Volume 1, Chapter 8: Prince Xuan, Wei Chengxuan

With these thoughts in mind, Wei Shuye looked at Lin Xinyan, who was weeping with eyes full of him. His heart softened, and with a touch of guilt, he soothed her in a gentle voice, "I am fine. It will be fine once it’s bandaged. Stop crying."

"It’s all my fault. You were injured like this because you were protecting me. I am just so useless."

Watching Lin Xinyan’s pitiful, self-reproachful expression, the last remnants of discomfort Wei Shuye felt regarding Changle’s departure vanished.

Changle possessed a strikingly vivid and flamboyant beauty; her figure was tall and slender, and even a single strand of her hair seemed to exude a bold, striking charm.

Lin Xinyan, however, was petite and delicate in appearance, yet her brows and eyes always held an unusual, resilient quality. Especially when facing him, she would neither grovel nor fawn over his status, yet she would blush shyly at a single word or a moment of closeness from him.

It seemed that only in front of him would she reveal such a shy, pitiful, and endearing side.

In this, she was completely different from Changle.

To him, Changle had always been like an untamed little wolf—all claws and fangs, never knowing how to speak a soft word to please him.

Wei Shuye enjoyed Lin Xinyan’s concern. Even though he felt Changle’s reaction today was unusual, he didn't dwell on it.

After all, Changle loved him and couldn't live without him.

Therefore, he would use this opportunity to teach Changle a lesson and make her learn to curb her foul temper.

Once Changle came to him to seek reconciliation, he would consider whether to forgive her and then explain the logic of the situation to her.

Watching the mutual affection between Wei Shuye and Lin Xinyan, Qi Feirou felt a gnawing hatred in her heart.

No matter how much trouble Changle caused, she was still her daughter.

But what was this little hussy Lin Xinyan? How dare she seduce the Third Prince and ruin the relationship between Changle and him? She truly deserved to die!

Looking at Lin Xinyan now, Qi Feirou wished she could peel the skin off the little wench, slash her face, and tie her up to be drowned in the pond.

"Mother," Hua Zhiyu gently took Qi Feirou’s arm and said in a soft, soothing voice, "The Third Prince is currently in a fit of temper, and you know his personality—he has always been straightforward. If you cause trouble for Lin Xinyan now, it will only make the Third Prince protect her even more."

"I never expected that Lin Xinyan would compete with my sister for the Third Prince. Otherwise, I would never have acknowledged her as a friend, nor would I have invited her to attend my coming-of-age ceremony today."

"However, Mother, you need not worry too much."

"Lin Xinyan’s status is humble. Not to mention becoming the Third Princess Consort, even if she were to be married to the Third Prince as a concubine, the Imperial Noble Consort would never agree to it. Thus, no matter how hard she tries, it is impossible for her to snatch away my sister’s position as the future Third Princess Consort."

"Even if we take a step back and assume the Third Prince takes pity on her, she would only be fit to be his bed warmer."

"For someone like that, if we lower our status and offend the Third Prince and the Imperial Noble Consort for her sake, that would truly be a loss that outweighs the gain."

Hearing Hua Zhiyu’s gentle comfort and rational analysis, Qi Feirou’s anger finally subsided, and she regained her composure.

Qi Feirou patted the back of Hua Zhiyu’s hand and said with relief, "You are still the intelligent and sensible one. If only Changle were half as understanding as you, I wouldn’t be driven to such heartache by her."

"Come to think of it, if it weren't for the fact that Changle and the Third Prince grew up together and were betrothed early on, you would actually be more suitable for the position of the Third Princess Consort."

Hearing this, Hua Zhiyu lowered her eyes and smiled shyly, "That is only because you love your daughter and think everything about me is good, so you feel I am capable of anything. But I know my place; such a noble status as the Third Princess Consort is naturally more suitable for my sister."

"Besides, my sister has deep feelings for the Third Prince. If she heard you say this, she would likely throw another tantrum. Mother, please do not say such things in the future."

"Alright, alright, whatever you say. I won't mention it again." Qi Feirou lovingly tucked a strand of hair behind Hua Zhiyu’s ear. "Our Zhiyu is so outstanding; naturally, you are worthy of any man."

Hua Zhiyu blushed and leaned softly against Qi Feirou, a flash of hidden ambition crossing her downcast eyes.

The man worthy of her in this world should naturally be the most outstanding and powerful one—for instance, the one who held the power of the imperial court in his hands.

Feng Linlang was still worried about Changle, so she boarded Changle’s carriage.

Inside, Feng Linlang looked anxiously at the quiet Changle. "Changle, if you want to cry, just cry. Or if you want to make a scene, just do it. I will accompany you."

"I beg you, please don't just sit there in silence, okay?"

Cry?

What was there to cry about?

Tears are only worth shedding if there is someone to cherish them.

Make a scene?

Yes, that was indeed necessary.

Everything in the Chang'an Marquis Estate that belonged to her, she would take back.

But for now, there was something more pressing that needed to be resolved immediately.

"Linlang, I have things to attend to. You go home first, and I will visit you another day."

Feng Linlang’s carriage was following behind. Although she was worried, seeing Changle’s insistence, she had no choice but to compromise.

"Alright," Feng Linlang nodded. "Then I will head back first, and I’ll come to find you tomorrow."

Changle agreed, and after watching the Duke of Zhongyong’s carriage depart, she instructed the coachman, "To Ya Garden."

Ya Garden was a very unique existence in the capital. It only received guests who carried a special Ya Garden token, and those who possessed such tokens were either wealthy or noble. Therefore, everyone in the capital treated the possession of a Ya Garden token as a status symbol.

Furthermore, the identity of the owner of Ya Garden was extremely mysterious. Countless powerful figures had investigated in secret, yet none had managed to uncover who stood behind it.

Changle stepped out of the carriage, looked up at the plaque of Ya Garden, lifted her skirt, and prepared to climb the steps.

"My Lady."

A calm voice came from the side. Changle stopped her upward movement and turned to look at the person approaching. Her eyes brightened slightly.

Truly, just as one is about to sleep, someone arrives with a pillow.

She recognized this man; he was the personal attendant to the current powerhouse of the court, Prince Xuan, Wei Chengxuan.

She had met this attendant before when she had sought out Prince Xuan to help her preserve her engagement to Wei Shuye.

And her purpose for coming to Ya Garden today was to find Prince Xuan, Wei Chengxuan.

Since this attendant was here, Wei Chengxuan must be inside the garden.

It was strange—those close to her called her Changle, while those who were unfamiliar or at odds with her either called her "Second Young Lady Hua" or addressed her by her full name, "Hua Changle." Only this person, who served Prince Xuan, always addressed her as "My Lady."

Changle found the address pleasant to the ear and nodded slightly in acknowledgment. "Guard Xu, what a coincidence."

"Greetings, My Lady," Xu Jin said, bowing. "I wonder if you are free at the moment? My Prince would like to see you."

Changle was surprised. She had indeed come to Ya Garden to ask Wei Chengxuan for help in breaking off her engagement, but she was not familiar with him. In fact, due to the animosity between Wei Shuye and Wei Chengxuan, even though she had once accidentally saved Wei Chengxuan’s life, they had no further dealings.

The only time they had met was when she had brought a token to his doorstep, begging him to help her keep her engagement to Wei Shuye.

At that time, whether Wei Chengxuan was truly too busy to see her or was intentionally leaving her out in the cold to warn her against leveraging her past kindness, he had made her stand in the rain for a full day and night before finally granting her an audience.

Later, Wei Chengxuan fulfilled his promise to preserve her engagement, but he must have despised her for it.

Thereafter, whenever they met by chance, Wei Chengxuan had ignored her completely.

Logically, he should not have been the one to seek her out.