"This king does not like you, nor do I want your things! Get lost!"
A sharp pain pierced Xue Tingxue's heart, her nose began to sting, and the scene before her eyes gradually became clear.
The low, cold, and disgusted male voice struck her eardrums, causing her heart to tremble, and she suddenly lifted her eyelids to look over.
Coming into view was indeed the handsome face of Fu Nanli, filled with annoyance.
He was still as good-looking as ever, making it impossible for her to look away.
Or rather, he was the one who had haunted her dreams in her previous life.
But she had been reborn!
The heartache she felt now was merely a habitual reaction of her body.
"In a few days, this king will go to the Father Emperor to request the annulment of our engagement. Do not come pestering this king in the future!"
They had been betrothed since childhood, a decision made personally by the Empress Dowager.
Xue Tingxue had a personality like Raging Fire, enthusiastic and unrestrained. Thinking that she and Fu Nanli would be husband and wife sooner or later and that a family should have no secrets between them, she had poured her heart and soul into being good to him and was always hovering around him.
It was not that she was unaware that Fu Nanli disliked her.
It was just that she had foolishly thought that as long as she put more and more effort into him, she would eventually be able to warm his heart.
A crowd had gathered to watch the lively scene, and the County Princess of the Prince Ning'an's Mansion mocked, "Prince Yu has already made it so clear, why are you still being so thick-skinned?"
The noble ladies on the side chimed in one after another, "Exactly, she is supposed to be a lady from a prestigious family, how can she be so shameless?"
"The Xue Family has been a scholarly family for generations; when did their upbringing become this poor?"
Xue Tingxue looked down at the brocade box she was holding; the cool touch in her hands felt extremely real.
She really had been reborn! She had returned to eight years ago, before she had married Fu Nanli, when her parents and loved ones were all still alive and well.
Seeing that she had no reaction, Fu Nanli frowned impatiently and said, "This king said I do not want your things. Are you deaf? Can you not hear me?"
"Who said this was meant for you?" When Xue Tingxue looked up again, her beautiful face was already covered in a layer of frost.
Inside the brocade box was a robe she had embroidered with the Peace Sutra, stitch by stitch, which had taken her over half a year to make, a gift she had specifically rushed to finish to give to him on the Mid-Autumn Festival.
She had just arrived in front of Fu Nanli with the box when she was met with a cold shoulder, not even having the chance to speak.
"This is a garment I spent so much effort making with my own hands, and I even embroidered the Peace Sutra on it. How much face do you think you have? You don't deserve it!"
Hearing this, the onlookers all revealed expressions of surprise.
Fu Nanli's brow furrowed even tighter, and a surge of anger burned in his chest, "This king has no time to bicker with you!"
She clearly loved him to death! Even at a time like this, she was still being stubborn and trying to save face.
This woman was truly hypocritical!
Xue Tingxue ignored him and, seeing the person sitting in a wheelchair slowly approaching not far away, walked straight over.
"Greetings, Prince Ning'an."
Fu Tingyuan was wearing a dark cyan robe. Because he had been recovering from injuries, he had not left his home for over half a year. His frame appeared thin, and his face was gaunt, with a sickly pallor.
"This is a small gift I prepared for you, Prince. I wish you a speedy recovery."
In her previous life, after she died a miserable death and was thrown into the Wilderness, it was Fu Tingyuan who collected her remains and avenged her.
Although she did not understand why Fu Tingyuan would do these things for her, as they were merely acquaintances with no real friendship, this debt of gratitude had been incurred, and it had to be repaid.
Moreover, in this life, not only did she need to avoid repeating the mistakes of her previous life, but she also needed to collect the blood debts from Fu Nanli. She needed to find a powerful backer within the Imperial Family, and Fu Nanli was, after all, the Prince most valued by the Emperor.
Although, he had a notorious reputation for having killed three wives.
Rumors in the streets said that every beautiful bride brought into his Prince's Mansion in a sedan chair would die suddenly in their room within three days for unknown reasons, with a miserable appearance in death!
Every single one of them, without exception!
Because of this, Fu Tingyuan earned the reputation of being a Yama, King of Hell, who killed his wives.
But Xue Tingxue had already died once; what was there to fear?
She was determined to use the opportunity of giving a gift to strike up a conversation and get closer to him!
"For this king?" Fu Tingyuan's cold gaze passed over Xue Tingxue and looked toward Fu Nanli behind her, then withdrew it a moment later, his face expressionless.
"If you do not like it, Prince..."
"I accept your well wishes." Fu Tingyuan took the brocade box and handed it to his Follower.
As he spoke, he glanced at Fu Nanli again and raised his voice slightly, "But for a young lady to give a gift to her fiancé's own uncle right in front of him, are you not afraid he might feel uncomfortable?"
Xue Tingxue sneered, "Why should I care about him?"
From the moment back at the border in her previous life, when Fu Nanli abandoned her in the midst of enemy encirclement to save her younger sister Xue Manman, indirectly causing her brother's death, she had hated him to the core!
Now that she had been reborn, she only wanted him dead! Why would she care if he felt uncomfortable?
Those present heard this and began to chatter and discuss.
"Has she been so stimulated by being rejected by Prince Yu that she has lost her mind? How dare she openly defy Prince Yu's face?"
"And she's getting involved with that Yama who kills his wives!"
"Shh, stop talking! Do you not want your life?"
In an instant, Fu Nanli's deep eyes were filled with disbelief, as if he could not believe that Xue Tingxue had really given the gift to someone else.
He snorted coldly and, under the watchful eyes of everyone, left by flinging his sleeves in anger.
Xue Tingxue was merely using Prince Ning'an to deliberately make him angry; such clumsy tactics were not worth showing off in front of him.
Ridiculous!
In less than half a day, she would surely come begging him!
Everyone thought Xue Tingxue would chase after him and cast their gazes toward her.
However.
Xue Tingxue did not even look, only focusing on chatting with Fu Tingyuan.
"How is your leg injury recovering, Prince?"
In her previous life, after Prince Ning'an was assassinated and severely injured, he sat in a wheelchair for seven full years, only slowly regaining the ability to walk the year before the Emperor passed away.
"It is still the same." Fu Tingyuan watched her and replied indifferently.
This woman was too abnormal today; it was necessary to be on guard.
Xue Tingxue comforted him, "It takes a hundred days to recover from a bone or tendon injury, so there is no need to rush. As long as you follow the doctor's orders and rest well, Prince, you will surely recover as before."
Fu Tingyuan nodded, "This king still needs to go pay respects to the Empress Dowager."
"Safe travels, Prince." Xue Tingxue stepped aside to make way for him.
After Fu Tingyuan walked away, Xue Tingxue put away the smile on her cheeks, passed through the moon gate, and walked toward the garden on the other side.
The onlookers' discussions continued for quite a while before they died down.
Xue Tingxue found a cup of wine to drink, to digest the reality of her rebirth, while her brain raced, thinking about several things.
"Living under someone else's roof, it is common to suffer grievances, so you must learn to let go, sister."
A soft voice drifted over with the breeze. Xue Tingxue pulled back her thoughts, turned her head to look, and immediately caught sight of that pale pink figure among the crowd of noble ladies.
She pondered for a moment, set down her wine cup, stood up, and slowly walked toward them.
"What are you sisters chatting about so intently?"
The daughter of the Lin family smiled, "Nothing much, just some idle gossip."
The others also shook their heads with smiles, looking somewhat sheepish.
It was obvious that Xue Manman had been badmouthing her behind her back again just now.
Except for the County Princesses and Princesses of the Imperial Family, many people in this circle were afraid of Xue Tingxue.
In her previous life, she had always thought it was due to her own sharp-tongued personality, but later she learned that it was because Xue Manman often pretended to be pitiful in front of others, saying that she would beat and scold her at home and use force to bully her.
Xue Manman affectionately took Xue Tingxue's arm and asked with a gentle smile, "Where did you go just now, sister? I looked everywhere for you but couldn't find you."
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