He Chan sat on the swing in the yard, her mind in a complete turmoil. She had been grounded by her father and was not allowed to go out. When she went to her eldest brother to complain, he only said that she had caused trouble for the family. If she wanted to court death, they wouldn't care.
Thinking of this, He Chan's tears streamed down. Her eldest brother always had a stern face and treated her the same way. But Lu Wanning's eldest brother, though usually serious, had a look of genuine affection in his eyes when looking at her.
No one in the family cared about her, not her father, mother, or eldest brother. The only one who loved her was her cousin.
He Chan got up and went to find her cousin, but was stopped by a maid at the door.
"Miss, the Duke said you can only stay in the yard and are not allowed to go anywhere else."
He Chan had no choice but to send someone to invite her cousin. But the servant came back after a long time, just shaking their head and saying that the cousin had gone out.
Where could her cousin be going at this time? She herself was locked up at home, yet her cousin still had the mood to go out and wander.
He Chan felt even more sorrowful. She raised her voice and shouted, "I don't care. Go and call her here at once. I want to see her now. I'm the legitimate daughter. If you don't listen to me, I'll take your lives!"
She looked around and saw that the maids and servants beside her all looked terrified. Angrily, she flung her sleeves and went back to her room to sit in a daze.
Not long after, the door opened. He Chan looked at the person with a delighted face and said, "Cousin, you're finally back..."
However, it wasn't Shi Aohan who came in, but He Wenbo.
"Second brother, you're back?"
He Wenbo frowned and asked, "I heard you were looking for cousin. Is there something you need?"
He Chan felt a jolt in her heart and replied, "I was looking for her to find out where she had gone."
He Wenbo explained, "So many things have happened recently. She's in a bad mood. I bought her a ticket to the opera and told her to go out and get some fresh air. She won't be back until evening."
He Chan, who was already in a gloomy mood, felt even more uncomfortable. She shouted, "What? So many things have happened recently, but it's me who has been wronged. What fresh air does she need?"
He Wenbo frowned and said, "She feels sorry for you. Since she doesn't know how to deal with things, she cries every day in distress."
He Chan was furious. "He Wenbo, I'm your real sister. If she's sad, am I not even sadder? Why don't you think about me and let me go out and get some fresh air?"
He Wenbo was unhappy. "He Chan, be reasonable. Aohan is an orphan with no one to rely on. She's so weak and pitiful. Why don't you think more about her? Moreover, it's just going to the opera. You're grounded. Once you're free, you can go and watch it yourself, can't you?"
He was unhappy and didn't want to stay here any longer. Just as he was about to leave, he looked back at He Chan and said, "You've brought this on yourself. Just stay at home and reflect."
He Chan's tears flowed even more fiercely. Her eldest brother was strict, but her second brother had always been gentle and kind to her. This was the first time he had been so harsh to her, and it was actually for the sake of her cousin?
How could this happen?
She was at a loss, as if everyone in the family treated her cousin better than her. She was the legitimate daughter of the He family. Why did they all treat her like this?
No one in the whole family treated her better. Why was that?
Before, she thought Lu Wanning was so hateful for always competing with her. But now it was her cousin who outshone her. She didn't even know how she felt.
No, not everyone liked her cousin. Her third brother doted on her more.
Her third brother had brought her all kinds of gifts when he came back. He was very gentle with her, but was just lukewarm towards her cousin and always kept his distance. But before, she thought her third brother doted on Lu Wanning more, so she didn't like him...
Her third brother had moved out half a month ago after having a quarrel with their father and hadn't come back yet.
He Chan lay on the bed sadly.
At this moment, Shi Aohan had no idea that He Chan was already secretly dissatisfied with her. She sat in the elegant pavilion, with her brows knitted and her head bowed.
Of course, it wasn't He Wenbo who invited her here. Instead, she had received a letter from the Heir Apparent of the Fu family. But recently, He Chan was grounded, and her aunt was also locked up. She couldn't go out, so she had to find a way to make He Wenbo offer to let her go.
She sat in the private room, her face slightly flushed. It had been quite a while since she and the Heir Apparent had met alone. The last time was when they had lost control of their feelings.
The more she thought about it, the more ripples there were in Shi Aohan's heart. She was already the Heir Apparent's woman, but she couldn't enter the Fu family for a long time. She was really a bit anxious. But she knew that one couldn't rush things. She mustn't delay the Crown Prince's grand plan.
While she was lost in thought, Fu Rongxuan walked in. He sat down coldly opposite Shi Aohan and just drank tea without saying a word.
Shi Aohan was startled. She lowered her head and called out timidly, "Heir Apparent..."
Fu Rongxuan looked at her coldly and said, "It was you and Fu Rongli who caused He Chan's trouble last time, wasn't it?"
Shi Aohan instinctively wanted to deny it, but when she looked into his eyes, she immediately understood. No wonder the maid had behaved strangely when she came back that day. It turned out that Fu Rongxuan had known about what she had done.
Fu Rongxuan clenched his fists and looked at her fiercely. "Why? Why did you hurt others? You weren't trying to deal with He Chan, but Lu Wanning, were you?"
Two lines of clear tears rolled down Shi Aohan's face. She stared at him without blinking.
Fu Rongxuan took a deep breath and continued, "Aohan, in my heart, you're so beautiful and weak. But why did you do such a cruel thing? Do you know about Lu Wanning..."
"What about her?" Shi Aohan's lips trembled, and her whole body shook.
"You feel sorry for her, don't you?"
Fu Rongxuan was stunned and instinctively frowned.
Shi Aohan sobbed, "You feel sorry for her. You think she's suffered, don't you? Heir Apparent, don't you understand why?"
Fu Rongxuan asked blankly, "What?"
Shi Aohan held the handkerchief in her hand, but her face was ashen. She looked at Fu Rongxuan and laughed sadly, "Jealousy can blind one's mind. I didn't know before, but now I do. I know your plan and the Crown Prince's plan. I..."
Fu Rongxuan was stunned and quickly asked, "Do you mean that you did this just to make Lu Wanning marry into the Fu family?"
Shi Aohan shook her head. "If that were really the case, why would I act without telling you? Heir Apparent, I love you. You said you would only love me in this life, but you didn't keep your promise. There's someone else in your eyes, isn't there?"
Fu Rongxuan was greatly shocked and turned his head, not daring to look at her.
Shi Aohan got up and walked in front of Fu Rongxuan. She turned his face and forced him to look at her. Choking with sobs, she said, "You feel guilty, don't you? I'm right. My dear Fu, I love you so much. How can I bear to see you snatched away by another woman? Moreover, that woman doesn't have any feelings for you at all!"