It was late at night by the time he returned to Yu Yi City.

Jiang Lan hadn’t forgotten about the three days he’d given Su Qinghan to consider his offer. However, that deadline had long since passed, and he certainly wasn’t going to personally visit her to ask for a decision.

With Lin Fan already dealt with, Su Qinghan was his for the taking, sooner or later.

So, he was now considering how to maximize his gains.

In the original story, Su Qinghan’s power had always kept pace with Lin Fan’s. This was not only due to her extraordinary talent and the guidance of a good master.

A large part of it was her own astonishing luck and profound fortune.

But unlike the protagonist, Lin Fan, whose perspective dominated the entire plot, Jiang Lan knew exactly when, where, and how Lin Fan would obtain his destined opportunities and fortunes.

As for Su Qinghan, the process of her obtaining various fortunes was merely mentioned in passing, making it difficult for Jiang Lan to intercept them.

Unless he treated her like a Treasure Hunting Mouse and followed her around constantly—which, in Jiang Lan’s view, was completely unnecessary.

As long as he could win Su Qinghan’s heart, then never mind her opportunities and fortunes—the woman herself would be his. Wouldn’t that be better?

’So I’m not in a hurry at all. The Su Family, on the other hand, should be starting to panic...’

On the way back, Ying had passed on a message, reminding him that a major figure seemed to be connected to Su Qinghan and that he should be careful not to be deceived by her.

Jiang Lan just smiled, unconcerned.

He knew the identity of Su Qinghan’s master very well.

The Jade Cyan Sword Immortal, one of the three great Sword Immortals in Great Xia today, also known as Yuqing Zhenren.

Though nominally affiliated with the Dao Cang Sword Sect, she was, in reality, a master of the Eighth Realm Tribulation Bridge Realm, with unfathomable power.

Such beings were exceedingly rare, and each one held immense power and influence.

The fact that his father had Ying pass on this message was enough to show they already knew about the Jade Cyan Sword Immortal’s existence.

’He didn’t tell me to leave Su Qinghan alone, just not to be deceived by her. Does that mean I don’t have to worry about the Jade Cyan Sword Immortal and can act as I please?’ Jiang Lan’s interest was suddenly piqued.

...

「At the same time, in the back courtyard of the Su Mansion.」

In a clear pool carved from cyan jade, a light mist swirled and flower petals drifted upon the water.

A hazy and infinitely beautiful figure was submerged within, her black hair casually tied up, revealing a slender, elegant neck as graceful as a swan’s.

Her skin was fairer than snow, flawless like white jade—a beauty beyond description.

"Our lady is truly so beautiful..."

"Yes, any woman would be unable to stop themselves from feeling envious and inadequate..."

"We’re all women, so why is our lady so gorgeous? No wonder the Prime Minister’s Son was so captivated by her."

Su Qinghan kept her eyes gently closed, listening to the whispers of the maids standing by her side. Her expression showed little emotion, remaining cold and calm.

Even now, the words of the Su Mansion’s clan elders echoed in her mind.

"Qinghan, you’re all grown up and so sensible. You should know that these years have not been easy for the Su Family in Yu Yi City."

"The other great families are watching us like tigers. The old master’s health is failing, getting worse day by day. And though you’ve joined the Dao Cang Sword Sect, you are still too young to shoulder the family’s burdens."

"The family doesn’t want to wrong you, but you understand. In this vast Great Xia Dynasty, who would dare to defy the Prime Minister’s Mansion?"

"You’ve been training at the academy for years, so you probably don’t know about the Kongshan Sect a few years ago. One of their female disciples chose death over submission, offending the Prime Minister’s Son. Overnight, the entire Sect was destroyed. To this day, the Sect Leader of the Kongshan Sect is still imprisoned in the dungeons of the Immortal Suppression Bureau, framed for colluding with Demons..."

"Sigh... We old bones aren’t afraid of anything, of course. But when we think of your little sister, so young and with such a bright future ahead of her..."

"Don’t worry, Qinghan. If you just say the word ’no,’ we old men will risk our very lives to fight for you to the end. We’ll report it to the Celestial Department! We refuse to believe there’s no law in this land, that they can just abduct a woman like this."

"..."

The corners of Su Qinghan’s mouth lifted into a slight curve, a mix of self-mockery and amusement.

For the past few days, the Su Mansion had exhausted all its kind words. Worried she might run away, they had assigned a flock of maids and servants to attend to her under the guise of "caring for her," never leaving her side for a moment.

The Su Mansion had raised her, providing her with a life free from want. She was not an ungrateful person.

But the thought of the hypocritical attitude of everyone in the Su Mansion, from top to bottom, struck her as somewhat laughable.

’I’ve been calm and unconcerned from the very beginning, yet they’re the ones who ended up being the most worried?’

’The hearts of men...’

SPLASH. Su Qinghan rose from the bath. Seeing this, the maids on either side hurried over to help her dress.

Once she was dressed, she went to the rear hall. A beautiful woman in ornate clothes and heavy makeup, adorned with pearls and jade, was waiting for her there. It was her birth mother, Mrs. Su.

"So beautiful. You truly are my daughter."

Mrs. Su’s eyes lit up. She rose, set down her teacup, and took a step forward to circle around Su Qinghan, looking more and more pleased with what she saw.

"Mother, isn’t this dress you picked for me a little... unsuitable?"

Su Qinghan looked at her reflection in the bronze mirror to the side, feeling a bit out of place, almost unrecognizable.

The girl in the mirror wore no makeup, her face bare, yet her natural, jade-like beauty was impossible to hide. Perhaps because she had just finished bathing, she exuded a fresh, natural air, like a lotus emerging from clear water, a beauty free of artifice.

She wore a floor-length, smoky-black gauze skirt, light as silk. Over it was a cloak of moon-white satin embroidered with magnolias and butterflies. Her hair was casually pinned up, with a single white jade hairpin stuck in at an angle, accentuating her long, fair neck.

A few strands of black hair fell beside her ears, adding a touch of playful charm to her otherwise cold demeanor.

Beneath the black gauze skirt, her graceful and delicate figure was faintly visible. Her skin, whiter than frost and snow, seemed to glow, as beautiful as the finest mutton-fat jade.

"How is it unsuitable? My daughter looks good in anything. Usually, you prefer simple, plain-colored dresses and don’t dress up much, but you’re already beautiful enough."

"But dressed like this, I guarantee that once the Prime Minister’s Son sees you, he won’t be able to take his eyes off you..." Mrs. Su said with a smile, pulling Su Qinghan’s hand and having her sit down beside her.

Su Qinghan actually felt very awkward. It was the first time in her life she had worn such a daring outfit. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

She would have believed it if someone told her it was lingerie meant for boudoir fun.

’And yet, I listened to Mother and obediently put it on. I don’t know where I found the confidence... Perhaps I just feel that Young Master Jiang is far more open and upright than the world believes—a man who hides his true talents, deliberately tarnishes his own reputation, and seeks no empty fame.’

"Actually, I know about the pride in your heart, my daughter. I know that deep down, you are unwilling to become a concubine for the son of the Prime Minister’s Mansion."