After listening to the advice from Xing’er and Xiaoyue, Sun Ningning remained silent for a long time.
The System also fell silent.
Until the sunset faded and the blue-black curtain of night ascended.
“Sun Wanwan” came in carrying pastries.
Her tall figure bypassed the screen, her long legs approaching the bedside as she tilted her head slightly, looking at her sister who was lying face down with wide eyes.
“My sister who bravely rescued Prince Qin with her bare hands, why aren’t you happy?”
Sun Ningning glanced sideways at her sister, her tone listless as she softly called out, “Sister.”
Zhu Qing, who was playing the role of Sun Wanwan, found Sun Ningning’s appearance quite amusing and was also very curious.
Pretending to be Sun Wanwan’s usual self, she sat on the edge of the bed, deliberately adopting an angry tone.
“My sister is really something – drinking tea and still managing to save someone? And it just had to be the Second Prince? Does he even need your rescue? Hmph~”
Sun Ningning mumbled an “Mm” in response, reaching out to grab her sister’s hand.
Her sister’s fingers were so long – truly a treat for hand enthusiasts – warm and comfortable.
Sun Ningning rubbed her cheek against the back of her sister’s hand, complaining:
“Sis! Why are you making fun of me too!”
Zhu Qing’s hand was held against Sun Ningning’s cheek, her heart pounding wildly as she uncomfortably averted her gaze.
Calm down, Zhu Qing, you can’t pull your hand back!
This is normal between women. She just sees you as Sun Wanwan, which means you’re acting well!
“Ningning, after Grand Secretary Sun left you, he’s been at the palace demanding an explanation from Prince Qin. He hasn’t returned yet.”
Sun Ningning gasped in surprise and lifted her head.
The movement was too abrupt, and she hissed in pain before lying back down motionless.
“What? Grandfather is still at the palace? Bai Ze won’t be punished by His Majesty, will he?”
With Grand Secretary Sun’s temper…
The current Empress Dowager is his own sister. If she gets displeased, she can even make the Emperor lose face… even though the Emperor isn’t her biological son.
Zhu Qing felt speechless. With her other hand, she put down the small plate and asked in a suppressed voice:
“Does sister like Prince Qin?”
Has she lost her mind?
Because of that face?
Sun Ningning looked at her sister, who was also the female lead of this book.
Thinking about how her Xiao Ze liked her sister, silently and tenderly protecting her for several years.
She felt so sour and uncomfortable everywhere.
“Yes, I fell in love with His Highness Prince Qin at first sight! Sister, you can’t like him! Let’s get this clear first!”
Zhu Qing almost broke character, quickly clarifying her stance:
“What are you thinking! Ahem, sister, you’re overthinking this. Your sister likes those in the world of martial arts who practice medicine and save lives. I have no interest in royalty.”
Sun Ningning felt slightly relieved. As the female protagonist in the book, she had liked her very much while reading.
Practicing medicine to save lives, championing justice, kind but not sanctimonious, calm and steady.
“Then sister… have you met His Highness the Crown Prince?”
Zhu Qing’s expression immediately changed. Lowering her eyelashes, she said indifferently:
“His Highness the Crown Prince? I haven’t met him.”
Sun Ningning immediately recalled the original plot.
At next month’s birthday banquet for the Empress Dowager, there would be an assassination attempt by remnants of the previous dynasty.
The Crown Prince would protect the women throughout, and her sister would fall in love with him at first sight… followed by an imperial marriage, and then…
So it was normal that her sister didn’t know the Crown Prince yet.
Then it seems the book was correct!
But then why did her Xiao Ze suddenly become that fierce and tyrannical Wangye?
What went wrong?
Or was he originally like this?
Was this coldness and ruthlessness mentioned in the book exactly how he was portrayed?
Was it just because he was the second male lead that it wasn’t elaborated on in detail?
Sun Ningning suppressed her doubts and continued chatting idly with “Sun Wanwan.”
Her fair, soft hand kept holding onto her sister, occasionally playing with her fingers absentmindedly while pondering questions.
Until Sun Wanwan could no longer bear this intimacy between “sisters,” she made an excuse about needing to grind herbs and hurried away.
Sun Ningning watched her sister leave, then listlessly slumped over without moving.
Her mind was in complete chaos.
No sooner had she stepped out of Anning Residence than Zhu Qing, taking advantage of her maid’s lowered head, began frantically rubbing her hands against her clothes.
It was like this every time!
Ah, why does a grown man like me always run away scared?
Women are truly as terrifying as my master said.
How can two women hold hands? What’s with all the touching and rubbing?
Just thinking about Sun Ningning’s seductive, silky eyes when she acted coy toward him made Zhu Qing break out in goosebumps.
Feeling uncomfortable all over, he walked at an extremely fast pace.
Forced to pretend to be deeply affectionate sisters while enduring racing heartbeats to keep his distance.
Zhu Qing felt he had never been in such an awkward position before.
He would rather challenge the eighteen masters of the Five Poison Sect than endure Sun Ningning’s touches—holding hands today, rubbing cheeks tomorrow, clinging to his arm and acting coy the day after!
Ugh!
In stark contrast to Zhu Qing’s “deep waters and scorching fires,” Prince Qin’s residence was enveloped in cold silence.
Every servant tread carefully, not even daring to make noise while walking in daily routines.
Let alone the prince who had just returned from the palace with a mocking smile on his face—he was even more intimidating than usual.
Not that His Highness would casually punish the servants physically.
Contrary to outside rumors, Prince Qin wouldn’t even bother with them!
He wouldn’t grant them so much as an extra glance!
If they made mistakes—like spilling tea, fetching wrong items, or moving too slowly—
His Highness would just coldly say, “Get out!”
No dismissal, no corporal punishment.
Yet they still feared Prince Qin deeply.
Because his methods against traitors were truly horrifying.
Enough to make people kneel before him in their midnight dreams, swearing their loyalty!
Bai Ze, who had only eaten a few bites of dinner, had been in his study.
Half an hour had passed since he entered, without even a call for tea.
The servant outside, holding tea that had been replaced over and over, stood straight with bowed head.
Beside him were Ling Shuang and Feiyun, Prince Qin’s most loyal personal guards.
Both of them standing outside today?
One could imagine how terrible their master’s mood was.
While everyone assumed Bai Ze was upset about being reprimanded by the Emperor and Empress Dowager, his actual irritation stemmed from something else entirely.
It was that Sun Ningning—who hadn’t considered anything, turned around to hug him tightly, and confessed her feelings in her sleep-talk.
He didn’t want to confront how she had disrupted his thoughts.
The investigation was complete.
She truly had never had contact with anyone from Wangjing.
So was she just like those noble ladies? Probably attracted to his appearance?
Since this was clear, he had even less reason to kill the weak woman who had taken a blade for him.
The people he killed were all those who had betrayed him in his previous life.
His target had always been only the royal family.
But if he didn’t deal with Sun Ningning…
He had a premonition that this muddle-headed, shallow woman would become a liability in the future!