Chapter 1791: Chapter 1791

Yan Ruchun wore a cold smile at the corner of her lips, while Tian Xuan’s expression wasn’t looking too good either.

Xu Muqing took a sip of red wine and continued, "Speaking of the Yao Mansion, it seems they have not been at ease. Ever since Yao Hanai’s affairs were exposed, even Yao Zhilan has been gossiped about for quite a while! Oh, I wonder if this will affect the girl’s marriage prospects."

As the saying goes, when one prospers, all prosper; when one suffers, all suffer. Even though Yao Hanai is a legitimate daughter and Yao Zhilan a concubine’s daughter, they are both daughters of the Yao Mansion. If one’s reputation is damaged, the other will naturally be affected too.

Yan Ruchun’s lips curled up, sneering, "What if she is affected? Do you think Yao Zhilan is any good? Don’t forget, when Yao Hanai was cornered at the inn, Yao Zhilan was among those blocking her!"

Xu Muqing blinked, somewhat confused.

Lin Yuan knew that with Xu Muqing’s naïve little mind, she couldn’t comprehend Yao Zhilan’s malicious intentions.

Yet, speaking of Yao Zhilan, she isn’t particularly smart either, to conspire with outsiders against her own elder sister. Even if there’s an irreparable rift, she should consider her future.

Lin Yuan nodded approvingly at Yan Ruchun’s words.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed Tian Xuan frowning, a complex glint in her eyes flashed and vanished.

Lin Yuan suddenly thought of the matter between Tian Xuan and Cheng Haoxuan, which was also revealed by a concubine’s daughter from her family.

Fortunately, that concubine’s daughter wasn’t foolish enough to spread the matter far and wide; otherwise, Tian Xuan wouldn’t have gotten to where she is today with Cheng Haoxuan.

However, from Tian Xuan’s expression, things didn’t seem to be as fine as she imagined.

The topic of conversation was a bit heavy, Lin Yuan coughed lightly, raised her glass towards Yan Ruchun, and said with a smile, "Ruchun, talking about this palace banquet, you can say it was a blessing in disguise. Although the process was dangerous, luckily Eldest Young Master Wei is truly devoted to you. It’s commendable that he stood up in such a situation. Congratulations, Ruchun!"

Yan Ruchun blushed slightly, her lips curled upwards, unable to restrain the smile on her face.

"Indeed, I was really scared then, fearing His Majesty might marry you off to Xiliang under Consort Liu’s persuasion! Alas, I don’t have many friends in the Capital city; if you left just like that, I would cry for several days!"

As she spoke, Xu Muqing couldn’t help but pout, tears threatening to fall.

Tian Xuan nudged her jokingly, "So if Miss Yan marries far away to Xiliang, you would only cry for a few days, huh? Tsk tsk, you’re quite cold-hearted."

"Aren’t you? I leave and you only cry for a few days. I remember you quarreled with Foolish Rong and cried for over ten days! Hmph, you’re indeed someone who values romance over friendship!"

Yan Ruchun cast a sidelong glance at Xu Muqing, somewhat jealous, and muttered.

Xu Muqing was so anxious that sweat broke out on her forehead, even dropping her chopsticks: "No, no, I’m not someone who values romance over friendship! I would cry for so many days too!"

"Alright! We all understand your feelings for Ruchun; they’re just teasing you!"

Lin Yuan chuckled, pursing her lips, quickly comforting Xu Muqing. If she didn’t, this gullible girl might end up crying her eyes out!

After toasting Yan Ruchun, Tian Xuan and Xu Muqing continued with their amusing chatter while Lin Yuan just put down her glass. Yan Ruchun personally poured her another drink and said solemnly, "Yuanyuan, thank you for your help at the palace banquet that day. If it weren’t for you, with my temper, I might have really been... been sent to Xiliang under Consort Liu’s arrangements. This toast, I offer to you, in gratitude for saving me and for your great kindness towards Boyu and me."

With that, Yan Ruchun drank her wine in one go, showing her profound gratitude towards Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan pursed her lips and also drained her glass.

With this drink, Lin Yuan knew that her friendship with Yan Ruchun deepened even further.

"Ruchun, that night of the palace banquet, did your father find out?" Follow current novᴇls on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵※𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾※𝙣𝙚𝙩

Putting down her glass, Lin Yuan thought of Yan Xiangkai. She had heard Xia Zheng mention before that Yan Xiangkai favored the palace’s Consort Liu even more than his own daughter.

If only his sister and daughter could get along, but now a rift had formed between them, clearly making it impossible for them to live like before.

Moreover, Yan Ruchun mentioned Consort Liu not as her aunt but simply like any other outsider, indicating her extreme disappointment with this aunt.

"Father naturally knows."

With just one sentence, Lin Yuan understood the current relationship between Yan Ruchun and Yan Xiangkai. Previously, she referred to him as father, but now used the more intimate term "father," indicating that their relationship hadn’t been negatively affected by Consort Liu’s interference, which relieved Lin Yuan greatly.

"That night, Boyu accompanied me back to the Yan Mansion, and I recounted Consort Liu’s provocations to my father. His face changed drastically, and he immediately smashed the cup in his hand. I knew Consort Liu had broken his heart."

As she spoke, Yan Ruchun’s face remained calm, without a hint of schadenfreude.

"Did Eldest Young Master Wei go back with you as well?"

Lin Yuan was a bit surprised, but upon thinking it over, she understood. Wei Boyu was genuinely sincere towards Yan Ruchun, and such matters naturally needed to be told by him personally.

A faint blush flickered across Yan Ruchun’s cheeks as she nodded, "Yes, he also took the opportunity to convey Uncle Wei and Aunt Wei’s intentions to my father. Father originally had no objections to Boyu and me, and after this incident, he viewed Boyu in a new light and immediately agreed."

In the end, Yan Ruchun’s face was flushed even more, showing her coy and lovely daughterly charms, making her truly endearing.

Lin Yuan nodded, genuinely happy for her.

However, has Yan Xiangkai truly become disgusted with Consort Liu, his sister? If merely temporary...