Murong Chen’s expression stiffened, while Cheng Lan’s eyes flickered slightly. “Sister, you’re here too? What a coincidence.”
“What? Are you the only one allowed to come, not me?” Cheng Yao rolled her eyes dramatically.
“Sister, I was just worried about you.” Cheng Lan glided forward with delicate steps. “Did my marriage to the Second Prince upset you? But the Second Prince and I are deeply in love. Surely you wouldn’t want to tear us apart, right?”
A sharp pang shot through Cheng Yao’s heart—likely lingering emotions from the original body.
Cheng Lan was a White Lotus plus Green Tea. The original owner, naive and unable to see through her, had shared every detail of her interactions with the Second Prince, truly treating her like a sister. Unfortunately, that sincere heart had been fed to the dogs.
“Cheng Lan, just like your mother, you love stealing other women’s men, then putting on an innocent, harmless act. In reality, your heart is utterly rotten. It’s truly disgusting.”
Cheng Yao’s eyes were filled with disgust, as if looking at filth or vermin.
Cheng Lan’s expression shifted. How had this bitch become so sharp-tongued?
“Sister, you’ve misunderstood. My mother and father were in love from the start. It was just that Grandmother forced Father to marry your mother.” Cheng Lan’s eyes reddened as she stepped forward to grab Cheng Yao’s hand, trying to act intimate as she used to, her tone tinged with grievance. “Sister, loving someone isn’t a crime…”
“Don’t touch me.” Cheng Yao shook her off with revulsion.
She hadn’t used much force, but Cheng Lan fell heavily to the ground, crying out in pain:
“It hurts…”
“Lan’er!” Murong Chen helped Cheng Lan up, his eyes full of concern. “Are you alright?”
Cheng Lan shook her head, her eyes watery and pitiful. “It’s all my fault. I made Sister angry.”
“Look how kind-hearted Lan’er is! You pushed her, yet she blames herself!” Murong Chen suppressed his anger. “Cheng Yao, you’ve already married the Royal Uncle, yet you still use such lowly tricks to get my attention. It’s truly disgusting!”
Cheng Yao sneered. “Second Prince, stop flattering yourself. It only makes you look foolish.”
“Still stubborn? You knew I’d be entering the palace with Lan’er for the Tea Offering and deliberately waited here.” Murong Chen’s gaze was full of disdain. “On the second day of your marriage, you’re wearing the white dress Lan’er usually loves—Dong Shi imitating the frown. How dare you say it’s not for me? Apologize to Lan’er now!”
Damn it…
Cheng Yao rolled her eyes.
She was angry at the original owner’s lovestruck foolishness but had no way to refute it. After all, she couldn’t exactly say she had no other clothes to wear.
“Second Prince.” Cheng Lan tugged weakly at Murong Chen’s sleeve. “My chest just hurts a little. It’s nothing serious. Sister didn’t mean it. Don’t blame her.”
“You’re too kind-hearted, which is why she always bullies you.” Murong Chen was furious. “Cheng Yao, are you deaf? I told you to apologize.”
Cheng Yao smiled mockingly. “So you’re convinced I pushed her, right?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
The curve of Cheng Yao’s lips widened as she suddenly shoved Cheng Lan with force.
“Ah!”
This time, Cheng Lan fell hard, as if her tailbone might break. Her palms burned with pain, and her face twisted slightly. “It hurts so much!”
“Cheng Yao!” Murong Chen’s face turned pale with anger. “You’ve gone too far! Playing hard-to-get too often will only backfire!”
“Who’s playing hard-to-get?” Cheng Xiyue sneered. “Didn’t you say I pushed her? I’m just making it true. Otherwise, being scolded by you for nothing would be too unfair.”
“You’re asking for death!” Murong Chen clenched his fists and lunged at him.
However, before he could get close, Cheng Yao swept him away with a spinning kick, sending him crashing to the ground with a thud.
“Goodness, you’re as fragile as paper—falling over at the slightest touch. You’re so weak and foolish, it’s a good thing I didn’t marry you.”
Cheng Yao covered her nose with her hand, looking utterly disdainful.
Murong Chen scrambled to his feet, his face ashen with rage. “Cheng Yao, you venomous woman!”
He turned to the guards nearby. “Cheng Yao has trespassed into the palace and assaulted a prince! Why haven’t you seized her yet?”
A group of guards closed in on Cheng Yao.
Cheng Yao took a step back. “He may be a prince, but I am the Princess Consort. The Emperor summoned me to the palace for questioning. I’d like to see who dares lay a hand on me.”
The guards indeed halted in their tracks.
When immortals fight, mortals suffer. Until the situation was clear, they dared not act rashly.
Cheng Yao then declared righteously, “Second Prince, the one betrothed to you was me! But Cheng Lan drugged me, forcing me to take her place and marry Zhan Haoting, while she married you instead—a classic case of Li dai tao jiang. I will certainly report this matter to His Majesty.”
The guards kept their eyes downcast, pretending not to hear, but inwardly they were reeling—what an earth-shattering scandal!
Murong Chen roared angrily, “Don’t you dare spout such nonsense! It was you who willingly boarded the bridal sedan for the War King!”
Cheng Yao sneered coldly. “You truly have no shame. Just moments ago, you claimed I was infatuated with you, and now you accuse me of coveting the War King. Contradicting yourself—who do you take for a fool?”
Murong Chen argued back, “It’s you who are fickle and unfaithful…”
“Ha!” Cheng Yao scoffed disdainfully. “When you can’t win an argument, you resort to hurling insults like a shrew. Is this the upbringing and dignity befitting the Second Prince?”
“You!” Murong Chen flushed with humiliation, veins bulging on his neck.
At that moment, a eunuch hurried out with quick, small steps and beckoned Cheng Yao inside.
Noticing Murong Chen was also present, the eunuch smiled and said, “His Majesty was just mentioning the Second Prince and the Second Princess Consort. Since both of you are here, please come in together.”
Cheng Yao went ahead, while Murong Chen, supporting Cheng Lan, trailed behind.
“Husband,” Cheng Lan tugged at Murong Chen’s hand, her face filled with worry. “Will Father punish us?”
Murong Chen looked directly into her eyes. “Tell me honestly—did you force Cheng Yao to take your place and marry the War King?”
Cheng Lan opened her mouth, her eyes shifting guiltily. “The auspicious hour had arrived yesterday, and I was desperate. I had no other choice…”
“You fool!” Murong Chen stamped his foot in anger. “Didn’t I tell you I had already arranged everything? You just needed to follow my plan. Why didn’t you listen?”
“I… I…” Cheng Lan pleaded urgently, “Brother Chen, it’s all because I love you too much. I was too afraid something would go wrong midway, so I took the risk…”
Her small face turned pale, her moist eyes filled with helplessness, evoking pity.
“How did you force her?”
His expression was grim, and Cheng Lan dared not hide anything, whispering the details of what had happened.
Murong Chen took a deep breath. “The people around Cheng Yao must know about this too, right? Have they been dealt with?”
“N-no…” Cheng Lan stammered. “I left those maids and matrons by my sister’s side as spies, to prevent her from making mistakes due to her ignorance of the palace rules.”
Murong Chen was on the verge of collapse. “Why did you keep them? If Cheng Yao tells the War King that you drugged her, those servants will be witnesses!”
Hearing this, Cheng Lan’s expression also changed. “N-no, that can’t be, can it? My sister has done many outrageous things for you before. The prince must despise her by now, so how could he easily believe her?”
“These vulnerabilities are still like a sword hanging over our heads,” Murong Chen replied, feeling somewhat agitated as he recalled Cheng Yao’s aggressive demeanor earlier. “Let’s go inside first and discuss this.”
Cheng Lan’s soft little hand slipped into his palm, her bright, captivating eyes gazing at him like pools of water. “It’s my fault for caring too much about you. I acted impulsively and made a mistake. If Father wants to punish someone, let him punish me.”
Her voice was crisp and clear, her eyes obedient and gentle. Murong Chen’s hostility faded significantly. He clasped her hand tightly, intertwining their fingers. “I won’t abandon you.”
Cheng Lan responded with a shy and timid nod, then tenderly wrapped her arm around his as they walked inside.
Inside the palace.