Chapter 188: Stay by My Side

The Crown Prince left the Guo Temple, deliberately taking a detour to the Regent’s residence to probe the situation.

The gatekeeper, seeing it was the Crown Prince, went to announce his arrival before leading him inside.

The Crown Prince concealed the gloom in his eyes. A Crown Prince visiting a prince, only to be kept waiting at the gate and requiring an announcement.

This kind of thing probably only happens in Greatu.

The Crown Prince made his way smoothly to the main courtyard.

Suddenly, his steps came to a halt.

Su Wan emerged from the courtyard next to the main residence, dressed in a silver-red long dress. She looked like a blossoming peach flower on a branch, radiantly beautiful, with her skirt gently fluttering in the breeze, creating an enchanting sight.

The Crown Prince’s gaze grew heated. The person before him seemed even more lively and captivating than before.

His Adam’s apple subtly moved as he walked toward Su Wan, saying, “Wanwan, it’s been a long time. How have you been?”

“We should be strangers. Stay out of my sight; I’ll be much better off.” Su Wan felt disgusted at the sight of the Crown Prince and brushed past him without a second glance.

“Wanwan, don’t be like this,” the Crown Prince grabbed Su Wan’s wrist, but a sharp pain shot through his palm, and he quickly withdrew his hand. A faint trace of blood appeared on his palm.

With a stern expression, he looked over and saw a glint of silver flash from Su Wan’s fingertips before she tucked her hand back into her sleeve.

“Wanwan, do you really have to be so heartless?” The Crown Prince let out a bitter laugh. “You know my situation well. If I were to choose you, both of us would be in danger. I had no choice but to let you go temporarily, but one day, I will bring you back to my side.”

A memory surged in Su Wan’s mind.

In the palace, the eaves soared layer upon layer, endlessly rising, with no end in sight. The only thing visible was the patch of azure sky before her, where a few swallows flew by and landed in the flowerbed.

Su Wan leaned lazily against the railing, gazing out.

The Crown Prince stood tall and elegant on the white marble bridge, extending a hand toward her. “Wanwan, come here.”

A radiant smile blossomed on Su Wan’s youthful face, her eyes filled with a soft, sparkling light. She lifted her skirt and joyfully ran toward the Crown Prince, shyly extending her hand. Her soft, fair fingertips gently touched his.

The Crown Prince chuckled softly and grasped her hand. Su Wan’s fingers curled slightly, and a hint of youthful shyness and reserve showed in her expression as she glanced down at the scene below the bridge, her cheeks flushed.

The Crown Prince gently stroked her smooth long hair and whispered softly in her ear, “Wanwan, soon you will be my wife. You need to get used to it.”

Su Wan lowered her head even further, her ears turning red. She fidgeted with her fingers, trying to pull her hand away.

“Wanwan, no matter what happens, you must stay by my side. Don’t abandon me. We will face everything together, side by side.”

The Crown Prince tightened his grip on her hand. “I am not born of the Empress, and without support from my mother’s family, I will have to fight alone for a long time. You are all I have.”

Su Wan, forgetting her shyness, raised her head. Her dark, glistening eyes were filled with determination. “Brother Feng, whether you are second only to one person and above all others, or just a commoner struggling to survive, I will never leave you.”

Not long after the two shared their heartfelt promises, the Crown Prince decisively abandoned Su Wan and married another woman. When he gave her up, he didn’t even offer an explanation, leaving her completely in the dark.

After pulling herself out of the memory, a cold smile tugged at the corners of Su Wan’s lips. The affections of the imperial family truly were thinner than paper.

“If you had the courage to face your actions and didn’t come before me spouting disgusting words, I might still respect you as a man. But now, it seems you’re no different from the rest. I should thank you for not marrying me—it allowed me to find a better man.”

A sharp glint flashed in Su Wan’s eyes as she warned, “Don’t provoke me again, or this will be just the beginning.”

The Crown Prince was momentarily stunned, still not fully grasping the meaning behind Su Wan’s words. As he watched her walk past him and leave, he instinctively reached out to grab her, only to realize that his entire right arm had gone numb.