"There's no such thing!" Murong Rui hurriedly shook her head. "Mother, do you think I'm that foolish?"
"Good that there isn't," Madam Xue sighed in relief. "If you were to succumb to the young Lord Huo now, you'd be ruined!"
Murong Rui, still innocent in matters of love, blushed. She said, "Mother, I swear nothing happened. I just... just gave him a little taste, that's all."
"A wife is not as good as a concubine, a concubine not as good as a prostitute, a prostitute not as good as stealing, and stealing not as good as stealing unsuccessfully," Madam Xue said with satisfaction. "For a man, what's truly devastating is to look but not touch."
Murong Rui wholeheartedly agreed. During their secret rendezvous these past few days, she and Huo Yuan had naturally grown closer, especially when alone in the carriage. She had let him do as he pleased but always withdrew at the crucial moment.
Huo Yuan was practically addicted to Murong Rui, a few times almost ignoring her wishes to possess her. But each time, she'd cry, claiming she was scared he'd abandon her.
Huo Yuan dared not act recklessly anymore, choosing instead to placate her. He even lamented, "You little enchantress, you've got me wrapped around your finger."
Madam Xue observed her love-struck daughter and said, "Have you talked to him about marrying you formally?"
"I don't want to bring it up now," Murong Rui said and pursed her lips. "Huo Yuan does like me, but he's also betrothed to Murong Yu, who is of legitimate birth. Aligning with the House of Lord Li would significantly benefit his family's future. Murong Yu, not me, should be the one to marry into their family now."
Madam Xue sighed deeply and said, "Originally, I had everything planned for you. Let Murong Yu marry first; her alliance with the House of Lord Li would inevitably aid Huo Yuan's meteoric rise. Then we could slowly work on your relationship. But now all the plans are disrupted."
"So, Mother, what should I do now? Do I really have to marry into that family?" Murong Rui asked urgently.
"Given that your sister seems truly unwilling to marry, you'll have to be the one," Madam Xue replied.
"But if I marry now, won't Lady Huo despise me? And what about Madam Murong? If she finds out I've stolen Murong Yu's intended, how could I ever enter their family with dignity?" Murong Rui asked as her face turned pale.
Madam Xue also felt troubled. "Why don't you talk to the young Lord Huo? Ask him to sincerely apologize and make amends with Murong Yu?"
"Fine," Murong Rui said as she clenched her teeth. "I'll do it. This isn't the right time for me to marry into that family anyway."
Murong Yu was uninterested in how Madam Xue and Murong Rui plotted. She slept well that night, and the next day Princess Anyang of the House of Prince Cheng visited.
Princess Anyang was exquisitely elegant and regally poised. The capital city boasted two beauties, one was Murong Yu, the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister, and the other was Princess Anyang of the House of Prince Cheng. They were also best friends.
After having the maid Aman serve some refreshments, Murong Yu turned to Princess Anyang and said, "It's been so long, Anyang."
Princess Anyang looked puzzled. She said, "Possessed by something unholy, are we? What do you mean, 'it's been so long'? We just saw each other a week ago."
"Don't I have the right to feel that a day apart feels like an eternity?" Murong Yu shot her a sidelong glance and then hugged her. "My beautiful Chu Damei."
"Chu" was the royal surname; the House of Prince Cheng was a genuine royal relative.
After letting Murong Yu hug her, Princess Anyang chuckled and returned her gaze. She said, "Who dares to claim they're beautiful when standing next to the celestial beauty Murong Yu? Tell me, do you get intoxicated with your own reflection every day?"