20 – The Scumbag Who Abused Her in Her Past Life Has Come Knocking
The next day, Lu Xiao Ning woke up naturally.
After freshening up, she went downstairs and immediately spotted Tang Ting Ting sitting at the dining table with a beaming smile, sipping milk.
Tang Ting Ting put on an air of elegance and waved at Lu Xiao Ning when she saw her. “Hey, lady of leisure, how did you sleep last night?”
“Tingting, what are you doing here?”
Lu Xiao Ning strode over and plopped down onto a chair.
Tang Ting Ting smiled faintly. “You brought me here, don’t you remember? Last night, you even said we could share Zong Zheng Ye together.”
Tang Ting Ting leaned close to Lu Xiao Ning’s ear, deliberately lowering her voice.
Hearing this, Lu Xiao Ning’s face instantly flushed bright red.
What? Had she really said something so shameless?
“Please, finish your milk and get out of here quickly. Whatever you do, don’t let Zong Zheng Ye see you!”
“Why not?” Tang Ting Ting raised an eyebrow, striking a deliberate pose. “Are you afraid I’m too beautiful and might steal your husband?”
“Cut it out. I’m afraid Zong Zheng Ye will kill me if he finds out I brought someone into the imperial retreat without permission. You have no idea how many rules there are here. I almost pissed him off last night and barely escaped trouble.”
“Really? Is he that fierce?” Tang Ting Ting set down her milk, looking a bit flustered.
Lu Xiao Ning nodded.
Truthfully, she wasn’t sure whether Zong Zheng Ye was actually fierce or not. But he was Zongzheng Ting’s brother.
She knew Zongzheng Ting all too well—he was downright brutal.
As Zongzheng Ting’s younger brother, Zong Zheng Ye probably wasn’t much better, right?
“Then I’d better make myself scarce.”
“Here’s cab fare.” Lu Xiao Ning pulled out several red bills and stuffed them into Tang Ting Ting’s hand.
Tang Ting Ting didn’t stand on ceremony, tossing a flirtatious glance back. “Thanks, bestie…”
“Get lost!”
Just as Tang Ting Ting dashed toward the castle gates, she brushed past a palace attendant.
The attendant hurried over and reported to Gan Song, “Steward, the Second Imperial Highness is here.”
Upon hearing this, Gan Song’s expression immediately turned serious. “Let’s go, we must welcome him at once!”
As for Lu Xiao Ning, the moment she heard the words “Second Imperial Highness,” her entire body froze.
Seeing Gan Song lead a group of people out to greet the visitor, she casually picked up a small steak knife from the dining table, gripping it tightly in her hand and hiding it behind her back.
Tang Ting Ting had just stepped outside when she spotted a luxury car approaching. She quickly detoured and left the imperial retreat.
Meanwhile, Lu Xiao Ning caught up with Gan Song, walking alongside him. “I’ll go with you.”
“This… very well…” Gan Song frowned slightly but nodded in agreement.
Soon, an extravagant procession unfolded as a tall, well-dressed man in a suit stepped out of the luxury car.
Zongzheng Ting adored the color red—he loved the sight of blood.
Thus, his suits were often chosen in a blood-red hue.
When he stood before the crowd, an aura of solemnity and menace immediately emanated from him.
Unlike Zong Zheng Ye’s aloofness that kept others at a distance, Zongzheng Ting was the type who wore a smile on his face while hiding a dagger behind his back.
His smile was charming, making him appear suave and debonair.
“Greetings, Second Imperial Highness,” everyone chorused in unison.
Lu Xiao Ning, blending into the crowd, echoed the greeting.
Unexpectedly, Zongzheng Ting spotted Lu Xiao Ning at a glance.
When Lu Xiao Ning looked up, her eyes met his.
His eyes held a smile, but if one stared into them for a few moments longer, a creeping sensation would spread across the entire body.
He seemed to be smiling, yet that smile felt as though he regarded the other person as his prey.
As Zongzheng Ting strode forward, Lu Xiao Ning couldn’t help but tremble all over.
She instinctively stepped back, feeling a trace of fear toward him.
This man she had loved most in her past life.
This man who had caused her miserable death in her previous life.
At this moment, Lu Xiao Ning’s emotions were complex.
But soon, she calmed down, a flash of ruthlessness crossing her eyes as she raised her hand gripping the small knife.
If she stabbed accurately toward his heart, she could take his wretched life!
She had already made her decision.
Yet, just as the knife was about to be revealed, she immediately tucked it behind her waist, hiding it beneath her clothes.
She couldn’t be so reckless!
If she killed Zongzheng Ting now, then Zong Zheng Ye, Mother Lu, and many others connected to her would be implicated.
Including Gan Song, who stood beside her at this moment—all would be buried alongside Zongzheng Ting.
“You are Lu… Lu Xiao Ning, right?”
Suddenly, Zongzheng Ting’s voice reached Lu Xiao Ning’s ears.
Only then did Lu Xiao Ning gather her thoughts again, putting on a smiling face to greet him: “Yes, Second Prince.”
“Why call me Second Prince? We’ll be family from now on. You should call me Second Brother.”
Zongzheng Ting narrowed his peach blossom eyes, smiling ambiguously.
Lu Xiao Ning almost felt sick.
This scumbag was actually flirting with her? Did he really think his charm was limitless?
Second Brother? Pah! She would never call him that!
“Second Imperial Highness,” she insisted stubbornly.
Zongzheng Ting was taken aback, clearly sensing the other party’s apparent aversion to him.
He took a step forward, and Lu Xiao Ning retreated, obviously unwilling to have too much contact with him.
“Flat-chested, short stature, looks… just average. I’m curious why A Ye would marry you?”
Zongzheng Ting quickly sized up Lu Xiao Ning from head to toe, pinching his chin and clicking his tongue.
Lu Xiao Ning rolled her eyes, immediately retorting after being belittled: “Eyes lecherous, skin condition poor. And… Second Imperial Highness, aren’t you aware you have bad breath? Smoke less, moderate your nightlife, or you’ll always look like you have kidney deficiency, embarrassing the royal family.”
“Little bitch, quite the talker, aren’t you? Got guts,” Zongzheng Ting laughed, though his eyes concealed murderous intent.
Lu Xiao Ning wasn’t afraid of provoking him at all, straightening her posture: “Of course I have guts. If I were to have a child, it would be Third Highness’s child, a child of the royal family. And that child would affectionately call you Second Uncle.”
“You damned woman!” Zongzheng Ting’s smiling eyes instantly darkened.
He grabbed Lu Xiao Ning’s neck, using all his strength, veins bulging on his hand.
The palace servants nearby, seeing this, scattered in fright.
Gan Song, fearing Lu Xiao Ning would be harmed, immediately ordered someone to fetch Zong Zheng Ye.
“Second Imperial Highness, let’s talk this out properly.”
“Get lost!” Zongzheng Ting shoved Gan Song aside, pinning Lu Xiao Ning against a nearby stone lion.
Lu Xiao Ning was slammed heavily against the stone, her back feeling as if it would shatter from the impact.
Zongzheng Ting was indeed vicious.
Even with her status as his sister-in-law, he showed no mercy in his brutality. It showed how blind she had been before, failing to see what a heartless person he truly was.
“Second Imperial Highness, even when beating a dog, one must consider its master. Bullying me means bullying Third Highness. With so many people watching here, aren’t you afraid this will escalate and cause a scandal?”
Pah! In her haste, she couldn’t think of a more fitting analogy and could only compare herself to a dog.
“Heh!” Zongzheng Ting tightened his grip on Lu Xiao Ning’s throat.
Seeing her lips lose color, her face pale as paper, clearly in agony yet still defiant.
Just as she was about to suffocate, Zongzheng Ting suddenly released his hand.
“Interesting. In all the world, you are the first person who isn’t afraid of me.”
“Why should I be afraid of you? Afraid you’ll kill me?”
Lu Xiao Ning teased, a smile in her eyes.
That look made Zongzheng Ting’s blood surge with excitement.
Interesting. This woman truly is fascinating.
Not only is she completely unafraid of him, she even dares to challenge him!
This is a hundred, a thousand times better than those delicate beauties around him who tremble at the mere sight of him.