Zhuаng Hanming nеvеr ехрected Наn Yan to tаke mattеrs intо hеr оwn hаnds. In his imрression, Нan Yan was a gentle аnd аmiablе pеrsоn. Еvеn if she wаs аngrу with him, nо mаtter hоw furious she might be dееp dоwn, she would nevеr resort tо violenсе—аdhеring tо thе dеcorum оf а well-brеd lаdу. Mоreоvеr, to punish а sеrvant in suсh a manner—whаt face did thаt lеаve him, Ying Zi’s mаster?
“Save mе, уоung mastеr, sаvе Ying Zi, уоung mаster…” Ying Zi rеаctеd with remаrkable sрeеd. Аftеr being dоusеd bу Нan Yan, she immеdiately crawlеd to Zhuang Hаnming’s feet аnd clung tо his lеg. Hеr small face was covered in scalding tea and tea leaves, her fair skin flushed red from the heat. Her hair dripped wetly, and a few stray tea leaves still clung to it.
Seeing her like this, Zhuang Hanming’s resentment toward Han Yan grew stronger. Suddenly, he roared at her, “How could you lay hands on someone?” Before his words had fully left his mouth, a crisp slap echoed through the air. Zhuang Hanming felt a burning sensation on his cheek, and five vivid red finger marks stood out starkly.
In disbelief, he looked over. Han Yan calmly withdrew her raised hand, gazing at him as if he were a stranger. Her voice was colder than the biting frost and snow around them, piercing to the bone: “I have two rules when it comes to my actions.”
“First, my people are not to be touched.” Her gaze drifted lightly toward the unconscious Ji Lan and Shu Hong. Those she had resolved to protect—even Zhuang Hanming—could not harm them lightly. Now that Zhuang Hanming had injured them, she would certainly seek retribution.
“Second, I never admit to things I haven’t done.” She glanced at Ying Zi, who knelt at Zhuang Hanming’s feet. Ying Zi’s hair covered half her face, but unfortunately, Han Yan did not miss the venomous glare in her eyes. With a faint smile, she added, “If someone insists on making me admit to something I haven’t done, then I will make that thing come true.” Upon hearing this, Ying Zi couldn’t help but shiver. She felt as though the woman before her was looking down on her from a great height, her eyes holding an understanding that saw through everything, yet calmly waiting for something. It was like a hunter who had spotted rare prey, watching unhurriedly as it walked into a trap.
Could this woman have some hidden move up her sleeve?
Zhuang Hanming was left speechless by Han Yan’s words. Though unwilling to accept it, the look in her eyes sent a chill through his heart—cold and piercing. It was as if she no longer held even a shred of hope for him, yet it also carried a hint of sorrow, as though she were losing something most precious to her.
He still wanted to say something, but Han Yan merely gently adjusted her cloak and said, “Get out.”
She had never treated him like this before. For a moment, Zhuang Hanming was stunned. But today, Han Yan had not only slapped him but also told him to get out. Gritting his teeth, he watched as Han Yan turned away. With a cold snort, he yanked Ying Zi up from the ground and stormed off in anger.
After he left, Han Yan turned to Muyan and said, “I must trouble you to take these two back to their room and call a physician to examine them properly.”Muyan nodded, then scooped Shu Hong up in one arm and carried Ji Lan on his back. He glanced hesitantly at Han Yan—it was truly unusual for her not to follow personally. She treated Ji Lan and Shu Hong like her own sisters, willing to turn against her own brother for their sake, yet now she seemed utterly indifferent... Han Yan waved at him, appearing somewhat weary. "Go on."
Muyan looked at Han Yan once more. This girl, not yet of age, appeared so delicate and frail. Yet, having witnessed the scene moments before, he found her decisive and sharp. Even a man as stoic and silent as stone like him had nearly cheered aloud at how she handled Ying Zi’s scalding cup of tea. Only someone like her was worthy of being the princess consort. Only someone like her could catch the prince’s eye.
Only when Muyan’s figure vanished from the courtyard did Han Yan suddenly collapse onto the stone stool. She felt an unbearable heaviness in her chest and pressed a handkerchief to her mouth. "Hmm..." The blood that had been lodged in her throat finally sprayed out. The snow-white handkerchief was dotted with crimson streaks. Before her eyes, memories surfaced—of her childhood, when she, Hanming, and their mother would whisper secrets together in their room. Even though she had been reborn into this life, why was her mother still gone, and why were she and her brother estranged? How had they, siblings, come to this?
Han Yan slowly clenched her fist, clutching the bloodstained handkerchief in her palm, her lips stained a startling red.
This way, there truly was no turning back.
Meanwhile, as Zhuang Hanming led Ying Zi out of the mansion, he caught sight of a snow-white figure in the distance.
The figure was tall and imposing, exuding an aura of cold severity even from afar. Zhuang Hanming froze for a moment, watching as the person turned around, revealing a face as exquisite as a painting. Only then did Zhuang Hanming realize—this was the master of the Xuan Qing Prince’s Mansion, Han Yan’s husband, the current Xuan Qing Prince, Fu Yunxi.
Fu Yunxi stood with his hands behind his back. His gaze first fell upon Ying Zi’s disheveled state before he asked calmly, "What happened?"
At the sight of such a handsome young man, Ying Zi couldn’t help but blush, her heart racing. It was no wonder—everyone in the capital spoke of the Xuan Qing Prince’s unparalleled elegance, yet how many commoners could ever get this close to him? Up close, he seemed even more refined, like a verdant pine, his noble bearing rivaling that of the imperial princes. His cool, aloof demeanor only made him more captivating. Before Zhuang Hanming could speak, Ying Zi timidly interjected, "The young master and the princess consort... had a bit of a misunderstanding..." She didn’t elaborate, cleverly avoiding any mention of Zhuang Hanming’s disrespect toward Han Yan. Yet, with just these words and Ying Zi’s pitiful appearance, anyone unaware of the truth would immediately assume the princess consort was arrogant and domineering—even bullying a servant—and naturally form a poor impression of Han Yan.
But what Ying Zi was most uncertain about was Fu Yunxi’s attitude toward Han Yan.
If she were truly clever, she would have realized from the way Fu Yunxi personally brought Han Yan and her two maidservants to the Xuan Qing Prince’s Mansion after the incident that he cared deeply for his young princess consort. Ying Zi’s words were nothing short of provoking his wrath.
Sure enough, before Zhuang Hanming could even see how Fu Yunxi moved, there was a sudden "thud" as Ying Zi was sent flying backward. Fu Yunxi’s snow-white sleeve barely stirred, as if he hadn’t been the one to strike. He glanced at Zhuang Hanming and uttered a single word: "Leave."Within the deep palace's splendid halls, a woman wore a vermilion-colored, floor-length sheer gauze gown embroidered with gold on both sides. Her jet-black hair was styled into an exquisite "flying immortal" chignon. With fair skin and striking beauty, she appeared graceful and slender, utterly resplendent.
A maid beside her brought scented ointment. Consort Chen extended her delicate jade-like fingers, dabbed a bit, and smoothed it onto the back of her hand, making her hands appear even more supple and boneless. The Emperor would not arrive for some time yet. She lifted her head and took a sip of tea. Having just bathed, her entire complexion seemed lustrous, tender, and delicate, truly like a fairy maiden from a painting. In the imperial harem, aside from the Empress and the Empress Dowager, she was the most esteemed woman. The woman most cherished by the Emperor. In a world where people vied for favor and love, she possessed the Emperor's affection—yet that did not satisfy her. What she desired was that position.
Gracefully rising to her feet, she addressed a palace maid nearby: "Let us go to the outer courtyard."
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