She refused to marry.

"Oh, is that what Your Majesty is talking about? Don't worry, after it's done, I will definitely take good care of Her Highness the Princess." Su Wanwan patted her forehead and reached for the receipt.

"The Princess is not short of money." Xiao Xuanjing took back the receipt. "However, I was curious about Miss Su's abilities, so I sent someone to collect the remaining payment, which came to exactly 20,000 taels."

"You!" Su Wanwan stood up, hands on her hips in anger.

That's the capital she needs for her next batch of goods.

"Wanwan..." A gentle voice came from outside the pavilion.

It's Ying Zheng.

Xiao Xuanjing waved his hand, and Jian Qingshan let him pass.

Ying Zheng entered the pavilion and bowed to Xiao Xuanjing, saying, "Lord Fengchen."

Xiao Xuanjing nodded slightly and raised his hand to indicate, "Your Highness, there's no need for such formalities."

Su Wanwan was about to leave when Ying Zheng blocked her way.

"Wanwan, if you won't see me, you have to give me a reason."

Just because I am the heir apparent? If I, Ying Zheng, wanted to use my power to suppress others, why would I have waited until today?

I can shield you from harm and clear obstacles for you from the shadows.

What you can't do, I'll do for you;

Whatever you want to do, I'll help you achieve it.

Although I concealed my identity from you, every single thing I did was to protect you. The Crown Prince is eyeing us covetously, and the court is rife with intrigue and treacherous situations.

I don't ask you to understand my predicament, but you won't even see me.

You asked me to be Lu Huai'an, and I agreed, so why won't you forgive me?

"I really can't figure out what you're angry about. You clearly like me and care about me, yet you always shut me out." Ying Zheng pressed on.

Su Wanwan was powerless to resist. If he continued to pester her like this, how could the male and female protagonists' storylines develop? If he didn't fight for the throne, then the crown prince would remain firmly in his seat and would inevitably wipe out the Su family.

"I regret it, is that not allowed?" Su Wanwan took a deep breath, clenching her sleeves. "You are the Crown Prince, do you know what you are doing right now? What should you be doing?"

"I know what I'm doing and what I should be doing, but you're an accident. Can't we have both?"

"You shouldn't be bothered with me." Su Wanwan took two steps towards Feng Chenjun. "We can't be together."

"Wanwan, I will never let you go," Ying Zheng said firmly.

Xiao Xuanjing slowly stroked the ring with his thumb, his gaze shifting back and forth between the two of them.

What a poignant scene of flowing water expressing affection, yet the goddess showing no interest.

But why did his heart feel like it was being boiled, filled with an inexplicable sense of unease?

Su Wanwan glanced at Feng Chenjun, then turned to Ying Zheng and asked, "If I had someone I liked, would you be my backup option?"

"I don't mind, because no one can treat you better than me. In terms of family background, power, and status, I can win in the end too." Ying Zheng's eyes deepened.

Xiao Xuanjing seemed to understand the meaning in her eyes and clarified, "Your Highness is overthinking it. Miss Su did indeed claim to like me, but that was merely a temporary measure when she had no other choice."

Everyone could see that she cared a lot about the young master, and Miss Su could lie without batting an eye, just like now…”

Su Wanwan turned her head in disbelief, looking at Feng Chenjun, whose lips were slightly upturned.

Heh, you forced me to do it.

She rushed over, lowered her eyes slightly, cupped Feng Chenjun's face, and gave him a big kiss.

The moment their warm, soft lips touched, Xiao Xuanjing's chest tightened, and the suppressed emotions he had been holding back were completely released.

There was another emotion he had never experienced before, like an undercurrent surging beneath the ice, impossible to suppress.

Su Wanwan raised her head, shifting her gaze from Feng Chenjun's deep, unfathomable eyes, and turned to Ying Zheng, whose face had already stiffened, asking, "Do you believe me now?"

Xiao Xuanjing stared at her for a few moments, his Adam's apple bobbing, his fingers clenching and unclenching in his sleeve.

"Aaaaaah!!!!"

"What is she doing!"

"She actually dared to make indecent advances towards the emperor!!!!"

The noble ladies passing by were furious and started shouting.

Ying Zheng didn't speak, his hands clenched into fists.

He hated himself for driving Wanwan to this point.

In a fit of rage, he swung his fist at Xiao Xuanjing's jaw.

Xiao Xuanjing was still immersed in the sweet kiss from before. When he noticed the danger, his fist had already smashed into his cheek.

He turned his head, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. He wiped the blood away, then turned and threw a punch back.

"I never hold grudges."

Su Wanwan took a step back, her back pressed against the stone pillar, watching the two exchange punches.

Jian Qingshan and Yuan Zijin exchanged a glance, wanting to move but not daring to. It would be inappropriate for them to help each other since the two of them were fighting over a woman. So they simply looked into the distance and pretended not to have heard anything.

The noble ladies outside panicked and rushed in to pay their respects.

Xiao Xuanjing's eyes were deep and his face was gloomy. "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, hosted by the Eldest Princess. Why aren't you all waiting at the Hibiscus Terrace? What are you doing here?"

"Your Majesty, she has made indecent advances towards you!" the noblewoman said.

Xiao Xuanjing glanced at her and said, "I know, but no one is allowed to tell anyone, or else try me." With that, he turned and left.

The noble ladies stamped their feet and followed suit.

Ying Zheng restrained his emotions and walked up to her. "Why were you so impulsive? I won't force you anymore..." After saying that, he forcefully put the jade pendant into her hand and left.

Su Wanwan clutched the jade pendant, her fingertips icy cold.

Before the Hibiscus Terrace, the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments filled the air, and the fragrance of clothes and the swaying of hair created a scene of elegance.

The eldest princess sat on the left side of the high platform, with two rows of maids standing behind her, each holding a gilded tray.

Su Wanwan sat in the back row, her gaze fixed on the high platform.

"It's her? The one who kissed Feng Chenjun in front of the Crown Prince?"

"They're incredibly bold...shameless."

"She has completely disgraced the Su family."

"I heard that she had long wanted to curry favor with Feng Chenjun and went to the East Garden every day. This time she has finally succeeded."

The noble lady from earlier was pointing and whispering not far from her.

Su Wanwan lowered her head and touched the jade pendant.

How did this jade pendant end up in her hands? Where is Shen Yan? Haven't they met yet?

"Quiet," came the old woman's voice from the high platform.

"Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. I have set up this banquet not for any other reason than to select a virtuous wife for Prince Fengchen." The eldest princess clapped her hands.

"The fate of Heaven depends entirely on this dumpling. Whoever eats the dumpling containing the golden bean will become the future Queen."

Maids filed out carrying gilded trays, on which sat celadon bowls filled with steaming dumplings.

The noble ladies stared at the bowls like hungry wolves eyeing their prey.

Su Wanwan also received a bowl.

She was just there to watch the play, a play that had nothing to do with her.

"Eat up, why aren't you eating?" the noblewoman sitting next to me said with a sarcastic laugh. "Afraid you won't get any?"

Su Wanwan ignored her, picked up her teacup, and took a sip.

On the stage, the ladies eagerly picked up dumplings, took a bite, glanced at them, took another bite, and glanced at them again.

Some people secretly threw away the dumplings they had bitten and then went to get new ones.

We waited for a long time but no one got to eat the dumplings.

Xiao Xuanjing sat on the left side of the high platform, playing with a jade thumb ring in his hand, his expression unchanged, revealing neither joy nor anger.

His gaze fell on Su Wanwan's motionless figure in the back row.

Jian Qingshan stood behind him, watching his master turn the ring countless times.

Is the Lord in a good mood or a bad mood today?

He should have felt bad after being harassed by a woman, but now he's playing with a jade thumb ring.

He scratched his head, puzzled.

The nanny urged everyone to finish eating before Su Wanwan reluctantly picked up a dumpling and put it in her mouth.

After chewing a few times, he suddenly bit down on something, making a faint sound.

The ladies nearby glanced at him, "Did you get to eat some?"

Damn, she can't be that unlucky, can she?