She refused to marry.

"Wanwan..."

Ignoring the doorman and servants' attempts to stop him, Ying Zheng walked into the house and slammed the door shut.

Su Wanwan stood by the table, her brow furrowed.

He's the male lead, shouldn't he be stealing the Tiger Seal or missing Shen Yan at this time?

Why bother her?

"How can you forgive me?" Ying Zheng approached, his eyes filled with despair.

"I won't forgive you." Su Wanwan took a step back. "There's no possibility between us."

These words felt as cold as ice on a lake to Ying Zheng.

"Wanwan," his voice was a little hoarse as he took her hand and placed it to his ear.

"You can hit me, you can yell at me, you can do whatever you want. Just don't ignore me."

Su Wanwan withdrew her hand and turned around.

No, she can't keep watching, her little heart can't take it.

Protagonist, can't you be a little more ambitious? You need Shen Yan to get your tiger tally out of the palace.

You're destined for great things, how can you get bogged down in the romance of minor characters?

Su Wanwan pondered for a long time, "What exactly do you like about me? I'll change."

"I love your eyes, your nose, your mouth, and your personality. I love your whole being." Ying Zheng walked behind her and pressed close to her back.

"Ying Zheng, how long have you been lying to me? You've been lying to me since the first day we met."

Every word you say, every action you take, is an act, a mask you wear. What do you think I should forgive you for?

"Do you forgive me for treating me like a fool? Or do you forgive me for using me as a pawn?" Su Wanwan turned around calmly and took a step back.

"Wanwan, my feelings for you are real..." Ying Zheng couldn't argue with her and realized he was in the wrong.

"I want to find someone to marry into the family. You are the heir apparent. If you can become Lu Huai'an again, I will agree to your request." Su Wanwan looked up.

Ying Zheng pondered for a long time before saying seriously, "Alright, I promise you. Give me three years. Once everything is settled, I'll wait for you to come and fetch me."

"Lu Huai'an, there's no possibility between us." Su Wanwan walked away a bit.

"I don't want to lie to you, and I don't want to lose you," Ying Zheng whispered.

Su Wanwan shook off his hand.

How can he be so clueless?

"This is my private room. You shouldn't be here, nor should you be in my heart. Three years? I'm already married and have children."

Someone came in from outside. "Miss, the First Madam requests your presence at Chongde Hall."

Su Wanwan opened the door. "Your Highness, please."

Ying Zheng walked to the door. "Wanwan, I'll come find you again next time."

Su Wanwan stepped out of the room and walked towards Chongde Hall without looking back.

Ying Zheng watched her departing figure, a dull ache in his heart.

Chongde Hall.

Holding the invitation in her hand, Madam Wang smiled as she saw Wanwan enter, "The Princess has sent an invitation, inviting us to the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet."

Su Wanwan was startled at first, then took the invitation and saw that it was indeed an invitation to the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet.

"They said it's for choosing a wife for Lord Fengchen. Should we go or not?"

"It would be impolite not to go, so of course I have to go," Su Wanwan said.

"Yes, Lord Fengchen has shielded our Su family from so much trouble. Not only should we go, but we should also bring a generous gift," Su Hongxuan said.

"Dad, we're really struggling to make ends meet right now," Su Wanwan instructed. "Don't send anything too expensive."

"You're so stingy. Last time, it was Feng Chenjun who brought you back," Su Hongxuan complained.

"Is it Lord Fengchen?" Su Wanwan frowned.

"Yes, could it be the young master?" Su Hongxuan said. "Of all people to mess with, you had to pick these two."

"Is Feng Chenjun really that kind?" She had almost forgotten what happened that day, only remembering that she seemed to have said a lot of things, and that Ying Zheng and Feng Chenjun were both there.

"Hey, Your Highness is being closely watched by the Crown Prince. I'd be worried if Ying Zheng brought you back." Su Hongxuan tapped the table.

"Hmm, that makes sense." Su Wanwan nodded.

The Mid-Autumn Festival banquet arrived in the blink of an eye.

The banquet was held at the Hibiscus Terrace in the Princess's residence.

Furong Terrace was built by the lake, surrounded by water on three sides, and its banks are planted with hibiscus.

It's currently the peak blooming season, and the pink and white flowers exude a subtle fragrance.

The table was spacious and covered with a large red carpet with gold embroidery.

Dozens of seats are arranged in a staggered manner along the lake shore.

Su Wanwan, dressed in a purple ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), found a secluded pavilion and played with the Luban lock that Qiu Shi had brought back.

Outside the pavilion, people came and went, and noble ladies gathered in groups of three or five, their clothes fragrant and their hair elegant.

After that last time, she never went to Dongyuan again.

Feng Chenjun didn't send anyone to summon her, so she pretended not to know anything.

Looking up, she saw Feng Chenjun walk into the pavilion and sit down in front of her, his expression indifferent, his gaze sweeping over her from head to toe.

Su Wanwan sat up straight, her gaze falling on Xiao Xuanjing, and she couldn't help but be slightly taken aback.

Today he wore a crimson brocade robe, a white jade belt around his waist, and a purple jade hair ornament of the same color, which made his face look like jade and his eyebrows like paintings.

Gone is that sharp, murderous aura; dressed in this magnificent attire, she exudes a more refined and noble air.

It becomes increasingly radiant and dazzling.

Su Wanwan glanced down at her clothes. "Hehe, I'll go change now, right away."

It turns out the colors clashed.

"No need," Xiao Xuanjing said slowly.

A woman stepped forward to greet them outside the pavilion, but Jian Qingshan turned her away.

"Miss Su had some drinks last time and said some things that I would like to hear in full."

"What are you talking about? It's all drunken talk, it doesn't count." She seemed to be cursing Feng Chenjun, and she seemed to be enjoying it.

I've completely forgotten the specifics.

"Miss Su said last time that Ying Zheng would become the ruler of the world? Why?" Xiao Xuanjing turned his thumb ring, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

"Huh? Did I say that? How come I don't remember?" Su Wanwan patted her head.

"I don't have time to beat around the bush with you. From the moment you returned to the capital, you should have been a corpse. I saved your life, and you should know that." Xiao Xuanjing leaned forward.

"Your Majesty, will you spare my life?" Su Wanwan was stunned. Someone actually wanted her life?

"The Shen family, the Crown Prince, and even the Eldest Princess, why do you think I wanted you to enter the East Garden?" Xiao Xuanjing asked in a low voice.

Su Wanwan's expression was serious as she stood up and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Tell me, why did Ying Zheng become the ruler of the world?" Xiao Xuanjing straightened his posture.

Su Wanwan sat down and said, "Your Majesty should know very well that the Crown Prince is not suitable to be the Eastern Palace Prince. The young prince is still weak and underage, and cannot accomplish anything."

His Majesty's illness came on strangely; he became bedridden in middle age, so rumors circulated that the Empress had done something to it.

Prince Changxin humbly relinquished the throne for the sake of the Chen Kingdom, and he will do the same now.

This is just my analysis.

"When I first met Lu Huai'an, I was curious as to why he chose you. Now I have the answer." Xiao Xuanjing had a pair of narrow, almond-shaped eyes with slightly curved corners.

"He's a liar," Su Wanwan said through gritted teeth.

"Oh, you just said that he would become the Crown Prince." Xiao Xuanjing rubbed his thumb ring with his fingertips.

"I'm talking about Lu Huai'an," Su Wanwan said coldly and defiantly.

Xiao Xuanjing took out a receipt from his pocket. "Today, Manager Qian from the Capital Chamber of Commerce came to my door and brought me a stack of silver notes, saying it was for the final payment."

Su Wanwan glanced down at the receipt. Damn it, shouldn't the final payment have been delivered to her?!

"Miss Su, since you are acting in the name of the Eldest Princess, shouldn't you inform her beforehand?" Xiao Xuanjing leaned forward and asked.