3 – Better suited for hanging oneself.
Now, with dozens of pairs of eyes—including that little black flower Wen Nian—fixed squarely on her, it had to be said, it was truly quite awkward.
It instantly reminded Shi Sui of her school days, the discomfort and unease of being woken up in class by the teacher and unable to answer a question.
But people always adapt, don’t they? Shi Sui had long since developed a resilient mindset during her school years. See? It was coming in handy now.
So, Shi Sui composed her expression, pressed her lips together, and adhering to the principle of smiling without showing teeth and maintaining decorum, performed a Sichuan opera-style face change. Just as she was about to speak, she realized she had forgotten the name of this legendary, unhinged male supporting character.
What was it again?
The youth wasn’t in a hurry, simply waiting for Shi Sui to gather her words. His dark, glistening eyes stared straight at her, making Shi Sui’s heart race.
Finally, after much mental struggle, Shi Sui managed to remember. Excitedly, she blurted out, “Wen Nian?”
“!!!”
As soon as the words left her mouth, everyone froze, lifting their heads to look at this newly wedded… no, not yet wedded, or rather, stuck at the threshold and possibly not making it through today—Crown Princess. What kind of extraordinary woman was she?
Was she not afraid of death? How dare she address the young prince by his given name? Did she have a death wish?
The crowd glanced back and forth between Shi Sui and Wen Nian standing beside her, practically writing “This Crown Princess probably won’t live long” on their foreheads.
Their expressions even held a hint of pity. Look, such a beautiful young lady, but unfortunately, she had a mouth.
Shi Sui also realized what she had said. For a moment, she felt certain she was doomed, likely to become the shortest-lived female lead in history.
But strangely, after hearing Shi Sui’s words, the youth merely raised an eyebrow slightly and said in a leisurely tone, “Hmm, you remember? Quite surprising.”
For some reason, Shi Sui sensed nothing but sarcasm in that brief sentence.
Wen Nian wasn’t angry, but everyone else present nearly had their eyes pop out of their sockets! Instead of ordering three feet of white silk to send her straight to her death, the young prince was actually smiling?!
And so, in a daze, Shi Sui was pulled into the residence by the youth. She still hadn’t figured out the current plot development; the only thing she was sure of was that she had already deviated from the original storyline of eloping with the male lead and had now embarked on a new chapter.
But Shi Sui couldn’t help but genuinely question: Did Wen Nian have a screw loose?
If she hadn’t casually pulled him into the carriage back then, how would his script even proceed?
And… now that he had witnessed the live broadcast of the love-hate drama between her and Mu He, wouldn’t anyone think her motives for marrying him were anything but pure?
Besides, on their wedding day, why was he dressed entirely in white? Did they celebrate joyous occasions with funeral customs here?
Brimming with questions, Shi Sui gathered her courage as he released her wrist and asked, “Your Highness… why aren’t you wearing red?”
She had intended to say “wedding attire,” but given the delicate nature of their relationship, she changed it to the more subtle “red clothing.”
Wen Nian tilted his head to look at her, smiled faintly, and said in a leisurely tone, “It’s ugly.”
Shi Sui lowered her head to glance at the crimson wedding gown she was wearing, then combined it with Wen Nian staring at her for a long time before concluding with the word “ugly”…
Shi Sui: This can’t be about me, right?
Nonsense! The female lead’s beauty does not accept any refutation.
Though she thought so in her heart, Shi Sui didn’t dare say it out loud, only giving him a big eye roll. Wen Nian inexplicably found her current expression amusing, the corners of his lips lifting as he suddenly laughed, his beautiful eyes fixed directly on her.
Shi Sui: First time seeing someone so happy after being rolled eyes at. Are you a masochist? I’m looking down on you! Could you at least respect me a little?
Wen Nian laughed for a while. Beside him, his personal guard Yuan Youdao was somewhat surprised. Originally, he thought that given their young lord’s temperament, even if she were a peerless beauty, he wouldn’t be this attentive. But now it seemed the young lord not only personally acted out a scene but was also amused by Shi Sui for quite some time—clearly in a very good mood.
Hesitating for a long while, Yuan Youdao waited until Wen Nian had laughed his fill before slowly stepping forward and whispering, “Young Lord, Consort Li is still kneeling outside the main hall.”
In the original story, the male lead Wen Nian’s character was set as a madman. Because the emperor had only one son, and before the male lead Mu He was recognized and returned to the family, he was also the sole candidate for the throne, the emperor doted on him endlessly, indulging him in everything. Yet Wen Nian showed no gratitude whatsoever, acting without rhyme or reason, doing as he pleased—defying imperial decrees when he felt like it, skipping court sessions when he wished. Every time Shi Sui read this, she was puzzled.
Did Wen Nian save the Milky Way in his past life to end up with such a great dad?
Compared to him, her own father was really, really, really lacking in virtue, wasn’t he?
Thus, the emperor had no choice but to force many young maidservants upon him, along with a Consort Li from a powerful background. Yet Wen Nian usually didn’t even glance at them, finding them nothing but annoying.
And his character was supposed to be a madman, but judging from the current situation, this guy seemed pretty normal.
Hearing this, the Youth’s smile didn’t fade in the slightest, but a trace of surprise flickered in his eyes as he leisurely asked, “She’s actually still alive?”
Shi Sui: Is it too late to take back the word “normal”?
Wen Nian’s tone was serious, genuinely asking, “Huh? Didn’t she always say she was going to hang herself?”
His tone even carried a hint of regret, truly lamenting the fact that Consort Li was still alive.
Yuan Youdao: “…”
As for this guard Yuan, Shi Sui had some impression of him. He grew up with Wen Nian since childhood, and their relationship was extremely close. He was also the only person in the entire book who genuinely cared for Wen Nian. In short, he was a good person.
The two walked one after the other. Wen Nian seemed particularly bothered by her wedding gown, slightly furrowing his brows before finally unable to bear it any longer, saying, “I don’t like red. Change it.”
Shi Sui: “Why?”
Wen Nian: “It’s ugly.”
Shi Sui: “…”
Shi Sui was speechless, but living under someone else’s roof, she obediently changed into her usual attire. The original body was very thin, and no matter what clothes Shi Sui picked, they made her look like a celestial being. Indeed, good-looking people could wear sackcloth and still look stunning.
The estate was vast, lush with greenery. Following a cobblestone path, they gradually wound their way to a small rear garden. Wen Nian hadn’t spoken a word the entire time, yet he led her around the entire estate as if familiarizing her with the layout.
In the rear garden, there was a small vegetable patch growing cherry tomatoes. Beside it stood a towering tree with thick, gnarled roots and a dense canopy, clearly aged. Its leaves rustled in the wind, occasionally shedding a few.
Shi Sui pointed to a sturdy branch above and remarked casually, “That branch looks perfect for a swing.”
Her voice was soft but just loud enough to reach Wen Nian’s ears. He glanced at the branch following her gaze and replied indifferently, “More suitable for hanging, I’d say.”
Wait, wasn’t he supposed to be the devoted second male lead?
Shi Sui suddenly felt deceived, a sense of tragic disillusionment washing over her, like the difference between advertised and actual products. Was it too late to leave a negative review on Taobao?
Lost in thought for a moment, Shi Sui mused to herself how difficult he was to please and wondered how he’d ever fallen for the original host. Without thinking, she murmured, “Being noticed by you must be some kind of bad luck.”
Her voice was barely a whisper, more like talking to herself, but Wen Nian leaned closer. At his age, the youth stood a head taller than her. His tone was light, almost teasing, “I heard that.”
Shi Sui: “…” No way.
Wen Nian stayed quiet for a moment, tilting his head slightly. His eyes were dark and bright, his tone even more provocative. “If I ever fall for someone, I’d capture them and lock them up in the estate.”
Shi Sui: This guy is insane.
Shi Sui comforted herself, thinking that since the plot had just begun, Wen Nian, the second male lead, probably hadn’t fallen for the female lead yet. As long as she tread carefully, she could survive for a while at least.
Wen Nian’s tone was leisurely. Seeing her fall silent, he deliberately teased her, “I think you’d do just fine.”
To be honest, Shi Sui felt Wen Nian’s remark, “I think you’d do just fine,” sounded more like—”I think you’re not bad. I hereby grant you the honor of being the next lucky soul to hang from this tree.”
Shi Sui: …I’m out!
The conversation had taken a bizarre turn. Shi Sui feared that if it continued, Wen Nian would start discussing in detail where to bury her for better feng shui after her death. Seizing the moment, she quickly changed the subject:
“Your Highness, how did you choose me out of so many people?”
The subtext was: It’s time to praise me. This is the perfect opportunity to deepen our bond. Think back to all the good reasons you picked me as your consort!
“Because I had someone calculate your Four Pillars of Destiny.”
Shi Sui: …Huh? That sounds reasonable. So I’m supposed to be a lucky star?
With genuine curiosity, she replied, “Really? Are our destinies well-matched?”
Wen Nian raised an eyebrow. “Why would you think that?”
A sudden sense of foreboding washed over Shi Sui.
“The fortune-teller said you bring misfortune to husbands. Since I happen to want an early death, I figured I might as well marry you.”
Shi Sui: “…” Damn it, you never disappoint.