After the Empress Dowager left, the palace maids serving in the hall brought tea and pastries before tactfully withdrawing. Their deliberate manner seemed almost as if they were accommodating her.
“……”
Did they all think she was about to unleash violence?
How infuriating!
Stereotypes are the death of people, wuwuwu!
Yuan Siyin pinched her own thigh, telling herself not to tremble.
She was the woman who knew the entire storyline inside out.
Probably.
The first thing Yuan Siyin did after taking her seat was to untie the golden silk whip and meekly place it aside.
Attention everyone, look—she’s disarmed.
Having to pretend to be the original body’s mercurial temperament while also clinging to the male lead’s coattails was truly challenging.
Once she was settled, Yu Yuanchao stood up and took out an exquisite carved wooden box from his robe, presenting it to her like a treasure: “Siyin, I recently acquired a North Sea Black Pearl.” See if you like it?”
Yuan Siyin accepted the delicate box, overjoyed.
Pressing the clasp lightly, the intricately carved lid sprang open nimbly, revealing the round, glossy, perfectly spherical translucent pearl inside.
She grabbed the so-called sea black pearl and shoved it back into Yu Yuanchao’s hand, then placed the pearl she had been clutching in her own palm into the box instead.
Good heavens, who would have thought that just from pinching her thigh earlier, she had accidentally pulled off the small pearls from her dress.
And she managed to pull off two at once.
When luck truly runs out, even drinking cold water can get stuck between your teeth—that’s the least of your worries.
Thank you, Crown Prince brother. Yin’er really likes this box.”
Finally, she didn’t have to keep it clenched in her palm anymore.
Who understands this feeling?
Seeing this, Yu Yuanrong couldn’t help but let out a “pfft” of laughter, but after being glared at fiercely by Yu Yuanchao, he immediately fell silent, meek and subdued.
Taking advantage of Yu Yuanchao’s single-minded focus on Yuan Siyin and his neglect of everyone else, Yu Yuanrong leaned close to Yu Shiyan’s ear and whispered: “Seventh Brother, as they say, there’s always one thing to subdue another. It really takes a woman like Yuan Siyin to keep Eldest Brother in check.”
Yu Shiyan remained silent, his lowered eyes like a pool of icy water, his entire body radiating a chilling aura.
Yuan Siyin’s gaze, bypassing the troublesome Crown Prince, occasionally fell upon Yu Shiyan.
How could she send these two away so she could be alone with the male lead without it seeming abrupt?
Just as Yuan Siyin was racking her brains, the Crown Prince’s voice suddenly sounded by her ear: “This Prince understands—it must be that Sister Siyin hasn’t seen Seventh Brother for a long time.” In that case, Eighth Brother, let us take our leave as well and not disturb them.”
Yuan Siyin was startled. She had still been calculating what excuse to use to send the Crown Prince away, but now, he proposed leaving on his own, even throwing in another prince for free by taking the Eighth Prince with him.
But what did he mean by that knowing wink he gave her before leaving?
No, why are you closing the door in broad daylight!
Yuan Siyin, peril.
Didn’t they know that putting a delicate, vicious supporting female character like her alone with the male lead was a recipe for disaster?!
Yu Shiyan’s face was as still as dead water as he numbly stood up and knelt before her.
Yuan Siyin was so frightened her toes could dig out a courtyard house right on the spot.
Shouldn’t she be the one kneeling?
The male lead acting like this terrified her.
Seeing the woman in the superior position remain silent for a long time, frowning with a gloomy expression as if dissatisfied, Yu Shiyan gritted his teeth and removed his outer robe.
The blue robe slid to the floor, leaving the man clad only in thin undergarments. With his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and slim hips, he was the classic case of looking lean in clothes but well-built without them.
Yuan Siyin gasped in surprise, immediately covering her eyes while peeking at him through her fingers: “What are you doing!”
This this this, why are you taking off your clothes at the slightest disagreement? What kind of habit is this?
But it’s quite nice to look at… hehe…
Yuan Siyin froze for a moment, then turned away wishing she could slap herself hard across the face.