Chapter Eighty-Eight: Whom to Help

Soon afterward, the young heir of South Peace and the Princess of South Peace also arrived. When Su Lili saw the Princess of South Peace, she was delighted. "Your Highness, you have come. Please, do come inside."

"Lili, I have specially come today to congratulate you." The heir of South Peace and the princess handed their gifts to her. Su Lili smiled again and again. "Thank you, Your Highness. Please go in at once. Xuan'er, take these honored guests inside."

Seeing that Su Dongxuan stood at the doorway with some unease, Su Lili understood at once and seized the chance to let her stay inside, where she might also meet more people.

Su Dongxuan gratefully said, "Thank you, eldest sister," and then led the two honored guests from the House of South Peace into the inner hall.

"The princess has arrived!" Su Lili was still wondering which princess it might be. When she saw the newcomer, she was astonished, but quickly stepped forward. "Lili greets Your Highness."

"Mm." Bai Yingnan cast Su Lili a cold glance, then went straight inside. Upon seeing Yun Yanyi, she immediately brightened and hurried toward him.

Xuexiu was crowded with noble and powerful guests. At the entrance, a lion dance troupe performed, and children in the street kept circling and making a racket, turning the whole place into a scene of lively bustle.

Seeing that nearly everyone had arrived, Su Lili entrusted the shop to the manager and went in to receive the guests. After Su Baihan saw Yun Yanyi, she glued herself to his side, occasionally finding some topic to bring up. With the Fifth Prince standing beside Yun Yanyi as well, Su Baihan's eyes shone even brighter. She was unwilling to give up either man, speaking in a coy, bashful manner.

Bai Yingnan made straight for Yun Yanyi, her whole heart and eyes filled with the man before her. "Your Highness, how is it that you have time to come today?"

Su Baihan interjected, "What business is it of the princess where the prince goes?"

Yun Yanyi immediately replied, "Miss Su speaks truly. As a woman, the princess should not be prying into my whereabouts."

His words were tactful, yet every sentence favored Su Baihan, making her smile with proud delight.

Bai Yingnan was never one to endure slights, especially not when facing Su Baihan. She snapped, "What status do you have? How dare you interrupt when I am speaking with the prince? Step back at once."

Su Baihan was about to explain her own standing when Bai Yingnan went on in a mocking tone. "Oh? Could it be that Miss Su has set her sights on something she should not? One must know that there are some people your kind of status has no business longing for. You would do well to put an end to those ugly thoughts early, lest you blame me for being unkind."

Bai Yingnan glared at Su Baihan with jealous displeasure. Truly, she was of the Su family—just as detestable as the rest. To think she dared try to steal my man.

Humiliated by Bai Yingnan's ridicule, Su Baihan looked tearfully toward Yun Yanyi and called out, "Your Highness..."

But Yun Yanyi remained unmoved. He merely turned his gaze aside, showing not the slightest pity for Su Baihan.

Su Lili came over and saw that Su Baihan had offended the princess. She hurried to plead for her. "Your Highness, Fourth Sister did not mean it. I beg you to be generous and forgive her this once."

Bai Yingnan looked at Su Lili and lifted her chin proudly. "This princess is very angry. Does the eldest Miss Su think that a simple plea will make me spare her? You are taking me far too lightly."

Su Lili still wanted to explain further, but Bai Yingnan had already ordered Su Baihan, "It is not impossible to forgive you. Today you will stay by my side and serve me like a maid. If I am satisfied, I may pardon your earlier rudeness. How about it?"

Su Baihan looked toward Yun Yanyi in grievance. "Your Highness, the princess..."

Su Lili immediately scolded, "Han'er, hurry and do as the princess says. Unless you want to be scolded again?" She lowered her voice for the last sentence beside Su Baihan's ear.

Su Baihan was entirely ungrateful. Instead, she pointed at Su Lili and accused her, "Su Lili, you cannot bear to see me doing well. You are deliberately teaming up with the princess to deal with me. I simply will not!"

Su Lili only wanted to keep the peace. Besides, with Bai Yingnan's rank as princess, neither of them could afford to offend her now. Since they had no choice but to follow the princess's wishes, and Su Baihan was being so stubborn that she refused to yield, Su Lili could only shake her head and stop persuading her.

Seeing Su Baihan continue her outburst, Yun Yanyi gave a cold snort. "Miss Su seems full of vigor. Since the princess says she wants you to serve her, it is your good fortune. Why are you not quickly standing by the princess's side?"

Su Baihan stood rooted in place, staring at Yun Yanyi in disbelief. "Your Highness, you are not..." on my side?

Before she could finish, Yun Yanyi gave a gentle smile, and she burst into even more miserable tears. "Miss Su, I cannot abide women crying. If you do not stop, and I grow itchy-handed in a moment, you must not blame me for leaving a cut on you."

His words carried half a threat. Su Baihan trembled all over and hurriedly covered her mouth with both hands. She did not dare make another sound, fearing that Yun Yanyi would truly take her as a target.

Yun Yanyi, seeing that the noisy clamor had finally ceased, stood contentedly to one side. Bai Yingnan sneered. "Wasn't Miss Su very bold just now? Why are you so frightened now that you dare not utter a word?"

Seeing Su Baihan standing there in a daze, Su Lili knew Bai Yingnan would gladly watch the spectacle a while longer. Looking at Su Baihan's shameful lack of composure, she smiled with derision at the corners of her mouth.

Su Lili immediately called for a maid. "Quickly help Fourth Miss to the back. The front is crowded and chaotic. Let her rest properly for a while."

Seeing that she had lost the entertainment, Bai Yingnan merely let out a soft huff. Then she shifted her attention back to Yun Yanyi and spoke to him with coy shyness. Even if he might not answer a single sentence out of ten, Bai Yingnan did not seem the least bit discouraged.

Yun Yanyi saw that Su Lili was too busy to manage everything, and the shop was bustling beyond measure. After greeting her, he prepared to leave. Bai Yingnan followed close behind, saying, "Since Your Highness is leaving, then I shall go as well."

Su Lili quickly smiled. "Why should Your Highness leave so soon after just arriving? Your Highness is a man, after all, but surely the princess is interested in the wares here in Xuexiu? Allow me to introduce them to Your Highness. This one is..." She pointed from one item to another, carefully explaining each to Bai Yingnan.

But Bai Yingnan saw that Yun Yanyi had already headed for the door. How could she have the mind to listen to Su Lili? She was about to hurry after him when Su Lili stopped her and asked cautiously, "What is the matter, Your Highness? These things are quite useful for women. Why not buy some to take back and try them? Then you will know."

Bai Yingnan was burning with irritation. Seeing Su Lili prattling on without end, she could only take out several silver notes and stuff them into Su Lili's arms. "I am buying all of these. Have them sent to my residence. Do not keep pestering me."

Seeing that Yun Yanyi had already stepped outside, Bai Yingnan immediately lifted her skirts and chased after him.

Su Lili curved her lips in a sly smile and counted the silver notes in her arms before walking toward the manager. "Quickly, the princess has just bought many things. Put the money on the account, and send someone to the princess's residence today."

The manager took them and promptly recorded the sale. Su Lili had just completed a transaction, and her mood was excellent, when Su Dongxuan came running over in a hurry, panting. "Elder sister, Fourth Sister has started making trouble in the back courtyard. Please go take a look."