She refused to marry.

"The prince is missing." Yuan Zijin's voice was hoarse. "We should have been waiting for him outside the city that day."

People in the city said that the crown prince had left the palace, but he did not come out after three days.

Only after sending men into the city to investigate did they discover that the crown prince had been assassinated near the city gate.

"Where's the Tiger Tally?" Su Wanwan jumped up.

"The Tiger Tally was also taken away by that person." Yuan Zijin lowered her eyes. "Today, our informant sent word that the Crown Prince is very likely to have been imprisoned by Lord Fengchen."

"Your Majesty?" Su Wanwan paced back and forth. "I visited Your Majesty just half a month ago; he was already terminally ill..."

"Perhaps he's feigning illness to avoid being noticed." Yuan Zijin took out a box from her bosom. "This was entrusted to you by the Crown Prince before he left."

Su Wanwan opened it, and a mist suddenly appeared in her eyes.

A pair of gold rings.

She once said that a ring is needed for a marriage proposal.

I took out the ring, put it on my hand, and it fit perfectly.

Su Wanwan took out the ring and put it back in the box. "What are your plans now?"

"Let's settle down in the city first, and then make further plans after we find the young master," Yuan Zijin said in a deep voice. "There are too many people around, Miss Su, farewell."

Su Wanwan watched Yuan Zijin leave, then took the ring and went back into the house.

Sitting by the bed, he took out the ring, looked at the two characters "绾" and "峥" on it, and thought about the past. He felt uneasy.

Find a rope, loop it around the ring, and hang it aside.

He's the male lead, so he can't be allowed to get into trouble at this time; we're counting on him to take down the crown prince.

The following day, Su Wanwan prepared some wedding candies and came to Dongyuan.

The entrance to the East Garden is much quieter now, without the strong smell of medicine that used to be there.

"Brother Jian, is His Majesty feeling better?" Su Wanwan asked Qingshan as she walked to the door.

Qingshan cupped his hands in greeting, "I'm much better now, thank you for your concern, Miss Su."

"These are wedding candies from my younger sister's wedding. I'm sharing them with Your Majesty to bring you some joy." Su Wanwan took out a packet and handed it to Brother Jian.

"Miss Su, please wait a moment." Qingshan put away the wedding candy, and before he could announce his arrival, he heard his master speak.

"Come in."

Su Wanwan pushed open the door and looked up to see Feng Chenjun sitting by the bed, looking tired and pale, holding a folding book in his hand.

It is indeed a symptom of illness, but it is much better than last time.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Su Wanwan bowed.

Xiao Xuanjing's eyes brightened slightly; she had dressed up carefully today.

In contrast to her usual dull and unchanging appearance, she wore a light pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) today, which made her look radiant and youthful.

It's a sight to behold.

"I have received Your Majesty's congratulatory gift for my third sister's marriage, and I have come today to express my gratitude." Su Wanwan bowed.

"Is Your Majesty's injury any better?"

Xiao Xuanjing's eyes narrowed slightly. "Come and sit down..."

Su Wanwan walked to the bedside, and out of the corner of her eye, she felt Feng Chenjun's gaze fixed on her face.

"Is there something on my face?" Su Wanwan turned her head in confusion.

"You didn't attend the Crown Prince's selection of a consort, which is a regret for him."

Feng Chenjun lowered his eyes slightly, put the folding book aside, and looked at her with more interest than at the folding book.

Su Wanwan cupped her face in her hands, "This humble woman is of average appearance and dares not presume to be worthy of your status."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xuanjing chuckled and said, "Only Miss Su could make being afraid of death sound so noble..."

Su Wanwan looked down at her toes. "I heard that Miss Qin is the Crown Princess?"

"Hmm, the position of Crown Princess has already been decided by the Empress. It's just that Shen Yan from the Shen family has become a concubine, which is quite unexpected..." Xiao Xuanjing's black hair fell to the side, his eyes deep.

"Miss Shen?" Su Wanwan fell into deep thought.

With the prince absent, who will rescue Shen Yan?

"What can the Shen family do if the Crown Prince forcibly brings him into the palace?" Xiao Xuanjing glanced sideways.

"You don't seem to have any hostility towards Shen Yan? You seem rather worried about her?"

"Miss Shen is kind-hearted. It's unfortunate that she was born into the Shen family. Unfortunately, no one can help her now. The Crown Princess will definitely not tolerate her. If she refuses to submit to the Crown Prince, she might end up even more miserable..."

Su Wanwan rubbed her handkerchief, "It's better to leave the palace and be an ordinary person..."

"Miss Su, don't you hate the Shen family?" Xiao Xuanjing leaned back.

"Of course I hate her, but Shen Yan is innocent."

She had lived in the manor since she was a child. If Shen Qingrong hadn't refused to enter the palace, she wouldn't have been brought to the capital and suffered so much... Su Wanwan frowned.

Good heavens, she's the female lead!

Your Highness, where are you?

"Take care of yourself first..." Xiao Xuanjing lowered his eyes.

"Your Majesty, I heard that the Crown Prince has gone missing?" Su Wanwan glanced sideways, observing the changes in Feng Chenjun's expression.

"I've heard that the Crown Prince lost the Tiger Tally, which must be related to the Heir Apparent..." Xiao Xuanjing rubbed the thumb ring with his fingertips.

"But I heard that the Crown Prince has already suspected the Emperor. Shouldn't the Emperor go to the palace to clarify things?" Su Wanwan said in a low voice.

Xiao Xuanjing's eyes narrowed slightly, his tone turning cold, "Miss Su, have you come to the East Garden to see the Young Master?"

Su Wanwan shook her head. "If he were Lu Huai'an, and I was hoping he would marry into my family, I would definitely come looking for him."

But he was the heir apparent, destined to be without a future together.

"The Crown Prince and I are from two different worlds. Your Majesty, please do not involve the Crown Prince and I in each other from now on."

"I have a question for you." Xiao Xuanjing's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Your Majesty, please ask," Su Wanwan said.

"At the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, you could have presented the Princess with gold beans, so why hide it? As far as I know, Miss Su had always wanted to marry into the Princess's household before the Princess's birthday..."

Su Wanwan lowered her head and stood on tiptoe. "In the past, if I could catch a glimpse of Your Majesty from afar, I would toss and turn at night, unable to sleep, my mind filled with Your Majesty's profile."

Only when I got closer did I truly understand my sovereign.

Liking the Emperor is too tiring.

I'm so tired I don't even want to like it anymore.

After speaking, she secretly glanced at Xiao Xuanjing, then quickly lowered her head again.

He looked at her, his eyes deep and unfathomable, revealing neither joy nor anger.

After a while.

Feng Chenjun spoke up, "So you just swallowed the gold beans?"

Su Wanwan bit her lip.

"Golden beans should never have been in this commoner's bowl. Given His Majesty's status and position, only a princess or a woman from a prominent family deserved them."

How could a small family like the Su family possibly climb the social ladder... Besides, the Princess wouldn't be pleased either, so why should I make myself uncomfortable? Isn't it better to stay in the Su residence?"

"If that's the case, then why are you dressed like this today?" Xiao Xuanjing narrowed his eyes.

Su Wanwan placed her hands on the table and smiled, "I've figured it out. My third sister has already found a husband, so my parents' worries are over."

This humble woman worries about Your Majesty. Only when I see Your Majesty eating and drinking well can my heart find some peace.

"If I dress up nicely, will Your Majesty be in a better mood...?"

Xiao Xuanjing leaned closer to the table and beckoned to her.

Su Wanwan leaned forward involuntarily.

"When Miss Su talks nonsense, her eyelids twitch. If you don't believe me, touch them and see..." Xiao Xuanjing lowered his voice.