Chapter 26.3

They saw the handsome and dignified man personally help the lady into the carriage. Every move of his revealed his tenderness and consideration.

“That lady is beautiful, and her husband is also very handsome. They truly are a match made in heaven.”

“That’s right. She’s really fortunate—not only is her husband handsome, but he is also so gentle and considerate towards her. Comparison with others is really only torture to yourself. The one I have at home is nothing to look at, yet has such a bad temper… ”

“Other people’s husbands are always better. The one we have at home is not even worth mentioning.”

Most of the married ladies sighed at the man’s thoughtfulness, while the unmarried maidens were blushing and whispering, “That gentleman is really good-looking. I’ve never seen such a handsome man in my life.”

“That’s right, he’s so refined, dignified, and handsome. I wonder which household he’s from.”

“So what if you knew? He already has a wife, don’t even think about it.”

“I-I’m not thinking about anything. I’m just asking!”

The crowd exchanged whispered conversations. It wasn’t until Fu Xirui paid the bill and left with the brocade in a carriage that everyone retracted their gazes and turned to Zhou Muyan, who was still frozen in place.

“I wonder who that gentleman is. To think even the Left Grand Councillor’s young lady is afraid of him.”

“I seem to have heard her call that gentleman ‘Elder Cousin’ just now?”

“Ha, you must have heard wrong. If they really are relatives, do you think she can’t even recognize her own sister-in-law? And then make things difficult for her in public?”

“I probably heard wrongly, then…”

“You definitely heard wrong. The gentleman was so distant towards her just now and didn’t hold back at all!”

On hearing the discussions around her, Zhou Muyan finally came to her senses. Her small face was white as snow, and her heart was flustered.

Cuixi hurriedly supported her, then said cautiously, “My lady…”

Zhou Muyan’s eyes were lost in thought. Embarrassed and panicked, she said hastily, “Go, go, let’s go home!”

She had to tell her father about this in advance, otherwise, if the Crown Prince approached her father first, she would be in big trouble!

Seeing the backs of the master and servant leaving in embarrassment, the crowd snickered and also dispersed.

But somewhere in a hidden corner, the beautiful maiden in the lotus-coloured dress wore a deep frown. Her pink lips were slightly pursed, and her expression was severe.

Her friend took her arm and said indignantly, “If we had known it was that woman, you shouldn’t have spoken up for her just now!”

Song Yuning squeezed the handkerchief in her hand and said in a gentle voice, “But it was indeed Zhou Muyan who went too far today.”

“If you ask me, both she and Zhou Muyan are not good people. We should’ve just watched them go at each other…” Her friend sighed, “If it weren’t for your grandfather who adamantly refused to let you marry His Highness, you would be the one by his side today… I’ve also heard about the incident on the night of their wedding, tsk, that woman is really crazy. If not for the Crown Prince’s magnanimity, I’m afraid everyone in the Marquis Yong Wei residence would be beheaded by now.”

Song Yuning’s long eyelashes trembled slightly, but she remained silent.

Seeing her dejected manner, her friend hurried to comfort her, “Yuning, actually, your grandfather did so for your own. The Crown Prince does have good looks and a good temperament, but that body… He’s really not a good match. It’s better for you to stop thinking about him.”

Song Yuning pursed her lips. After a long time, she gave a soft, “Mhm.”

However, she couldn’t help but feel bad, especially when she saw Brother Crown Prince caring for another woman so thoughtfully, she felt rows of tiny needles pricking her heart.

Forget it, forget it. Now that the couple is so harmonious and loving, even if I am envious, what’s the use of it?

She could only blame herself for not being brave enough. If she had expressed her feelings to His Highness earlier, or tried to fight for what she wanted with her grandfather, and told him that even if she would be widowed, she wanted to marry His Highness…

Then, would she be the one holding hands with him today?

—————

The carriage moved steadily; its curtains were drawn, and the enclosed space was extraordinarily quiet.

Pei Yan stared at Tao Te without saying a word.

Tao Te, “…” Uh, should I find something to talk about? The atmosphere seems to be a little awkward.

Just as she was searching for a topic, Pei Yan suddenly took hold of her right wrist.

Tao Ti was stunned.

When she came back to her senses, she looked at him with her eyes wide, “Y-Your Highness?”

Pei Yan’s head remained lowered, and his slender and cold fingers lifted her sleeve up little by little.

A slender and delicate arm was slowly exposed, and in the middle of the forearm was a red mark that was particularly obvious.

Pei Yan’s lips pursed slightly, and the corners of his mouth were pressed in a straight line. His long and dense lashes dropped down, just barely concealing the roiling coldness in his eyes.

Zhou. Mu. Yan.

The well-sculpted fingers caressed that red mark lightly in extremely careful movements.

“I shouldn’t have left you alone.” There was a certain suppressed emotion in his voice, but it was also exceedingly gentle.

“Gee, I’m fine. It just looks scary, but it doesn’t really hurt,” said Tao Ti optimistically.

She didn’t have time to completely dodge Zhou Muyan’s sudden slap, so she subconsciously blocked it with her hand.

To tell the truth, it was really painful at that moment, and she even wondered if Zhou Muyan had learned some kind of fist martial art. It was a good thing she blocked it in time, otherwise, if that blow were to land on her face, her little face would probably be swollen for two days.

Seeing that Pei Yan was still silent with his eyes downcast, Tao Ti said comfortingly, “I’m really fine. Besides, she didn’t get away without any repercussions either. I almost broke her wrist, and she also became such an embarrassing spectacle in public… Don’t worry, I am not so easy to bully.”

Hearing the second half of her sentence, Pei Yan gave a low chuckle, “Yes, I know.”

“I’ll get you a bottle of jade muscle cream when we get back.” He put her sleeve down and said softly, “Don’t worry, she will pay the price.”

Tao Ti said in surprise, “Are you really going to tell Left Grand Councillor about this? ”

Pei Yan let go of her hand and said softly, “Zhou Pinglin is her father after all, he won’t really do anything to her. He’d only give her a small punishment at the most. I’ll take that as a little payback.”

Thinking about it, Tao Ti also thought that was appropriate. With Zhou Muyan’s temperament, she had probably bullied others frequently. It’s time for her to learn a lesson and remember not to behave like this again.

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