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Mu Shengsheng suddenly changed her tone, deliberately provoking Xie Wannian. “I want to leave too, but how could the Regency Prince possibly let me go? He said that without his permission, I’m not allowed to step outside the mansion, and that he wants to spend the rest of his life with me…”
As she spoke, she lowered her head slightly, her cheeks tinged with a soft pink, looking every bit like a shy young girl thinking of her lover.
Xie Wannian felt as if she’d been struck—an inexplicable surge of jealousy rose in her chest.
Impossible! Lan Xun, so cold and indifferent, how could he possibly say such words? She must be making it all up!
Xie Wannian couldn’t even imagine what it would be like if Lan Xun really said something like that.
“Mu Shengsheng, you shameless little fox! How dare you try to seduce the Regency Prince!” Xie Wannian snapped, losing her composure, and pushed Mu Shengsheng.
It was just a casual shove, nothing too forceful.
But Mu Shengsheng’s body was weak, and she immediately stumbled backward, falling to the ground.
With a startled “Ah!” she hit the ground, and her hand brushed against a branch by the roadside, cutting a long, thin gash. Blood seeped out and dripped onto her skirt.
Her eyes instantly reddened, giving her an innocent, broken beauty—pitiful and heart-rending.
Zisu, alarmed, hurried over and knelt to support her. “Miss, are you alright?”
Mu Shengsheng shook her head, tears brimming.
As she fell, the newly embroidered pouch in her sleeve accidentally flew out and landed at Xie Wannian’s feet.
Xie Wannian crouched down and looked at the pouch, which was embroidered with a pair of mandarin ducks playing in the water. Her anger flared even more. “You? Dreaming of being the Regency Prince’s mandarin duck? Ridiculous!”
She handed the pouch to Zhenzhu, who ran to the lakeside and, with all her strength, threw it into the water.
Ripples spread across the surface. Xie Wannian watched the pouch sink, completely disappearing beneath the water, and felt a surge of satisfaction.
Zhenzhu clapped her hands, hands on her hips, beaming with pride.
Now Mu Shengsheng would surely be heartbroken.
Her pouch! She had spent so much effort, stitching it for days, pricking her fingers countless times, only for the princess to throw it away!
Mu Shengsheng wanted to get up and stop her, but she was too weak and fell back down.
Tears streamed down her face—this time it wasn’t acting; she truly hurt for the pouch, crying out of genuine sorrow.
Zisu, unable to remain silent, finally spoke, looking at Xie Wannian with indignation. “Princess, our young lady is already weak from illness and doesn’t have much time. She isn’t obstructing your path—why trouble her so?”
Zhenzhu rolled up her sleeves and slapped Zisu across the face, scolding fiercely: “How dare a servant lecture my lady? No matter who you are, even if I kill you today, it’s just like squashing two bugs. No one will question me.”
The slap sent Zisu sprawling, ears ringing, her face burning. Soon, a bright red handprint appeared.
Zhenzhu had some martial training and strength; neither Mu Shengsheng nor Zisu could resist her.
She wanted to drag Mu Shengsheng away. “Princess, in my opinion, we don’t need to be polite. Just throw her out of the mansion, hire a carriage, and send her back to the Xuanwu Marquis’s residence. Let them deal with her.”
They had already checked—Mu Shengsheng’s stepmother wasn’t kind. If they sent her back, someone would take care of her, and the Regency Prince wouldn’t pursue it further.
Zisu stepped in front of Mu Shengsheng. “What are you doing? Let go! Don’t touch our lady!”
“Move aside!”
Lan Xun had just returned from the palace. Passing by, he vaguely heard the commotion. Investigating, he saw Xie Wannian oppressing Mu Shengsheng.
He strode forward and shouted sharply, “What are you doing?”
Everyone froze, staring at him. His face was cold and stern, his phoenix-like eyes like a thousand layers of ice—one glance sent shivers down the spine.
Seeing the Regency Prince, Xie Wannian’s expression changed slightly, showing some guilt.
Zhenzhu’s hands trembled, her earlier arrogance gone. She dropped Mu Shengsheng and hurriedly stepped aside.
Everyone bowed. “Greetings, Regency Prince.”
Mu Shengsheng tried to stand to bow as well, but Lan Xun quickly knelt beside her, supporting her, and asked, “Are you alright?”
Tears stained Mu Shengsheng’s face; her nose twitched as she shyly lifted her hand to show the bleeding wound.
The cut wasn’t deep, and the blood was minimal, mixed with dirt and petals.
Lan Xun’s brows furrowed even tighter. He pulled out a handkerchief from his sleeve and wrapped her hand, then gently lifted her frail body, as delicate as paper, intending to carry her away.
If Xie Wannian hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn’t have believed it: the usually aloof and proud Regency Prince was personally carrying the sickly girl, his eyes filled with unprecedented concern.
Xie Wannian had admired Lan Xun for years, repeatedly rejected, and believed she knew his temperament well. Before, if any woman had fallen in front of him, he wouldn’t even glance at her; no one could get close to him.
She had thought he was naturally cold, devoid of extra emotion. But now, the way he looked at Mu Shengsheng—she had never seen anything like it.
How had this woman bewitched him?
Seeing Lan Xun carry Mu Shengsheng away, Xie Wannian hurried forward, grabbing his sleeve, trying to explain, “Cousin, she offended Zhaoyang first. Zhaoyang only taught her a small lesson.”
Mu Shengsheng, crying, looked pitiful. “The princess wants me to leave, so I’ll go. But why did she throw my pouch and order her maid to strike Zisu?
“I admit, I may have offended the princess before, but she has harassed me step by step, causing endless trouble, and now she turns it around in front of the prince!
“Though my status isn’t as high as hers, I am still the legitimate daughter of a proper marquis house. Being weak doesn’t justify mistreatment…”
Xie Wannian, flustered, stammered, “Y-you mustn’t slander! It’s your fault—”
“Enough.”
Lan Xun cut her off, his side glance icy and terrifying. “You saw it with your own eyes. How do you intend to deny it?”
Xie Wannian’s eyes reddened with rage. She saw Mu Shengsheng curled up in Lan Xun’s arms, her hands around his neck. Though her eyes were tearful, a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at her lips.
Only then did Xie Wannian realize she had been tricked.
This fragile-looking woman had clearly seen Lan Xun coming and deliberately provoked her—all for a show.
So weak, yet so cunning—how infuriating!