? Unparalleled? Luo Qianfan didn't deserve such titles; everyone knew she was nothing but a concubine's daughter.

Luo Yuhuan’s cold eyes grew increasingly vicious, startling the girl beside her into stiffening. What was wrong with her? Was there a hidden agenda behind Luo Qianfan’s return? Luo Yunyun’s beautiful eyes furrowed.

Lost in her own jealousy and resentment, Luo Yuhuan gripped the silver-white dragon whip in her hand so tightly that faint cracks began to appear on the weapon, which was usually considered indestructible.

*Hmph, Luo Qianfan!* She had thought that since she was gone, their past grievances would be settled. But since she was coming back, then everything would have to be recalculated.

I hope you can hold out for a while, Luo Qianfan!

The girl beside Luo Yuhuan bit her lip, looking unwilling. She had hoped to use this opportunity to make Luo Yuhuan hate Luo Qianfan so she would teach her a lesson upon her return. She hadn't expected Luo Yuhuan to remain indifferent, appearing as if she actually welcomed the woman back.

She was baffled. But then she thought, if she lost Luo Yuhuan’s support, things would be difficult. After all, a starving camel is still larger than a horse.

No matter how low Luo Qianfan had fallen, the methods she used back then had once shaken the entire Fengyue Kingdom.

"Fourth Sister is right. Third Sister’s status is what it is; in that case, it was my fault for speaking out of turn," Luo Xiang'er said with a look of sincerity. Suddenly, a thought struck her, and a flash of joy crossed her face.

"By the way, I heard the Black Market recently acquired a high-level medicinal pill—it seems to be the long-lost Beauty-Preserving Pill. Every house is secretly inquiring, hoping to win it. Even the Empress has taken an interest and sent several groups to the Black Market to pull strings, hoping to secure the pill."

No sooner had Luo Xiang'er finished speaking than another voice chimed in:

"Who in the Six Kingdoms of the Nine Provinces doesn't know that the Beauty-Preserving Pill is a high-level treasure? You never even see them in ordinary times, let alone at auction. Of course, it will be highly sought after. But the price..." Luo Yunyun bit her lip, looking troubled, and lowered her head.

The two were singing from the same hymn sheet, clearly intending to pique Luo Yuhuan’s interest in the pill.

This time, they succeeded. After all, no woman could resist the temptation of beauty.

"What of it? It’s just a Beauty-Preserving Pill. If it’s as miraculous as they say, it should belong to me." Luo Yuhuan looked at the silver whip in her hand, a smile curling her lips.

If she consumed this pill, Prince Brother would surely be even more captivated, and her entry into the Eastern Palace would be all the sooner.

Luo Yuhuan gently stroked her cheek with her fair hand, her posture one of absolute certainty.

The Beauty-Preserving Pill? It was hers!

Not just the pill, but Prince Brother as well—in the end, everything would belong to her, Luo Yuhuan. That concubine’s daughter, Luo Qianfan, was destined to lose against her.

It was known throughout the Fengyue Kingdom that Luo Qianfan adored the Crown Prince, and it was known across all Six Kingdoms of the Nine Provinces that the Crown Prince loathed Luo Qianfan.

Only Luo Qianfan didn't know. Or perhaps she did, but simply refused to give up.

But Luo Yuhuan would not wait for her.

Luo Xiang'er and Luo Yunyun exchanged a glance, a flash of triumph crossing both their eyes. As long as Luo Yuhuan obtained the Beauty-Preserving Pill, they would have a chance to get a small share of it themselves.

Even if they couldn't compare to Luo Yuhuan, they would still be able to crush most of the other noble young ladies. After all, the Prime Minister’s residence would never turn away an extra talented daughter.