Had Pei Changli been possessed or something?
His temperament had changed so suddenly!
Watching Pei Changli eat meat and drink wine in huge mouthfuls, with all the bold swagger of a bandit hero, Shen Wan was completely thrown off, gaping the entire time.
Just as she stood there stunned, Pei Changli pressed one hand on her head and, holding a roast chicken in the other, shoved a piece into her mouth.
The greasy chicken smeared oil all over her face.
“Come on! You too! Eat with me!”
Even though her stomach was starving, being force-fed by Pei Changli like this left her uneasy.
Was he… crazy?
Was he tormenting her on purpose? Or was something genuinely wrong with his brain?
Shen Wan instinctively tried to dodge, but Pei Changli gave her no chance, slapping her on the back.
“Mmph…” Shen Wan winced and groaned.
Seizing the moment she opened her mouth, Pei Changli stuffed the chicken right in.
Shen Wan ended up with a mouthful of chicken and nearly choked to death.
Her face turned bright red as she struggled, and she barely managed to swallow.
“Cough, cough, cough…”
Shen Wan coughed violently, grabbed the teacup beside her, and gulped down a big mouthful of tea before she finally felt a little better.
Meanwhile, Pei Changli was still eating with great relish!
Shen Wan let out a quiet breath. This wasn’t a meal—it was an attempt on her life!
Maybe the Prince Regent just really loves roast chicken.
Hmm, perhaps his parents didn’t let him eat it as a child? And now he’s making up for it as an adult?
That must be it.
Oh well, she was hungry anyway. Today she’d risk her life to keep a gentleman company.
Shen Wan was forced to eat quite a lot.
Like a whirlwind sweeping away leftover clouds, the meal quickly came to an end.
She had to admit, the food in this residence really was excellent.
Shen Wan was fairly satisfied, her eyes narrowing like a cat that had eaten and drunk its fill.
But before she could enjoy her contentment for even two seconds, she heard a cold snort from beside her.
She quickly glanced sideways at Pei Changli.
Only to see his face dark and cold, radiating an air of “keep away from strangers.”
Wh… what was going on?
Wasn’t he just eating happily a moment ago? How could he change his face so quickly?
“Utterly lacking in manners,” Pei Changli accused coldly.
Shen Wan looked completely baffled.
Was he talking about her?
How was she lacking in manners?
Was it that she couldn’t sit at the same table and eat with him?
Or that she couldn’t wolf down her food like that?
But she was only eating like that because he forced her to!
And besides, he’d been even less mannered than her just now, thank you very much!
“If I lack manners, it’s because I learned it from you!” Shen Wan shot back.
Pei Changli slammed his hand on the table, and the atmosphere plummeted to freezing.
“Get out!”
Pei Changli pointed right at Shen Wan’s nose.
Shen Wan’s brows shot up in anger, and she bit her lip, wanting to stand her ground.
But then she thought again—this Pei Changli before her was mercurial, and who knew what scheme was brewing in his heart?
A wise man doesn’t suffer losses at the moment; better to leave for now.
“Fine, I’ll go. What’s the big deal.” Muttering under her breath, Shen Wan walked out of the room, twisting and turning until she entered a small path.
“Turns on a dime faster than flipping a book—must be a dog in his past life!” Shen Wan kept grumbling as she suddenly bumped into something.
She rubbed her head, “What rotten luck… who’s the—”
Before Shen Wan could finish her sentence, she looked up and stopped mid-word.
“Nanny Zhao!” The name blurted out of Shen Wan’s mouth.
Nanny Zhao nodded. “Speaking ill of your master behind his back—what punishment does that deserve?”
Shen Wan didn’t answer, only seething with resentment.
What punishment does it deserve?
And when the master nearly stuffs a person to death, what punishment does that deserve?
“Let’s set that matter aside for now. The Old Concubine Dowager requests your presence—follow me.” Granny Zhao led the way.
Shen Wan trotted along behind her in small quick steps, silently speculating.
Granny Zhao was the Old Concubine Dowager’s confidante. Whoever summons her this way likely meant trouble.
Rong’an Hall was the courtyard where the Old Concubine Dowager lived.
The moment Shen Wan stepped through the door, Granny Zhao pressed her down to her knees on the floor.
“Do you know your crime?” the Old Concubine Dowager demanded in a stern voice.
Shen Wan shook her head like a rattle-drum. “I don’t. I beg the Old Concubine Dowager to enlighten me.”
“Last night you attended the Prince in his chambers—so why was there no sign of your maidenhood?”
Shen Wan’s face flushed crimson in an instant.
Her… her maidenhood?
Shen Wan was dumbstruck.
All she’d done was sleep curled up at the foot of Pei Changli’s bed. It wasn’t as if they—
“What? Nothing to say for yourself?” The Old Concubine Dowager shot Granny Zhao a glance.
Granny Zhao stepped forward and called out, “Someone come! Drag this unclean thing out and deal with her!”
“Wait!” Shen Wan wanted to explain, but the Old Concubine Dowager wouldn’t listen.
Shen Wan cried out loudly, “We never shared a bed—how could there be any sign of maidenhood?”
The room fell silent at once.
The Old Concubine Dowager frowned. “Is that the truth?”
Shen Wan’s mind raced. She nodded like a chicken pecking rice, lying without blinking. “It’s true. The Prince himself said he wished to choose another day for the wedding rites.”
The Old Concubine Dowager nodded slightly.
Coming from Shen Wan, that did sound like Changli’s style of doing things.
After all, this boy had always been prudent, and he was ever careful about matters of the heart. No doubt he had truly taken a fancy to this girl.
Thinking thus, the Old Concubine Dowager gave Shen Wan a couple of extra looks.
Though she was a maid of lowly status, her looks were quite presentable.
The Old Concubine Dowager paused, then spoke slowly. “In that case, the Prince clearly has intentions toward you. From now on, you should serve him all the more devotedly.”
Shen Wan breathed a sigh of relief and answered repeatedly, “Rest assured, Old Concubine Dowager.”
Leaving Rong’an Hall, Shen Wan didn’t look back, running all the way to her quarters before daring to breathe heavily.
She patted her chest. “That was close. I nearly lost my life.”
“I’d better lie low these next few days and avoid unnecessary trouble,” Shen Wan muttered to herself.
One day, two days… By the third day, she couldn’t stand it any longer.
Standing in the courtyard, she gazed up at the sky, feeling that this deep-walled compound was like an airtight cage that made it impossible to breathe.
“No, I have to get out and get some air, or I’ll grow mold in here.” Without a second thought, Shen Wan made a dash for the main gate.
At the sight of the splendid world just beyond that door, Shen Wan’s eyes went wide.
It was as if she could see freedom waving at her. One step past the gates of this prince’s residence, and everything would change!
“Here I come!” Shen Wan sprinted.
But the moment she reached the gate, a crisp clink shattered her fantasy.
The gate guards crossed their weapons, blocking her path.
“How dare you block my way! Do you know who I am?” Shen Wan planted her hands on her hips, putting on a commanding air.
In truth, only she knew how guilty she felt inside.
She was nothing but a little expendable pawn—a mere maid.
“No one may enter or leave the residence at will without a token,” one of the guards replied coldly.
Shen Wan scratched her head.
Did the guards here really not know how to be flexible?
Weren’t they afraid of offending people, working like that?
“Let’s see if you really dare to kill me for leaving without a token today!” Shen Wan rolled up her sleeves recklessly, ready to charge out.
The guards were about to seize her when a voice shouted, “Stop!”
Shen Wan turned toward the sound and saw Yefeng dismounting alongside Pei Changli.
A guard stepped forward and reported the situation.
Pei Changli’s cold eyes were as sharp as a blade, piercing straight through Shen Wan.
Shen Wan knew things were bad. She lowered her head and quickly racked her brain for a way out.
Her reaction did not escape Pei Changli’s notice.
He strode forward slowly until he was right in front of her, then said in a voice only the two of them could hear, “You’re in such a hurry to leave—are you going to contact that person?”