Chapter 9: Speculations on the Marriage

Chapter 009: Speculations on the Marriage

Qin Zi'er kept her head lowered. When she had spoken just now, her expression had been nervous, flustered, and tinged with cowardice. Prince Ding should not suspect anything; at most, he would assume she was worried about being implicated by the assassin, which was why she had spoken so hastily to prove her innocence.

Everyone was waiting in the courtyard. Since Prince Ding remained silent, no one dared to speak. Even Qin Guangze did not dare suggest moving to the front courtyard to wait.

It wasn't that he didn't want to propose going to the front hall, but after glancing at Prince Ding’s expression and those eyes that betrayed no emotion, Qin Guangze chose to remain silent, even though his feet were numb from standing.

Fuliu Courtyard was Qin Zi'er’s residence. Not only was it small, but it was also somewhat dilapidated. It was crowded just standing in the courtyard, let alone going to the front hall for tea.

"Prime Minister Qin is truly incorruptible. The residence of the Prime Minister’s daughter is quite secluded."

No one expected Prince Ding to say such a thing. The crowd was practically shocked, all staring at Prince Ding in unison. Was Prince Ding trying to help the eldest Miss Qin?

Could it be that Prince Ding had taken a fancy to the Prime Minister’s daughter? Otherwise, why would he say something like that? Although, on the surface, it sounded like Prince Ding was praising the Prime Minister, everyone present knew the cold mockery hidden in his words.

For a dignified daughter of the Prime Minister to live in such a courtyard was indeed unjustifiable. Some even began to suspect that the current Madame Qin was mistreating the daughter of the first wife.

Everyone knew the eldest Miss of the Prime Minister’s residence was the legitimate eldest daughter. Even if they hadn't seen Qin Zi'er before, they had just heard the second and third Misses of the Prime Minister’s residence call her "elder sister."

Prime Minister Qin’s face turned from green to white, looking exceptionally unsightly. He cast a cold glance at Madame Zhang. The management of the household was in Madame Zhang’s hands. Madame Zhang had arranged this courtyard for Qin Zi'er, and in the past, Qin Guangze couldn't be bothered with such trifles. But now that Prince Ding had said such things in front of so many people, wasn't he slapping his face hard?

His face had been completely lost because of Madame Zhang.

"Elder sister prefers peace and quiet. The Qingfeng Pavilion at the front was originally elder sister’s courtyard, but elder sister’s health is not very good, and she felt that Qingfeng Pavilion was not as quiet as Fuliu Courtyard, so she moved here."

Qin Mingzhu also harbored resentment toward her mother. She had told her mother back then not to let Qin Zi'er live here, but her mother wouldn't listen, always thinking of suppressing Qin Zi'er in this way.

Now that Prince Ding had said those words in front of so many people, there was no need to wait until tomorrow; the entire capital would be filled with gossip.

"Does Prince Su also think this place is suitable for the eldest Miss Qin?"

Everyone turned to look at Prince Su. Although many had never seen the eldest Miss of the Prime Minister’s residence, everyone knew about the engagement between her and Prince Su. Now that Prince Ding had brought it up, everyone wanted to know how Prince Su would respond.

Prince Su had never mentioned breaking off the engagement with the eldest Miss Qin, but he had never shown the slightest bit of concern or care for her either, as if she had nothing to do with him at all. Just like a moment ago, when he saw her, he didn't even glance at her.

In truth, everyone felt that Prince Su would certainly not marry the eldest Miss Qin. Who in the capital didn't know that the eldest Miss Qin lacked both talent and beauty and was simply unworthy of Prince Su? The engagement between Prince Su and the eldest Miss Qin had been arranged by the former Madame Qin and Consort Ye. At the time, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Prime Minister was a match for a prince, and Consort Ye was not favored, with her family’s highest-ranking official being only a fourth-rank official. Forming an alliance with the Prime Minister’s residence was an excellent marriage for both Consort Ye and the then-Fourth Prince, now Prince Su.

However, the current Consort Ye was one of the Four Consorts, and her father had been enfeoffed as the Duke of Ning for saving the Emperor’s life. The Ye family had become the new elite of the capital, while the eldest Miss Qin was the least favored daughter of the Prime Minister’s residence, possessing neither talent nor beauty. How could she still be worthy of Prince Su?

But this was only everyone’s speculation; no one had ever heard Prince Su or Consort Ye express the slightest dissatisfaction with the eldest Miss Qin. This marriage was truly a mystery, leaving everyone unable to guess the thoughts of Consort Ye and Prince Su.