The Crown Prince paused, his voice rising with obvious displeasure. "Zhaoyang!"
Lu Wanning had sharp ears. Besides the Crown Prince's voice, she'd caught a faint rustling sound. She hadn't gone deep into the woods. There were many noble ladies by the Qianli Pond. Maybe their conversation had startled them.
She quickly looked up, her voice laced with boundless grievance. "Cousin, why would you say such a thing?"
The Crown Prince asked in surprise, "What?"
Lu Wanning began to sob. "Cousin Crown Prince, I've never understood why you dislike me so much. It used to be okay, but ever since Shi Aohan came to the capital, you've changed."
"Nonsense!"
"I'm not talking nonsense." Lu Wanning choked with sobs. "How am I lying? Cousin Crown Prince, tell me yourself if it isn't so. Originally, I was your real cousin, but Shi Aohan is a distant relation with no blood - ties to you at all. Yet you treat her much better than me."
The Crown Prince took a step back, completely bewildered by her sudden outburst. He said coldly, "Lu Wanning, I always side with reason, not kinship!"
Lu Wanning pressed on. "What do you mean by siding with reason? You clearly only listen to Shi Aohan. She stole my fiancé first and lost her virginity during the mourning period. Even yesterday, it was she who said that the Empress Dowager's passing had changed her engagement. I was just sad and angry for a moment, so I slapped her. I've explained it all to you. Why don't you listen to me and only believe her?"
The Crown Prince frowned. "How could she say such a thing? It must be you..."
"Yes, it's all my fault!" Lu Wanning roared angrily. "In your heart, Shi Aohan is a pure and innocent girl. Nothing is her fault, and it's all mine, right? She seduced my fiancé, and you think I framed her on purpose? She caught the Fourth Prince's eye, and that's also my doing? And you, Your Highness the Crown Prince, ask yourself, don't you have other feelings for her? If you like her, you could take her into the Eastern Palace as a concubine or a side - princess. Why did you give her away?"
The Crown Prince was enraged. "Lu Wanning, how dare you talk nonsense?"
Lu Wanning burst into tears. "I'm not talking nonsense. She doesn't like you, but what does it matter to me? She doesn't like you but still seduces you. You've wasted your true feelings on her."
The Crown Prince was so angry that he raised his hand to slap Lu Wanning.
But Lu Wanning was prepared. She took a step back in time, and the Crown Prince's hand didn't even touch her face. She covered her face and wailed. "You want to hit me? You still say you don't have feelings for her? I know she looks weak, and all you men like girls like her. But I'm your sister! You want to hit me for her? Waaaa..."
She turned around and ran away in a flash.
The Crown Prince stared blankly at Lu Wanning's back, then slowly raised his hand and looked at his palm. Just now... he seemed not to have touched her at all, right?
During the national mourning period, all weddings in the Great Zhou were suspended, and everyone was supposed to observe mourning for a year.
Madam Fu was extremely annoyed. Early that morning, an imperial edict from the Empress had arrived from the Guanjue Palace and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, stating that Shi Aohan had saved the Empress and was thus adopted as the Empress's daughter and betrothed to Fu Rongxuan.
Her son was so outstanding. It was tolerable when the Empress Dowager had betrothed him to Lu Wanning by imperial edict before, at least she was a princess. Even after the engagement with the Lu family was annulled, she had only considered noble girls in the capital as potential daughters - in - law. How could she take a fancy to Shi Aohan, an orphan who was considered bad luck?
Moreover, before the Empress Dowager issued the imperial edict back then, someone had come to ask for the Fu family's opinion. Even though the Fu family couldn't resist, at least they had been informed. What did the Empress mean now? She didn't even give them time to think or prepare, and the imperial edict just came?
She had originally planned that even if her son couldn't marry Lu Wanning, he should try to marry Princess Qin from the palace.
Otherwise, if her son were to marry Shi Aohan, an inexperienced and low - status girl, while her younger son was going to marry the eldest daughter of the He family, wouldn't it be a mess in terms of status?
It was her daughter, Fu Qingwei, who knew there was no room for negotiation. She whispered, "Mother, now Shi Aohan is at least the adopted daughter of the Empress."
Madam Fu was furious and spat. "Adopted daughter? If she were really an adopted daughter, she should be included in the imperial genealogy, and the Emperor should also recognize her. But look at the edict from the palace. The Emperor doesn't care at all. They say she saved the Empress. I don't believe it. It must be the He family's doing. They're just trying to annoy me."
Fu Qingwei reached out to pat her mother's back. "Mother, don't be angry. Madam He was locked up by the Duke because of the previous incident and didn't even attend the Empress Dowager's funeral. How could it be her doing?"
Madam Fu asked, "Then what do you think is the reason?"
Fu Qingwei's eyes flickered, and she said in a low voice, "Mother, haven't you heard the rumors these days?"
"What rumors?"
Fu Qingwei said, "It's said that Shi Aohan is the reincarnation of a fox spirit. She's born to seduce people."
Madam Fu had also heard this rumor. She frowned. "I've heard that the Crown Prince also protects her. But if so, why doesn't the Crown Prince marry her?"
Fu Qingwei added, "That's where her cunning lies. Mother, think about it. Why did I used to regard her as a confidant? And didn't elder brother and the Fourth Prince once quarrel because of her? Also, didn't Fu Rongli always say that it was He Chan who made him do those things? He Chan is so stupid. How could she come up with such a vicious plan? It must be Shi Aohan pulling the strings behind."
Madam Fu was shocked. "You're right. She really is the reincarnation of a fox spirit. Then... what should we do? She's going to marry your elder brother, and your elder brother has already been bewitched by her. Oh, what should we do?"
Fu Qingwei's eyes were cold as she continued, "Mother, don't worry. Look, I've seen through her now and stopped associating with her. As long as we keep our distance from her, we won't be attracted by her fox - like charm."
Madam Fu gradually calmed down. "You're right. As long as we keep our distance, and keep your elder brother away from her... But after the mourning period is over, then..."
Fu Qingwei smiled faintly. "What's so difficult about that? After she marries in, you're the mother - in - law, and she's the daughter - in - law. Mother, are you still afraid you can't control her?"
Madam Fu was overjoyed. "Our Qingwei really thinks far ahead. You're right. At that time, I'll find a way to keep her away from your elder brother, and that'll be it."
Fu Qingwei sat down, sipping tea calmly, her eyes cold.
Madam Fu sighed. "It's a pity that the imperial consort selection can't be held during the national mourning period. Otherwise, you should have entered the Eastern Palace as the Crown Princess this year."
Fu Qingwei shook her head. "It's just a matter of time. I'm not worried."
As long as the Crown Prince isn't too stupid, he'll know that the only suitable candidate for the Crown Princess is her, Fu Qingwei. As for other women, humph! The betrothal came so urgently. I'm afraid the Empress couldn't hold back anymore. Shi Aohan, are you really so unscrupulous that you can come and go freely in the palace?