Han Xiangru was now intent on finding opportunities to see Prince Yu more often.
If the prince took an interest in her, she would see how much longer Han Wanqing could act so haughty before her!
Chu Siqing sneered inwardly.
[Look, look! Her fox's tail is showing already, isn't it? Mother, she wants to seduce my father!]
Han Wanqing's gaze turned cold, and she asked pointedly, "Did you come to see the prince, little sister?"
With her intentions exposed to her face, Han Xiangru felt a little flustered.
Still, she forced herself to remain composed. "Of course not. I came to see you, elder sister. I was merely asking in passing."
Resentful, Han Xiangru took another jab at Han Wanqing. "Speaking of which, you shouldn't keep such a tight hold on the prince. With his exalted status, he ought to take more women into his household to carry on his bloodline."
Just as Han Wanqing was about to speak, a maid outside announced, "Your Highness, the prince has arrived."
Chu Hongle lifted the curtain and entered, asking, "What was that about carrying on my bloodline?"
Han Xiangru hadn't expected the prince to overhear her words. She hurriedly rose and curtsied.
Her panic lasted only an instant. When she raised her head, her expression was once again delicately alluring.
Unfortunately, she might as well have been casting flirtatious glances at a blind man. Chu Hongle merely gave her a casual nod.
He walked straight up to his wife and held out his hands with a smile. "Wanqing, you must be tired after holding our daughter all day. Let me hold her for a while."
Han Wanqing had been upset by Han Xiangru's words, but her furrowed brow smoothed at that.
She handed their daughter to her husband. "I'm not tired. Siqing has been very good."
Chu Hongle took Chu Siqing into his arms and kissed her. "My good little girl, did you miss your royal father today?"
Chu Siqing felt his stubble scrape painfully against her tender little cheek. Her chubby hand landed on Chu Hongle's handsome face with a smack.
[Ow, ow, ow! Stupid Father, your stubble is too prickly! I only like my sweet-smelling, soft Mother!]
Chu Hongle wasn't angry at being slapped. He was merely a little jealous of his daughter's blatant favoritism.
Han Xiangru stood awkwardly to one side, unsure whether to remain standing or sit down. She felt utterly ignored.
Unwilling to accept that, she clenched the handkerchief in her hand and interrupted the family of three's tender moment. "Your Highness, I came to visit my elder sister today, and the moment I saw Siqing, I thought she was especially adorable."
Only then did Chu Hongle spare her a glance.
Remembering that she was his wife's younger sister, and that she had praised his darling daughter, he nodded. "Mm. Sit."
Han Xiangru gave a gentle, lovely smile and elegantly settled back onto the embroidered stool.
Still holding his daughter, Chu Hongle also sat in the armchair before his wife.
Suddenly recalling what he had overheard, he demanded, "What were you saying earlier about carrying on my bloodline?"
Han Xiangru hadn't expected Prince Yu to pursue the matter, and she immediately grew flustered.
Though she thought highly of herself, she knew perfectly well that Han Wanqing held considerable weight in the prince's heart. Those words hadn't been hers to say.
Still, getting Prince Yu to consider taking new women was precisely the result she wanted.
After a moment's thought, Han Xiangru said cleverly, "My elder sister has only just given birth and needs to recover. She's afraid she won't be able to attend to Your Highness, so she was thinking of bringing a few women into the household. They could keep Your Highness company and also carry on your bloodline."
The way she put it, it sounded as though Han Wanqing herself wanted to find concubines for Prince Yu.
Sure enough, Chu Hongle's face fell the moment he heard it.
He was just about to ask his wife why she wanted to foist other women on him when he heard his daughter's thoughts.
[Aaaah! Han Xiangru is such a fake-innocent bitch!]
[She was clearly provoking Mother by saying Father should take concubines, but now she's deliberately pretending it was Mother's idea!]
[She's openly trying to drive a wedge between them! Father, you big dummy, don't fall for it!]
Chu Hongle's expression immediately cleared.
He said gently to his wife, "Wanqing, you know you're the only woman I love. Surely you wouldn't want to find concubines for me?"
Han Wanqing had been deeply upset by Han Xiangru's words, but hearing her daughter's thoughts made her laugh. "Of course not."
A broad smile instantly blossomed across Chu Hongle's face, his voice brimming with delight. "Then your husband can rest easy."
Then he turned toward Han Xiangru, who had been spouting nonsense, and his handsome face darkened.
Chu Hongle said mockingly, "I wonder whether Second Miss Han has trouble with her ears or has succumbed to hysterics, to be talking such nonsense in broad daylight."
Some young maid outside let out a snort of laughter, and the atmosphere in the room suddenly grew rather strange.
Hearing the prince's blunt words, Han Wanqing couldn't help smiling too, and much of the tightness in her chest immediately eased.
Han Xiangru's face flushed crimson. She wished she could find a crack in the floor and crawl into it.
Embarrassed and humiliated, she quietly tried to give herself a way out. "You jest, Your Highness. Perhaps I misheard."
Damn Han Wanqing! If that bitch hadn't denied it, how could I have ended up like this?!
Han Xiangru was furious, yet before the prince, she had no choice but to suppress her temper and act as though nothing had happened.
Though this man had just humiliated her, she still couldn't bear to give up such a golden catch as Prince Yu. She could only lay all her resentment at Han Wanqing's door.
The indignities she suffered now were all for the sake of her future.
As long as Prince Yu took an interest in her, all the wealth and splendor of this princely household would one day be hers!
After comforting herself inwardly, Han Xiangru rallied her spirits and looked for a way to attract Prince Yu's attention.
"Your Highness is always teasing people. You gave me quite a fright just now."
As she spoke, Han Xiangru reached up to smooth the hair at her temple, revealing a stretch of snow-white wrist adorned with a jade bracelet. The bracelet had a beautiful translucence that perfectly complemented her complexion.
Chu Hongle found the jade bracelet rather familiar and took a few more looks.
Seeing Prince Yu staring at her wrist, Han Xiangru assumed his interest had been stirred. Delighted with herself, she deliberately raised her hand again to adjust the hairpin on her head.
Watching the prince stare while Han Xiangru flaunted her charms, Han Wanqing couldn't help feeling angry.
What a man, changing his orders between morning and evening! He just said I was the only woman he loved, and now he can't stop staring at another woman's hand!
Chu Siqing, however, discovered the truth amid the juicy revelations from the system:
[Father, stop staring. That's one of the bracelets you originally gave Mother as a betrothal gift. Han Xiangru's maid stole it afterward!]
Hearing her daughter's thoughts, Han Wanqing also understood what had happened.
To think that Han Xiangru had stolen the bracelet the prince had given her and was now wearing it! She was so angry that she wanted to cast aside all her proper upbringing and give her petty, grasping sister a vicious scolding!
Realization dawned on Chu Hongle, and he immediately demanded, "Second Miss Han, where did you get that bracelet?"
Han Xiangru froze and reflexively withdrew her wrist into her sleeve, her face paling.
How could I have been so careless! I actually wore this bracelet out today. Surely Prince Yu hasn't noticed?
No, no. As long as I don't admit it, there are so many similar bracelets in the world that Prince Yu can't possibly be certain this is the one!
Before you continue