Chapter 5: How long can I live in the Prince Yong's Mansion

Before the old master retired, he was always decisive and resolute in his actions. After retiring, he focused on self-cultivation and appeared to have a mild temper. However, when dealing with outsiders, his methods were as fierce as thunder.

To remind the Prince Yong of the grievances his daughter suffered, the next morning the old master instructed Nian Gengyao to openly visit the Prince Yong's mansion with generous gifts. He also subtly revealed the reason for his daughter's illness in front of the court physician Li.

Ula Nara was distressed by the neglect from Yinzhen and the aggressive behavior of Li, and she had intended to wait for Yinzhen's anger to subside before making any plans. However, she did not expect the Nian family to come knocking at her door at this time. The lavish gifts seemed like a slap in the face, rendering her efforts in vain and further fueling Yinzhen's anger.

Although Nian Suxin was confined to the mansion, she still managed to learn about the news from the Prince Yong's mansion through Qiu Yan and Qiu Yu. Sitting at the round table, she listened to the news they gathered from outside while sipping on freshly stewed medicinal cuisine.

"Miss, what do you think the Prince Yong's consort is up to? She has no connection with you, yet she inexplicably interferes. She doesn't seem like a good person," Qiu Yan remarked.

Nian Suxin glanced at Qiu Yan and smiled, "How would you know?"

"I know. Anyone who bullies you is not a good person," Qiu Yan replied.

Nian Suxin chuckled lightly and with a casual tone, but a hint of seriousness in her voice, she said, "Then you should learn well. If you encounter such a situation in the future, you must make sure the other party is powerless to retaliate."

Qiu Yan and Qiu Yu pouted at her words.

Upon returning from the Prince Yong's mansion, Nian Gengyao immediately came to Xinyu Pavilion and saw Nian Suxin sitting at the round table, chatting with Qiu Yan and Qiu Yu. At that moment, Nian Suxin was wearing a crimson flag dress, with her hair tied up in a small bun. Her petite face was slightly tilted upwards, and her smile was as radiant as a flower. Nian Gengyao couldn't help but wonder what Qiu Yan and Qiu Yu had said to make Nian Suxin's captivating peach blossom eyes curve into crescents.

"What are you talking about that makes you so happy?" Nian Gengyao strode forward and sat next to Nian Suxin.

"What did you gain from your visit to the Prince Yong's mansion this time?" Nian Suxin casually finished the medicinal cuisine in her bowl and handed it to Qiu Yu, asking as if it were an afterthought.

Nian Gengyao turned to look at Nian Suxin's beaming smile and said, "I gained quite a lot, and the outcome was very favorable. I believe that after today's events, Yinzhen feels guilty towards the Nian family, and the Prince Yong's consort, hindered by Yinzhen's anger, dare not lay a hand on my little sister again."

"Is that so? I thought you would be more concerned about whether I had been wronged, but it seems you are more interested in the Prince Yong's attitude," Nian Suxin said in a deliberate manner.

Upon hearing this, Nian Gengyao's face paled for a moment. "Little sister, this time I neglected your feelings, but I promise that if a similar situation arises in the future, I will prioritize you."

"Is that so?" Nian Suxin raised her lips. "Of course, little sister believes in you, but the premise is that I can come back alive from the underworld like this time," she added with a faint smile, her clear eyes seeming to see through his heart.

Nian Gengyao felt a sudden unease from her smile and her words, which seemed to strike at his heart. "Little sister, there are things beyond my control. Even if I cut off ties with Yinzhen, your marriage is not something you can decide on your own."

"Oh, so you can just go along with the flow and disregard me?" Nian Suxin sneered. "It seems that my life is no match for your ambitions."

"Little sister, why do you suddenly insist on denying my goodwill and attributing everything to calculation? Has someone said something to you?" Nian Gengyao knew Nian Suxin's temperament very well, but he didn't expect her, who had just recovered from an illness, to act like a different person, sharp in her actions and cutting in her words.

"Doesn't second brother realize that, despite being favored and esteemed by the emperor, have you ever considered whether I can handle the women in the Prince Yong's mansion?" Nian Suxin's voice was soft and gentle, evoking sympathy, but her words were like sharp knives, piercing into Nian Gengyao's heart.

Seeing Nian Gengyao's increasingly furrowed brows, Nian Suxin tilted her head and said with a smile that was not quite a smile, "Even if I were aware, I might not be able to compete, especially when dealing with the other party without my knowledge. Second brother, are you asking me to bear the consequences of your decisions without my knowledge?"

Nian Gengyao was taken aback by her words, feeling a chill down his spine.

"Little sister is right. I acted recklessly," Nian Gengyao swallowed hard and said in a deep voice.

"If Second Brother truly understands, he should discuss it with Mother and the others. After all, it concerns the survival of the family. Even if they hesitate, they will ultimately prioritize the overall situation." Nian Suxin placed the hand warmer in her hand aside and looked directly at Nian Gengyao. "As for me, even if everything is fated, I still hope not to be like a fool and only realize my mistakes at the brink of death."

Nian Gengyao's expression darkened slightly. As their eyes met, Nian Suxin's profound gaze left no room for his selfish thoughts to hide.

Nian Suxin raised her head. "Second Brother is a clever person. The inner workings of the back courtyard are terrifying. You should understand better than I do. Have you ever thought about how long a naive and soft-hearted person like me would survive in the Prince Yong's residence without knowing anything?"

Nian Suxin's voice was gentle and calm, without a trace of anger, but her words sent shivers down Nian Gengyao's spine. If things were as Nian Suxin said, then all his efforts along the way would ultimately result in losses for their Nian family.

After seeing off Nian Gengyao, Nian Suxin was about to return to her room when she saw Qiu Yu approaching with a bowl of medicinal porridge. In that moment, her serene expression turned into a pouty one, like an angry pufferfish.

Just as Madam Nian arrived, she happened to see Nian Suxin glaring at the steaming bowl of medicinal porridge as if it were her mortal enemy, which made her chuckle.

"Mother..." Nian Suxin drawled, looking at Madam Nian with a petulant expression.

Madam Nian embraced her daughter and sat at the table, pushing the medicinal porridge in front of Nian Suxin. Reluctantly, Nian Suxin obediently drank the porridge in front of her.

"That's right," Madam Nian smiled, then as if remembering something, she said, "Xin'er, Mother came this time to clean up the bad servants on your side, otherwise, who knows what kind of trouble might arise in the future."