Yes, I Do(n't)

Chapter 3: Aurelia on top

Crown Prince Nangong Yingjun is still staring at her back as she walks towards the garden before she stops at the garden for a while to gently caress a beautiful blooming of a purple coloured chrysanthemum flower but only to crush it seconds later. He momentarily sucked his breath at that unexpected sight of her being somewhat unladylike. Chrysanthemum is after all his favourite flower. Did she do it on purpose?

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From the original owner's memories, she knows that the flowers have been planted there because the Crown Prince loves chrysanthemum flowers. And, that silly eldest miss planted those damnable flowers in the garden so that she can sit there to enjoy the flowers whenever she is free to do so. Too bad, young one. This older sister coincidentally hates chrysanthemum flowers.

She gracefully turns her back and says, "Mother, this daughter is somewhat annoyed with blooming chrysanthemum flowers all over the garden. Can a different flower be planted here?"

Concubine Li Xiyin is somewhat surprised by her sudden demand, "Baiyu... Are you sure? 2 years ago, you're the one instructed the gardener to plant chrysanthemum flowers in the garden. What's with the sudden change?"

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"Yes... I am somewhat bored by these flowers. 2 years are just enough time for everything to change. For good. I wish I could burn these flowers but that would definitely burn the entire manor isn't that right mother..."

Concubine Lin Xiyin look at her daughter-in-law before they both look at the man who is staring at Shen Baiyu.

Shen Lianhua then asks, "What kind of flowers do you wish to be planted in the garden, older sister?"

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"Daffodils are for rebirth and new beginnings..." She briefly answered before she continued to walk and exits the garden out from the sights from the 3 individuals still seating inside the waiting hall.

Crown Prince Nangong Yingjun immediately stands up and says, "Seeing that the eldest miss is quite agreeable with the annulment of the engagement, this prince will inform royal father and royal mother accordingly. Tell her that the compensation will be handsomely given for her trouble too."

"Third royal brother, what is not meant to be, not meant to be. Both of you will be better off with other persons. Do not take anything too seriously. Baiyu seems to be greatly affected by the sudden news of you wanting to annul the engagement. Let her be... After all, you've got what you wanted in the first place."

"This concubine bids farewell to His Royal Highness... Rouran, please guide his highness to the door gate. Moli, instruct the gardener to uproot at the chrysanthemums and planted daffodils instead."

"Yes, madame. This servant will let him know immediately."

Crown Prince Nangong Yingjun look at the maidservant that has immediately walk out from the waiting hall and turns left. He looks at Concubine Li Xiyin, slightly bow his head before he too walks out from the same hall with his older sister following him closely behind.

After a few minutes of walking slowly through the walkway, he asks "The eldest miss has definitely changed. She never dares to talk with me before but now..."

First Princess Nangong Rouran looks at her younger brother and says, "Let her be, third royal brother... She has taken quite a blow that nearly took her life. Change is a must for her to continue living after the engagement between the two of you has been annulled. She will be the one that the people will point their fingers on. Not you. Tell me honestly, third royal brother... Did you think that there will be anyone in our kingdom who is willing to ask her hand in marriage after the engagement is annulled? No... She is 17-year of age now and a 'leftover' of the crown prince. You better make sure that you'll compensate her well. She needed that for a smooth-sailing life if she is never to be married in her lifetime."

Crown Prince Nangong Yingjun then lowered his head and is somewhat ashamed not to think thoroughly before he intends to annul his engagement, "She can always be my concubine..."

First Princess Nangong Rouran looks at him angrily and before she could reply to him, a peal of soft laughter can be heard coming from behind them. The Shen sisters are both standing behind the royal siblings, hand in hand.

"Your Royal Highness, with all due respect, I am the di daughter of the Shen family. If I am to be married to anyone, I have the right to be the wife and not a concubine. Even the shu1 daughter of our family is to be married into the Bai family as the di wife to the di son. I insist on being a di wife and no one else will be allowed to be with my man."

Crown Prince Nangong Yingjun is staring at his so-called fiancée who is still wearing her white veil, "So be it. Let this prince see who is willing to take you as his wife and will remain true only to one woman. Hah!"

Shen Baiyu turns her back to walk away but then she says without bothering to face the crown prince, "No men are the same. I do believe that in this era, there is a man who is willing to spend the rest of his life with only one woman. Though it will be hard with all the schemings and plannings of others. If there is none, I will rather be without a husband for the rest of my life. Lianhua... Let us go back to the waiting hall and have a chat with mother through lunch. Older sister-in-law, I will take my niece along too."

With a slight bow at her sister-in-law, she leaves together with her younger sister ignoring that someone is staring at the back of her head intensely. She made the right decision to walk through this walkway and heard what that man had just said. Did he want to make her his concubine? Dream on. If marriage can secure her status here, so be it. She will find someone who is willing to accept her for what she is. She is no longer that weak, timid and reserve eldest miss of the Shen family. She is Aurelia Michael Shen Baiyu, one of the richest individuals in the 21st century with endless capabilities that will rival any men and women of her times. She will slowly and gradually make her way to the top in these ancient times.

She then slyly looks at her younger sister and says, "Lianhua, no one has ever seen my face right except our family members and trusted servants, right?"

Shen Lianhua looks at her sister and replies, "Yes... Older sister, people are saying that because you almost never went out of the manor and always wear a veil during each outing, you are born ugly. Older sister, why must you wear a veil?"

Shen Baiyu then softly says, "I've promised myself that I will only stop wearing a veil once I'm married. But, with my veil, I can assess those around me. Who is true to me...? And, those who are happy with my so-called fall out from grace. With just my looks, I can get anyone to worship me but..."

"Mother always said that your beauty can bring down a city and even our Kingdom... Even father is worried that if others know how beautiful you are, trouble will arise. When sister-in-law first saw you, she had been swept off her feet too. Older brother is quite jealous back then. Hahahaha!"

"I will continue to wear my veil, but it is quite inconvenient... I wanted to wear a mask for the banquet."

"Let us go to the famous jeweller in the city! They are doing custom-orders too."

Shen Baiyu gently pats her younger sister's hand, "Definitely. Soon I will be a rich miss! Hahahaha!"

She smiles happily beneath her veil, she will find a way to make even more money. After all, money makes her very happy... Older sister is quite high maintenance, so she needs to earn money in order to maintain herself. Being young is a privilege, ensuring that her beauty stays youthful is a bonus. She should enjoy her life to its fullest while she is here. She still hopes that she will be able to go back to her time but, is she dead? She is curious about her condition and she misses her annoying family members the most.

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