Half an hour later.
In the distance, the gong sounded again. The hunting activity would end in just a moment.
Most people had already returned.
Only Yan Zhao, He Mengchang, and Lin Lang were still missing.
Chu Nian'an whispered to the person on her left, "Cousin Zhao hasn't returned yet. I'm worried he might have run into some trouble. Should we send someone to look for him?"
As for Lin Lang and He Mengchang, her concern for them was only perfunctory.
Those two had never seemed like decent people. If something really did happen to them, it would be the work of the Buddha, teaching them a lesson.
Chu Nian'an had meant to say this to Ning Yuwan, but unexpectedly, An Xingzhi heard it too.
Hearing this, An Xingzhi sized Ning Yuwan up with her narrow eyes. "The young master of the estate just fell into the water. His health hasn't fully recovered yet, but the young mistress of the estate still sent him into the hunting forest. What if he gets injured again?"
Her words seemed to deliberately remind everyone that it was Ning Yuwan who forced Yan Zhao into the hunting forest just for the first - place prize.
Most of the female guests already disliked Ning Yuwan. After all, wherever Ning Yuwan was, all the attention would be on her stunning beauty.
They all had cold, sarcastic remarks: "The young mistress of the estate really values the prize more than the young master's life."
"The young master of the estate really married a vicious wife."
"After all, she's just a girl picked up by the Yongning Marquis Mansion. She has a cold heart."
Not only the female guests but also the men who had just returned started whispering about it.
Some even whispered maliciously to their companions, "The young master of the estate doesn't have long to live anyway, yet Ning Yuwan still wants to squeeze out his last bit of value."
"Truly, the most poisonous thing is a woman's heart."
They thought they were speaking quietly enough for Ning Yuwan not to hear.
But they didn't know that the Dragon Girl's eyes were glinting with a hidden light, and the chill around her intensified.
These humans!
They loved to court death!
The last bit of tolerance in the Dragon Girl's heart vanished.
She first glanced at An Xingzhi with a half - smile, then moved towards her menacingly.
An Xingzhi suddenly shivered, feeling a vague sense of unease and fear.
Remembering the previous times she had suffered losses, she immediately lowered her eyes, pretending she hadn't challenged Ning Yuwan.
But how could Ning Yuwan let her off this time? She got up and walked over to An Xingzhi. Lifting An Xingzhi's chin with her right hand, she sneered, "Miss An, your face is as thick as a city wall. Your behavior of sowing discord and coveting another woman's husband really opened my eyes!"
"I didn't..." An Xingzhi stepped back, trying to escape Ning Yuwan's grip.
But Ning Yuwan had anticipated her move and tightly grasped her chin with two fingers.
An Xingzhi felt a sharp pain in her chin and guessed it must be turning red.
She pursed her lips, looking aggrieved, but there was not a shred of pity in Ning Yuwan's cold eyes.
An Xingzhi could only shift her gaze with difficulty, looking at Chu Nian'an in a pitiful way.
But the latter didn't notice her being held by Ning Yuwan and impatiently tapped on the table.
An Xingzhi bit her lip and stole a glance at Gu Xiao in the distance.
Gu Xiao met her gaze but quickly looked away.
"What?"
She was surprised in her heart, not knowing what misunderstandings they had about her, but on the surface, she shed tears feebly. "Why are you speaking so harshly, young mistress of the estate! I'm still unmarried. Do you really want to ruin my reputation?"
An Xingzhi's tactic of retreating to advance was something Ning Yuwan had seen too many times, and she had also forgiven her many times.
But An Xingzhi never learned her lesson and would continue her willful ways the next time.
Ning Yuwan had no pity for her. She casually slapped An Xingzhi and said, "Whether you admit it or not, I don't believe your words anyway. This slap is a warning! You can't covet my man!"
"Ning Yuwan!"
Ning Yuwan was very strong. Half of An Xingzhi's face was swollen. She got up angrily, glaring at Ning Yuwan.
But Ning Yuwan snorted. The aura around her turned as cold as ice, just like Yan Zhao's usual demeanor.
Cold - blooded and icy, it made An Xingzhi's hands and feet go cold. She slumped back into her chair. "You shrew! How dare you hit someone!"
Since she dared to shout, Ning Yuwan dared to slap her again. "This slap is for your insolence."
Ning Yuwan was the young mistress of the De Estate and also a second - rank county mistress personally bestowed by Emperor Chu.
An Xingzhi, on the other hand, was nothing but the granddaughter of a respected elder and the niece of a high - ranking imperial concubine.
Naturally, Ning Yuwan was of a higher status, while An Xingzhi was inferior.
The female guests present were already intimidated by Ning Yuwan. They even breathed very shallowly.
Only the men couldn't help but be indignant. "Miss An didn't say anything wrong. The young mistress of the estate is going too far!"
They all agreed with the hidden meaning in An Xingzhi's words.
Ning Yuwan was a vicious woman!
They thought that by speaking out, Ning Yuwan would show some restraint.
Unexpectedly, Ning Yuwan's eyes turned cold. She scanned the crowd and suddenly laughed.
"If you want to be a hero to save the beauty, you have to see if you're qualified!"
Except for Chu Nian'an, no one present could match Ning Yuwan's status.
Especially her husband, Yan Zhao, was a fearsome figure who was favored by Emperor Chu and Empress Chu.
Who would dare to really confront such a terrifying couple?
They were indeed not qualified to be heroes!
Some of the men had only been attracted to An Xingzhi's beauty. After regaining their senses, they immediately backed down.
With some people secretly hinting, they simply shrank back into the crowd.
When gods fight, why should they, the little soldiers, get involved?
No one helped An Xingzhi to condemn Ning Yuwan. An Xingzhi was panicked. She sobbed and gently tugged at Chu Nian'an's sleeve. "Please, Princess, do justice for me!"
Only then did Chu Nian'an frown and look back. But she didn't say a word about Ning Yuwan's "suppression" of An Xingzhi.
"An Xingzhi, if you weren't so talkative, your cousin - in - law wouldn't have gotten angry. If you still want to make a scene and spoil everyone's fun today, I'll send you out of Fangshan right away!"
What was going on?
An Xingzhi widened her eyes. She knew that Chu Nian'an was a bit close to Ning Yuwan.
But she thought that she and Chu Nian'an had reconciled, and Chu Nian'an would protect her.
She was confident that their friendship of more than a decade should be deeper than Ning Yuwan's few - month friendship with Chu Nian'an.
Unexpectedly, Chu Nian'an scolded her!
Just the other day, An Xingzhi was still proud that she could manipulate Chu Nian'an at will. But today, Chu Nian'an turned the tables on her.
What kind of spell did Ning Yuwan cast on Chu Nian'an?
It was clearly Ning Yuwan who was arrogant and aggressive, hitting someone, but Chu Nian'an insisted on siding with her!
"Your Highness!"
"My words are final!"
Chu Nian'an's words were like nails on a board. If she continued to make a scene, she might really be sent back.
An Xingzhi clenched her fists and had to suppress her humiliation for the time being.
But everyone's gazes followed her like needles. They were hot, contemptuous, sarcastic, and skeptical.
She could only break free angrily and hide back in the room.