Chapter 49: Volume 1, Chapter 49: Deciding to Take the Initiative to Find Ye Lanjue and Call Off the Engagement

Upon hearing that Yun Qiyue was going to the Regent's Mansion, Sixue's face was filled with horror. "M... Miss, you said you are going where?"

Even Qingyan couldn't help but raise her eyes, looking at Yun Qiyue with worry.

Seeing the huge reaction from her two maids, Yun Qiyue couldn't help but tease, "What? Can't I go?"

Sixue: "Of course you can't go!"

Upon reflection, realizing the tone of her words was inappropriate, Sixue restrained herself slightly, but still said very anxiously, "Miss, have you forgotten what this servant said before? What kind of fate did those women who sought out the Regent's Mansion meet? Miss, you cannot..." be so desperate.

Sixue really wanted to say that although the Regent hadn't yet come forward to oppose this marriage, it didn't mean that Miss was safe now.

It was already a stroke of luck that the Regent hadn't come looking for them; why did Miss have to go and court death herself?

Although Miss was indeed very capable, the other party was the Regent! That cold-hearted, ruthless Regent who killed without hesitation.

Yun Qiyue nodded. "I remember everything you said."

Sixue didn't believe her.

If Miss remembered, why would she still take the initiative to throw herself at him?

To prove that she did indeed remember, Yun Qiyue said, "You said before that the Regent does not get close to women, and no woman who approaches him meets a good end. Am I right?"

Sixue nodded.

Yun Qiyue continued, "Since that is the case, I must go even more."

Sixue was puzzled.

Not only was Sixue puzzled, but even Qingyan was filled with confusion.

Miss knew exactly what kind of person the Regent was, so why did she still want to find him?

Yun Qiyue knew that if she didn't explain, these two maids would definitely be uneasy, so she analyzed, "The reason those women before didn't meet a good end is because they all had one thing in common."

Qingyan and Sixue: "..." They looked at Yun Qiyue with faces full of questions, not knowing what commonality their Miss was talking about.

Yun Qiyue continued, "Those women all harbored covetous hearts toward the Regent."

As she spoke, Yun Qiyue pointed at herself. "And I, I have no feelings for the Regent, no covetousness at all. The reason I am going to find him this time is to call off the engagement."

That's right, she had thought about it for three days and finally decided to take the initiative to find Ye Lanjue to call off the engagement.

It was impossible for the Regent Ye Lanjue to marry her. As for why he still hadn't made a move days after the imperial edict was issued, she didn't know either.

But there was one thing she was very clear about: it was simply impossible for her and the Regent to be together.

Rather than living in fear every day, wondering when his old self would have a whim to deal with her, it was better to be proactive and call off the marriage.

For this reason, she even deliberately delayed the time for treating her face; after all, it's easier to call off an engagement when one is ugly, right?

As for whether the Regent would show mercy to someone who, as she thought, had no covetous heart toward him, she actually didn't know.

But either way, it was a strike either way, so it was better to stick her head out and see what the situation actually was.

When the two maids heard their Miss say she was going to call off the engagement, it would be a lie to say they weren't shocked.

After all, they hadn't even thought in that direction at all.

But, inexplicably, they had no way to refute their Miss's words, and in the end, they could only resign themselves to fate and let the carriage drive toward the Regent's Mansion.

Along the way, Yun Qiyue kept thinking about how, after meeting the man she found exceptionally dangerous, she would persuade him to successfully call off the engagement without angering him and bringing danger upon herself.

However, throughout the journey, Yun Qiyue thought of various scenarios, but the only one she didn't think of was that she would make a wasted trip.

Just as she arrived at the gate, Yun Qiyue was stopped. Upon learning that Yun Qiyue had come to find the Regent, the guards of the Regent's Mansion were not as cold and ruthless as they were toward other women who came to the door.

After all, Yun Qiyue's face was too recognizable, and in the days since the imperial edict was issued, their master hadn't made a single move, so they couldn't help but wonder if their master had tacitly approved of this marriage.

If that were the case, then Yun Qiyue would be the future mistress, and naturally, they couldn't treat her with the same attitude as other women.

Although, this mistress was truly... too much of an eyesore.

Therefore, upon learning that Yun Qiyue had come to find their master, the guards told Yun Qiyue directly that their master was not in the mansion. Yun Qiyue had no choice but to return in defeat, and all the rehearsals she had in her heart were of no use.

The next day, Yun Qiyue went to the Regent's Mansion again, and this time she even made sure to go early.

Unfortunately, she learned that the Regent had left the capital to handle affairs, and his return date was uncertain, so Yun Qiyue had to temporarily shelve the idea of finding the Regent to call off the engagement.

On this day, after finishing breakfast, Yun Qiyue thought that since she was idle anyway, she might as well find some amusement for herself, so she asked Sixue, who was by her side, "How has it been next door these past few days?"

Upon hearing this, Sixue told Yun Qiyue what she knew. "Miss, they have been frequently inviting doctors next door these past few days; they seem quite anxious."

Yun Qiyue curled her lips upon hearing this.

Both legitimate daughters had met with accidents; could they not be anxious and desperately inviting doctors?

Yun Qiyue got up in a very good mood. "Let's go, let's go next door to collect a debt."

She hadn't forgotten that the Old Madam next door still owed her a piece of red jade that was said to have been left behind by her mother.

No one could get away with owing her things.

At this moment, everyone in the Marquis Mansion was gathered in the main hall, all of them looking frazzled and in a very bad mood.

This was not only because the first and third branches had secretly taken out most of their savings to place bets in this gambling game and lost everything, but also because the news of the assassins sent out that night had once again sunk into the sea without a trace.

Furthermore, the only two unmarried legitimate daughters of the first and third branches had both contracted strange illnesses: one had many pustules on her face and was disfigured, while the other reeked of a foul stench, and no matter how many times she bathed or how much perfume she applied, it was of no use.

All the famous doctors in the capital had been secretly invited by them, but it was of no use; they couldn't figure out anything at all.

"What should we do? In half a month, it will be the Hundred Flowers Festival." Xu Shi said anxiously.

This Hundred Flowers Festival was not a simple Hundred Flowers Festival.

The Emperor had long issued an edict that the day of the Hundred Flowers Festival would be the day for the Crown Prince to select his consort. At the same time, the other imperial princes would also choose their consorts on this day. The Marquis Mansion's two unmarried legitimate daughters had reached the appropriate age, and the people in the Marquis Mansion had high hopes for them.

If they missed this Hundred Flowers Festival because of that strange illness, it would truly be a huge loss for the Marquis Mansion.

Especially since it was rumored that the National Preceptor of the Nanli Kingdom would also attend this Hundred Flowers Festival, and the National Preceptor was not yet married.

One must know that apart from small countries like Nanyi and Beiman, the four countries—Xihai, Donglin, Beiyan, and Nanli—had four legendary figures.

Among them were the Regent Ye Lanjue of Donglin and the National Preceptor of Nanli.

The Regent of Donglin was someone to be viewed from afar and not to be profaned. Although he was ranked first among the famous people, and thousands of young girls wanted to marry him, no one dared to think about it.

But the National Preceptor of Nanli was different. It was said that the National Preceptor was very gentle, a person as clear as the breeze and the moon, and was the favorite of thousands of young girls.

If the Yun family could have one daughter marry the Crown Prince of Donglin and the other marry the National Preceptor of Nanli, it would definitely allow the Yun family's status to rise with the tide.

But all of this had been ruined by that damn strange illness.

Consequently, as soon as Xu Shi mentioned the Hundred Flowers Festival, the expressions of everyone in the Yun family became incomparably grave.

Just then, the gatekeeper came to report: "Old Madam, Eldest Master, Third Master, the Third Young Miss requests an audience."