Ning Wanwan narrowed her eyes and remained silent. Di Huan’s harassment was clearly planned, and this flower appreciation gathering likely a trap. She regretted not bringing Yuan Zhu with her today.
As she thought, Fu Yi stepped in front of her and angrily shouted at Di Huan, “How dare you! Insulting our Princess!”
“
“Where did this servant—” Di Huan raised the wine bottle to smash Fu Yi, and Ning Wanwan’s expression changed as she was about to pull Fu Yi back.
Suddenly, Di Huan started screaming. Ning Wanwan looked and saw that Yuan Bi had appeared behind Di Huan, twisting his wrist backward.
Fu Yi joyfully called out, “Yuan Guard!”
Di Huan turned to see Yuan Bi’s cold face and cursed, “Who the hell are you? I’m the son of Di Yan, the Left Chancellor! Let go, or you’ll regret it!”
Yuan Bi stared at him expressionlessly. The crowd watched silently.
A low voice from the crowd coldly uttered, “Break!” Before anyone could react, they heard a crisp “crack” as Yuan Bi broke Di Huan’s wrist.
Di Huan, staring at his hanging hand, let out a horrific scream, “Ah! Ah! Ah—”
The crowd was startled by Di Huan’s wailing and Yuan Bi’s ruthlessness. Another cold voice from behind stated, “This king wants to see blood.”
Without hesitation, Yuan Bi grabbed Di Huan’s broken hand and pulled— warm blood splattered onto the faces of nearby onlookers, leaving everyone stunned.
Di Huan’s screams abruptly stopped. He stared blankly at his bloody stump, then fainted. Fu Yi quickly covered her mouth in shock, while Yang Zhiru and Zheng Jiayuan hugged each other, covering their eyes.
Ning Wanwan frowned, sensing Yuan Bi’s viciousness. She looked up at the familiar figure in the crowd and asked, “Why are you here?”
The crowd turned, making way as they recognized the mysterious individual. Si Zhan, wearing a stone-blue embroidered long robe with silver-edged cloud patterns, appeared tall and slender. His raven-black hair, bound by a jade-inlaid silver crown, shone brilliantly, complementing his moonlike face and adding a charming beauty to his usual ethereal demeanor.
Walking gracefully towards Ning Wanwan, Si Zhan’s presence overshadowed the vibrant flowers around him. “I missed you after half a day apart, so I came directly to find you after class,” he said softly, gently brushing back her hair.
At that moment, everyone bowed and exclaimed, “Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Ning Wanwan realized that Si Zhan had come with Si Yi, whose expression was dark and gaze fixed on her. Sensing something, Si Zhan shifted to block Si Yi’s line of sight.
On the ground, Di Huan groggily opened his eyes. As he was about to cry out, he spotted Si Yi and jumped up, shouting, “Your Highness, you must seek justice for me! The guard of the King of Yi tore off my hand!”
Si Zhan then said, “What’s a mere hand? Daring to touch someone from my King of Yi’s residence, losing a hand is lenient. Otherwise, I might break something else.” The implication was clear – cross him, and he’d go for the neck.
Shao Yin trembled, feeling a chill.
Di Huan pointed at Ning Wanwan, accusing, “It was her! She seduced me first!” Si Zhan’s eyes darkened with murderous intent as he stared at Di Huan.
Ning Wanwan grabbed Si Zhan’s arm, saying, “Brother Zhan, ignore him. Let’s go.” Si Zhan remained still, coldly staring at Di Huan.
Frightened, Di Huan shrunk closer to Si Yi, who then kicked Di Huan in the stomach. Caught off guard, Di Huan stumbled, looking at Si Yi in disbelief. “Scram!” Si Yi barked.
Di Huan, awakening from a dream, immediately jumped up and ran.
Ning Wanwan looked at Si Zhan and said, “I want to go home.”
“Okay,” Si Zhan said, his murderous aura dissipating as he embraced her and they walked out.
Fu Yi and the others quickly followed Yuan Bi.
Si Yi stared at Si Zhan and Ning Wanwan’s retreating figures, then asked Shao Yin, “Di Huan was in on this, wasn’t he?”
Shao Yin pouted, “Crown Prince, are you still hung up on Ning Wanwan? She’s with someone else now.”
Si Yi warned her coldly, “If you want to be the Crown Princess, don’t provoke her again.”
Si Zhan smiled, kissed Ning Wanwan’s forehead, and said in a low voice, “Since you know I’m good to you, shouldn’t you reward me tonight? I haven’t touched you for over a month.”
“But… umm…” she began, sitting up straight. Before she could finish, Si Zhan’s lips pressed down on hers, blocking her words.
Ning Wanwan’s eyes widened. Recently, to support Si Zhan’s health, she had been avoiding intimacy. Apart from their wedding night, they had never had overly intimate contact. Now, with Si Zhan seeking her love so boldly, she felt shy, ashamed, and flustered.
Si Zhan looked at her amusingly, then covered her eyes before exploring her mouth. After a while, he released her, gazing with moist eyes and said in a seductive tone: “Wanwan, I missed you.”
Ning Wanwan quickly lowered her eyes, her face turning red. She whispered: “Then… only once tonight.”
“Okay, I’ll listen to you,” Si Zhan replied, embracing her joyfully.
After returning to the mansion, Si Zhan ordered Yuan Bi: “Investigate who spoke sarcastically about the Princess today. Hand them over to Lu Ming Pavilion. I want those who look down on her to be completely ruined.”
“Yes.”
Another night passed until dawn. Ning Wanwan understood that she could trust Si Zhan in everything except matters of intimacy. After a restless night, she fell asleep, anxious about Si Zhan’s health.
Fortunately, when she woke up, it was almost noon, and Si Zhan had gone to the palace for morning court. Fu Yi informed her that Si Zhan’s condition was better than before, which put her at ease.
The servant suggests that Your Highness curry favor with the Princess Consort to lower her guard and get closer. Whenever the Prince returns home, he spends the day with her, providing an opportunity for your Highness. Regarding the child-teaching spell, the servant will find a way to report to the Empress Dowager. The priority is to quickly gain the Princess Consort’s trust.
“Well…”
Huanpei’s tone turned cold: “Concubine, you no longer have a choice.”
“Ning Wanwan, I heard you’re accompanying Grandmother Ning to Shenbao Temple on June 24th?”
“That’s right.”
“Can Manmiao come along?”
Ning Wanwan’s gaze flickered as she replied, “Bring you?”
Xu Manmiao smiled innocently, “I’ve been in the mansion for so long and have never been out. I want to broaden my horizons with my sister.”
Ning Wanwan thought for a moment and nodded, “Alright then.”
“Thank you, sister.”
On June 23rd, Ning Wanwan sat in the Yiwang Mansion carriage with Xu Manmiao, heading to the Ning Guogong Mansion to pick up Grandmother Ning for Shenbao Temple. The temple master was already waiting at the main gate.
Seeing the Ning Guogong Mansion’s carriage stop, he hurried down the steps to welcome Grandmother Ning into the temple.
The court’s music troupe for celebrating the Second Lord’s birthday had not yet arrived, but Shenbao Temple was already festively decorated, with many worshippers gradually arriving.
The temple master led Grandmother Ning’s group to the most peaceful meditation room in the back courtyard and then hurried out. The meditation room was spacious with shared sleeping areas, in high demand due to the many noble guests offering incense that day. Thus, Ning Wanwan, Grandmother Ning, and Xu Manmiao shared this communal room, while Changmu and Fuyi squeezed into the adjacent small room.
Festive music soon came from the front, and Zhanxiang peeked outside. Grandmother Ning smiled and waved her hand, saying, “You can all go and watch the excitement. I won’t need anyone for now.” Zhanxiang immediately pulled Fuyi and the others to go watch the festivities.
