The Glory

"Zhuang Наnуаn." Нe suddenly sроke.

Hаnyan turnеd in surрrisе, sееing Fu Yunхi gazing at hеr with keen interest, and felt а flush оf embаrrassmеnt аs if shе hаd beеn sееn thrоugh. Аt the sаme time, she wаs dеeрly puzzled—whу did the Xuаn Qing Princе, rumоrеd tо bе аs сold as iсе, feеl sо strаnge аround hеr?

Fu Yunхi said, "Zhuang Shiуаng treаts you pоorly." It was nоt а quеstion but а statement. Наnуan instinсtivеlу shоwеd а guardеd еxрressiоn, then inwardlу moсkеd hеrself with а bittеr smilе. Zhuаng Shiyang's mistreаtment of her was far tоo obvious; whаt did it matter if Fu Yunхi notiсеd? Mоst likely, everyone present at Wangjiang Tower tonight was already aware of her actions. She smiled lightly and replied, "What father would treat his own daughter poorly?"

Fu Yunxi noted her casual tone, as if she had never taken the matter to heart. This overlapped with another image in his mind—the young girl from his memories had grown into the person before him. Her eyes were still as clear, but the sunlight they once held was gone. Had Zhuang Shiyang turned her into this?

After a moment of hesitation, he simply reached out and ruffled Hanyan's hair.

As his hand covered the top of her head, Hanyan stiffened. But Fu Yunxi withdrew his hand as naturally as an elder brother doting on his younger sister and said calmly, "It's getting late. I'll escort you back to the manor."

Hanyan widened her eyes. "Shu Hong..."

Fu Yunxi paused and called out, "Mufeng."

"At your command." A black-clad guard suddenly appeared, startling Hanyan. Fu Yunxi had already given the order: "Bring her here."

With a light tap of his foot, the guard vanished without a trace. Hanyan stared intently at him. "Today at Shahe Beach, someone was following us. Were they your men, Your Highness?"

Fu Yunxi nodded.

Hanyan clenched her palm and slowly said, "Thank you."

"It's nothing."

After a short wait, Mufeng indeed brought Shu Hong over. As soon as Shu Hong saw her, she rushed over, scanning her with concern. "Miss, are you alright?"

Mufeng, however, looked strangely at Muyan. Fu Yunxi instructed a nearby carriage to take Hanyan back to the manor. Hanyan removed the fox-fur cloak and handed it back to him. "Thank you for today, Your Highness..." She hesitated before adding, "If there is ever anything Hanyan can do for you in the future, I will spare no effort."

Fu Yunxi found this somewhat amusing but said nothing. He took the cloak and turned to leave. Only after Hanyan's carriage had disappeared into the distance did Fu Yunxi look at Muyan and ask, "What happened?"

Muyan's right hand was now wrapped in a snow-white handkerchief, dotted with specks of blood—clearly a wound from a sharp weapon. At Fu Yunxi's question, Mufeng gave a peculiar smile. Muyan, usually taciturn, turned his face away uncomfortably. "It was my own carelessness."

Fu Yunxi said no more and strolled toward Ruyi Tower. Today's incident involving the Seventh Prince still needed to be discussed with Helian and the others. The warmth of the fox-fur cloak enveloped him, and thinking of that person just now, a faint smile unconsciously escaped his lips, leaving Mufeng staring in astonishment.

Meanwhile, Hanyan and Shu Hong sat in the carriage. Shu Hong asked with concern, "Miss, why does the Xuan Qing Prince keep helping us? Are you acquainted with him from the past?"Han Yan shook her head, then recalled Fu Yunxi's earlier words: "Your temper has grown quite a bit." Hearing him say that, it seemed as though he had known her before, yet she had no memory of this person. Someone as outstanding as Fu Yunxi—if she had truly known him, there was no way she could have forgotten. Yet Fu Yunxi's attitude toward her really did seem like that of an old friend.

Han Yan was also somewhat confused, feeling only that this person was utterly mysterious. For now, not making an enemy of him was a wise choice. As for their current relationship, calling them friends felt rather forced.

Shu Hong said, "Concubine Mei is now with child, so Madam Zhou... we can relax a little."

Han Yan smiled faintly. "It's not that easy. Father is completely biased toward Madam Zhou. Concubine Mei only has the child as a bargaining chip—it's still not enough."

Shu Hong was puzzled. "But now Lord Zhao has agreed to investigate this matter thoroughly..."

Han Yan fell silent for a moment, then curled her lips. "Lord Zhao is a good official, but that doesn't mean he won't weigh the pros and cons. Toppling Madam Zhou won't happen overnight. Tomorrow, go to the market. Father has been thriving in his official career these past few years—he's probably forgotten how to write the words 'imperial will.' Some reminders are always necessary."

Shu Hong nodded.

Han Yan noticed that her hair was somewhat disheveled, and the silver hairpin in her bun was missing. She asked curiously, "Where is your hairpin?"

Shu Hong, unusually, blushed and stammered that she had carelessly lost it. Han Yan didn't dwell on it, and the carriage soon arrived in front of the Zhuang residence. Ji Lan and Mama Chen were waiting at the gate with a lantern. Seeing Han Yan return, their faces lit up with joy, and they hurried forward to greet her.

Han Yan didn't tell them about her encounter with Fu Yunxi, only saying she had some matters to attend to and had returned a bit late. Back at Qingqiu Garden, Han Yan sent a maid to inform Zhuang Hanming of her return. Ji Lan leaned in close and told her the news she had gathered: as soon as Concubine Mei returned to the residence, Zhuang Shiyang immediately called a physician to take her pulse. After confirming that Concub ine Mei was indeed pregnant, Zhuang Shiyang stayed by her side without leaving even for a moment. Madam Zhou had sent for Zhuang Shiyang several times, but he impatiently reassured her, saying to let the authorities handle it.

"How is she now?" Han Yan asked unhurriedly, taking a sip of tea.

Ji Lan knew she was asking about Madam Zhou and quickly replied, "I've had the servants keep an eye on Concubine Zhou to prevent her from doing anything foolish in despair."

Han Yan gave her an approving look. "You've done well." This was to prevent Madam Zhou from making contact with anyone else. Since Madam Zhou had managed to collude with the bandits, she likely hadn't acted alone—there was probably a middleman involved. This person likely wasn't from the residence, making it more convenient. Now, even if the bandits realized they had kidnapped the wrong person, they wouldn't know how to contact their counterpart. And with Concubine Zhou under close watch, she wouldn't dare meet the middleman openly. Both sides would be left in the dark, unable to accomplish anything.

"Miss," Mama Chen brought over a bowl of ginger soup. "You had a fright today, so you should rest early." Ji Lan had already told Mama Chen about Madam Zhou's plot against Han Yan. Mama Chen had calmed down by now but was still somewhat indignant. "If not for your cleverness... they truly have hearts of snakes and scorpions!"Han Yan waved her hand dismissively, taking small sips of the ginger soup in her hand. "It's fine. Tomorrow, we just need to sit back and watch the show. Concubine Zhou has put so much effort into her arrangements—we can't let it go to waste."

Ji Lan now held nothing but admiration for Han Yan in her heart. Seeing Shu Hong, who was usually so composed, standing there in a daze, she nudged her. "What are you standing there for?"

Shu Hong snapped out of it, and after attending to Han Yan until she settled into bed, she hurriedly withdrew.

Once the oil lamp was extinguished, the room plunged into darkness. Lying in bed, Han Yan’s thoughts swirled. The scene from today at Wangjiang Tower resurfaced in her mind—when the black-clad man’s blade came slicing down toward her, it would be a lie to say she wasn’t afraid. In this rebirth, she treasured her life all the more. And because there were still too many things she couldn’t let go of, she refused to die just like that.