Chu Nian'an and An Xingzhi were unaware of the inside story.
Ning Yuwǎn had only grasped half of it. However, when she saw a brief exchange of glances between Yan Zhao and Pei Yunlù, annoyance welled up in her heart.
The calm and composed look on her face was now surrounded by a chill.
"The heir apparent has returned just in time!"
She let out a cold snort. She thought Yan Zhao had deliberately come back for Pei Yunlù.
Only Yan Zhao caught the hint of jealousy in her words. Chu Nian'an and Pei Yunlù were completely at a loss.
An Xingzhi slightly lifted the corners of her lips. Could it be that the heir apparent had come back for her?
In the past, she had been the most beautiful woman in the capital. Although Yan Zhao had a bad reputation, he was also known as the most handsome man.
Countless people had secretly regarded them as a perfect match, a talented man and a beautiful woman.
But Yan Zhao had married Ning Yuwǎn because of the imperial bestowal of marriage.
An Xingzhi didn't believe that Yan Zhao had no feelings for her after their previous meetings.
Just as she was about to speak, she saw Yan Zhao tenderly take Ning Yuwǎn's hand. "Wǎnwan."
An Xingzhi was consumed by jealousy and couldn't hide the expression on her face for a moment.
Chu Nian'an was stunned. In the past, she had thought that Cousin Zhao and An Xingzhi were in love with each other, and she would have surely teased them to promote their relationship in such a situation.
But since she thought An Xingzhi was just being wishful - thinking and saw Yan Zhao's indifference,
she couldn't help but silently scold herself. How could she have believed An Xingzhi's words back then?
"Cousin Zhao and Cousin - in - law have such a good relationship!"
She deliberately said, and casually tugged at An Xingzhi. "Then we won't disturb you."
Pei Yunlù also took the opportunity to bid farewell. There was joy in her eyes, as if she was sincerely blessing Ning Yuwǎn and Yan Zhao.
"Aren't you going to see Miss Pei off, Your Highness?"
Seeing that Yan Zhao was still by her side, Ning Yuwǎn yanked her hand away abruptly, with a hint of sarcasm in her eyes.
"Wǎnwan, Yunlù and I are not what you think!"
"Yunlù?"
Ning Yuwǎn repeated the name meaningfully. "What do you think I'm thinking, Your Highness?"
An unnamed anger spread through her body from the bottom of her heart. She stared at Yan Zhao coldly, and her slender finger poked at his chest. "Yan Zhao, since your heart already belongs to someone else, why don't we get a divorce?"
Yan Zhao said he wanted to explain, but she never got his explanation.
Ning Yuwǎn always liked to be straightforward, but the blind speculation in the past two days had disrupted her mind.
"I won't agree."
As expected, Yan Zhao refused. His face, which always had a gentle smile for Ning Yuwǎn, was now filled with hidden anger. "I won't divorce you."
"I'm not asking for your opinion!"
Four days after their wedding, the heir apparent and the heir apparent's consort had a big fight, which ended with the consort flinging her sleeves and leaving.
Li heard the news from her spy. She was doing her makeup in front of the mirror and smiled triumphantly. "Miss Rong's information is really accurate. The heir apparent's consort is indeed out of favor."
Now it was time for her to comfort the heir apparent warmly and lead him to the side courtyard.
In the study, Yan Zhao was seething with anger and smashed a table.
Wǎnwan actually wanted to divorce him!
He clenched his fists. Should he really bring Yunlù in front of Wǎnwan to explain?
A San on one side wisely wanted to escape. Just as he reached the door, he bumped into Li, who was heavily made - up.
"Who is it?"
Li had been sent to the side courtyard as soon as she arrived.
So, she was very unfamiliar to A San.
"Concubine Li. I have something important to see the heir apparent about."
Li's coquettish voice made A San frown. Before he could refuse,
he saw Li's maid hand over a thick red envelope. "Please do us a favor, sir!"
Concubine Li?
Only then did A San remember that she was one of the beauties bestowed by Empress Chu in the palace earlier.
But the heir apparent knew their real identities and had placed them in the side courtyard early on. He also didn't allow them to come to the main courtyard.
"The heir apparent is busy. Go back."
Li panicked. She had been in the heir apparent's mansion for three years. Finally, she got Rong Wǎn's permission and happened to catch the good time when the heir apparent and the consort had a falling - out.
How could she give up so easily?
She blinked her eyes coquettishly. "I really have something important. Please help me pass the message."
A San covered his eyes. "I said the heir apparent is busy. Go back quickly!"
Disgusting!
He only had eyes for swords and didn't want to get sty in his eyes!
Li stamped her foot angrily. A San's refusal embarrassed her, but she didn't dare to make a scene for fear that Yan Zhao in the study would hear.
Not long after, Lin also came with her maid, walking gracefully.
She was dressed more simply, in sharp contrast to Li. She was less charming and wealthy, but more elegant and beautiful.
Not surprisingly, she was also refused entry by A San.
Li's anger subsided a bit, and she sneered. "What a coincidence, Sister Lin also has something important to see the heir apparent about?"
Lin lowered her head and replied, "I want to ask the heir apparent for a favor."
Although the two were in Rong Wǎn's camp, they were also rivals for the heir apparent's favor.
Li looked at her contemptuously. Usually, Lin was good at pretending to be obedient, but she had a deep mind.
"Dressed so plainly. Do you think the heir apparent will take a fancy to you?"
"I'm not as good as Sister Li at attracting men."
"Lin, how dare you scold me!"
Lin retorted sarcastically. "We are both concubines. I call you sister because you are older, but you always pick on me."
Li was angry that she was secretly calling her old. Suddenly, she reached out and slapped Lin. "If you say another word, I'll tear your mouth apart!"
A San was stunned. He didn't understand how the two women, who had been fine just now, were suddenly wrestling with each other.
The noise finally attracted Yan Zhao out.
He saw two strange women pulling each other's hair and cursing.
He immediately shouted coldly, "Stop!"
"Your Highness!"
Li stopped first and cried tearfully. "Lin beat and scolded me. Please seek justice for me, Your Highness."
Lin gritted her teeth. She wasn't as quick - witted as Li, but she also frowned aggrievedly. "It was Sister Li who attacked me first. How can she distort the facts?"
Li then showed the swelling on her face. "Your Highness, look. My face has been beaten swollen."
Both of their voices were not soft. Although they both pretended to be gentle, it made A San frown.
He carefully glanced at Yan Zhao. The heir apparent had just been angry with the consort.
He wouldn't scold the consort, but these two unfamiliar concubines in front of him were probably going to suffer a lot.
Yan Zhao said expressionlessly, "Since you both started fighting, drag both of you down!"
"Your Highness?"
Li and Lin were shocked and dumbfounded. Obviously, they didn't expect Yan Zhao to be so heartless.
In fact, before they entered the mansion, they had heard of Yan Zhao's "reputation for killing".
But after entering the heir apparent's mansion, although Yan Zhao hadn't favored them, he had always let them live comfortably.
They had forgotten about Yan Zhao's temper. Now they kowtowed and begged for mercy. "Please spare us, Your Highness, for the sake of the empress."
The empress's face?
They didn't know that Yan Zhao hated Emperor Chu and Empress Chu in the palace the most.
He couldn't refuse the people sent by Empress Chu before he had enough power. He could only accept them reluctantly.
Now that he had the ability to protect himself, how could he still be afraid of Empress Chu?
Yan Zhao's heartless words made Li and Lin shiver.
"Li and Lin, for causing chaos in the inner courtyard, break their fingers and expel them from the mansion."
"Your Highness, won't you even give the empress's face?"
Lin boldly asked, but only received a cold look from Yan Zhao.
"Noisy! Since you are the empress's people, drug you to be mute and send you back!"