But Yun Li pouted her little mouth as if acting spoiled.
She looked up at Rong Zhou with upturned eyes, “Unless Ah Zhou doesn’t believe me, thinking everything I’ve done these days has been fake.”
Hearing this, Rong Zhou’s body stiffened abruptly.
Yun Li pretended to be angry and lightly flicked her sleeve, “I only want to love my husband properly from now on, who would have thought my husband wouldn’t appreciate it, trampling all over Ah Li’s feelings.”
Rong Zhou’s heart trembled violently in response.
He hurriedly grabbed her sleeve in panic, “No… Ah Li, that’s not what I meant…”
Yun Li subtly curved her lips.
But she quickly suppressed her smile, then straightened her posture, “If my husband maintains this attitude, you might as well divorce me and drive me out of the mansion. Otherwise, it would make me seem like I’m being unreasonable.”
As Yun Li spoke, she pulled back her sleeve and prepared to leave.
Rong Zhou quickly reached out to pull her back into his embrace, no longer daring to pretend any grievance or play any games.
“Ah Li, don’t go… I was wrong.” He lowered his head and gently rested his chin in the crook of her neck.
His low, hoarse voice carried a slight tremor, “I do believe you, I’m not trampling on your feelings. I’ll never say such nonsense again!”
Yun Li turned her head away with a light hum.
Rong Zhou’s long fingers tenderly stroked through her black hair, “Ah Li, don’t be angry with me… Ah Li…”
The Regent Prince was clearly flustered by her act.
Fearing his little Princess Consort’s anger, he was racking his brains trying to figure out how to appease her when he saw Yun Li curve her eyes into smiling crescents the next second, “That’s more like it!”
Rong Zhou was slightly stunned.
A hint of cunning flashed in Yun Li’s beautiful phoenix eyes as she blinked playfully, “You must maintain this awareness from now on, always, always believe me.”
Rong Zhou: …?
A look of astonishment flashed in his narrow peach blossom eyes.
Only then did he realize he had been tricked by his little Princess Consort!
Rong Zhou narrowed his eyes suddenly, his gaze carrying a dangerous edge as he stared at Yun Li. He gritted his teeth in annoyance, yet still couldn’t bring himself to get angry with his beloved.
In the end, he simply closed his eyes to conceal his emotions, then bent down to press his cool lips against her ear.
“Little black sesame tangyuan.”
Rong Zhou’s voice was low and hoarse as he nibbled on her earlobe with its small red mole, “You’ll wait for me tonight!”
Just wait until he cooked this tangyuan, peeled it open, and devoured it completely!
Yun Li: …?
What in the world was “little black sesame tangyuan”?
But she couldn’t be bothered to question it now, simply pinching Rong Zhou’s cheek instead, “We’ll talk about tonight when it comes. I’m leaving now, but I’ll be back soon.”
With these words, she turned and fluttered away gracefully.
True to her word, she soon came fluttering back like a little butterfly, burrowing into Rong Zhou’s embrace, “Oh right, Ah Zhou, kiss me.”
“Hmm?” The man’s pupils darkened considerably.
Yun Li stood on her tiptoes, lifting her face to expose her swan-like neck.
She pointed at her fair neck, “Kiss here, kiss hard. Ah Li wants little strawberries.”
Wen Nan: ???
Was this inappropriate talk that a subordinate like him should be hearing? But what did the Princess Consort wanting to eat strawberries have to do with kissing?
Rong Zhou looked down at his little Princess Consort, his thumb stroking her fair neck before lowering his head to press his lips against her snow-white skin.
Yun Li only felt a slight coolness on her neck, then the soft tip of his tongue gently pressing against her skin, sending an instant shiver through her body as if electric currents were rapidly coursing through her.
She nearly lost her balance.
Hurriedly, she reached out to grab Rong Zhou’s sleeve.His Highness the Regent Prince gently closed his eyes, his long lashes lightly brushing against her skin once more…
“Alright… that’s enough,” Yun Li whimpered softly.
A low, husky chuckle followed. Rong Zhou slowly released her, revealing a small strawberry mark on her neck, so vivid it made the corners of his eyes flush red…
The man’s gaze gradually grew tender and obsessed.
He leisurely rubbed the mark twice, “Go on. I’ll give you an even prettier one tonight.”
Blushing furiously, Yun Li immediately covered her neck before turning to run off, eager to show off her little strawberry mark to the white lotus.
…
Ning Xin’er had been waiting outside the mansion for a long time.
She stood primly, her feet nearly sore from maintaining the posture, yet she dared not make any improper movements to preserve her image. Until her patience wore thin and she gradually grew irritable…
The gates of the Regent’s Mansion finally creaked open slowly.
Ning Xin’er immediately looked up.
She saw a graceful figure in pale green emerging from the mansion, carrying an air of cool arrogance and nobility.
Ning Xin’er pretended to brighten up, “A’Li!”
But she met Yun Li’s half-lidded phoenix eyes, gazing down at her with icy aloofness, radiating an overwhelming aura of authority.
Clenching the embroidered handkerchief in her hand, Ning Xin’er reluctantly curtsied, “Greetings, Your Highness the Princess Consort.”
Yun Li lazily lifted her eyes to glance at her.
She replied indifferently and distantly, “Rise.”
Ning Xin’er didn’t want to hold the curtsy for even half a second. She straightened up immediately and attempted to enter the mansion.
But Yun Li stood squarely in the center of the gateway, blocking her path. “If you have business, County Princess Changning, state it here.”
Ning Xin’er had just lifted her skirt to step onto the first stair.
Hearing Yun Li’s words, her back stiffened abruptly, and she forced an unnatural smile.
“Won’t A’Li invite me into the mansion for a chat?”
She had dressed elaborately today, hoping to catch His Highness’s attention. Perhaps he would notice her charm and gradually transfer his affections…
Moreover, she intended to deliver the divorce letter in His Highness’s presence, so he could see her true colors!
But Yun Li merely cast a cold glance her way. “This Princess Consort is not acquainted with the County Princess. Henceforth, there’s no need to use the informal name ‘A’Li,’ lest others think the County Princess lacks etiquette.”
Ning Xin’er: “…”
How dare this wretch accuse her of lacking etiquette!
Yun Li lowered her gaze, looking weary as she adjusted her sleeve. “If the County Princess prefers not to speak outside the mansion, you may take your leave.”
She showed no intention of inviting her inside.
Ning Xin’er clenched her fists, grinding her teeth in quiet frustration. Though she was deeply unwilling to leave without even entering the mansion, the divorce letter still had to be delivered!
“It seems the Princess Consort still blames Changning. I truly meant no harm. If you and His Highness have misunderstood something, Changning can explain it to His Highness…”
Ning Xin’er feigned grievance, lowering her eyes. “Actually, Changning came today out of sympathy for the Princess Consort’s plight.”
Yun Li chuckled lightly, “Sympathy for me?”
Ning Xin’er let out a soft sob, pretending to wipe nonexistent tears from the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief.
She wept, “As a woman myself, Changning understands what the Princess Consort truly feels… After all, being forcibly taken into the mansion at such a young age, losing your freedom and the right to choose your own marriage—it’s only natural you’d be unwilling.”
Yun Li simply watched this white lotus performance with lowered eyes.Ning Xin’er gently bit her lip. “I truly worry about Your Highness, fearing you might suffer any grievance, so I specially sought the Empress Dowager to request this divorce document on your behalf, which can grant you freedom.”
As she spoke, she handed the divorce document to Yun Li.
Then she raised her eyes to observe her expression. “The Empress Dowager also deeply feels His Highness’s actions were improper. Forcing someone into marriage is truly unbecoming, so she wishes to remedy this mistake. As the Princess Consort wishes, she permits you to leave the prin… Ah!”
But before Ning Xin’er could finish her words, a sharp slap suddenly rang out.
“Slap—”