Chapter 173: The Fourth Prince

Ye Sisi was obviously stepped on the tail and immediately roared, "Yes, I'm not as outstanding as my sister, but you wouldn't be saying that, would you? To put it bluntly, you're being biased!"

"Little sister, you can't say that; father and mother are very fair, how could they be biased? Their actions are out of deep love and concern! Don't speak such angry words in the future!"

"Listen, your sister is so magnanimous, you're just petty!" When Ye Yu looked at Ye Huanhuan, his expression finally softened; seeing her poised, generous, and prettier than Ye Sisi, he grew more convinced of Ye Sisi's worthlessness and couldn't help teasing.

"Alright, let's get to business!" Zhao Shi, irritated by Ye Sisi's sobbing, was increasingly displeased with the little daughter; none of her actions pleased her.

"Ye Sisi, listen to me: you and the Seventh Prince are impossible! But my daughter Ye Yu must marry a man of power and status. So from today, cut off all contact with the Seventh Prince and devote yourself entirely to flattering the Fourth Prince."

Fourth Prince?

The Fourth Prince who is very fat, blind in one eye, and limps when he walks?

Ye Sisi could hardly believe what she heard.

She had always despised the Fourth Prince, believing among all princes the Crown Prince was the best, followed by the Seventh Prince, while the Fourth Prince was at the bottom—average looks and, crucially, a second‑rate cripple!

Initially she admired the Crown Prince, after all he was so outstanding. When she learned her sister Ye Huanhuan admired the Crown Prince, she settled for the Seventh Prince.

But she could never have imagined that one day she would have to flatter the prince she despised most.

"No, I won't!" Ye Sisi refused sternly.

"That's not up to you! I've already discussed this with His Majesty, and he said you won't be shortchanged; you may not become the Seventh Prince's Consort, but you can still be the Fourth Prince's Consort!"

"I'd rather die!" Ye Sisi stood up, shouted loudly, then covered her face and fled the study.

"Servants, keep a close eye on this Rebellious Woman!" Ye Yu waved his hand grandly, ordering sternly.

Looking back at Ye Huanhuan, Ye Yu's expression gradually calmed, "Huanhuan, how have you and the Crown Prince been lately?"

Ye Huanhuan glanced at Ye Qingran, who was leaning against the chair back, eyes closed, meditating, her thoughts unknown, and a dark glint flashed in Ye Huanhuan's eyes.

"Qing Xuan brother and I are fine; father needn't worry about us."

Ye Yu nodded approvingly, "Your marriage is approaching; you must stay vigilant and not cause any trouble."

"Don't worry, it won't happen."

Ye Yu finally showed a satisfied smile, thinking this second daughter was truly outstanding, never giving him a worry. Yet when he saw Ye Qingran again, his complexion darkened.

"What's the situation between you and the National Master?"

At those words, Zhao Shi and Ye Huanhuan both turned toward Ye Qingran. Especially Zhao Shi, whose murky eyes gathered a poisonous frost.

Ye Qingran opened her eyes, "What could there be between me and the National Master?"

Ye Yu's face grew grim, "At that night's Crown Prince Residence banquet, the National Master personally expressed admiration for you and said he would marry you. How did you respond?"

"Many admire me; just because the National Master is willing to marry me, must I marry him?"

"You!" Seeing her nonchalant attitude, Ye Yu's anger flared.

"What kind of person is the National Master? Can any other cats and dogs compare? I warn you, Ye Qingran, I don't care how many Wild Men you've been with or how many children you've borne; if the National Master wishes to marry you, it's a blessing from a past life, and you must seize it!"

A cold glint flashed in Ye Qingran's eyes.

"Lord Ye, you should first manage yourself!"

Having said that, she stood up and left the study.

Staring at Ye Qingran's departing back, Ye Yu clenched his hand on the desk into a fist, gritted his teeth, looking utterly enraged.

But spite of his anger, he gradually realized this daughter was hard to handle. Previously he feared her mother's status; now he must also fear the National Master's favoritism toward her.

A rare guest arrived at Ye Sisi's Yueji Yuan.

When Ye Sisi saw this rare guest, she didn't know how to react.

"Ye Qingran, what are you doing here? Mocking me?" Ye Sisi wiped tears from her eyes, rose from the stone bench in the Courtyard, and glared fiercely at the smiling person before her.

"Have I not seen enough jokes? To me, your life itself is a joke."

Ye Sisi pointed at the main door, "Ye Qingran, if you're here to pick a fight, I'm not in the mood to entertain you. Leave immediately! Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!"

"How could I be impolite?" Ye Qingran replied dismissively, "You once had the Seventh Prince backing you; now you have nothing, not even the parents you thought loved you, who are forcing you to do what you don't want."

Ye Sisi's complexion turned three shades paler. Ye Qingran's words cut like a knife into her heart.

"Get out! Get out right now!" she shouted hysterically, frightening the two maids, Huarong and another, into pallor.

Ye Qingran pretended not to hear Ye Sisi, sat down on the stone bench opposite her, and poured herself a cup of tea amid the startled gazes of the surrounding maids.

"I'm very busy; I have no time to pick a quarrel with you. I came here today to help you."

"Help me?" Ye Sisi sounded as if she heard a joke, "You and I are like water and fire; if you don't throw stones at me, I'll consider myself lucky. Will you help me?"

Ye Qingran took a sip of tea, slightly frowned, "Believe it or not. But I'll warn you: if you decide to marry that blind, lame Fourth Prince as an empress, don't expect my assistance."

Ye Sisi's eyes flickered, she clenched her teeth and asked gravely, "Ye Qingran, what exactly are you doing?"

"Help you reclaim the Seventh Prince's Consort position."

"You'd be so kind? You're not trying to trap me, are you?"

Ye Qingran lifted her eyes leisurely, her lips tinged with contempt, "Ye Sisi, don't you get it? I've never regarded you as a rival because you truly don't deserve it!"

"You!" Ye Sisi nearly died of anger.

Those words were way too bullying!

"Alright, don't be angry; I'm just stating facts. If you still want to retake the Seventh Prince's Consort spot and deal a heavy blow to Zhao Yan, then follow my advice; otherwise, once you marry the Fourth Prince, you'll never have a chance to turn things around."

Ye Sisi's delicate body trembled, like a slender willow swaying in the wind.

After a while, she frowned and asked softly, "Why are you helping me?"

Ye Qingran set down her teacup and said slowly, "The enemy of my enemy is a friend. Zhao Yan is our common enemy; is it strange that I help you?"

Ye Sisi narrowed her eyes, still doubtful.

"Ye Sisi, who else do you think can help you now besides me? Your father? With his weak temperament, do you think he could defy the holy grace? Your mother? She's Zhao Yan's own aunt; would she, at this point, act against her own family for you? Ye Huanhuan? Her grand marriage to the Crown Prince is imminent; would she jeopardize her own situation for your affairs?"

With each sentence Ye Qingran uttered, Ye Sisi's face grew paler, and after Ye Qingran finished, she slumped back onto the stone bench, her gaze unfocused.

Even if she isn't clever, she can understand Ye Qingran's meaning.

Ye Qingran said nothing more, stood up, brushed off non‑existent dust, and said, "If you've figured it out, come to Ting Yu Xuan tonight when he looks for me. Remember not to let anyone know, especially that sister of yours."

By the time Ye Sisi reacted, she only saw a corner of clothing fluttering past the gate of Yueji Yuan.