Chapter 98: A Spectacle to Behold

Chapter 98: A Spectacle to Behold

Su Youyue's smile was serene and gentle. "I am deeply grateful for your kindness, Empress Concubine."

Her laughter was radiant and ethereal, leaving the audience on the dais astounded. How could Miss Su appear so much more beautiful than before?

Everyone had an innate appreciation for beauty, and they promptly associated her transformation with the Jade Dew Beauty Cream sold in her shop. It was indeed expensive, but its effects were outstanding. Many secretly coveted her business.

Perhaps her store had produced a new product?

Some sharp-eyed individuals noticed that the change in Su Youyue didn't stem from her appearance but rather, her overall demeanor.

Could it be that breaking off the engagement had somehow transformed her?

Amidst the scrutiny of the crowd, Su Youyue maintained a composed smile, ready to counter whatever Queen Concubine Qiu had in store next.

She wasn't foolish enough to believe that after provoking the Third Prince and Princess, Queen Concubine Qiu would still favor her.

Sure enough, Queen Concubine Qiu smiled enchantingly and quickly said, "It's regrettable that the Second Prince already has a crown princess, and the Third Prince has recently mentioned having someone he favors. Otherwise, I truly would have wished for Miss Su to become my daughter-in-law."

"This..." The women seated were flabbergasted, exchanging bewildered glances. They could hardly believe their ears.

They had to go through great lengths to elicit a smile from the Empress, yet why did this Su Youyue immediately gain the Empress's favor and become a potential daughter-in-law?

True, the Third Prince was known for his wayward character. But to them, it didn't matter; men often mellowed with age. Besides, his older brother, the Second Prince, was the most likely successor to the throne. If that happened, the Third Prince would be a prince in his own right, and his wife would enjoy immense prestige as a princess.

Many of these women had their eyes set on the position of the Third Princess Consort. Had they not inferred from the Empress's tone that she didn't intend for Su Youyue to marry the Third Prince, they would have been struck dumb with shock.

How could they allow such a prestigious position to fall into the hands of a supposed ill-starred Su Youyue?

If not for the respect they had for Empress Qi's high praise of Su Youyue, they might have already openly taunted her, declaring that she was unworthy.

The smile on Su Youyue's face faded slightly.

Though unsure of Empress Qi's intentions, the mere thought of marrying the Third Prince made her feel nauseous. The mere sight of that rakish behavior would make her want to break his legs.

Beside her, Xie Yuan remained motionless, his expression seemingly unchanged. He had an almost negligible presence, but when he heard Empress Qi's words, his lowered gaze lifted, coldly sweeping across the hem of her dress.

The nurse beside Princess Qiuyu chuckled. "Your Highness has forgotten. Although Miss Su can't be Third Prince's concubine, she can indeed become the sister-in-law to both Third Prince and Third Princess. In the future, she can properly discipline the two of them. Young Master Yongzhi, the imperial prince and princess's cousin, hasn't taken a formal wife yet."

Everyone was taken aback and didn't react immediately.

But Princess Qiuyu suddenly realized something. "I almost forgot. Yes, Yongzhi hasn't taken a formal wife yet. Thinking about it now, he and this Miss Su are truly a perfect match."

Qiu Yongzhi?

The noble ladies and gentlemen, who had just been envious of Su Miss, had their pupils constrict! They suddenly felt a desire to retreat. They no longer envied this Su Miss.

Although Qiu Yongzhi could be considered a descendant of the Grand Tutor Qiu's household and had an adequate status, everyone knew that his two previous formal wives had already died!

If one were to say that Qiu Yongzhi had a tough fate and brought misfortune to his wives, perhaps there would still be daring women willing to marry him. But his two former wives had actually been beaten to death by him!

It was said that since he was young, he followed his elder brothers to brothels, always indulging until blood was drawn before stopping. Before he even married, he had already caused the deaths of four courtesans. Apparently, when the courtesans in those brothels heard his name, they would keep their distance.

Back then, the Qiu family had concealed the matter well. Some families were unaware and thus sent their daughters, Qiu Yongzhi's first formal wife, into this den of wolves.

It wasn't until his second formal wife also died that her father and brother, unable to bear it any longer, investigated and discovered the awful things he had done. That's when the scandal became widely known.

Seven years have passed, and no one was still willing to offer their daughter to him. This man was already thirty-five, perhaps even older than Miss Su's father, right? They only call him 'Young Master' or 'Master' out of courtesy; in reality, his nephews can already run around on the ground...

Empress Concubine Qiu didn't genuinely like Su Youyue; she was pushing her into a pit of fire!

Although some people felt a tinge of sympathy for Su Youyue, schadenfreude soon took over.

Miss Su was also a harbinger of misfortune. It was uncertain who would bring misfortune upon whom if she married.

"Your Highness, Young Master Qiu and Miss Su are a perfect match, both talented and beautiful," Madam Zhang's smile returned to her face.

The nanny by Empress Concubine Qiu's side echoed, "Your Highness, I recall that Yongzhi Master was with the Third Prince in the palace today. Why not invite him over? If he and Miss Su truly become a couple, Your Highness would have facilitated a blessed union."

"Very well, fetch both Lü'er and Yongzhi..." Empress Concubine Qiu seemed pleased.

The two women spoke in unison, leaving no room for Su Youyue to interject. After their conversation, they immediately sent someone to summon the two young men.

The once indignant noblewomen and ladies instantly adopted an anticipatory expression, ready to watch a spectacle unfold, all directed at Su Youyue.

She deserved it, who asked her to offend the Third Prince and Third Princess?

"Yue'er, don't worry. My nephew was indeed a bit wayward in the past, but he has mended his ways. You'll surely like him when you meet him later," Qiu Guifei said with a warm smile as she turned to Su Youyue.

Contrary to everyone's expectations, Su Youyue didn't show a cold expression. Instead, she smiled gently, her clear eyes sparkling with sincerity.

"As a subject, I do admire Your Highness, and naturally, I'm curious about the exceptional man who is your nephew. I'd be delighted to get to know him. However, I dare not speak of whether or not I would fancy any particular man. If my family's elders were to find out, they might send me to a nunnery, forcing me to renounce the world."

Her tone was soft and not at all confrontational, yet her words were firm enough to make one choke on them. As soon as she finished speaking, Qiu Guifei's smile faded slightly.

The noble ladies around them were also taken aback. Even if Su Youyue didn't wish for this marriage, it was too extreme to say that she would become a nun. Did she truly plan to deal with the Empress Dowager in such a manner? How could she still hope to marry anyone else in the future?

Although the Great Sheng Dynasty was known for its liberal customs, it would never condone criticizing someone for strictly adhering to the principles of propriety between men and women. Besides, Su Youyue had expressed her willingness to meet Qiu Yongzhi because she admired the Empress Dowager, which wasn't a direct rejection of the marriage proposal. Her words, however, had shown great respect to the Empress Dowager, making it impossible for her to reprimand Su Youyue openly.

When did this Miss Su become so clever? Her speech was impeccable!

But had she really mistaken the Empress Dowager for a reasonable person just because she received a small favor from her? If the Empress Dowager were reasonable, how could she have raised the unreasonable Third Prince and Third Princess?

Well, now, the real show is about to begin.