Seeing the way Nangong Yan’er looked, Zhou Li let out a cold laugh. “Why aren’t you speaking anymore?”
At this moment, Nangong Yan’er’s mind buzzed uncontrollably.
She had just assured her mother that the Prince of Han would never find out.
But in truth, he had known all along.
Since when? These past two days? On the day of the wedding? Or even earlier?
No wonder the Prince of Han was treating her like this now, as if he had become a completely different person.
“Oh right, that ‘pathetic fool’ your good sisters talk about… that wouldn’t happen to be me, would it?” Zhou Li asked calmly.
“Mm, on your little lover’s side, I’m compared to a spineless cuckold. On your sisters’ side, I’m just a gullible fool to be taken advantage of at will.”
“Nangong Yan’er, you truly don’t have even the slightest bit of respect for me!”
Hearing these deeply humiliating words, Nangong Yan’er shook her head vigorously. “No, Your Highness, I didn’t know about any of this! If I had known they were saying such things, I would definitely have stopped them!”
“Pfft!” Zhou Li suddenly burst into laughter. “Sorry, I couldn’t hold it in. Go on.”
Seeing Zhou Li’s indifferent expression, Nangong Yan’er grew even more anxious. She raised her voice, her words trembling with sobs. “Your Highness, please don’t be like this. I’m really afraid!”
Tears poured down her delicate face like floodwaters breaking through a dam, leaving two clear tracks. Her body trembled slightly, as though she were completely enveloped by fear and grievance.
Yet Zhou Li remained unmoved.
His tone stayed cold, even carrying a trace of disgust. “Nangong Yan’er, stop pretending here. If this were before, I might have felt pity for your tears. But now, I only find this display nauseating!”
His words struck like a sharp blade, piercing straight into her heart, leaving her almost unable to breathe.
“And as for you saying you would stop them, that’s nothing more than an excuse.”
“Whether you truly agree with their words or not, I deeply doubt you would ever scold Chu Yun for my sake.”
“After all, no one would scold the person they like for the sake of someone they dislike.”
Nangong Yan’er’s lips trembled. She wanted to defend herself but found she had no words.
Zhou Li was right. She had feelings for Chu Yun. How could she truly scold him for Zhou Li’s sake?
Zhou Li looked at her without the slightest ripple in his eyes. “You know you were wrong now? Don’t you think it’s a little too late?”
He slowly stood up, looking down at her from above. “Don’t worry. Since you and your sisters look down on me, in a few days, I won’t appear before you anymore.”
“You… what do you mean?” Nangong Yan’er asked blankly.
“I never shared a bed with you, so I owe you nothing. It has only been three days since our wedding. It’s still too soon to divorce you. For now, you may remain Princess Consort of Han a while longer.”
The moment she heard this, Nangong Yan’er felt as if the sky had collapsed.
The Prince of Han actually intended to divorce her?
“Your father and your uncle can also remain as Ministers of the Six Ministries for a while longer,” Zhou Li added coldly.
Nangong Yan’er’s eyes widened in terror. Tears gushed out again as she desperately grabbed the hem of his robe and pleaded, “Your Highness, please don’t divorce me. I will change. Please give me one more chance.”
“Just wait a little longer. I will completely cut ties with Brother Yun!”
In that instant, Nangong Yan’er suddenly realized that if the Prince of Han truly abandoned her, she would not only lose him forever, but even the Southern State Duke’s Mansion would no longer accept her.
Zhou Li shook off her hand coldly. “I have waited long enough… I won’t wait anymore… Nangong Yan’er, after some time, we will part ways peacefully. As for everything that happened before, I will treat it as a lesson I paid for.”
Of course, that was a lie.
Just as Nangong Yan’er was about to explain further, the communication jade slip in Zhou Li’s arms suddenly lit up.
He took it out and looked closely.
In the next instant, Zhou Li immediately stood up and turned into a streak of light, rushing out of the carriage. Outside, he shouted, “Ning’er, follow me quickly! Xuan Wu might be in danger!”
Leng Ning was stunned for a moment, then her eyes sharpened. Gripping her long sword tightly, her spiritual energy surged, carrying with it a biting cold aura as she followed him.
At this moment, the coachman, Lianxiang, and Nangong Yan’er all stared in shock at the two figures flying away.
“That Leng Ning… she’s actually an expert of the 1st stage Primordial Essence Realm?” Nangong Yan’er exclaimed in disbelief.
Then she thought about it. Leng Ning and Xuan Wu had been bestowed upon the Prince of Han by the Emperor. Aside from their beauty, they must possess extraordinary abilities.
But… if Leng Ning’s aura was so powerful, why was her speed still far behind His Highness?
At this time, Lianxiang walked in and asked softly, “Miss, are you alright?”
The moment Nangong Yan’er saw Lianxiang, she could no longer hold back. She threw herself into Lianxiang’s arms and cried bitterly. “Lianxiang, the Prince of Han knows about Brother Yun and me. He said he will divorce me soon. What should I do?”
“What?” Lianxiang felt as if her own sky had collapsed. It took her a long while to recover.
“I never knew that the Prince of Han had been enduring so many disgusting and humiliating rumors in private. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I never thought things would turn out this way,” Nangong Yan’er sobbed.
Hearing this, Lianxiang began to understand. She gently wiped Nangong Yan’er’s tears. “Miss, I told you long ago that Young Master Chu Yun is not a good man. He says he loves you, but has he ever truly taken action for your sake?”
“Look at the Prince of Han. Not only has he given you his whole heart, but even the people around you have received many benefits from him.”
Nangong Yan’er shook her head and explained, “Lianxiang, Brother Yun has not done nothing. If it weren’t for Brother Yun, I would have already lost my life.”
“So you love Young Master Chu Yun?” Lianxiang asked quietly. “If you truly love him, then the Prince of Han divorcing you may not necessarily be a bad thing.”
Nangong Yan’er froze. After a long while, she spoke slowly, “I don’t know. Once, my whole heart belonged to Brother Yun. But the Prince of Han’s tenderness and devotion… I could feel them too.”
Lianxiang sighed softly. “Miss, now that the Prince of Han has made up his mind, if you still think of Young Master Chu Yun, then let go, and let the Prince of Han go as well. But if you want to win him back, you must completely cut ties with Young Master Chu Yun.”
Nangong Yan’er fell into deep thought. In her mind surfaced all of Zhou Li’s kindness toward her, as well as the anxious look on his face when he learned that Xuan Wu was in danger. Her heart felt tangled and conflicted.
Meanwhile, Zhou Li and Leng Ning had already arrived at Falling Blossom Pavilion.
The maids there immediately stepped aside when they saw the Prince of Han.
After all, the Saintess had said that this Prince of Han was Falling Blossom Pavilion’s greatest patron.
“Prince—” One maid had just begun to greet him when a flash of cold light suddenly arrived.
In less than a breath, an ice-blue sword blade was pressed against her throat.
Leng Ning’s eyes were icy as she stared at the maid. “Speak! Where is Hai Wenxiang? What have you done to Xuan Wu?”
“I… I…” The maid was so frightened she could barely speak.
Zhou Li raised his hand and gently pressed down Leng Ning’s sword. “Ning’er, don’t be impulsive. Follow me.”
Only then did Leng Ning withdraw her sword and follow Zhou Li to Hai Wenxiang’s private chamber.
As soon as Zhou Li pushed the door open, a strong scent of wine drifted out.
“The Prince of Han has arrived!” A clear, melodious voice, thick with intoxication, sounded from within…