"You're Ning Yuwang, the Princess Consort of the Duke of De?"
Before coming to the capital, Chu Yuanyuan had also heard rumors.
Ning Yuwang, the Princess Consort of the Duke of De, was renowned for her beauty in the capital and was undoubtedly the "Number One Beauty" this year.
She was not only highly intelligent but also highly praised by the Second Prince, Chu Heyao.
Moreover, Princess Chu Nian'an had even abandoned her long - time best friend, An Xingzhi, for her.
At that time, Chu Yuanyuan scoffed at Ning Yuwang's charm.
It must be that those sycophants in the capital were afraid of Yan Zhao's notorious reputation, so they had falsely named her the Number One Beauty.
If Ning Yuwang was truly famous, why had she only become so this year?
She had had no reputation at all in previous years.
Chu Yuanyuan had privately compared her with the former "Number One Beauty", An Xingzhi. An was charming, gentle, and virtuous, with excellent talent and family background.
She truly met the criteria of the young men in the capital.
Chu Yuanyuan had originally thought that Ning Yuwang was at most similar to An Xingzhi.
However, she was extremely beautiful, with a natural grace that was both charming and refined.
Yet, her cold and aloof eyes made her seem like an unreachable fairy.
A look of admiration flashed across Chu Yuanyuan's eyes. "She is truly a peerless beauty..."
Her heart skipped a beat and then started to pound faster than usual.
Ning Yuwang had never seen Chu Yuanyuan before.
Most of the people who had come to Fangshan today were familiar to her, except for this arrogant "round - faced girl" in front of her.
By observing the way others around them treated this "round - faced girl", as if they were afraid of getting too close, Ning Yuwang immediately guessed her identity. "The Princess of Yong'an?"
Each word was clear, and there was a glint of golden light in her eyes.
Chu Yuanyuan had sent people to assassinate Pei Yunlu, and Ning Yuwang had already taken note of this.
Now that Chu Yuanyuan had come to her, she naturally had no intention of letting her go.
The Dragon Lady was always protective of those under her care, and Pei Yunlu was Yan Zhao's younger sister.
Naturally, she was within the scope of Ning Yuwang's protection.
"The Princess Consort of the Duke of De knows this princess?"
Hearing her own name from Ning Yuwang's mouth, Chu Yuanyuan was extremely excited.
She tilted her chin confidently and took a small step forward. It seemed as if she could smell the faint fragrance on Ning Yuwang's body.
"It seems that the Princess Consort of the Duke of De favors this princess."
Chu Yuanyuan's round eyes were full of charm as she winked playfully, looking every bit the dissolute noble.
It was a pity that she was not a man in this life.
Otherwise, no other playboy in the capital could have been as unrestrained as she was.
"You think you're worthy?"
Ning Yuwang took a few steps back, clearly disgusted by her approach.
Her so - called "favor" for Chu Yuanyuan was actually the secret hand gesture she couldn't help but make in her palm.
However, Chu Yuanyuan was completely unaware of what was about to happen.
Instead of backing off, she got even closer because of Ning Yuwang's retreat and disgust.
After all, she had a noble status. Although she was known for seizing beautiful people,
many people were eager to enter her mansion and seek her favor.
If someone truly caught her eye, there would be many rewards in the future. For example, Chu Bei, who was always trying to climb into her bed.
Having grown tired of the docile and obedient, Ning Yuwang, the elegant and unobtainable beauty, was the one that Chu Yuanyuan had her heart set on.
She licked her lips and gently placed her right hand on Ning Yuwang's delicate hand. "Why don't you, Princess Consort of the Duke of De, divorce Yan Zhao and come with this princess instead?"
Her words were extremely bold.
Although the folk customs in the Chu Dynasty were relatively open, homosexuality was not widespread.
However, Chu Yuanyuan's behavior was well - known throughout the Chu Dynasty, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.
Even the Emperor of Chu took a laissez - faire attitude towards this niece.
Although she was hated and avoided by others, Chu Yuanyuan still did as she pleased without any scruples.
The moment her palm touched Ning Yuwang's, her fingertips felt a slight itching and numbness, as if bitten by a small insect.
When she looked down, there were no marks on her fingertips.
Moreover, Ning Yuwang's hands hadn't moved at all.
"What do you think you are?"
Ning Yuwang lifted her lips and was satisfied to see a streak of black qi spreading through Chu Yuanyuan's meridians.
After confirming Chu Yuanyuan's identity, her expression became even colder. "You're just the daughter of a feudal prince. You've received a bit of tolerance from the Emperor, and now you're being so reckless and spouting nonsense."
Chu Yuanyuan didn't care at all. She had snatched countless beautiful people in Huainan.
Which one of them hadn't initially spoken rudely to her but then eventually submitted?
Chu Yuanyuan lightly sucked her fingertips, as if she could still smell the fragrance on the back of Ning Yuwang's hand.
She looked at Ning Yuwang with desire in her eyes. "The Princess Consort smells so good!"
Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain on her face. When she looked up, she saw Ning Yuwang slowly lowering her raised hand.
"You dare to hit this princess!"
Chu Yuanyuan covered her face in disbelief. It was the first time she had ever been hit.
Even the King of Huainan had never hit her.
"Guards..."
She instinctively called for her guards, but she stopped herself halfway.
Chu Xi and Chu Bei were dead, Chu Nan had betrayed her, and Chu Dong hadn't returned yet.
There was no one left by her side.
She wanted to pick up her whip and take action herself, but Ning Yuwang's maid quickly stepped in front of her.
The maid looked fierce!
She was clearly a skilled fighter, completely different from Chu Yuanyuan's amateurish martial arts.
Chu Yuanyuan didn't consider it fear but rather a temporary concession.
"Ning Yuwang! You just wait for me!"
Ning Yuwang's eyes were deep, and her red lips curved slightly. "Ning Yuwang will be waiting for the Princess of Yong'an!"
Chu Yuanyuan both loved and hated Ning Yuwang.
She couldn't let go of Ning Yuwang's peerless beauty, but she was also angry at her sharp - tongued and aggressive nature.
She took several steps back in succession. "One day, this princess will surely make you submit!"
Unexpectedly, her fingertips suddenly felt a sharp pain right after she said that.
It was the same place where she had touched Ning Yuwang.
Suspicion welled up in Chu Yuanyuan's heart. She felt that Ning Yuwang must have done something.
But she had clearly seen that Ning Yuwang's hands hadn't moved at all.
The only time she had moved was when she slapped her!
In the crowd, people were already chatting excitedly about the fact that Ning Yuwang had slapped Chu Yuanyuan.
After all, one was the beautiful Princess Consort of the cold - blooded Duke of De, a new celebrity in the capital.
The other was the tyrant of Huainan, the beloved daughter of the King of Huainan.
"No wonder An Xingzhi lost to the Princess Consort of the Duke of De. She was just too gentle and timid."
"The Princess Consort of the Duke of De is not only beautiful but also extremely bold!"
"No wonder she has won Yan Zhao's admiration. The couple is truly a perfect match!"
"Does the Princess of Yong'an really dare to go against the Princess Consort of the Duke of De? Isn't she afraid of being made into a human - skin lantern by Yan Zhao?"
Hearing everyone's comments, which were mostly in favor of Ning Yuwang, Chu Yuanyuan, who had originally planned to leave, was filled with anger.
"All of you, get out of here!"
Although she had lost face in front of Ning Yuwang, she still had some deterrence over others.
After enjoying the show, everyone dispersed to their own yards.
Even Ning Yuwang gave Chu Yuanyuan a cold look and sneered before leaving.
Under Ning Yuwang's gaze, Chu Yuanyuan felt inexplicably embarrassed.
She slowly walked towards the lake, planning to leave Fangshan.
When she was only about ten steps away from the lake, Chu Yuanyuan felt that her steps were becoming heavier and heavier.
Her fingertips and tongue were itching badly.
She couldn't help but scratch the itchy spots, but the more she scratched, the itchier it became.
She also rubbed her tongue against her teeth, trying to relieve the itching.
Soon, the itching in both places disappeared.
However, it was replaced by a gradual numbness and stiffness.
It was clearly visible that Chu Yuanyuan's fingertips were bleeding from scratching, and there was a sweet and metallic taste in her mouth. Yet, she didn't feel any pain at all.
After taking a few more difficult steps, she finally realized something was wrong and spat out a mouthful of blood.
At the sight of the bright red blood, Chu Yuanyuan's vision blurred, and she fell unconscious.