Splendid Twins

The first snow fell at night. When the first ray of sunlight in the morning shone on the snow, the silver light and the white earth complemented each other. Everything seemed exceptionally quiet and peaceful.

The cold wind outside brought some snowflakes in her face. Liu Niang closed the door and went into the house with the basket of vegetables. She had never seen the kind of hot pot her daughter wanted to eat, and she was afraid that it was the way the rich families in Beijing eat it.

"Yaoyao, you've been back for so long and I haven't asked you who your adoptive parents are."

Si Yao sat next to the fireplace, warming herself by the fire and eating pine nuts, while Si Laoer next to her was peeling pine nuts and roasting sweet potatoes.

"My adoptive father is a super-class Duke of Zhenguo."

"what!"

"Clang!"

Si Lao Er didn't sit firmly and fell to the ground. He didn't care about the pine nuts scattered on the ground and said with shock:

"The Duke of Zhenguo?"

Si Yao stepped forward and stretched out his hand to pull him up. Seeing that Liu Niang was also stunned, he couldn't help but chuckle:

"The reaction was so big?"

Si Lao Er clapped his hands and sat up with a frown on his face:

"We only know that she is the offspring of a noble family in Shangjing. The woman who brought her here said that the child had a bad fate and needed to be raised in a poor family to ward off disasters. She also left us ten taels of silver and a jade pendant, and told us not to tell her and to send her to Beijing when the child was found. I was afraid that your grandma would torture her and she would be hard to explain if something happened in the future, so I gave the silver to your grandma and lied that the fortune teller said that she was destined to be noble. As long as we were at home, she never let her work, until that day when she found the jade pendant and wanted to go to Beijing to find her family. Your mother and I didn't have time to raise money for her travel expenses before she left, and in the end, you came back."

After Si Lao Er finished speaking, Si Yao's face became solemn. How could Zhou Wan, a girl from a peasant family, dare to go to the capital alone to find her relatives, not to mention that she knew the destination? When she first met Zhou Wan, she felt that the girl was not simple-minded. How dare a girl who had never seen the world to play tricks under the nose of the Duke's wife!

"I don't know how she is doing. Yaoyao, I, I raised her after all."

Liu Niang was afraid that Si Yao would have an opinion, so she hurried to explain that she raised Zhou Wan as her own daughter.

Si Yao smiled slightly to show that she didn't mind. She didn't care at first but now that she thought about it, she was afraid that there might be another group of people involved in the exchange between her and Zhou Wan!

The fact that Zhou Wan came directly to the door shows that she knows that she is the blood of the Duke's Mansion. Is there someone manipulating all this?

At this moment, in a teahouse in Beijing, Zhou Wan blushed and looked at the extremely noble and handsome man in front of her, her face full of shyness:

"Your Highness can just send someone to tell us, why would you bother to come here in person?"

The man was dressed in bright yellow brocade with cloud patterns. He was none other than His Royal Highness Prince Li of Dai Viet. The current emperor had five sons and four daughters, and Prince Li was the third. His mother was Concubine Wei, who was the most favored concubine in the harem.

"Just follow your heart. I hope to meet Miss Zhou then."

The looks of the royal children have always been outstanding, and Prince Li has specially dressed up, with a gentle and elegant face. Zhou Wan felt her cheeks getting hotter and hotter.

Concubine Wei invited the noble ladies in Beijing to attend a tea-tasting party in the palace three days later. Every year when the first snow came, the noble ladies would make tea, appreciate the snow, and recite poems and compose couplets. The winner would receive the concubine's jewelry as a dowry and bring it to her husband's family in the future to show her face.

The imperial concubine sent people to deliver invitations to the residence of the others, but Prince Li found an excuse to invite Zhou Wan out. The two had met several times on other occasions, but this was the first time they had met in private.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Wanwan will definitely attend the banquet."

"A few days ago, my mother asked me what kind of concubine I wanted to marry. I told her that I already have someone in mind, but the time is not right yet and I cannot announce it to the public. Miss Zhou will understand me, right?"

Prince Li's tone was unusually gentle, and his eyes and brows revealed a unique charm. Every subtle expression of this noble and passionate man made people feel extremely attractive, and Zhou Wan's heartbeat was completely disordered!

Suppressing the excitement in my heart, I spoke incoherently:

"Your Highness is resourceful and has thought of everything. I, I will always stand by your side."

Prince Li smiled knowingly, "As long as Wanwan said this, it is enough for me."

Zhou Wan was afraid that she would not be able to control herself and scream, so she clenched her five fingers tightly in her sleeves and stood up to salute with all her manners:

"I hope Your Highness will forgive me. Wanwan has been out for a while. If I don't come back home, I'm afraid my elders will be worried..."

"I was inconsiderate. How about I arrange for someone to take you there?"

"No need to bother you, Your Highness. The carriage in the mansion is parked downstairs."

After Zhou Wan left, Prince Li's expression changed instantly, with a look of disgust between his brows. He drank the tea in the cup in one gulp and put it down heavily!

A man walked out from behind the screen in the room and sat next to him, unaffected. His dark brocade clothes made him look low-key and restrained.

"Your Highness, there is no need to be angry. It is just a show."

"My father has been slow to appoint a crown prince, and most of the court officials have been bribed. I can't wait any longer."

Prince Li clenched his fist on the table. If the Duke of Zhenguo had not rejected him verbally, would he, a prince, have any reason to sell his smiles to a peasant girl?

"Miss Zhou is a little naive. Your Highness can just put in a little effort..."

When Prince Li heard this, a strange smile appeared on his face:

"The old fox, the Duke of Zhenguo, is very cunning. He is impeccable in both his beginning and end. Fortunately, his daughter... is just a vulgar and stupid peasant girl!"

"Your Highness is right. If Miss Zhou can get the entire Duke's Mansion to join you by herself, then your grand plan will be realized one day earlier."

The man poured a cup of tea for Prince Li and handed it to him. Prince Li was moved by what he said and couldn't help but sigh:

"My mother is truly the smartest woman in the world!"

"Your Highness has a lot of secrets. Miss Zhou came here especially for you. Your Highness, just relax."

"You are right. Mother's chess skills are better than father's!"

Prince Li took a sip of tea and said nonchalantly, thinking of an old story his mother had told him. He didn't take it seriously at the time, but now he was celebrating...

As soon as Zhou Wan returned to the Duke's Mansion, she was called to the study by the Duke of Zhenguo. She saluted to the Duke of Zhenguo as soon as she entered the room:

"Wanwan greets father."

The Duke of Zhenguo squinted his eyes and looked at Zhou Wan without saying a word. A dark look flashed across the depths of his eyes. After a while, he asked in a calm voice:

"Where did you go?"

"Go out and take a walk."

Zhou Wan lied without changing her expression. The Duke of Zhenguo asked casually, straightened the letter in his hand and said:

"It's been a while since you came back. It's the right time to say something. Our family may seem powerful, but in fact, we are walking on thin ice. You must be careful about what you say and do when you are outside. When your brother gets married, your father will choose a good marriage for you. Do you understand your father's heart?"

Zhou Wan lowered her eyes to hide the deep meaning in her eyes:

"Wanwan obeys father's orders."

"Okay, go to your grandmother often and show your filial piety to your father."

"My daughter knows."

Zhou Wan walked out of the study and took a deep breath. A flash of mockery flashed across her eyes. Did he really think she was a fool who could be fooled?

What good marriage can be? How good can it be?

Only the position of the master of the harem is a good marriage!

She had been dreaming about some scenes intermittently in recent days, involving her and that bitch!

The happiest thing was that she dreamed that she was wearing a long phoenix robe and standing on a high position to receive the worship of everyone. At that moment, she really felt the honor that power brought her. Unfortunately, before she could make any move, that bitch came out and ruined it!

Thinking of this, Zhou Wan's eyes darkened. Now that she had established contact with Prince Li, she would not allow anyone to stop her!

If Si Yao dares to ruin her plans, he must be prepared for her revenge!