Hearing this, Nangong Yan’er looked slightly flustered. “Mother!”
“Answer me. If you truly like that Chu Yun, then explain everything clearly to His Highness. The two of you can separate peacefully. You will no longer be the Princess Consort of Han, and His Highness can marry another suitable woman,” Madam Ru Yan said.
As she listened to her mother’s words, scenes of Zhou Li being with another woman surfaced in Nangong Yan’er’s mind, of him giving the affection he once gave her to someone else.
At the thought of this, Nangong Yan’er shook her head.
“No! I don’t want that!”
“Then you must forget about Chu Yun as soon as possible. Otherwise, if one day His Highness learns about you and Chu Yun, it will not be as simple as a peaceful separation. Your mother understands that the deeper the love, the deeper the hatred.”
“No, he won’t find out!” Nangong Yan’er denied.
“One who often walks by the river will eventually get their shoes wet,” Madam Ru Yan sighed.
As the mother and daughter spoke inside the room, they had no idea that outside, Leng Ning was transmitting their conversation to Zhou Li using voice transmission.
Hearing everything, Zhou Li could not help but sneer.
Nangong Yan’er, you enjoy all the affection I give you while loving Chu Yun at the same time. How can there be such a good deal in this world?
Seeing Zhou Li smile, Nangong Hong could not help but ask, “Your Highness, what makes you laugh?”
“Nothing, I just thought of something amusing.”
Inside the room, Madam Ru Yan was still patiently persuading Nangong Yan’er.
“Yan’er, your mother’s greatest wish is for you to be happy. Over the years, I have seen clearly how His Highness has treated you and our Duke’s Mansion.”
“In my opinion, His Highness is absolutely someone worthy of entrusting your life to. I won’t say more. Think about it carefully yourself.”
Hearing this, Nangong Yan’er fell silent. After a long while, she replied, “I understand, Mother.”
“Alright, remember what your mother has said. You should return with the Prince of Han,” Madam Ru Yan said, gently touching her cheek.
“Then I’ll go now. His Highness and I will come visit you again later.”
Nangong Yan’er nodded firmly.
Outside, Leng Ning saw that their conversation had ended and immediately turned into a stream of water, merging into the air before returning to Zhou Li’s side.
Seeing Leng Ning beside Zhou Li, Nangong Mu asked, “Your Highness, if this old minister is not mistaken, your maid should be at the Primordial Essence Realm, correct?”
Zhou Li nodded slightly. “The Duke has a sharp eye.”
After exchanging a few more polite words with Nangong Mu, Nangong Hong, and the others, Zhou Li left with Nangong Yan’er and Leng Ning.
Meanwhile, inside a room, Nangong Xi’er was hugging Zhou Li’s white brocade robe, constantly inhaling its scent.
“Nangong Yan’er… I’ll let you have Chu Yun… But the Prince of Han will definitely belong to me, Nangong Xi’er. Hehehe!”
…
Inside the carriage, Nangong Yan’er and Zhou Li remained silent.
Zhou Li quietly stared out at the passing scenery.
At that moment, Nangong Yan’er suddenly spoke, “Why did you defend my cousin like that today?”
Zhou Li glanced at her indifferently. “No particular reason. I just couldn’t stand it.”
“Couldn’t stand it?”
“That’s right. It clearly wasn’t her fault. Why should she be punished? Those two scum deserved to die. And I also dislike marriages of convenience.”
“In my eyes, love is love, and not loving is not loving. I admire her courage to resist marrying someone she doesn’t love. At least her actions aren’t ambiguous,” Zhou Li said pointedly.
Nangong Yan’er’s expression changed. She then clutched her chest and forced a smile. “I never noticed before… you’re actually quite gentle.”
Hearing this, Zhou Li’s face darkened, and he said nothing.
Were you blind before? Didn’t I treat you well? Didn’t I care about you? Or did I ever lose my temper at you?
Seeing his expression turn grim, Nangong Yan’er asked, “What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing. Stop talking and let me have some peace,” Zhou Li said irritably.
Seeing this, Nangong Yan’er lowered her head, feeling wronged. “Your Highness, are you angry?”
Zhou Li still did not respond. The more Nangong Yan’er thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt.
Why is he always so cold toward me? Am I really that unbearable to him now?
As these thoughts arose, tears began to fall again.
“Your Highness, can we go back to how things were before?” Nangong Yan’er sobbed.
Zhou Li turned to look at her. She looked so pitiful, the kind of beauty that would stir sympathy in anyone.
But Zhou Li’s gaze remained cold, because he knew these were crocodile tears.
“Nangong Yan’er, there is no ‘before’ between us,” Zhou Li said coldly.
And of course, there will be no future either. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
“Then what did all your kindness toward me in the past mean?” Nangong Yan’er cried.
“It meant nothing.”
After all, it wasn’t me who pursued you. It was the original owner.
Hearing this, Nangong Yan’er looked at him in shock. “Your Highness… did you hear something?”
Zhou Li looked at her and let out a cold laugh.
Second Brother, using you as a shield shouldn’t be too much, right?
“I once heard the Prince of Zhao mention something. He has a friend named Chu Yun.”
The moment she heard that name, Nangong Yan’er’s face turned deathly pale.
Zhou Li smiled and continued, “The Prince of Zhao also said that this Chu Yun’s lover is a young lady from a Duke’s Mansion. And this young lady has a suitor who is like a fool, giving his heart and soul to her.”
“It’s quite amusing. The funniest part is that she doesn’t even like him. He keeps sticking to her, like a dog wagging its tail and begging for affection. No matter how valuable the gifts he gives her, she turns around and gives them to this Chu Yun.”
“No wonder the Prince of Zhao often jokes that if Chu Yun ever runs out of strength while being intimate with that young lady, that suitor would probably step in to help push things along.”
At this moment, Nangong Yan’er felt her heart rise to her throat.
“The Prince of Zhao also praised that young lady for being very skillful, often preparing all kinds of pastries for Chu Yun. He himself even tasted quite a few. But that suitor had to pay just to taste them. Don’t you think that’s hilarious?”
Zhou Li looked at Nangong Yan’er, his expression completely unchanged.
Sensing that the situation in the carriage was turning tense, Leng Ning quietly stepped out and sat outside with Lianxiang.
Now, only Zhou Li and Nangong Yan’er remained inside the carriage.
“I…” Nangong Yan’er wanted to explain something, but realized in shock that she could not say a single word.
“I think that person is quite ridiculous. If someone doesn’t like you, why keep clinging to them? It’s better to let go,” Zhou Li said with a faint smile.
“Your Highness… you already know everything?” Nangong Yan’er asked fearfully.
Zhou Li’s gaze sharpened as he slowly said, “Tell me, is what the Prince of Zhao said true?”
“When you and Chu Yun were together, did you need me to come in and help?”
Hearing this, the last shred of hope in Nangong Yan’er’s heart completely shattered.