Chapter 431: Drunk Lunatic

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

“If you can catch her eye, you will definitely be able to get her to help you fully.”

That was right. He had to catch the eye of Marquis Xiaoyao.

Empress Jia had to admit that it was indeed very difficult for her son to attract a woman like Qin Xiaoyao.

The Crown Prince was extremely reluctant to do so, but he did not dare to disobey.

He could only brace himself and reply, “Yes, Empress Mother.”

Only then did Empress Jia gesture with her hand.

“Go then. Go and stay by Marquis Xiaoyao’s side,” she said with some fatigue.

The Crown Prince raised his head to look at Empress Jia.

“Yes, Empress Mother,” he answered as he bowed again.

Then, he turned around and left.

In the afternoon, Qin Xiaoyao had just finished her meal and was about to wrap up early when the Crown Prince came again.

When she saw the Crown Prince, who was clearly extremely reluctant but still trying his best to smile at her, Qin Xiaoyao was also in a bad mood.

“Your humble servant has already eaten. The food in the army is simple and crude. I’m afraid Your Highness will not be used to it,” she said, but inwardly, she thought, “So, can Your Highness please leave quickly?”

“It’s fine. I’m not picky,” the Crown Prince hurriedly said.

He was afraid that Qin Xiaoyao would chase him away again.

Of course, it wasn’t that he was willing to stay, but he was worried that his Empress mother would punish him if he was chased away.

Qin Xiaoyao almost rolled her eyes at the Crown Prince.

“Oh, 1 see. In that case… Men!” Qin Xiaoyao shouted to someone outside the tent.

A soldier immediately entered the tent.

“Lord Marquis!” He bowed to Qin Xiaoyao and replied loudly.

“Bring His Highness the Crown Prince to the kitchen for his meal. Make sure the people in the kitchen serve him well,” Qin Xiaoyao instructed.

“Yes, Lord Marquis!” the soldier immediately answered.

Then, he walked toward the Crown Prince.

Ignoring the Crown Prince’s obvious unwillingness to leave, he said loudly, “Your Highness, this way please…”

The Crown Prince looked at Qin Xiaoyao.

When he saw that Qin Xiaoyao did not even look at him, he finally left with the soldier.

Qin Xiaoyao only raised her head to look at the entrance of the tent when the Crown Prince had walked out of the tent.

Then, she quickly packed up the documents and stood up from behind the desk.

If she didn’t leave now, when would she be able to leave?

After leaving the army camp, Qin Xiaoyao decided to go to the manor for a look.

When she arrived at the manor, she heard that Princess Xiangyang was also there.

A bad feeling welled up in her heart as Qin Xiaoyao walked towards the manor.

As soon as she entered the front courtyard, she saw Princess Xiangyang running out crying.

“Hey, you…” Qin Xiaoyao called out to her instinctively.

Her voice attracted Princess Xiangyang’s attention.

However, Princess Xiangyang only glanced at her once before looking away.

“Sob sob…” After crying out loud twice, she covered her face and ran away.

Qin Xiaoyao stretched out her hand in an attempt to stop Princess Xiangyang.

However, after raising her hand, she put it down eventually.

Then, she turned around and walked inside quickly.

At the same time, the ominous feeling in her heart grew stronger.

Qin Xiaoyao finally found Liu Ling in the back courtyard.

At this moment, Liu Ling was checking the accounts as if nothing had happened.

When he saw Qin Xiaoyao, he quickly stood up and bowed to Qin Xiaoyao with a smile.

“Lord Marquis…”

Qin Xiaoyao frowned.

“Just now…” She pointed outside in an inquiring manner.

Liu Ling was surprised momentarily before he thought of something.

“Lord Marquis wants to ask about the Princess?” he asked with a smile.

“Mm-hmm,” Qin Xiaoyao replied.

The smile on Liu Ling’s face finally disappeared.

Just as he was about to speak, he saw Qin Xiaoyao enter the room and close the door.

After closing the door, Qin Xiaoyao then turned around and walked toward Liu Ling.

“I bumped into that girl in the front courtyard just now. She ran out crying,” Qin Xiaoyao quickly spoke up.

Liu Ling frowned.

“What… did she say to you?” Qin Xiaoyao asked in a probing manner.

Liu Ling raised his head.

Qin Xiaoyao quickly shut up.

After a moment of silence, Liu Ling finally nodded.

“Yesterday, you asked me if I had a sweetheart, Cousin-in-law. Did the princess ask you to ask me?” he asked Qin Xiaoyao.

Qin Xiaoyao’s expression froze.

When she saw the certainty in Liu Ling’s eyes, she nodded.

Liu Ling’s eyes flickered, but he quickly regained his composure. His expression implied “I knew it.”

Thereafter, he stood up straight and cupped his hands in greeting to Qin Xiaoyao.

“Cousin-in-law, please help me tell the princess that my background is lowly and I am not worthy of her. Please ask her not to think about me,” he said solemnly.

Qin Xiaoyao froze again.

This was… a truly complete rejection.

Also, that girl Xiangyang was really bold. She actually came to ask him directly.

“Er…” Qin Xiaoyao looked like she was put in a spot.

That girl had just been rejected. If she were to go and say those words to that girl again, wouldn’t it upset her again?

When he saw this, Liu Ling bowed to Qin Xiaoyao once again. His attitude was very firm.

Qin Xiaoyao sighed at this point.

When she thought of Princess Xiangyang’s demeanor when she ran out, she felt a little bit of heartache for her.

“Actually, Empress Jia and that girl are two different people. She…”

“I have already made up my mind. Cousin-in-law, please don’t persuade me anymore on this matter.”

His status was worlds apart from that of the princess.

Even if Empress Jia fell one day, she would still be the noble princess of the Great Jin State.

As for him, even if the Song family and the Liu family’s grievances were redressed, it would not change the fact that he had once descended to working in a brothel.

Putting aside the enmity between their ancestors, their disparate identities meant that they were not destined to be together.

Since it was destined to be so, why should he give the other party hope?

Qin Xiaoyao sighed and didn’t try to persuade him anymore.

When he saw this, Liu Ling quickly went forward and reported the recent revenue of the century egg workshop to Qin Xiaoyao.

Qin Xiaoyao saw that Liu Ling was serious about his work and did not seem to be affected by Princess Xiangyang’s matter at all. She was even more certain that Princess Xiangyang’s wish would not bear fruit.

After putting away her worries, Qin Xiaoyao quickly immersed herself in listening to the business report.

By the time she left the manor, more than two hours had passed.

After leaving the manor, Qin Xiaoyao mounted her horse and quickly left.

After returning to the city, she went straight back to the Marquis’s residence.

True enough, Princess Xiangyang was waiting for her at the Marquis’s residence.

Moreover, she pounced on Qin Xiaoyao when she saw the latter, her whole body reeking of alcohol.

As Qin Xiaoyao held her up, her brows were furrowed somewhat tightly.

“How much did you drink?” she asked.

This silly girl even knew how to drown her sorrows in alcohol?

“Hehe… Not much. Just… just one jar.

“Boo hoo, Master… Master, they lied to me…

“Didn’t they say that getting drunk would solve a thousand troubles? Boo hoo… 1 drank so much that 1 almost couldn’t stand properly. Why… why do 1 still feel so troubled?”

“Furthermore, boo hoo… Furthermore, the taste of this wine is terrible…” Princess Xiangyang threw away the wine jar in her hand as she spoke.

The wine jar crashed to the ground and shattered into numerous pieces.

Qin Xiaoyao quickly supported Princess Xiangyang and brought her to one side.

Initially, she was a little angry that Princess Xiangyang was dumping rubbish in her own house. However, she could not bring herself to scold her when she saw her anguished expression.

“Only when you’re used to it will it taste good. A little girl like you naturally wouldn’t be able to appreciate it,” Qin Xiaoyao replied.

Following that, she put her arm around Princess Xiangyang’s waist and brought her to the back courtyard.

“Why is a decent well-brought up little girl like you drinking wine? You’re even acting like a drunk lunatic after drinking.

“Just look at you…

“Forget it. Follow me to go rest now. I’ll settle the score with you after you sober up.”

Princess Xiangyang was very cooperative when she was being supported by someone and knew that the person who was supporting her was her own

master..