Chapter 140: The Marriage Called Off

That afternoon, everyone saw Prime Minister Su frowning as he left the Palace and headed straight for the residence.

At that moment, Su Yuqing was in her room tallying the dowry list, her eyes full of smiles.

"Now that Meng Nanyi is gone from Jingcheng, they've brought in a Meng Qinghe who can't even be presented publicly; I, Miss, would like to see who in Jingcheng could still be my match."

The maid beside her heard this and laughed, "Miss, your beauty can topple a nation; even before you enter the residence, the Crown Prince's Residence sends its goods to our house like a flowing stream, showing how highly the Crown Prince values you."

Su Yuqing looked at her reflection in the bronze mirror, her face full of arrogance: "The Crown Princess position, I will claim it."

Just then, a knock came from outside the door: "Miss, the head of the household asks you to go to the study."

Su Yuqing's face lit up—could it mean the day for her to enter the residence has been set?

She smoothed her hair, draped on an outer robe, and walked toward the study amid the swarm of maids.

Upon arriving at the study, she found not only her grandfather but also her parents there.

It indeed seemed just as she had thought.

"I have seen Grandfather, I have seen Mother and Father."

Prime Minister Su waved his hand, indicating for her to sit.

Seeing her grandfather's expression turn sour, Su Yuqing couldn't help but ask, "Grandfather, what has happened?"

Prime Minister Su sighed, "After this morning's court, the Emperor kept me in the Palace and spoke about you."

So it was indeed so!

Su Yuqing smiled, "Has the Emperor set a date for the granddaughter to enter the Crown Prince's Residence?"

Prime Minister Su shook his head, "No, the Emperor means that your marriage to the Crown Prince is, for now, called off."

"What?" Su Yuqing was startled, leaping up from her seat, "Called off? What does 'called off' mean?"

"Qing'er." Lady Su whispered, "Isn't what your grandfather said clear enough?"

"Why? Since the granddaughter was chosen as a secondary consort, she has been learning palace etiquette daily in the residence, never committing any misconduct. Why break off the marriage?"

"Your marriage was personally bestowed by the Emperor; now that it's withdrawn, our Su family has no recourse."

Su Yuqing slumped back into the chair, her eyes filled with despair.

Having the royal marriage rescinded, she feared she would never marry in her lifetime.

"What's the reason? Didn't the Emperor explain?"

Prime Minister Su shook his head, "I summoned you today because of this. Rest assured, it's only a royal disengagement; our Su daughters need not worry about marriage."

Su Yuqing, despondent, returned to the courtyard, gazed at the dowry in the room, feeling as if her strength had been drained, and collapsed onto the ground.

It's over! Her life is ruined.

Grandfather said she needn't worry about marriage—how could she not worry?

Across Daqi, any family with a name and face—who would dare to marry her?

Besides, what good is marrying anyone?

She intends to marry the most noble person in the world!

A man who can elevate her to the pinnacle of power!

To marry the Crown Prince, become Crown Princess, become Empress!

Now, she has already been rejected by the Crown Prince; the only remaining path…

…is Mo Junyan.

No matter what, she must seize Mo Junyan; he is also a prince and has the possibility of becoming Emperor.

Su Yuqing staggered to her feet, murmuring softly, "I must become the most honored woman in this world."

At that moment, in Prince Li's residence, Mo Junyan sat upright on a chair, his gaze cold as he looked at Yun Bai kneeling on the ground.

"Do you have anything to say?"

"I do not understand what you are saying."

"Ha, such a 'don't understand'. Do you really think This Prince is a fool, not knowing you have been my father's man from the start?"

Yun Bai's heart sank, her eyes full of panic.

"You acted as a spy for the old man; I pretended not to know, yet granted you a lofty position in the residence. Do you truly think This Prince fully trusts you?" Mo Junyan sneered, "Or do you think your deeds were brilliant? I didn't notice at all."

"Prince, I—"

"You reported This Prince's movements to the old man; I don't mind, but you absolutely should not have reported Chi Nan Yi's matter. I thought you had discretion; now it seems I overestimated you. Therefore, you need not stay by This Prince's side any longer."

"Prince! I acknowledge my guilt, I acknowledge my guilt. From the start I was the Emperor's man, I was also forced, but I did not inform His Majesty about Miss Chi's matter; I only mentioned that you have a favored person."

"Didn't say?"

Mo Junyan frowned; if he hadn't said it, how did the father‑emperor hear about it?

"I have been by your side for years; whenever the Emperor inquired about you, I always skirted the issue, never revealing matters important to the Prince."

"Even so, This Prince can no longer accommodate you." Mo Junyan said coldly, "Think for yourself: should This Prince drive you away, or will you leave on your own, from where you came, back to where?"

"Prince…"

"This Prince does not like repetition."

Hearing this, Yun Bai, still kneeling, bowed three times to Mo Junyan, "I bid farewell, Prince."

With those words spoken, he rose and left the study.

The light snow continued to drizzle from the sky; Chi Nan Yi, with Ji Bai, went to the grain shop, where few people were present.

Chi Nan Yi counted the days; in five more days, a massive blizzard would arrive.

"Miss, shall we still buy grain? In the past two days, the grain shops of Jingcheng have been bought out by us."

"Hmm, buy some more, have them delivered to the shop's backyard; make sure it's discreet, so no one notices."

"Understood."

Chi Nan Yi entered the Five Grains Hall; the young servant, looking at her attire, found it oddly familiar.

Just then, the shopkeeper of the Five Grains Shop smiled and stepped forward: "Yo! Honored guest! Young master, it's been several months since you tended to my business."

Chi Nan Yi was slightly surprised; the shopkeeper actually still remembered her.

But it was understandable; throughout Jingcheng it would be hard to find anyone else who could buy so much grain at once like she did.

"Young master, how much grain do you wish to purchase today?"

"Whatever amount you have, that much I shall take."

Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper's face filled with smiles: "Your generosity is truly lavish, young master! I will still charge you the previous price—grain worth 30,000 taels of silver, delivered in full to whatever location you specify. How does that sound?"

"Is that all the grain you have in your shop now?"

"Grain prices around Jingcheng are too high. In past years our shop sourced grain from Changxi Town. This year the person who sold us grain ran into trouble, so our current stock is low, but we are still the largest grain shop in Jingcheng; other grain shops probably don't even have a fraction of what we have."

Changxi Town?

Could it be that the person he mentioned who procured grain for them is Hou Qinian of Changxi Town?

Chi Nan Yi's gaze turned cold as she looked at him, and she said with a half‑smile, "Changxi Town, you say? What a coincidence—I also know people there. Years ago, the Town Mayor Hou bought candy for me, but I haven't returned in a long time; I wonder how he's doing now."