As her clothes were removed, her delicate body was revealed, covered in bruises that bore witness to the madness of the previous night.
The maids blushed, yet a hint of envy flickered in their eyes.
The prince had always kept his distance from women, and rumors had even circulated that he was Duanxiu. Last night, not only did he dispel those rumors by sharing a room with the Princess Consort, but who would have thought he could be so… passionate? If not for his disabled legs limiting his performance, it might have been even more intense?
Ah…
Seeing the maids’ flushed faces, Cheng Yao felt a wave of shame herself.
However, she firmly believed that as long as she didn’t feel awkward, the awkwardness would fall on others. So, she maintained a calm expression as she dressed.
Wait, why were they dressing her in white?
“Do I have any other clothes?”
Wearing all white for the Tea Offering on the second day of marriage would surely be seen as inauspicious by the elders, wouldn’t it?
The maids stammered, hesitating to speak.
Cheng Yao rummaged through the chests herself.
Cheng Lan loved wearing white, and since the Second Prince favored her, the original host had imitated her style, filling her wardrobe entirely with white clothes.
But Cheng Yao’s features were lush and exquisite, bright and bold—white didn’t suit her well at all.
Fortunately, she found a slightly worn pink Moxiong qun tucked away at the bottom of a chest. Though it was a bit tight around the chest, she paired it with a scallion-green Banbi beizi to cover up, then sat down contentedly for the maids to do her makeup.
When Cheng Yao entered the main hall, it was packed with people, a sea of dark figures, yet everyone’s expression was grim, as if shrouded in dark clouds—oppressively gloomy.
Cheng Yao thought to herself: She hadn’t provoked any of them, so who were they putting on these grim faces for?
The moment her foot crossed the threshold, Old Madam, seated imposingly at the head of the room, let out a heavy, disdainful snort, the pressure almost palpable.
Then, a delicate-looking woman stepped forward and took her hand. “Yao Yao, you’re so late. Hurry inside, we’ve all been waiting for you for so long.”
Cheng Yao raised an eyebrow.
This woman was really good at stirring up resentment against her. These people already held a grudge, and now she had to mention her lateness, adding fuel to the fire?
This was Feng Xianxian, the original host’s friend, who was in love with Zhan Haoting.
No matter how much Zhan Haoting despised her, she remained steadfastly devoted to him, willing to live or die for him, even crash headfirst into walls for him.
But Zhan Haoting didn’t like Feng Xianxian; in fact, he loathed her. In a fit of anger, Feng Xianxian married his cousin, Zhan Jinmo.
Now, it seemed she couldn’t stand to see Cheng Yao doing well and was trying to set her up?
Cheng Yao lowered her gaze, her cheeks flushed with a mix of shyness and reproach, and whispered softly, “I don’t know who put aphrodisiac in the incense burner… The prince, out of pity for me, specifically allowed me to come later. I didn’t realize you were all waiting…”
Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for everyone to hear.
The expressions in the room shifted. So, she had the prince’s protection—no wonder she was so bold.
Feng Xianxian forced a smile, but her fingernails dug into her palms inside her sleeves.
She had admired Zhan Haoting for so long, writing him letter after letter, making clothes and shoes for him until her fingers were pricked and bleeding, trying every way to show him kindness, yet she couldn’t warm his heart, which was harder than stone.
Now, he was being so considerate toward Cheng Yao. Why?!
Why?!
And Cheng Yao—wasn’t she supposed to be foolish, timid, and fond of wearing white?
Feng Xianxian had been waiting for her to make a fool of herself today, but instead, she was wearing pink and looked so radiantly beautiful?!
The more Feng Xianxian thought about it, the more her heart ached, so much that even breathing hurt.
She pursed her lips and forced another smile. “Yao Yao, you took Cheng Lan’s place to marry into this family, deceiving the prince and embarrassing the Zhan family. Yet the prince still treats you so well—it’s truly enviable.”
Damn!
This woman was vicious!
Cheng Yao responded with a backhanded slap.
“Ah!”
Feng Xianxian let out a sharp cry, never expecting Cheng Yao to strike her in front of so many people. Her face was knocked to the side, and she was left utterly stunned.
“Cheng Yao!” Zhan Jinmo abruptly stood up.
Feng Xianxian leaned into him, her eyes moist and pitiful. “Husband, it hurts.”
Zhan Jinmo tenderly stroked her reddened cheek and glared at Cheng Yao. “You shrew! How dare you lay hands on someone?”
Cheng Yao replied nonchalantly, “Since it’s an unsavory matter, sister-in-law shouldn’t have spoken of it publicly. As she misspoke, it’s only right for me, as her elder sister-in-law, to teach her a lesson. Besides, matters between me and the prince are none of her business.”
Zhan Jinmo’s face flushed with anger. “This is no marketplace, nor is it a place for you to run wild!”
Cheng Yao toyed with her fingers. “This is Zhan Wangfu, my home. Aren’t you the outsiders here? You eat my husband’s food, live in my husband’s house, and yet you insult me. Someone like you, who ‘eats the meat and then curses the hand that feeds you,’ is truly unacceptable.”
“You!” Zhan Jinmo’s face turned pale and then flushed, looking utterly discomfited.
“Enough!” Old Madam’s expression turned icy as she slammed her hand on the table. “Cheng Yao, you used Li dai tao jiang to marry into our Zhan family, bewitched Haoting with your seductive tricks, and now you strike your sister-in-law in public. You are devoid of conscience and virtue, unworthy of being Haoting’s wife!”
Was she about to be divorced?
This Old Madam was a stepmother, not Zhan Haoting’s biological grandmother, and she couldn’t bear to see him prosper.
Divorcing his wife without even informing him—tsk, this old hag truly had a vicious heart.
But then again, she didn’t want to stay anyway.
“Old Madam, there’s no need to pin crimes on me and ruin my reputation,” Cheng Yao said with a smile. “If you’re willing to give me a Heli shu, I’ll leave.”
As Cheng Yao’s words fell, the entire hall fell silent for a moment.
Did she even know what she was saying?
To divorce the day after the wedding was truly unheard of!
If she were truly divorced and sent back to her family, her life would be ruined.
Yet she seemed almost eager—was she a fool?
Feng Xianxian, who had been slapped, felt a surge of vindication: Cheng Yao, if you leave Zhan Haoting, no one will want you. You’ll end up a beggar on the streets, and then I’ll see how I deal with you!
As soon as Cheng Yao finished speaking, Zhan Haoting’s mother, Madam Zhan, hurried over and took her hand, her tone pleading. “Yao’er, say no more.”
Cheng Yao opened her mouth but hesitated.
This mother-in-law was too soft-hearted, allowing her daughter-in-law to be publicly humiliated and still pleading for compromise.
But what could she do?
Her eyes were already reddening; if Cheng Yao refused, she would likely burst into tears.
Madam Zhan offered an appeasing smile to Old Madam. “Mother, Yao’er is still young and doesn’t know better. Please don’t hold it against her.”
Old Madam hadn’t truly intended to make Cheng Yao leave. After all, she was Zhan Haoting’s wife, and without his word, who would dare act? This was merely a show of authority to intimidate and challenge her.
Hearing Madam Zhan’s words, Old Madam took the opportunity to step down. “If she continues to act so unrestrained, our Zhan family will not tolerate her.”
Madam Zhan was overjoyed. “Mother, she knows she was wrong.”
She squeezed Cheng Yao’s hand. “Yao’er, quickly apologize to Xianxian, Jinmo, and Grandmother.”
Cheng Yao frowned and remained standing, unmoving.
Second Madam Zhan said casually, “Sister-in-law, you really know how to smooth things over. This wretched girl has made Haoting the laughingstock of the whole world, yet you don’t utter a single word of complaint. You try to comfort her, and she doesn’t even appreciate it. Aren’t you being foolish?”
Madam Zhan stammered, “She is Ting’er’s wife…”
Second Madam Zhan pressed on relentlessly, “Sister-in-law, let me be frank with you. She brought misfortune upon her mother, her adoptive parents, her paternal grandparents, and her maternal grandfather. She is a Sangmen xing—a jinx—and should never have been allowed into our home in the first place.”