“Young Master Shen, I think it’s not your memory that’s damaged—it’s your brain.”
“Since we’re already at a clinic, perhaps you should ask a physician to prescribe something to treat it.”
As soon as Chu Ningwan said this, a burst of laughter erupted from the crowd.
Shen Yu’s face flushed red with embarrassment.
Just as he was about to continue arguing, a guard approached from the distance.
“Look! Isn’t that someone from the Regent Prince’s Manor? Why are they here?”
Someone with sharp eyes immediately noticed.
The surrounding crowd quickly stepped back, afraid of causing offense.
Even Shen Yu restrained his attitude somewhat.
He knew very well what kind of existence the Regent Prince’s Manor represented.
But why would they suddenly appear here?
“Miss Chu, my master requests your presence.”
Under the shocked and fearful gazes of everyone present, Zhuiying walked up to Chu Ningwan and spoke respectfully.
“Very well.”
Chu Ningwan nodded.
Seeing that she was about to leave, Shen Yu was unwilling to let the matter drop.
Just as he tried to approach her, Zhuiying stepped in front of him.
“Young Master Shen, Miss Chu is someone my master has summoned. Do you intend to interfere?”
Shen Yu froze in place.
Though unwilling, he knew perfectly well that the Regent Prince was someone he could not afford to offend.
Only after Zhuiying left did the crowd begin whispering again.
“Wasn’t it said that the Regent Prince’s old illness had relapsed and that he had been unconscious this whole time?”
“You haven’t heard? A few days ago, a young woman answered the public notice and entered the manor to treat him. Even the Imperial Medical Academy was helpless, yet she actually managed to cure him.”
“But what does that have to do with Miss Chu?”
…
At this point, Shen Yu no longer cared about the gossip and strode out of the clinic.
From afar, he saw Chu Ningwan boarding a carriage.
The guard from earlier was acting as the coachman.
The carriage slowly rolled away from the crowd.
As for who was sitting inside, the answer was obvious.
The sight instantly filled Shen Yu with rage.
This Chu Ningwan actually dared to ride in another man’s carriage without regard for propriety between men and women!
Shameless!
“Brother Yu, was Elder Sister getting into another man’s carriage?”
Su Qingyao asked cautiously while secretly observing his expression.
“This Chu Ningwan has always been good at doing disgusting things.”
“There’s no need to bother with her!”
Shen Yu snorted coldly.
Yet the irritation in his voice betrayed his true feelings.
“It’s all my fault.”
“Brother Yu, perhaps I never should have come back with you.”
Su Qingyao spoke self-reproachfully, appearing completely considerate of him.
“If not for me, Brother Yu wouldn’t be put in such a difficult position.”
“Yao’er, don’t think that way.”
Holding her hand tightly, Shen Yu said bitterly,
“In the end, Chu Ningwan owes you all of this.”
“But Madam Shen said that if you don’t marry Elder Sister as well, then…”
Leaning into his embrace, Su Qingyao gently rested a hand on her stomach.
“Brother Yu, I don’t mind.”
“But the child in my belly is innocent.”
“It seems I simply lack the good fortune.”
Her words caused Shen Yu’s heart to tighten.
He had almost forgotten about that.
Although he had already declared his intentions, and his mother’s attitude had softened somewhat after learning of Qingyao’s pregnancy, she had attached one condition:
Chu Ningwan must be married into the household as well.
“Yao’er, don’t worry.”
“Even if Chu Ningwan enters the household alongside you three days from now, I will never allow her status to surpass yours.”
“When the time comes, all she’ll get is a small bridal sedan.”
By the time others realized something was wrong, it would already be too late.
Shen Yu thought to himself that since Heaven had granted him a second chance at life, he would make Chu Ningwan repay, many times over, the suffering she had inflicted on Qingyao in the previous life.
Meanwhile, inside the carriage—
Looking at the man seated across from her, Chu Ningwan asked,
“Your Highness summoned me. May I ask what instructions you have for me?”
“Instructions?”
A trace of amusement appeared on Xiao Changyan’s handsome face.
Leaning slightly closer to her, he said,
“I heard someone claim that she likes this prince.”
Chu Ningwan froze.
His sudden closeness made her somewhat uncomfortable.
As expected, she had guessed correctly.
The person hidden in the imperial study earlier had indeed been Xiao Changyan.
But hearing it stated so directly still left her embarrassed.
Maintaining a composed expression, she replied,
“So Your Highness came specifically to see me?”
Xiao Changyan chuckled softly.
“I came to see my future princess consort.”
Although Chu Ningwan had prepared herself mentally, her face still reddened at those words.
They all said the Regent Prince was cold and unapproachable.
Now it seemed the rumors were not entirely true.
“Do you need this prince to deal with the troubles from the Marquis Manor?”
Xiao Changyan’s voice sounded beside her.
“The Marquis Manor…”
Chu Ningwan paused, immediately realizing he was referring to Shen Yu.
“There’s no need.”
“I can handle it myself.”
She rejected the offer.
Having lived through one lifetime already, she understood Shen Yu’s personality better than anyone.
After everything that had happened, he would not back down.
If anything, he would become even more convinced that she was hopelessly in love with him.
And on the day of the wedding, he would likely do something even more outrageous in the name of punishing her.
The reason she had chosen the same wedding date was precisely because she intended to slap Shen Yu across the face—figuratively and publicly.
Seeing his offer rejected, Xiao Changyan’s eyes dimmed slightly.
Especially when he noticed her hesitation while speaking about the Marquis Manor.
Was it because of Shen Yu?
At that moment, the carriage suddenly jolted.
Lost in thought, Chu Ningwan was caught completely off guard.
Her body lurched forward and crashed directly into a firm chest.
The scent of the man instantly enveloped her.
At the same time, her arms happened to wrap around Xiao Changyan’s waist.
Oh no.
Chu Ningwan inwardly cried out.
She had merely reached out instinctively to steady herself.
Who could have expected her hands to end up around his waist?
Now there was no way she could explain herself.
Keeping her head lowered, she avoided looking at him and tried to slowly pull away.
“It seems Miss Chu has quite the affection for this prince—”
Before Xiao Changyan could finish speaking, Chu Ningwan hurriedly interrupted him.
“Your Highness, if I said it was just an accident, would you believe me?”
“Mmm…”
Xiao Changyan merely smiled without answering immediately, allowing her to stand up.
“Whatever Miss Chu says, this prince believes.”
Chu Ningwan: “…”
For some reason, that response made things sound even more suspicious.
“Your Highness, Miss Chu, are you alright?”
Zhuiying’s voice came from outside the carriage.
“The road ahead is a little rough, which caused the sudden jolt.”
“We’re fine.”
Chu Ningwan answered first.
Then she lifted the curtain.
The General’s Manor was only a short distance away.
Yet from afar, she could already see people gathered outside.
The most conspicuous figure among them was none other than her scumbag father, Chu Zhennan.
Apparently, news of the Regent Prince’s carriage approaching had already reached the manor.
Thinking about what would happen three days later, Chu Ningwan suddenly turned toward Xiao Changyan.
“Let’s stop here.”
Xiao Changyan looked at her but did not ask any questions.
He simply nodded.
“Very well.”
Chu Ningwan was about to step out of the carriage when she suddenly remembered something.
Pausing, she reached into her sleeve and took out a small bottle before handing it to him.
“Also…”
“This is for you.”