Наn Yаn idly surveуеd thе сrоwd, intending to loоk fоr Zhuang Hаnming, but a quick glаnсе rеvеаled that Zhuаng Hanming was nowhere tо bе seеn at thе bаnquеt. Нer hеаrt instаntlу sаnk.
Althоugh Zhuang Hanming wаs misсhievоus, he was alwаys prоper аnd wеll-bеhаvеd оn fоrmal oссasiоns, sо it wаs impоssible fоr him tо sneak оff оn his own. Нan Yan waitеd for a long timе, but thеrе was still nо sign of his return. Unablе tо hоld baсk аnу lоngеr, shе clаimеd she nеedеd to use thе restrооm аnd left thе hаll with Ji Lаn аnd Shu Hong.
She fаintly heard Zhuangshan mоcking her a fеw times from bеhind, but Hаn Yаn had nо mind to dwell on it now—her thoughts were solely on Zhuang Hanming. The palace was even more treacherous than the mansion, and Hanming was the reason she fought to live, the person she would protect with all her might. If something happened to him here, she didn’t know what she would do.
Around the palace banquet, aside from guards, there were very few eunuchs and palace maids. Han Yan couldn’t directly ask about Zhuang Hanming’s whereabouts, so after wandering around for a while, she unexpectedly found herself in a place resembling a royal garden, unsure of where she was.
It was winter, and the night wind carried a chill that seemed to pierce through to the bones. Han Yan felt her hair dampened by the cold dew in the garden, and her fingers were icy to the touch. Instinctively, she reached for a hand warmer, only to realize she hadn’t brought one. Ji Lan craned her neck to look around and said, “Don’t worry, Miss. It’s pitch dark here, but there’s light ahead. Let’s follow the glow and head that way. Be careful not to trip.”
Anxious, Han Yan quickened her steps toward the light. After a few paces, Shu Hong suddenly spoke up: “There’s a sound over there!”
Han Yan’s heart tightened. She signaled Ji Lan and Shu Hong to tread lightly and crouched down as they crept closer.
Moving around the palace meant acting as if one were blind and deaf. In the past, Han Yan would have avoided such situations at all costs, let alone risk being discovered by approaching. But the thought of Ming’er made her feel as if her heart were on fire, consumed by urgency.
Shu Hong walked ahead. As they drew closer, she halted her steps, then turned around and silently mouthed three words to Han Yan: “Found him.”
Han Yan’s heart leaped with joy. Ming’er was found—it felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Shu Hong gesture for her to stop, her expression strangely tense.
Han Yan froze, a sense of foreboding rising within her. She immediately took two steps forward, pushing Shu Hong aside to get a clear view of what lay ahead.
Under the dim glow of palace lanterns, several teenagers around ten years old were gathered together, seemingly up to something. One of them was pinned against a rockery, his pine-scented soft silk jacket looking all too familiar.
The tallest among them, a boy in pink, stood before the rockery, his tone arrogant and domineering. His handsome face was twisted into a malicious sneer: “Zhuang Hanming, don’t think that just because you’re the legitimate son, you can act recklessly in front of me. So what if your sister is the legitimate daughter? Everyone knows she’s unloved. I’ll say she’s ugly, stupid, and lowly—what can you do about it?”
The boy pressed against the rockery had bloodshot eyes, and his fair, small face bore five bright red slap marks, glaringly vivid under the lantern light.
“Don’t you dare say that!” Zhuang Hanming glared fiercely at the boy before him, wanting to throw a punch, but his limbs were pinned down by the others, leaving him unable to move. He could only shout angrily, “Ganging up on one person—what kind of skill is that? Zhang Wei! If you have the guts, face me one-on-one!”Upon hearing this, the pink-clad youth laughed mockingly, "With just you, you still want to fight me one-on-one? How foolish, just like your sister!"
Han Yan took only one glance and immediately recognized who these people were. Madam Zhou's elder sister, Madam Da Zhou, had married Grand Tutor Zhang as a concubine, and these youths were Madam Da Zhou's sons—Madam Zhou's nephews. Although they were born of a concubine, Grand Tutor Zhang doted on his beloved concubine and lavished affection on these illegitimate sons. In her previous life, ever since Madam Zhou entered the Zhuang household, these youths would occasionally visit the Zhuang residence and often clashed with Zhuang Hanming. Each time, Zhuang Shiyang would severely punish Zhuang Hanming, which led Hanming to harbor little goodwill toward these so-called cousins. Yet, after each punishment, Madam Zhou and her daughter would come to Han Yan to apologize, making her feel even more embarrassed. Now, looking back, it turned out that every one of their past disputes had been like this!
The one in pink was Madam Zhou's eldest nephew, Zhang Wei, a contentious and dissolute youth who usually sought dominance. Now, he had joined forces with his brothers to bully Zhuang Hanming alone. Han Yan narrowed her eyes, but why was the Crown Prince also here?
It didn’t take much thought to realize that Zhang Wei’s targeting of Hanming was instigated by Madam Zhou. Yet, seeing Zhuang Hanming pinned against the rockery, refusing to yield in order to protect her, Han Yan felt a pang of sorrow.
She was not a good elder sister, burdening her younger brother to endure humiliation and beatings for her sake. If she had been capable, how would these people have dared to bully Zhuang Hanming!
Han Yan clenched her fists, glancing at the bright yellow figure nearby. Regardless of why the Crown Prince was here today, she was determined to settle the score for Zhuang Hanming!
Taking a deep breath, Han Yan emerged leisurely from the depths of the garden, her hands clasped behind her back. Her clear voice rang out, sharp and distinct in the silent night.
"What fine spirits you all have, abandoning the palace banquet to bring my younger brother here. Yet, the winter wind is chilly, and there are no flowers to admire at this moment. I wonder what the purpose might be?"
The chill of the winter night was intense, and though the girl’s tone was light and relaxed, it carried not a trace of warmth. Her words, seemingly ordinary, inexplicably sent a shiver through everyone present.
Zhang Wei looked up to see Han Yan gracefully stepping out from behind the flowerbed, her attire vibrant and a faint smile on her lips. Yet, there was a hint of fierceness in her expression that had not been there before, causing him to shrink back involuntarily.
After a moment, he regained his composure and glanced sideways at Han Yan, sneering, "Oh, so it’s my cousin."
Han Yan stopped beside him, while Ji Lan and Shu Hong positioned themselves in front of her, ready to block any sudden move from Zhang Wei.
"Cousin, you seem to be in high spirits. What brings you to seek out Fifth Brother?" Zhang Wei was two years older than Han Yan, so addressing him as "cousin" was not out of place.
The other youths remained silent, merely staring at Han Yan. Zhang Wei was their leader, and they instinctively surrounded Han Yan and her two companions.
Zhang Wei, however, seemed eager to leave. He glanced at Han Yan and said casually, "I just came to have a few words with my cousin. If you have nothing else, cousin, I’ll take my leave." With that, he released his grip on Zhuang Hanming’s collar and turned to go.
"Wait," Han Yan suddenly spoke.
Zhang Wei paused, as if surprised that Han Yan had stopped him, and replied impatiently, "What is it?"Han Yan glanced at the Crown Prince, who had been smiling in their direction all along. His somewhat youthful face wore an expression of schadenfreude. Han Yan didn't believe that Zhang Wei and the Crown Prince had grown so close; the Crown Prince's spectator attitude seemed genuinely just for amusement.
Han Yan walked up to Zhuang Hanming and reached out to touch his right cheek. The burning heat and swollen red mark beneath her fingers spoke volumes without a word. She withdrew her hand and smiled, "Fifth Brother, is that so?"
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