They consummated their marriage last night?
How is that possible!
Ning Xin’er’s manicured nails nearly dug into her palms, yet she felt no pain in her shock and jealousy.
Just as Ning Xin’er began to doubt their relationship, she saw Yun Li raise her hand slightly, her sleeve sliding down her slender arm to reveal a pear blossom gold bracelet on her fair wrist.
“But the token of affection Ah Zhou gave me is truly beautiful.”
Yun Li smiled with curved eyes, standing on tiptoe to plant a light kiss on Rong Zhou’s cheek. “Then Ah Li forgives you.”
Rong Zhou’s dark eyes stirred with emotion once more.
Seeing Yun Li gently caress the pear blossom pattern he had personally engraved on the bracelet, his heart began to race…
She noticed the small bracelet!
She didn’t reject the token of affection he gave her!
Rong Zhou’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, his low, husky voice tinged with a hint of joy. “As long as Ah Li likes it.”
Ning Xin’er nearly gritted her teeth in fury.
The golden light dazzled her eyes.
She remembered—she had just seen a matching one on Rong Zhou’s wrist. They even had matching tokens of affection!
When did their feelings develop?
Yun Li turned her gaze with a charming smile. “Now, has Princess Changning received a satisfactory answer?”
Ning Xin’er: “…”
She forced a strained smile.
Despite the jealousy in her heart, she could only pretend. “If the Regent Prince and Princess Consort are harmonious, Changning can rest assured. I shall return to the palace now to report to Her Majesty.”
As she spoke, she called Yu Yao, who had been kneeling on the ground for a long time, and turned to leave the Regent’s Mansion.
A clear, proud voice suddenly rang out. “Wait!”
Ning Xin’er and her maid halted their steps, only to see Yun Li gracefully walk over to Yu Yao.
“Since the princess’s matter is settled, shouldn’t this maid who spoke disrespectfully and was sentenced by the Regent Prince to have her tongue cut out—yet has not been punished—also receive her due?”
Yu Yao’s body trembled violently.
She frantically knelt at Ning Xin’er’s feet in fear. The mention of having her tongue cut out already conjured images of a bloody scene after her tongue was suddenly severed…
“No! Don’t cut my tongue!”
Yu Yao trembled uncontrollably, looking up at Ning Xin’er in panic and clutching the hem of her skirt. “Princess, save me… save me!”
Ning Xin’er felt her chest tighten with anger at Yun Li.
Yu Yao was a confidante she had kept by her side since childhood, still of considerable use. Moreover, there were secrets not yet known to others that could prove helpful in the future…
This pawn could not be discarded so easily!
Thus, Ning Xin’er said gently, “Yu Yao only made a small mistake. Must the Princess Consort be so aggressive? If word spreads, people will think the Princess Consort lacks magnanimity.”
Yun Li chuckled lightly, finding it amusing.
She raised the corner of her eye slightly. “Then, if Princess Changning fails to discipline her subordinates strictly and allows her maid to make mistakes in the Regent’s Mansion without punishment, won’t that tarnish your reputation, Princess?”
Hearing this, Ning Xin’er shuddered.
Yun Li’s smile faded, her voice turning cold. “Have Wen Nan cut out her tongue, or teach her a lesson yourself with twenty slaps. The princess may choose.”
Ning Xin’er clenched the embroidered handkerchief in her hand.
Neither of these choices suited her!
Cutting out the tongue would undoubtedly endanger her life, forcing her to discard a crucial pawn. Yet slapping her maid’s face was akin to slapping her own…
“Wen Nan,” Yun Li commanded coldly.
Wen Nan, standing nearby, immediately drew his blade upon hearing the order.Ning Xin’er’s heart sank abruptly. She quickly said, “There’s no need to trouble Guard Wen to take action.”
“Young Lady…” Yu Yao’s eyes welled up with tears.
But immediately after, a crisp and ruthless slapping sound rang out—”Smack!”
Ning Xin’er raised her hand and slapped Yu Yao across the face.
Yu Yao’s cheek instantly bore a red mark, while Ning Xin’er’s own palm stung with a burning pain.
“Nineteen more to go,” Wen Nan supervised.
Ning Xin’er closed her eyes indignantly, slapping Yu Yao’s face one blow after another. Yu Yao was beaten until her face was bruised and swollen, blood trickling from her nose and the corner of her mouth.
Occasionally, servants passing by witnessed this scene. Seeing the usually noble Changning County Master being supervised by Guard Wen as she slapped her personal maid, they couldn’t help but whisper among themselves…
“I heard they offended the Princess Consort.”
“A county master of her status can’t even control her maid’s tongue. I think she came with ill intentions—whatever’s on her mind just gets spoken through her maid’s mouth.”
“Exactly! I bet she was hoping the Princess Consort and His Highness wouldn’t be harmonious. She probably came to watch the drama, but instead…”
“Could she still be coveting our Prince?”
“That would truly be both delusional and shameless! Our Princess Consort is far more beautiful than her!”
As they say, when the water rises, the boat floats higher. Following a powerful master, even the servants of the Regent’s Mansion dared to privately gossip about a disgraced county master.
Ning Xin’er was utterly humiliated hearing these remarks.
“Smack—”
With the final resounding slap, Yu Yao couldn’t endure it any longer and fainted right outside the hall.
Ning Xin’er’s palm was also red and throbbing with pain.
Suppressing her humiliation, she glared at Yun Li through gritted teeth, “Is the Regent’s Princess Consort satisfied now?”
“Passable,” Yun Li replied in a light, cheerful tone.
Ning Xin’er took a deep breath, forcing an elegant smile back onto her face. “Then, may I ask the Princess Consort—”
But Yun Li had no intention of listening to her prattle.
She coquettishly hooked her fingers with Rong Zhou’s, tilting her face up to gaze at him sweetly. “Ah Zhou, I’m tired~”
Rong Zhou’s sword-like eyebrows furrowed tightly.
How could he bear to let his little Princess Consort feel tired!
Hearing Yun Li acting cute, he immediately bent down, slid his arm under her knees, and without hesitation scooped her up into his arms—flaunting his doting affection right in front of Ning Xin’er.
“This husband will carry you back.”
With those words, he strode away steadily and confidently.
Ning Xin’er: !!!
His Highness the Regent Prince held such an exalted status—how could he stoop so low for a woman?
But just then, Yun Li glanced back at her.
Deliberately, she wrapped her arms intimately around Rong Zhou’s neck, her bright eyes brimming with pride and triumph. Her red lips moved clearly, forming the words: “He’s mine.”
Ning Xin’er practically wanted to tear her to pieces!
But Yun Li had already turned away, a cold, alluring smile curling her red lips.
Ning Xin’er…
You and the Ning family owe my Yun family a blood debt from our past life. Starting now, we’ll settle it slowly!
…
Rong Zhou carried Yun Li back to Phoenix Hall.
Witnessing the cold, ruthless Regent Prince pampering his Princess Consort to such an extent left everyone astounded, their jaws nearly hitting the floor!
Yun Li’s dowry maid, Lian Qiao, stood frozen in place.
She distinctly remembered…
The young miss didn’t like His Highness the Regent Prince. There were even rumors in the world that he was cruel, tyrannical, and utterly inhuman. But now, seeing him like this, how could he possibly resemble the capital’s living King of Hell in the slightest?
“Lian Qiao,” Yun Li’s clear voice called out.
The little maid looked up blankly. “Huh… huh?”Yun Li finally landed from Rong Zhou’s embrace. She tugged at the Regent Prince’s sleeve, leading him toward the dining hall. “Have you prepared the things I asked for?”
Lian Qiao hurriedly nodded. “R-right away!”
As she spoke, she frantically turned and ran toward the kitchen, fearing that even a half-second delay would cause the Regent Prince to chop off her head!
But Rong Zhou hadn’t shifted his attention at all.
He kept holding his little Princess Consort’s hand tightly, his usual violent aura completely restrained. He only indulged her, pulling her into his embrace and resting his chin against the crook of her neck, gently nuzzling. “What does A Li want to do?”
Yun Li took the opportunity to sit on his lap, wrapping her arms softly around his neck. Her eyes blinked lightly, her beautiful phoenix eyes seeming to gather the most wonderful scenery in the world.
“Of course, to make my A Zhou happy,” she said, leaning closer and playfully pecking his lips.
After all, she had previously been reborn in the modern era, where there were many advanced and novel things. Now that she had finally returned to Rong Zhou’s side, she couldn’t wait to share them with him!
“Hmm?” Rong Zhou’s seductive voice carried a hint of temptation. His large hand rested on her slender waist, meaningfully tightening slightly. “Make me happy?”
The man’s peach blossom eyes clearly deepened.
He closed his eyes, greedily inhaling the light, pleasant, and intoxicating pear blossom scent on his little Princess Consort…
As if he couldn’t wait to press her onto the square table and have his way with her!
Yun Li: “…”
She knew this little pervert would get the wrong idea again.
“Not that kind of happy,” Yun Li quickly pressed her jade-like fingers against his flushed lips.
Rong Zhou took the opportunity to gently kiss her hand.
His voice was low, hoarse, and even carried a hint of persistence and resentment. “A Li, I want…”