“Even in my absence, I am aware of what happens within the mansion. Moreover,” Zhan Haoting glanced at her indifferently, “you hardly seem like the type to let others bully you.”
“You want to say I tricked your grandmother, right?” Cheng Yao had guessed he would see through it and openly admitted, “I only acted after realizing she was scheming against me. I simply returned her own medicine with a preemptive strike. Can you blame me for that?”
Scheming against others yet speaking with such righteous confidence—this girl was nothing like the timid and reticent figure from the rumors.
Zhan Haoting looked at her.
Today, she wore a pink dress, as delicate and fresh as a graceful lotus.
Her hair was loosely tied, held in place by a single hairpin that slanted carelessly. A strand of dark hair nestled against her snow-white neck, the contrast of black and white utterly captivating.
Last night, she had blossomed beneath him like a flower, her soft murmurs and tender words making it impossible for him to stop…
Zhan Haoting withdrew his gaze, his voice slightly hoarse. “Since you are now my wife, if you live peacefully, I will not abandon you.”
Was he implying that he would no longer pursue the matter of her substitution in the marriage, nor hold her accountable for scalding his grandmother?
Well, he’s surprisingly decent.
However, she wouldn’t let herself be trapped in this inner courtyard just because of his small act of mercy.
Earlier, she had confirmed that her personal Space had followed her here.
All the supplies she had scavenged during the Apocalypse were still there. She needed to carefully consider her next steps.
Cheng Yao smiled brightly and thanked him, “Thank you, Your Highness, for sparing my life.”
Yet, Zhan Haoting’s gaze instantly turned cold.
She hadn’t made a corresponding promise. Was her heart still set on the Second Prince!
A guard arrived outside the door to report, “Your Highness, His Majesty requests your immediate presence at the palace.”
Cheng Yao was taken aback. “Not even a break after the wedding?”
It wasn’t as if the country couldn’t function without him.
Tsk, the Dog Emperor’s exploitative face was even uglier than that of a capitalist.
Zhan Haoting’s eyes flickered slightly. Without a word, he turned his wheelchair and headed out, with a guard stepping forward to push him.
Cheng Yao called after him, “Hey, at least have some breakfast before you go.”
“No need.”
Cheng Yao then packed a few steamed buns in a paper bag, hurried after him, and handed them to him. “Eat them on the way. Don’t ruin your stomach.”
Meeting his complicated gaze, she smiled. “Anyway, I can’t finish all the food on the table. What a shame it would be to waste it.”
Her smile was pure, as bright as sunlight, enough to lighten anyone’s heart.
Zhan Haoting’s eyes softened slightly. “Wait for me to return.”
Cheng Yao waved at him, but then another guard came to report, “Your Highness, a eunuch from the palace has come with a message. His Majesty wishes for you to bring the Princess Consort into the palace.”
Zhan Haoting’s brows furrowed deeply.
Cheng Yao was also surprised. Since it wasn’t an imperial marriage, why did the Emperor want to see her?
But then, she suddenly remembered something and widened her eyes in astonishment.
Oh my goodness, she had transmigrated into a book she had read before the Apocalypse!
In the book, the Supporting Female Character shared her name—reticent and substituted into the marriage at Zhan Wangfu.
Meanwhile, the Supporting Male Character, the War King, had achievements overshadowing the Emperor, who framed him with charges of treason and had him executed!
During this palace visit, Zhan Haoting was beaten until he was covered in wounds and carried back, followed immediately by the Confiscation of property and exile of his entire clan, without even a moment to catch their breath!
She and Zhan Haoting, an innocent pair of Supporting Male and Female Characters, both met extremely tragic ends. Back then, she had complained to her classmates about how the Author was inhumane, ranting with flying spittle.
Who would have thought she would become the unlucky Supporting Female Character herself!
Damn it, she had struggled for twenty years in the Apocalypse, and now, having just crossed over, she was about to be exiled and suffer all kinds of hardships. What was she supposed to say?
Retribution, though delayed, had finally arrived?
But how many people had she saved in the Apocalypse using her supernatural ability? Couldn’t that offset the mistake she made from a moment of thoughtless ranting?
Wait, no—that Author really did write in a melodramatic and cold-blooded way. It wasn’t like she had cursed him wrongly, right?
Cheng Yao’s entire mindset collapsed, her heart sinking to the bottom of a valley.
Zhan Haoting thought she was afraid of meeting the Emperor, her small face pale and on the verge of tears. He couldn’t help but soften and tugged lightly on her pinky finger. “I’ll go with you.”
Cheng Yao snapped back to reality, her gaze shifting from his handsome face to the large hand enveloping her small one. For some reason, her nose tingled with emotion.
Zhan Haoting was the iron-willed War God of Great Feng.
He had stepped onto the battlefield at the age of ten, displaying extraordinary military talent.
Rising from a common soldier to the rank of general, he became even more formidable, strategizing with ease and leaving the enemy with no chance to fight back.
For thirteen years, he protected the people, reclaimed lost territories, and ushered in an era of peace and prosperity. He was a hero of Great Feng.
And that Dog Emperor had originally been an unfavored prince, over a decade older than Zhan Haoting, yet cowardly and incompetent—even eunuchs and palace maids bullied him.
It was Zhan Haoting who protected him, took him to the battlefield to earn military merits, helped him gradually build prestige, assisted him in climbing to that position, and then aided him in stabilizing Jiangshan.
Zhan Haoting ended up covered in wounds, his legs crippled. In the past two years, he had even voluntarily surrendered his military power, becoming a tiger with its teeth pulled—utterly harmless. Yet the Dog Emperor still refused to let him go, determined to wipe him out completely. That bastard really wasn’t human.
Zhan Haoting’s frown deepened. What was going on? Instead of being comforted, the young girl’s expression had grown even worse.
He tightened his grip on her palm, interlacing their fingers to reassure her. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
His deep, mellow voice carried a steady gentleness that brought comfort.
Cheng Yao forced a smile. “Let’s go.”
Zhan Haoting frowned. “Change your clothes.”
She was wearing a strapless gown that exposed a large expanse of snow-white skin at her chest. He kept thinking about finding something to cover it.
Cheng Yao pulled her outer garment tighter. “But I only have white clothes.”
“Then wear white.”
Cheng Yao considered taking a set of later-era Hanfu from her Space but decided against it, thinking the craftsmanship might differ from ancient times.
After packing up and boarding the carriage, Cheng Yao sorted through the plot of the book in her mind. Only when a cloak carrying the crisp scent of a man was draped over her shoulders did she snap back to attention.
“Autumn has arrived; it’s a bit chilly.” Zhan Haoting had shed his disguise, his sharp edges completely withdrawn. He had become gentle and refined, a stark contrast to the imposing authority he usually displayed.
Perhaps, as they drew closer to that Dog Emperor, he instinctively lowered his presence.
As Cheng Yao was lost in thought, Zhan Haoting handed her a paper bag. “Have something to fill your stomach first.”
Cheng Yao chuckled. These were the buns she had prepared for him. Who would have thought she’d be the one benefiting?
“Let’s eat together.”
On the small table in the carriage, tea was kept warm, its steam curling upward.
With one bun each and a cup of clear tea, they completely dispelled the early autumn chill.
…
Deep within the palace, crimson walls stretched endlessly. Rows upon rows of guards clad in Armor turned this vast Royal City into a Divine Barrier, separating it from the ordinary masses outside.
Inside the palace, only nobles and aristocrats moved about, exuding the lofty, imposing aura of those in power.
This was Cheng Yao’s first time being so close to the very center of authority. To be honest, she was still quite nervous.
Zhan Haoting went in first to see the Emperor, while she waited outside the palace gate.
At that moment, a well-dressed man and woman walked arm in arm from under the gallery.
Who else could these two be but Cheng Lan and the Second Prince Murong Chen?
Cheng Yao glanced at them and turned away. “Seeing ghosts in broad daylight—how damn unlucky!”