Once her clothes were removed, Cheng Yao’s delicate body was revealed to be covered in bruised, purplish marks—silent proof of last night’s wild passion.
The maids blushed furiously, though they could not help feeling a touch envious.
The prince had always kept his distance from women. There had even been rumors that he preferred men. Last night, however, he had consummated his marriage with the princess consort, putting those rumors to rest. Who would have thought he would be so… vigorous? If not for the disability in his legs limiting him, perhaps things would have been even more intense?
Oh dear…
Seeing the maids’ flushed faces, Cheng Yao felt a little embarrassed herself.
Still, she believed firmly that as long as she was not embarrassed, it was everyone else who would be. She calmly dressed as though nothing had happened.
Wait—why were they putting her in white?
“Do I have any other clothes?”
Wearing white to serve tea to the elders on the second day of her marriage would surely be considered inauspicious.
The maids hesitated, clearly wanting to say something but holding back.
Cheng Yao went to rummage through the chests and cabinets herself.
Cheng Lan loved to wear white, and the Second Prince liked her. The original owner of this body had therefore copied Cheng Lan’s clothing and accessories, replacing nearly all her wardrobe with white garments.
Yet Cheng Yao’s features were lush and exquisitely beautiful, her bearing bright and striking. White did not suit her at all.
Fortunately, she found a nearly new pink strapless gown at the bottom of a chest. It was a little tight across the chest, so she draped a light green half-sleeved jacket over it. Satisfied at last, she sat down and allowed the maids to arrange her hair and makeup.
When Cheng Yao stepped out into the main hall, it was packed with people, a dark mass of figures. Yet every face looked unpleasant, as though a storm cloud hung over them all. The atmosphere was stifling.
Cheng Yao grumbled inwardly, I haven’t done anything to offend them. Who are they making those funeral faces for?
The moment she crossed the threshold, the Old Madam seated at the head of the hall gave a heavy, disdainful snort. The pressure of her presence bore down on Cheng Yao.
Then a frail-looking woman came forward and took her hand. “Yao-Yao, you’re so late. Hurry inside—we’ve all been waiting for you for ages.”
Cheng Yao arched a brow.
This woman really knew how to make everyone hate her. They already resented Cheng Yao, and now she just had to mention that Cheng Yao had arrived late. Wasn’t that adding fuel to the fire?
This was Feng Xianxian, the original owner’s friend—and the woman who loved Zhan Haoting.
No matter how much Zhan Haoting despised her, she had remained unwaveringly devoted to him, willing to live for him, die for him, and slam herself headfirst into a wall for him again and again.
But Zhan Haoting did not like Feng Xianxian. In fact, he found her repulsive. In a fit of anger, Feng Xianxian had married his cousin, Zhan Jinmo.
Now, perhaps unable to bear seeing Cheng Yao happy, she was trying to set a trap for her?
Cheng Yao lowered her eyes. Her cheeks flushed, her expression both coy and aggrieved, she said softly, “I don’t know who put an aphrodisiac in the incense… The prince was considerate of me and specifically told me to come later. I didn’t expect everyone to be waiting…”
Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft—just loud enough for everyone present to hear.
The expressions around the room changed. So the prince was protecting her. No wonder she was so confident.
Feng Xianxian forced a smile, but beneath her sleeve, her fingernails dug into her palm.
She had admired Zhan Haoting for years. She had written him letter after letter, made him clothes, shoes, and socks, pricked all ten fingers raw, and tried every possible way to treat him well—yet she had never been able to warm that heart of his, harder than stone.
And now, he was being so attentive to Cheng Yao.
Why?
Why?!
And Cheng Yao—hadn’t she always been foolish and timid, obsessed with wearing white?
She had been waiting for Yao-Yao to make a fool of herself today, so how had she ended up wearing pink and looking so radiant and captivating?!
The more Feng Xianxian thought about it, the more her heart ached. Even breathing hurt.
She pressed her lips together and forced a smile. “Yao-Yao, you took Cheng Lan’s place and married into this family, deceiving the prince and making a laughingstock of the Zhan family. Yet His Highness still treats you so well. I’m truly envious.”
What the hell!
That woman’s words were vicious!
Cheng Yao slapped her across the face without hesitation.
“Ah!”
Feng Xianxian let out a shriek. She had never expected Cheng Yao to hit her in front of so many people. Her face was knocked to the side, and she stood there completely stunned.
“Cheng Yao!” Zhan Jinmo shot to his feet.
Feng Xianxian leaned toward him, her eyes glistening with tears as she pleaded pitifully, “Husband, it hurts.”
Zhan Jinmo tenderly stroked the reddened side of her face and glared furiously at Cheng Yao. “You shrew! How dare you hit someone?”
Cheng Yao replied lazily, “If it was something shameful, then my sister-in-law shouldn’t have brought it up in public. Since she said something she shouldn’t have, it’s only right for me, as her elder sister-in-law, to teach her a lesson, isn’t it? Besides, what happened between the prince and me is none of her concern.”
Zhan Jinmo’s face was livid. “This isn’t some marketplace, and it certainly isn’t a place where you can run wild!”
Cheng Yao toyed with her fingers. “This is the Prince’s Residence. It’s my home. You’re the outsiders here, aren’t you? You eat my husband’s food and live under my husband’s roof, yet you still insult me. People like you—who ‘pick up the bowl to eat meat, then put it down and curse their mother’—are simply unacceptable.”
“You!” Zhan Jinmo’s expression shifted from green to white, his face extremely unpleasant to behold.
“Enough!” The Old Madam’s expression turned cold and grim as she struck the table. “Cheng Yao, you took Cheng Lan’s place and married into the Zhan family. You used your seductive charms to bewitch Haoting, and now you’ve struck your sister-in-law in front of everyone. You are immoral and shameless. You are unworthy of being Haoting’s wife!”
Was she trying to have her divorced?
The Old Madam was Haoting’s step-grandmother, not his biological grandmother. She couldn’t stand to see him doing well.
She wanted to have his wife divorced without even bothering to inform him. Tsk. That old woman really was heartless.
Still, this worked out perfectly. Cheng Yao didn’t want to stay here either.
“Old Madam, there’s no need to invent charges against me and ruin my reputation.” Cheng Yao smiled. “If you’re willing to give me a divorce agreement, I’ll leave.”
As soon as Cheng Yao finished speaking, the entire sitting room fell silent for a moment.
Did she even know what she was saying?
Demanding a divorce the day after her wedding—such a thing was unheard of!
If she were really sent back to her family, her entire life would be ruined.
Yet judging by the look on her face, she seemed rather eager for it. Could she be an idiot?
Meanwhile, Feng Xianxian, who had just been slapped, instantly felt vindicated.
Cheng Yao, once you leave Zhan Haoting, no one will want you. You’ll have no choice but to wander the streets and beg. Just wait and see how I’ll deal with you then!
The moment Cheng Yao finished speaking, Lady Zhan hurried over and took her hand, her voice carrying a hint of entreaty. “Yao’er, say a little less.”
Cheng Yao opened her mouth, then stopped herself.
Her bargain mother-in-law was far too weak. Even with her daughter-in-law being bullied in front of everyone, she was still swallowing her grievances and trying to keep the peace.
What could Cheng Yao do about her?
Lady Zhan’s eyes had already reddened. If Cheng Yao refused, she was afraid the woman might burst into tears.
Lady Zhan wore a somewhat ingratiating smile as she looked at the Old Madam. “Mother, Yao'er is still young and doesn’t know any better. Please don’t lower yourself to her level.”
The Old Madam did not truly want Cheng Yao to leave. After all, Cheng Yao belonged to Zhan Haoting; without his say-so, who would dare make a move against her? She merely intended to put Cheng Yao in her place and make things difficult for her.
Hearing Lady Zhan say this, the Old Madam took the offered way out. “If she continues to behave so recklessly, the Zhan family will have no place for her.”
Lady Zhan was overjoyed. “Mother, she knows she was wrong.”
She took Cheng Yao’s hand. “Yao'er, hurry and apologize to Xianxian, Jinmo, and your grandmother.”
Cheng Yao frowned but remained where she was.
Second Madam Zhan remarked casually, “Sister-in-law, you really do know how to smooth things over. This wretched girl has made Haoting the laughingstock of the entire world, yet you haven’t uttered a single word of complaint. You coax her, and she doesn’t even appreciate it. Are you foolish or what?”
Lady Zhan hesitated. “She is Ting'er's wife...”
Second Madam Zhan refused to let the matter go. “Sister-in-law, let me be blunt: she brought death upon her mother, her adoptive parents, her paternal grandparents, and her maternal grandfather. She’s a jinx. She never should have been allowed through our doors in the first place.”
