Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

Xiao Rong'er mused, "Lu Qi is Prince Jin's own flesh and blood. The power of Jin Prince Mansion is immense, far beyond the Crown Prince Mansion. Who will triumph in the end is still uncertain."

Gongsun Liuying said gravely, "Mother, if Jin Prince Mansion ascends to power in the future, the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion can still marry my sister there. But for now, we must obtain the true Qilin."

Xiao Rong'er fell into deep thought.

Gongsun Liuying urged earnestly, "Mother! Your daughter has already lost the title of Phoenix Girl; I cannot lose the Qilin husband too! Besides, my proposal is flawless. Rather than betting on one side, why not place chips on both?"

Xiao Rong'er was somewhat persuaded.

But in just an instant, she dismissed her daughter's suggestion.

Xiao Rong'er said, "It won't work."

Gongsun Liuying replied, "How would you know without trying?"

Xiao Rong'er spoke with heartfelt sincerity, "Prince Jin is no fool. How could he accept the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion again after their betrayal? Not only would he oppose it, even your father or His Majesty wouldn't agree."

Gongsun Liuying sank back onto the chair in despair: "So… must I really marry Lu Qi? Marry a fake Qilin who has deceived the entire world?"

She laughed through her tears, "I, Gongsun Liuying, born with a destiny as the Phoenix, end up so pitiful?"

Xiao Rong'er, looking at her daughter's tears, felt her heart soften.

She sighed, "Do you truly not want to marry Lu Qi?"

Gongsun Liuying raised her tearful eyes and stared blankly at Xiao Rong'er: "Does Mother have a plan?"

Xiao Rong'er picked up a pair of scissors and trimmed the fiercely burning wick: "In the next two days, focus on preparing for your wedding. Mother will handle everything for you."

Gongsun Liuying looked deeply into Xiao Rong'er's eyes and tentatively asked, "Mother, shouldn't you tell me first what you intend to do?"

Xiao Rong'er smiled, caressing her daughter's cheek, and softly said, "If I tell you now, there will be no surprise. Just think of it as Mother's wedding gift to you."

Gongsun Liuying: "Wedding… gift."

"Look at you, didn't sleep well again last night, did you? It shows—you look frail. Come here and lie down."

Xiao Rong'er took her daughter's hand, leading her to lie on the soft bed. She pulled the quilt over her, gazing at her lovingly and indulgently: "From childhood to now, you've admired only your father. How I wish you'd also look at your mother."

Gongsun Liuying opened her mouth slightly, "Mother… I…"

"Mother knows." Xiao Rong'er smiled, "It's the first time you've asked me for something. How could I possibly refuse you? Sleep now. I promise you, you'll marry the Guardian Qilin."

Gongsun Liuying gazed deeply into Xiao Rong'er's eyes. Her gaze was sharp and resolute.

Liuying's expression softened, and she obediently nodded.

"That's more like it."

Xiao Rong'er kept watch by Gongsun Liuying's bedside until she drifted into deep sleep, then left the room.

Tan'er pushed the door open and entered: "Miss… has fallen asleep?"

She scratched her head, "Strange, what did Xiao Rong'er say to Gongsun Liuying?"

"Madam, shall we return to the courtyard?"

Hong Xiu asked.

Xiao Rong'er said, "No, I want to check on Ziyu."

Hong Xiu lit a lantern and walked ahead to illuminate the path for Xiao Rong'er.

Tan'er followed them from afar, daring not to get too close.

She watched as the two entered Gongsun Ziyu's courtyard. Shortly after, Hong Xiu came out and went to Gongsun Liuying's room carrying a pile of clothes.

They were covered with red silk, but the corner of a garment peeked through, revealing its true nature.

"It's a wedding dress, Gongsun Liuying's wedding dress."

Tan'er continued her surveillance outside for more than an hour before Xiao Rong'er finally left with Hong Xiu.

"Sister!"

Tan'er climbed through the window into Meng Qianqian's room.

She recounted the surveillance details to Meng Qianqian, sparing nothing.

"Why would Gongsun Liuying's wedding dress be taken to her sister's courtyard?"

"Exactly, how strange! Not just the wedding dress—there were plenty of jewelry items too! I recognized them!"

Tan'er had followed Gongsun Liuying for a long time; she could identify the jewelry boxes at a glance.

"Who else went there?"

Meng Qianqian asked.

Tan'er thought for a moment: "Hmm… the Pavilion's seamstress."

"Seamstress, wedding dress, jewelry…" Meng Qianqian furrowed her brows, "Could it be… that Gongsun Liuying doesn't wish to marry Lu Qi, so she and Xiao Rong'er devised a plan to have her own sister take her place as the bride?"

Tan'er suddenly understood: "Ah, I see now! No wonder they needed the seamstress—to alter the wedding dress's size!"

Meng Qianqian's brows knitted further: "It still doesn't add up."

Tan'er tilted her head: "What doesn't add up?"

Meng Qianqian pondered for a moment and said, "The matter could've been conducted more secretly within Gongsun Liuying's courtyard. Why go through such extra trouble?"

Tan'er tilted her head again: "True."

Meng Qianqian smiled: "I understand now. Xiao Rong'er is setting me up. The one she truly intends to send to the bridal sedan is me."