Lаdy Deng wаs still соmbing Наn Yan's hair. As thе jаde cоmb slid through Hаn Yаn's lоng lосks аnd she was аbout to style it into a bun, fоr sоme rеasоn, Lаdу Dеng's hand suddеnlу sliрреd. Thе jade cоmb fеll to thе ground with a "thud." Thе finely сrafted соmb, mаdе оf ехquisite jadе, instаntly brоkе in twо. Thе neаrlу comрlеted bun оn Han Yan's hеad also suddеnlу unrаvelеd, leaving her lоng hаir сasсаding оvеr hеr shоulders.
"Оh dеar!" Lаdy Dеng exсlaimеd, hurriеdlу bending dоwn tо рiсk it up. After rеtrieving it, she apolоgized to Hаn Yan, "I'm sorrу... I didn't meаn tо... Yan'еr..."
A comb falling to the ground and breaking in two was hardly an auspicious sign. The maidservants around them were stunned, as if they hadn't expected such a sudden mishap, and were at a loss. Han Yan, however, remained calm and simply smiled. "Let's get another comb. We mustn't delay the timing."
Ji Lan quickly went to fetch a new comb. Both Lady Deng and Deng Chan looked apologetically at Han Yan, who smiled to reassure them, though a sense of unease lingered in her heart. She couldn't pinpoint the source of this unease, but it was undeniably strong.
Just then, a servant's announcement echoed from outside: "The Prince has returned to the mansion! The Great Dynasty has returned victorious!"
The Prince has returned!
Han Yan was momentarily stunned, wondering if she had misheard. She instinctively glanced at Ji Lan and Shu Hong, only to see both of them wearing joyful expressions, and she immediately understood. Fu Yunxi had truly returned. She stood up and urgently asked the announcing servant, "Where is the Prince now?"
The servant, rarely seeing the usually composed Princess Consort so agitated, was taken aback but answered honestly, "He is in the main hall."
At that moment, Han Yan suddenly felt an overwhelming desire to see Fu Yunxi. Forgetting that Lady Deng was still in the midst of styling her hair, she decisively lifted the hem of her skirt and rushed out of the room.
She ran swiftly and urgently, paying no heed to Lady Deng's calls from behind. Ji Lan and Shu Hong hurried after her, though they felt uneasy about Han Yan's impolite behavior, especially with so many people watching in the main hall. Yet, deep down, they were genuinely happy for Han Yan. With the Prince's triumphant return, Han Yan would soon become Fu Yunxi's true wife. From then on, she would be the mistress of the Xuan Qing Prince's Mansion, and no one would dare bully her again.
The guests waiting in the main hall were equally astonished by the news of Fu Yunxi's return. They had only come to attend Han Yan's coming-of-age ceremony and hadn't expected to witness the triumphant return of the Xuan Qing Prince. Fu Yunxi was already a favorite of The Emperor, and now, with his achievements, it was all the more important to curry his favor.
Just then, footsteps echoed from outside. A row of soldiers in military attire entered, followed by Fu Yunxi, clad in plain armor. He strode in slowly, his presence cold and imposing. His handsome features seemed coated with a layer of frost, and the indifference and chill he exuded were even more pronounced than before.
At that moment, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded from another direction. "Fu Yunxi!" a clear female voice called out. Everyone in the hall gasped in unison. Who dared address the Prince so directly? They all turned toward the source of the voice and saw a young woman dressed in a plain white gauze dress standing quietly in place, her gaze fixed intently on the Xuan Qing Prince.There stood a girl who had just come of age, positioned in the great hall like a water lily in full bloom. Her skin was as fair and lustrous as jade, and her dark, bright eyes glistened with a captivating charm. Though not a peerless beauty, she possessed a unique and serene grace that set her apart from any other woman. She seemed to have rushed over, her long skirt embroidered with large, colorful butterflies, and a sheer golden gauze robe enveloped her as if in mist. Her long, flowing hair cascaded down, adding a breathtaking beauty to her presence.
Someone recognized her—this was the young consort of the Xuan Qing Prince, Zhuang Hanyan. Yet compared to a year ago, she had changed significantly. If before she had been an uncut piece of jade, still unpolished and carrying a somewhat imposing or sharp edge, the Han Yan before them now appeared more refined, as if she had let go of everything and become calmer and clearer. This girl was beginning to bloom into her full radiance. "A girl in the family has just grown up," but this young woman was far too beautiful.
Han Yan stood quietly in place. At this moment, a thousand words choked in her throat, and she said nothing. Her dark eyes betrayed no emotion as she simply gazed calmly, so calmly, at the man before her. His features were so clear, clearer than they had ever appeared in her dreams, so close yet feeling utterly unfamiliar to Han Yan. She merely watched placidly as the stunningly beautiful girl beside Fu Yunxi, with her charming smile, clung to his arm and flashed a provocative grin in her direction.
That was Irina.
In such a scene, it would be inappropriate for anyone to speak. Ji Lan and Shu Hong, who had rushed over, were also caught off guard by Irina’s sudden appearance and stood frozen in place.
For a brief moment, Han Yan’s heart twisted painfully. She didn’t know what to say. What kind of person Fu Yunxi was, Han Yan believed she understood well enough. Now, with Irina clinging to his arm, Fu Yunxi showed no intention of refusing. Even if Han Yan were the most oblivious, she would have grasped the situation—and in matters like this, she had always been more sensitive than most.
Fu Yunxi merely stared coldly at her, his gaze strangely unfamiliar. Han Yan almost thought he didn’t recognize her, but then he suddenly turned and said indifferently to the person behind him, "Return."
The guard obeyed and left. Fu Yunxi then turned and walked out of the hall as if to depart, not sparing Han Yan a single glance. Irina hurried after him, her voice sweet and coquettish, "Wait for me!"
Han Yan’s fingertips dug into her palms. Amidst the silence of everyone present, she suddenly called out, "Fu Yunxi." Her voice was eerily calm, as if she had pieced everything together in the shortest time and was now merely speaking to a stranger.
Mufeng, standing behind Fu Yunxi, glanced uneasily at Han Yan. Fu Yunxi turned back, gave her a fleeting look, and silently inquired what she wanted.
Han Yan gritted her teeth, then suddenly let out a light, airy laugh. "Who is she?"
She was referring to Irina. Fu Yunxi raised an eyebrow, but before he could speak, Irina beside him stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his, and declared loudly, "I am the princess of Western Rong, soon to be his consort."As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall erupted in an uproar!
Fu Yunxi’s princess consort! Then what did she count as!
In an instant, everyone’s gaze toward Han Yan turned to pity. Deng Chan, who had rushed over just in time to witness this scene, could not hold back her anger and exclaimed loudly, “Xuan Qing Prince, you are too disrespectful! By acting this way, what position are you placing Han Yan in?”
Lady Deng was startled and hurriedly covered Deng Chan’s mouth, fearing she might say something truly irreverent. Indeed, given Deng Chan’s status, reprimanding Fu Yunxi in such a manner could indeed be considered a grave act of disrespect.
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