She refused to marry.

Third Aunt.

Su Wanwan remained calm. "What you've said so much is simply to say that since the second branch of the family has no son, the future inheritance will depend on Third Uncle's management. So now I have to be submissive, yield to Jinse, and appease you, right?"

Zhao, her thoughts exposed, coldly retorted, "I'm just stating the facts! You steal and you think you're in the right?"

Su Wanwan said to Chunhua, "Go and get it, let them see what it's like."

Chunhua took the brocade box.

Su Jinse opened it, and inside lay a jade ruyi.

It is purplish-red at both ends and emerald green in the middle.

Its luster is far superior to the one Su Jinse won yesterday, and its quality is immeasurably better.

Zhao glanced at it and was stunned.

Su Jinse was also stunned.

"This is mine, a gift from Young Master Lu. Jinse, if you like it, you can take it. I don't need it."

Su Jinse's face flushed red, and she stormed out of the house in a huff.

"I know what Third Aunt means. I didn't take Jinse's jade ruyi. Go and look for it, see if it's left somewhere else. As for the family property, Third Aunt, don't worry. What belongs to the Third Branch will not be lost, and what doesn't belong to the Third Branch will not be taken away."

Zhao's face turned pale and then flushed.

Wang tugged at Zhao's sleeve: "Sister-in-law, let's go and look again. It's all a misunderstanding, don't take it to heart."

Su Jinning and Su Xian stayed behind and comforted her for a long time.

The sisters had a falling out, and Su Wanwan was angry, which lasted for four or five days.

It turns out that the Zhao family had a very clever plan.

On the sixth day, while she was still trying to figure out how to find the thief, Feng Chenjun's carriage stopped at the door.

Su Wanwan reluctantly got into the carriage.

Upon entering the East Garden, across the garden, one could see Feng Chenjun leisurely reclining in the Forget-Worry Pavilion, reading a book.

While observing Feng Chenjun's expression, Su Wanwan quietly walked to the outside of the Forget-Worry Pavilion and bowed: "Greetings, Feng Chenjun."

Xiao Xuanjing put down his book, a turbulent undercurrent beneath his calm gaze, and gently tapped his hand on the edge of the chair.

She stood me up.

I waited for her for five days.

Practicing martial arts, writing books, playing the zither, fishing, sleeping—none of these things could help him suppress the pent-up frustration in his chest.

"Qingshan, go and get the book."

"Yes." Jian Qingshan went into the study and came out with several books in his hand.

Jian Qingshan handed the book to Su Wanwan.

Su Wanwan felt a sudden weight in her hand, so heavy that she almost dropped it without warning.

Xiao Xuanjing pointed and said, "Miss Su, you may leave when you finish copying. For every mistake, you will be punished with a ruler."

Su Wanwan hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping herself. If she made a single mistake, she would be punished with a ruler. She wondered how swollen her hands would be today.

Feeling dejected, he took the book and went into the side room.

An older woman, holding a ruler, stood by the desk; she was clearly not someone to be trifled with.

Xiao Xuanjing sat in the Forget-Worry Pavilion, his gaze passing through the window of the side room, where he could see the woman writing furiously.

The woman sat by the window, her head down, her brows slightly furrowed, her lips red and smooth.

As he turned the pages, he noticed that the woman's nails were not painted like those of other women.

It was green and white, and very clean.

Her round little face looked a bit paler than it had been a few days ago.

She wasn't the kind of stunningly beautiful woman.

Like a wild rose by the roadside, inconspicuous and unassuming.

It has an indescribable pleasing quality.

A few days ago, the guards brought news that someone had personally witnessed Lu Huai'an carrying her back to the Prince's Mansion.

There are many noble ladies in the capital who are better than her in terms of looks, talent, family background, and moreover, she can't even write properly.

What exactly does Lu Huai'an like about her?

Not long after.

A "snap" sound came from inside the room.

Xiao Xuanjing turned his gaze to the woman in pain, feeling a great sense of satisfaction.

I'd been bored these past few days, and suddenly the tightness in my chest dissipated.

Jian Qingshan stood aside, watching his master and the girl in the window for the entire afternoon.

She would occasionally chuckle softly.

He even declined the invitation to dine with the Princess and to meet with His Majesty.

In the evening, Su Wanwan looked at her already red and swollen hands, angrily threw down her pen, and cried, "Granny, hit me, hit me! If you hurt me, I won't have to write anymore... Waaah..."

After saying that, she looked at her rosy hands with heartache and cried louder and louder.

Xiao Xuanjing tilted his head slightly.

The woman looked exactly like a cat with its fur standing on end, both annoyed and crying, which was quite amusing.

Seeing that Su Wanwan had dropped her pen and left the room, the old woman went to Feng Chenjun and said, "Your Majesty, you can't keep hitting her anymore. If you keep hitting her, she really won't be able to write anymore."

"Alright, call her over for a meal." Xiao Xuanjing stood up.

The nanny relayed a message to Su Wanwan and led her through the corridor.

We walked towards the warm pavilion deep inside the East Garden.

The warm pavilion is built by the water, with its four lattice doors half-open, allowing the setting sun to shine in and create a warm and inviting atmosphere inside.

The room was elegantly furnished, with a large rosewood table in the center, on which several exquisite dishes were already laid out.

Xiao Xuanjing was leaning against the soft couch by the window, holding a book in his hand. He slowly raised his eyes when he saw her come in.

"I've been hungry all day, let's eat."

Su Wanwan looked hesitantly at the dishes on the table. Would Feng Chenjun be so kind to her?

If we were to take out the silver hairpin to test for poison now, it would probably only make him more displeased.

Seeing that she didn't move, the nanny quietly withdrew and closed the door.

"Afraid I'll poison you?" Xiao Xuanjing closed the book, slowly walked down, and sat on the pear blossom stool opposite the table.

"I wouldn't dare," Su Wanwan said, sitting down in the furthest seat.

The aroma of chicken porridge wafted into my nose, and my stomach growled involuntarily.

"Eat." Xiao Xuanjing looked down at her.

Su Wanwan picked up the spoon with trembling hands, and her fingertips just touched the handle when she hissed in pain.

She loosened her grip and glanced at Xiao Xuanjing.

"I command you to eat." Xiao Xuanjing lowered his eyes.

Su Wanwan shakily scooped up a spoonful of porridge, but before she could even bring the spoon to her lips, her hand trembled, and most of the porridge spilled onto the table, with the remaining few drops landing on her skirt.

Damn it.

Feng Chenjun's expression was very unpleasant.

Xiao Xuanjing put down his chopsticks and just watched her fuss over it.

Each time she strained, she winced in pain, spilling another spoonful of porridge onto the table.

"Do you know how many people want to dine with me?"

Su Wanwan lowered her eyes and shook her head.

Xiao Xuanjing's lips curled slightly as he said unhurriedly, "My mother invited me three times today, but I didn't go. Several Grand Secretaries sent me invitations, but I declined. I even rejected the imperial decree. Countless women have wanted to dine with me, but you are the first."

Su Wanwan understood; this meant she didn't know what was good for her.

Xiao Xuanjing picked up his teacup. "I've been quite troubled these past few days. Do you know who the culprit is?"

Su Wanwan lowered her head, not daring to reply.

So what if you beat him? If you can't handle losing, then don't compete.

"So," Xiao Xuanjing put down his teacup, his gaze falling on her, "from today onwards, you will come to serve me every day."

Su Wanwan suddenly looked up, her face full of astonishment.

"Unwilling?" Xiao Xuanjing lowered his eyes slightly.

"This humble woman dares not," Su Wanwan bit her lip and said softly, "It's just that this humble woman is foolish and afraid of disturbing Lord Fengchen's interest."

Xiao Xuanjing chuckled softly.

Su Wanwan saw it all, but it felt like a knife was being held to her neck.

Looking at her swollen hands, she said softly, "My hands are swollen; I'm afraid I'll disappoint Your Majesty."