"Don't call me Third Prince. I've always been your cousin," Chu Heye said, affectionately tapping An Xingzhi on the forehead. "Are you still upset about what happened in the palace?"
It would have been better if he hadn't brought it up. As soon as he did, An Xingzhi's eyes turned even redder. "Is cousin making fun of Xingzhi too?"
"Of course cousin won't make fun of you." Chu Heye stopped smiling. "Since you lost today, the blood jade bracelet naturally belongs to Ning Yuwan. If you really like it, I'll have someone find another one for you next time. But you shouldn't have forced Ning Yuwan to return it."
She made a wrong move, and Ning Yuwan just seized on it.
Maybe in the past, An Xingzhi had used a similar tactic successfully, so she thought that as long as a tactic was effective, it didn't matter if it was new.
Unfortunately, Ning Yuwan was an "unexpected" obstacle to her tricks.
An Xingzhi pouted cutely. "It's because the blood jade bracelet was a gift from aunt. She also said..."
She paused for a moment, then looked at Chu Heye shyly. "The blood jade bracelet is a gift for the crown prince's main consort. Xingzhi was just too attached to it for a moment, so she acted impulsively."
Chu Heye's eyes subtly sized up An Xingzhi. He had grown up with her since childhood, but he had never been able to see through her.
Just like today, everyone was gossiping that she was "jealous" of Ning Yuwan over Yan Zhao.
Even he couldn't help but believe it.
But now, An Xingzhi was subtly showing her affection for him.
He was suspicious in his heart but also couldn't help feeling overjoyed. He pulled An Xingzhi into his arms. "It's just a blood jade bracelet. In the future, whatever you like, cousin will find for you."
"Thank you, cousin."
The beauty in his arms was fragrant and charming. Chu Heye felt his throat go dry. He couldn't help but hold An Xingzhi even tighter. "Zhi'er."
"Cousin, you're hurting me."
An Xingzhi tilted her head back, her eyes full of deep affection, which made Chu Heye dizzy. He seemed to have forgotten that they were still outside. He lowered his head, wanting to kiss her.
Unexpectedly, An Xingzhi stopped him halfway. "Cousin, it's getting late. Xingzhi should go back."
"I'll see you off."
Chu Heye was disappointed but didn't want to let her go.
An Xingzhi smiled sweetly. "Grandmother's birthday is in a few days. Xingzhi will wait for cousin then."
After arguing with Chu Heye for a while, she finally managed to send him away.
As soon as he left, the sweetness on An Xingzhi's face disappeared completely, replaced by coldness. She didn't like Chu Heye.
She bit her lip and thought bitterly. If it weren't for Yan Zhao, if it weren't for his bad reputation of bringing bad luck to his parents, if it weren't for his position as the heir apparent being so precarious.
He should have been her beloved for life.
But unfortunately, she was destined to marry into a high - ranking family and become a person of high status.
Rather than being gossiped about every day for marrying Yan Zhao beneath her status.
Getting back into the carriage, An Ruoqian had already stopped crying under the persuasion of her maid. She was trying to shrink herself under the curtain of the carriage window.
With her head down, she looked like a timid quail.
An Xingzhi's expression changed. She wasn't sure if An Ruoqian had seen her actions with Chu Heye from this position.
"Did you see anything just now?"
An Ruoqian seemed to be lost in her own world. It took her a long time to come to her senses under the hint of her maid. "Elder sister, Ruoqian doesn't understand."
An Xingzhi sized her up carefully but couldn't find any clues. Suddenly, she got angry. "Get out!"
"Elder sister?"
An Ruoqian didn't understand.
"I told you to get out!"
An Xingzhi waved her hand, asking Lan'er to drag An Ruoqian out of the carriage. "Walk back by yourself!"
But the An family's residence was in the southernmost part of the capital, more than ten miles away from the imperial city.
An Xingzhi was so cruel as to make a delicate girl walk back to the city. "I'll arrange someone to watch you. If you don't walk back but use other means, you'll be in big trouble when you get home."
After saying that, without waiting for An Ruoqian to plead, she lowered the curtain and told the coachman to drive.
"Miss, I'll go and find a carriage for you," An Ruoqian's maid Zhuer whispered.
But then An Ruoqian, who had been humble and submissive, straightened her back. All the sadness and tears on her face disappeared. "Didn't you hear what the eldest miss said? We have to walk back."
There seemed to be a huge whirlpool hidden in her eyes, and the faint shadow behind her seemed to hide a dark beast.
The cool wind blew gently.
Before Ning Yuwan and Yan Zhao returned to the heir apparent's mansion, the rumor had already spread throughout the noble ladies' circle in the capital.
The focus of the rumor was nothing but the exaggerated "feud" between Ning Yuwan and An Xingzhi: "The competition between the granddaughter of the imperial tutor and the heir apparent's wife today was all for the sake of the heir apparent, Yan Zhao."
Even more excessive, some people even placed bets on whether Yan Zhao would divorce Ning Yuwan because of An Xingzhi.
Ning Yuwan was unaware of these things because she was preoccupied with something else.
"What's your opinion of Miss Pei, wife?"
As soon as they got into the carriage, Yan Zhao's deep voice sounded. Unfortunately, the content was not what Ning Yuwan wanted to hear.
"The heir apparent is so concerned about Miss Pei. Could it be that she was your former lover?"
Ning Yuwan stiffened her face and threatened fiercely. "You belong to me now. Even if you had a former lover, you must never rekindle your relationship!"
Yan Zhao seemed to be stimulated and suddenly coughed a few times. "Wife has misunderstood. I can explain."
Ning Yuwan interrupted him. "Don't explain. You people are so unpredictable and your words don't match your thoughts. Who knows if what you're saying is true!"
Yan Zhao pursed his lips, his long lashes trembling slightly. He lowered his moist eyes and moved closer. "You're the only one I love, wife!"
He was actually using his good looks to seduce her!
Ning Yuwan's heart skipped a beat, and her lips went dry.
She licked her lips, her eyes following Yan Zhao's long lashes, his watery eyes and his lips. Her eyebrows also lifted happily.
Yan Zhao secretly smiled in his heart. He seemed to know what his wife liked.
His slightly cool hand wrapped around her wrist and slowly slid down, interlacing their fingers. His actions were bold, but his earlobes betrayed his shyness, turning red and charming.
Ning Yuwan was rarely at a loss. Handsome men were really distracting!
The atmosphere between them was sweet and wonderful. Just as Yan Zhao was about to take it a step further, A Si shouted at the carriage door, "Your Highness, we're here!"
The next moment, he saw the usually beautiful and calm heir apparent's wife suddenly jump out of the carriage, as if there were tigers and wolves chasing after her.
He scratched his head and asked Yan Zhao, "Your Highness, what's wrong with the heir apparent's wife?"
Yan Zhao said expressionlessly, "I heard that a coal mine has been discovered in Shanxi and they're short of workers. You can go there for three months!"
A Si frowned. "Your Highness, I don't want to go."
"If you don't go, I'll deduct your salary for ten years."
The cold words chilled A Si to the bone. He was saving his salary to get married. The heir apparent was so cruel.
After punishing A Si, Yan Zhao quickly chased after Ning Yuwan.
Just as he was about to enter the main hall, he was stopped by wet - nurse Wang. "Zhao'er."
Because of the kindness of breastfeeding, Yan Zhao had always let her stay in the mansion to live out her days and respected her as "Aunt Wang".
Aunt Wang quietly pulled Yan Zhao aside. "Zhao'er, how's your health recently? Are you still taking the medicine prescribed by Doctor Yan?"
Yan Zhao had just coughed in the carriage, and there was still a faint flush on his face.
"I've been taking it. I'm much better than before."
Aunt Wang looked around hesitantly, then secretly took something out of her sleeve.
She was an experienced woman. Although Yan Zhao had many concubines, he had never stayed in their rooms. Maybe he still didn't understand the matters between a man and a woman.
So after hearing the veiled report from Lianye, she immediately bought a picture - book on the subject at a high price in a hurry.
"Zhao'er, you should read this and learn from it."