Chapter 145: Jealousy

"Naturally not, Your Highness, please do as you please." Su Liluo also felt a spark of anger within her. She shrank back to the corner and closed her eyes, acting as though she had no desire to converse with Yun Yanyi.

"What? Miss Su, your temper is quite fiery. Do not forget our prior agreement; you must still frequent the brothel as usual, for the maidens there are waiting for you to instruct them." Reminded of a certain matter, Yun Yanyi said coldly. Seeing Su Liluo glare at him, he became all the more determined not to let her have her way in peace.

"No, this is a particularly sensitive time. If anyone were to see me, I would be finished." Su Liluo was deeply reluctant. Having just been through the ordeal with Yanhong, if someone else were to uncover evidence, she would truly be left without a burial place. Furthermore, since Yun Yanyi disliked her, he certainly would not assist her.

Su Liluo had already made up her mind. Sensing Yun Yanyi's expression growing increasingly dark, she felt a trace of fear, yet she refused to yield. As long as she simply endured his cold stares, she would be safe; to agree to his terms, however, would cost her her life.

"You truly refuse to go?" Yun Yanyi's voice turned somewhat chilly. Su Liluo kept her eyes shut and shook her head vigorously. "I will not go." These were the only two words she managed to force out between clenched teeth. Feeling the atmosphere inside the carriage grow increasingly frigid, she could only softly comfort herself inwardly: *Hold on. There is nothing he can truly do to you. Absolutely do not give in.*

"Very well. It seems Miss Su has forgotten the source of your wealth. I shall retract the dividends from the brothel, and since Miss Su likely no longer wishes to keep Xuexiu open, perhaps it would be best to shut its doors as well." Yun Yanyi leaned back against the carriage, his casual words startling Su Liluo so much she nearly leaped up.

"No, no, Your Highness! It was just Liluo's fault a moment ago. Your Highness, those funds cannot be withdrawn! Without them, how is Liluo to survive?" The brothel's earnings were one thing, but Xuexiu was her own painstaking creation; how could she simply close it on a whim? This Yun Yanyi truly knew how to strike at her weakest point. Su Liluo wore a bitter expression, terrified that Yun Yanyi would make a final decision, leaving no room for reversal.

"Weren't you quite unyielding just a moment ago, Miss Su? How is it that you are pleading for mercy now?" Yun Yanyi's words carried a heavy trace of mockery. Realizing that her previous tone had been overly aggressive and provoked his anger, she softened her voice and pleaded, "Your Highness, Liluo was in the wrong. I should not have opposed Your Highness just now, but I was truly afraid. If anyone were to see me, I really would lose my life."

"The brothel requires profits. If you do not go, revenues will decline, and what talk can there be of dividend payouts? I told you before, if you cause my earnings to decrease, I will not spare you easily. It seems you have cast that warning to the winds." Yun Yanyi pressed her relentlessly, driving Su Liluo to the verge of tears. Suddenly, a brilliant idea flashed through her mind, and she hurriedly spoke, "Your Highness, I can write scripts for theatrical performances! I assure you, that will make the brothel immensely popular."

Just as Yun Yanyi was about to speak, Su Liluo feared he would stubbornly force her to go in person, so she quickly patted her chest and assured him, "Anyone can oversee the staging; it does not have to be me in person. As long as I write the scripts, will Your Highness please be accommodating?"

"Since that is the case, very well. When we return, I expect to receive the scripts within three days, and you will be excused from going to oversee the performances." Yun Yanyi's words allowed Su Liluo to let out a breath of relief. She wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, marveling at how formidable he was to force her into a compromise.

At that moment, his mood was exceptionally pleasant. The inner thoughts hidden deep within his heart were entirely beyond Su Liluo's reach; he had merely used the brothel as a pretext to teach her a lesson. The profits generated by the establishment had not decreased in the slightest—they were growing daily. Only a foolish girl like her would have fallen for it so easily. The more Yun Yanyi thought about it, the happier he felt, and the smile at the corner of his lips became impossible to contain.

***

Bai Yingnan had been riding alongside the carriage the entire time. Hearing the voices of a man and a woman from within, she felt a surge of disgust and wanted to interrupt them. Princess Anping immediately rode up on her horse and asked, "County Princess, what are you doing?"

"Nothing. This Princess merely wished to inquire whether His Highness has rested sufficiently." At the thought of Su Liluo and Yun Yanyi lingering alone together, the jealousy within her threatened to consume her heart. Princess Anping also caught the sound of voices from inside the carriage and thought to herself that Sister Liluo and Prince Yi seemed to be conversing quite congenially.

Looking at the needlessly meddlesome Bai Yingnan, Princess Anping rolled her eyes. "County Princess, you truly worry too much. Prince Yi's body belongs to him; naturally, he will come out whenever he feels better. Surely the County Princess does not expect to make decisions on his behalf? What a joke." Unwilling to exchange any further words with her, Princess Anping turned her horse toward the other side, looking out at the scenery along the return journey, her mood considerably lightened.

With a cold face, Bai Yingnan listened to the murmurs coming from the carriage, gripping her riding crop tightly as she fell into deep thought: *Since when has Su Liluo grown so close to Prince Yi? What on earth is going on between the two of them?*

Unable to find an answer immediately, she had no choice but to suppress the churning thoughts in her heart, waiting for Yun Yanyi to emerge so she could ride back to the capital in his company.

It was not until they passed through the city gates that Yun Yanyi finally emerged. A servant led a horse to his side, and after mounting with a fluid motion, Yun Yanyi instructed the coachman, "See that Miss Su is safely returned to her manor."

Then, turning his gaze toward Princess Anping, he said, "County Princess, I gave my word to the Heir. Let us go; I shall escort you back to the Prince of Anan's Estate."

Completely ignored, Bai Yingnan could only offer a soft reminder, "Your Highness, what about me?"

"Does the County Princess lack hands and feet?" As soon as these words left his lips, the atmosphere instantly turned awkward. Princess Anping could not hold back and let out a chuckle, causing Bai Yingnan to flush with anger and shame. "Anping, try laughing again!"

With so many people watching, Princess Anping promptly covered her mouth with her hand, though her shoulders continued to tremble. Though she made no sound, everyone present knew she was still laughing. Furious to the point of turning crimson, Bai Yingnan longed to lash out with her riding crop just to see if the girl would dare continue to show her such disrespect.

"Your Highness, why will you not escort me to my manor's gates as well? I am just as delicate a maiden as Anping." Bai Yingnan was so angry she was on the verge of tears. Could it be that Anping had caught his eye as well?

"County Princess, spare me the jests. I gave my word to the Heir that I would deliver Anping safely to the Prince's Estate. The County Princess has retainers by her side, so no harm will come to you. Anping, let us go." It was rare for Yun Yanyi to offer such a lengthy explanation. Princess Anping shot Bai Yingnan a triumphant, provocative look, while Bai Yingnan bit down hard on her lower lip, terrified that she might give in to her impulse and strike down the little hussy before her eyes.

***

Upon returning to the Prime Minister's Manor, Su Liluo was overcome with a lingering sense of having been away for a lifetime. Her first task upon returning was to pay her respects to the Dowager Lady Su. "Liluo pays her respects to Grandmother."

"You are back. Sit down. You must be weary from the journey in the carriage." Dowager Lady Su's expression was somewhat poor. With a hint of puzzlement, Su Liluo asked, "What has happened to Grandmother? Could it be that something occurred within the manor?"

Having been away for a full month, it was normal for certain events to have transpired. Interest piqued, Su Liluo found her energy fully restored the moment she stepped foot back into the Prime Minister's Estate; she was nothing like the leisurely person she had been at the rural villa, precisely because here, there were always those scheming to strip her of her position.

"Nothing of consequence. Go and see your mother, and then return to your courtyard. In two days, your third younger sister is to be wed. Although there will be no grand celebrations, the manor is bound to be somewhat noisy, so you must be vigilant," Dowager Lady Su instructed Su Liluo with rare earnestness, prompting the girl to nod repeatedly in assent. "Liluo understands. Grandmother need not worry. I shall go and pay my respects to Mother now."

Su Liluo then made her way to Yao Ruoshui's courtyard. The woman wore an air of boundless festivity, as though it were her own biological daughter being married off. She did not overly trouble Su Liluo, merely exchanging a few brief words before dismissing her.

Once back in her own quarters, Su Liluo finally had a moment of leisure. She summoned Nanny Chang to her side to unravel all the questions churning within her mind. "Nanny, do you know why Third Younger Sister is suddenly to be wed in such a hasty manner? And what of her dowry..."

Su Liluo patted her own forehead, feeling that her mind had grown muddled. If something major had occurred, how could anyone even spare a thought for a dowry? Could it be related to that incident before she left for the villa? It seemed Yao Ruoshui had finally made her move.

"This old servant does not know either. Third Young Miss's marriage was arranged quite hastily, and the atmosphere in the manor these past few days has been somewhat heavy. Eldest Young Miss would do well to keep to herself for a time," Nanny Chang warned cautiously.