Such a Bitter Fate

Zhao Ruyu that Xiao Lingyan hadn't stopped walking despite her calls, but had looked over, Zhao Ruyu quickly stopped before the guards could make any more drastic moves. She gave Xiao Lingyan a smile she had practiced countless times in front of the mirror, "Your Highness Prince of Qi."

At this point, the two were about ten feet apart.

Xiao Lingyan slowed his pace, glanced at Zhao Ruyu from head to toe, his gaze indifferent, and said nothing.

The guard spoke up for him, saying, "What do you need to report to His Highness? Speak quickly."

"Your Highness, my carriage has broken down. Could you have your guards help me fix it?" Zhao Ruyu pleaded pitifully.

She made this expression in front of the mirror; it was so pitiful that anyone would feel soft-hearted, let alone a man.

Knowing the taboos of the royal family, she didn't suggest sharing a carriage with Prince of Qi, but instead asked his guards to repair her carriage. Such a request wasn't unreasonable. Considering she was a beauty, even the most heartless Xiao Lingyan probably wouldn't refuse.

Most importantly, the Prince of Qi is now gazing at her beautiful face.

If he's captivated by her beauty and stops to say a few words, she's won.

To her disappointment, Xiao Lingyan's gaze lingered on her for only a moment before he quickened his pace, soon reaching his carriage and getting in.

The two guards who were blocking her way stood guard, fearing she might do something to harm the Prince of Prince of Qi. Only after the carriage started moving and a group of guards rode away did they glance at Zhao Ruyu, their eyes filled with disgust, not admiration, as if she were a utterly detestable presence. Then the two mounted their horses and rode off to catch up with the Prince of Qi.

Zhao Ruyu had been waiting in the carriage for so long. Even though the spring temperature was warm, it couldn't have warmed her up much. She was already freezing cold, and now she felt like she had fallen into an ice cave.

Why? Why is this happening? Why didn't His Highness Prince of Qi see her with admiration? Why wouldn't he stay for a moment, or even grant her a small request? Leaving a weak woman like her here—is he heartless?

At that moment, Zhao Ruyu began to have deep doubts about her own beauty.

Standing behind Zhao Ruyu, Fushu was so embarrassed for her young lady that she could dig three bedrooms and two living rooms out of her toes.

Seeing that the Prince of Qi had left, even though the guards who had been blocking them had been gone for a long time, their young lady was still standing there, motionless, like a statue.

Fushu sighed softly and advised, "Miss, let's go back."

Zhao Ruyu then came to her senses, slowly turned around, and, with Fushu's help, stumbled onto the carriage.

Only after returning home and entering her room did Zhao Ruyu seem to regain her senses. Sitting in front of the mirror, she looked at herself for a long time before asking Fushu, "Tell me, am I not beautiful enough?"

Fushu now knew what her young lady was up to—she thought she was very beautiful and wanted to seduce Prince of Qi.

Although she had always thought her daughter was a good person and wouldn't do such a shameless thing, the facts before her eyes forced her to believe that her daughter not only dared to do it, but also felt no shame at all.

She looked up at Zhao Ruyu, who had suddenly become more beautiful for some reason, and suddenly missed her former mistress.

She bit her lip, deciding to pour cold water on the girl's enthusiasm. "There are so many beauties in the palace. Take Noble Consort Cen, for example; I've heard she's extremely beautiful, otherwise Prince of Qi wouldn't be so handsome. Even so, I've heard she's not favored. Consort Jin, on the other hand, is very much loved by the Emperor. It's clear that Consort Jin is in no way inferior to Consort Cen, and might even be more beautiful."

"His Highness Prince of Qi is used to seeing such beauties, and he himself is quite handsome; he probably doesn't even notice ordinary looks."

Zhao Ruyu fell silent.

After staring at the mirror for a while, she suddenly pushed it over in front of the dressing table.

Before taking the Beauty Pill, she had read its Beauty Pill. The Beauty Pill wouldn't magically transform an ugly person into a beauty; it would only enhance their existing appearance to a certain extent, such as making their eyes bigger or their skin whiter and better. If you were originally a five-point beauty, it could enhance you to a seven-point, but it would definitely not reach a ten-point.

As the original female lead, Zhao Ruyu's ability to make Fu Yunlang devoted to her was due not only to the author's protagonist halo but also to her beauty. However, her beauty was only above average, around a 6 or 7 out of 10. Now, after taking the Beauty Pill, she's only around an 8 or 9 out of 10. While she could still rival the beauties in the palace, it was impossible for her to surpass them or make the Prince of Qi, who had seen all the palace beauties, marvel at her.

Zhao Ruyu became depressed.

It seems that the path taken by the Prince of Qi is a dead end.

Judging from her demeanor today, Prince of Qi clearly has no interest in her and probably understands her meaning. He's not bothering with her because her actions haven't crossed his line.

If she continues to be ungrateful, who knows what these royals who don't value human life might do.

In her previous life, Zhao Ruyu was the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan and had attended several royal banquets; in this life, she had also met royal princesses and noblewomen at the Capital Women's Academy and had some understanding of their character.

Having been given a second chance at life, she cherishes it dearly. Didn't you see how she didn't dare approach Zhao Ruxi when she caught a cold? She certainly wouldn't risk a confrontation with the Prince of Qi.

Fushu quickly comforted her, saying, "Miss, although we dare not say we can compare to the ladies in the palace in beauty, there is truly no one more beautiful than you outside the palace. Why don't you meet Young Master Fu? He already liked you, and now that he sees how beautiful you have become, he certainly won't listen to Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan's words and agree to the engagement with the Cen Family's daughter."

She thought Zhao Ruyu's actions today were provoked by Fu Yunlang.

Zhao Ruyu shook her head and gave a wry smile, "You know how much the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan dotes on the Second Young Master. If he didn't agree, would the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan dare to arrange a marriage for him? Otherwise, why do you think he didn't get engaged a couple of years ago? Wasn't it because the Second Young Master didn't agree? Now that he's engaged, it must be because he nodded in approval."

Fushu was speechless, unable to respond.

"Besides, the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan dislikes me so much. If I really used tricks to marry into the Marquis of Pingnan's Residence, who knows how she would torment me. The Mu Family's daughter has the Mu Family's backing, Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan wouldn't dare to do anything to her; she'd definitely take her anger out on me. Filial piety comes first, and even the Second Young Master can't protect me. Just think about what kind of life I'll be living then!"

In her previous life, Lady He's eldest son died, leaving her to rely solely on her youngest son. Even so, he still tormented her in various ways. In this life, with her eldest son and daughter-in-law, who knows how much worse she'll become.

"Miss..." Fushu's eyes reddened.

Why is her daughter so unlucky? Why can't she find a good family to marry into?