She tried to appear nonchalant, saying, “I cut myself while organizing jewelry.”
“Is it serious?”
“It’s nothing, just a small injury.”
Si Zhan looked unconvinced, his long eyebrows furrowed as he scrutinized the bandaged hand, trying to see through the bandage.
His intense gaze made Ning Wan Wan lower her head, her eyelashes trembling. She gently pulled her hand from Si Zhan’s grip, and he reacted, looking slightly embarrassed and averting his gaze.
Everyone fell silent, creating an awkward atmosphere. Ning Wan Wan kept her head lowered, Si Zhan turned away, Yuan Zhu looked between them, while Fu Yi and Zhan Xiang smiled, contributing to the awkwardness.
Si Zhan finally cleared his throat and broke the silence. “I had intended to visit Madam Ning to pay New Year’s respects, but Master Lin said the old madam is still resting…” He trailed off, unsure how to continue.
Ning Wan Wan replied, “Grandmother stayed up late for the New Year’s Eve vigil. Being older, her energy is a bit low.”
Si Zhan nodded in understanding, and they fell silent, exchanging shy glances.
Seeing this, Fu Yi approached Yuan Zhu, “Miss Yuan Zhu must be hungry. We have fresh fruits and snacks prepared. Let’s go.”
Yuan Zhu looked at her master for instructions, but her master seemed focused only on Ning Wan Wan, so she followed Fu Yi.
In the hall, only Ning Wan Wan and Si Zhan remained.
Ning Wan Wan’s bright eyes darted around, feeling flustered by the encounter with Si Zhan.
Feeling awkward, she suggested, “Uncle rarely visits. Why don’t I show you around the mansion?”
Si Zhan smiled, “Okay.”
As they walked through the back garden, Fu Yi returned hurriedly, “Miss!”
“What’s wrong?” Ning Wan Wan asked.
Fu Yi glanced cautiously at Si Zhan and whispered, “The Crown Prince has arrived.”
Ning Wan Wan frowned, “What does he want?”
Fu Yi replied, “He says he’s here to pay New Year’s respects to the old madam.”
Ning Wan Wan said, “Let father tell him that grandmother is resting, acknowledge his good intentions, and ask him to return.”
“But…”
Before Fu Yi could finish, a proud voice interrupted, “Ning Wan Wan, do you think you’ve forgotten your own identity?”
Ning Wan Wan and Si Zhan turned to see Si Yi, dressed in a python-patterned vermilion robe and golden crown, striding towards them.
Si Yi’s breath caught, his dissatisfied words stuck in his throat. It seemed Ning Wanwan held a grudge about his previous cold attitude, but he planned to help her understand in time. His gaze turned hostile as he asked Si Zhan, “Why is this uncle here?”
“Paying New Year’s respects,” Si Zhan replied calmly, maintaining eye contact with Si Yi.
“Naturally, to pay New Year’s respects,” Si Yi said with an air of arrogance, crossing his arms.
Ning Wanwan’s heart tightened. Si Yi was acting as though he belonged to the Ning household. Where did he get such confidence? Wasn’t he supposed to despise her and want to break off the engagement?
Ning Wanwan recalled that when she was unconscious, Si Yi had brought the imperial physician to treat her.
Then his cold attitude towards Lin Yuetong, and now his hostile provocation towards Si Zhan—could it be…
Could Si Yi be preparing to accept her? No! Absolutely not!
It seemed waiting for Si Yi to voluntarily propose breaking the engagement was impossible. Her urgent task now was to find a way to actively end their engagement.
Si Zhan’s phoenix eyes darkened, flashing with boundless anger, reminiscent of his past life when he beheaded Si Yi during the burning of the Eastern Palace.
Ning Wanwan’s heart skipped a beat. She could not let Si Zhan fall into hatred towards the royal family again. Quickly stepping in front of Si Zhan, glaring at Si Yi, she said coldly, “Uncle is my honored guest. Crown Prince, since you’ve paid your respects, the palace must be waiting for you. Please take your leave.”
Si Yi glared at Ning Wanwan, grinding his teeth. “Ning Wanwan, get this straight—who is the outsider here?”
Ning Lao Tai’s steady voice suddenly rang out nearby. Ning Wanwan turned to see him supported by Mama Chang, watching them.
Ning Wanwan said decisively, “No, it has nothing to do with Si Zhan, it’s because…” She suddenly stopped. How could she explain that she didn’t want to marry Si Yi because he was cold and unfeeling towards her in her previous life?
Old Madam Ning saw Ning Wanwan caught in hesitation and gently patted her hand, sighing: “Never mind, it’s fine if you don’t want to say. Grandmother only needs to know your decision.”
Ning Wanwan’s voice choked, “Grandmother…” Her grandmother always unconditionally doted on her.
Grandmother said: “Don’t worry, when the time comes, I will help you break off the engagement with the Crown Prince.”
Ning Wanwan leaned on her grandmother’s shoulder, gratefully saying: “Thank you, Grandmother.” Grandmother sighed: “Silly child, I only hope you can be happy, and I don’t care who you marry.”
Si Zhan hastily reached out, pulling Ning Wanwan’s left hand in front of him, examining it carefully. With an urgent yet certain tone, he asked: “Your hand?”
Ning Wanwan’s bandage had been removed, revealing a pink scar on her palm. The length and depth of the scar indicated it was not from a hairpin, but a cut from a sharp blade.
Seeing the worry in Si Zhan’s eyes, Ning Wanwan smiled indifferently, responding: “Uncle, don’t worry, it’s just a little blood.”
Si Zhan gazed intently at her, his tone slightly reproachful: “How could you be so foolish?” He would rather endure the pain himself than have Ning Wanwan suffer the slightest injury.
Ning Wanwan lowered her eyes and withdrew her hand from Si Zhan’s, saying, “But I don’t think I’m foolish.” Her tone reflected proud stubbornness.
After a brief silence, Si Zhan called out, “Wanwan…”
Ning Wanwan looked up, her gaze meeting Si Zhan’s intense phoenix eyes.
“Thank you,” he said, igniting a warmth in her heart. She quickly lowered her eyes, shyly responding, “Then please recover soon, Uncle.”
Si Zhan covered her small fist on the stone table, promising, “Rest assured, I will.”
His palm remained cold. Ning Wanwan looked at his jade-like hand with compassion, slowly opening her fist to warm his palm.
Si Yi arrogantly raised his chin, declaring, “Ning Wan Wan, I will not annul our engagement and will request a wedding date soon.”
Ning Wanwan panicked, “Are you crazy?!!!”
Si Yi’s eyes flashed with determination as he responded, “I know exactly what I am doing! I want the imperial throne, and I want you too.”
Fu Yi watched Si Yi leave and worriedly asked, “Miss, what should we do now?”
Ning Wan Wan turned and walked towards her horse carriage, coldly saying, “Return to the mansion first!”
*
After a sleepless night, Ning Wan Wan entered the palace early with a tired face, arriving at the Zishantang first. She sat quietly, staring blankly ahead, her mind in chaos. She had thought all night but couldn’t find a way to safely withdraw from the engagement with the Crown Prince, which frustrated her.
Soon, everyone in the classroom arrived except for Si Yi. Ning Wan Wan sat motionless until class ended, unaware of the anxious eyes watching her from behind.
As she left Zishantang, Si Zhan quickly caught up to her, softly calling, “Wan Wan.”
She came to her senses, smiled slightly, and replied, “Uncle.” He noted her worried expression and asked, “Did something happen?”
Ning Wan Wan didn’t want to involve Si Zhan in her conflict with Si Yi, so she smiled and said, “Perhaps I didn’t sleep well last night. Nothing is wrong.”
Si Zhan looked at her silently. She felt guilty, turned away, and continued walking. He walked beside her without asking more. Ning Wan Wan found it strange that, unlike usual, Si Zhan was openly walking next to her at the Zishantang entrance.
“Wan Wan,” Si Zhan suddenly called her.
