Murong Chen’s expression stiffened. Cheng Lan’s eyes flickered. “Sister, you’re here too? What a coincidence.”
“What? You’re the only one allowed to come?” Cheng Yao rolled her eyes dramatically.
“Sister, I’m only worried about you.” Cheng Lan moved toward her with delicate steps. “Did it upset you that I married the Second Prince? But Lan’er and the Second Prince truly love each other. You wouldn’t want to tear us apart, would you?”
A sharp pain twisted through Cheng Yao’s heart. Was that the remnant of this body’s emotions?
Cheng Lan was both a white lotus and a green tea—sweet and innocent on the surface, but manipulative underneath. The original owner had been too naive to see through her. She had treated Cheng Lan like a real sister, sharing every little detail of her time with the Second Prince. What a pity that her sincerity had been wasted on a dog.
“Cheng Lan, you’re just like your mother. You both love stealing other women’s men, then pretending to be pure, innocent, and harmless. In reality, your hearts are rotten through and through. You’re absolutely disgusting.”
Disgust filled Cheng Yao’s eyes as she looked at Cheng Lan as though she were some filthy vermin.
Cheng Lan’s expression changed. How had this bitch suddenly become so sharp-tongued?
“Sister, you’ve misunderstood. My mother and Father were in love from the beginning. It was only because Grandmother forced Father to marry your mother.” Cheng Lan’s eyes reddened slightly. She stepped forward and took Cheng Yao’s hand, trying to act as affectionately as she had in the past. Her voice carried a hint of grievance. “Sister, there’s nothing wrong with loving someone…”
“Don’t touch me.” Cheng Yao flung her hand away in disgust.
She hadn’t even used much force, yet Cheng Lan fell heavily to the ground with a pained groan.
“It hurts…”
“Lan’er!” Murong Chen helped Cheng Lan up, his eyes filled with concern. “Are you all right?”
Cheng Lan shook her head, her limpid eyes brimming with tears. She looked pitiful and helpless. “It’s all my fault for making Sister angry.”
“Look at how kind Lan’er is. You pushed her down, yet she’s still taking the blame for you!” Murong Chen suppressed his anger. “Cheng Yao, you’re already married to Imperial Uncle, yet you’re still using such despicable tricks to get my attention. You’re disgusting!”
Cheng Yao sneered. “Second Prince, stop flattering yourself. It only makes you look stupid.”
“You’re still refusing to admit it? You knew perfectly well that Lan’er and I would come here to offer tea to His Majesty, so you deliberately waited here.” Murong Chen looked at her with contempt. “On the second day of your own marriage, you even wore white—the color Lan’er usually wears. You’re merely imitating her, and you still dare claim you weren’t doing it for me? Apologize to Lan’er at once!”
For fuck’s sake…
Cheng Yao rolled her eyes.
She was angry at the original owner for being so lovesick, but she had no way to refute him. She couldn’t exactly tell him she had no other clothes to wear, could she?
“Second Prince.” Cheng Lan tugged weakly at Murong Chen’s sleeve. “My chest hurts a little, but it’s nothing serious. Sister didn’t do it on purpose. Please don’t blame her.”
“You’re too kind. That’s why she’s always bullying you.” Murong Chen was growing increasingly furious. “Cheng Yao, are you deaf? I told you to apologize.”
Cheng Yao gave him an amused, mocking smile. “You’re convinced that I pushed her, aren’t you?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
The curve of Cheng Yao’s lips widened. Then she suddenly shoved Cheng Lan with all her strength.
“Ah!”
This time, Cheng Lan hit the ground hard. It felt as though her tailbone had nearly cracked, and both her palms burned painfully. Her delicate features twisted in agony. “It hurts!”
“Cheng Yao!” Murong Chen’s face turned livid. “You’ve gone too far! If you keep playing hard to get, it’ll only backfire!”
“Who’s playing hard to get?” Cheng Yao said with a mocking look. “You said I pushed her, didn’t you? I was simply making the accusation fit. Otherwise, being cursed at for something I didn’t do would be so unfair.”
“You’re courting death!”
Murong Chen clenched his fists and lunged at her.
Before he could even get close, Cheng Yao swept him off his feet with a roundhouse kick. He went flying and landed on the ground with a loud smack.
“Oh dear, why are you made of paper? I barely touched you, and you were already down. You’re so weak and so damn stupid. Thank goodness I didn’t marry you.”
Cheng Yao covered her nose with one hand, looking thoroughly disgusted.
Murong Chen climbed to his feet, his face ashen with fury. “Cheng Yao, you poisonous woman!”
He turned to the guards nearby. “Cheng Yao trespassed into the imperial palace and assaulted a prince! Arrest her!”
A group of guards surrounded Cheng Yao.
She took a few steps back. “He’s a prince, but I’m a princess consort. His Majesty summoned me to the palace for questioning. Let’s see which one of you dares lay a hand on me.”
The guards indeed came to a halt.
When powerful people clashed, ordinary people got caught in the middle. Until the truth was clear, none of them dared act recklessly.
Cheng Yao then declared righteously, “Second Prince, I was the one betrothed to you! Cheng Lan drugged me and forced me to marry Zhan Haoting in her place, while she married you. She switched our identities and stole my marriage. I will definitely report this matter to His Majesty.”
The guards lowered their eyes and stared at their noses, pretending they hadn’t heard a word. Inside, however, they were screaming.
What an earth-shattering scandal!
Murong Chen shouted angrily, “Stop spouting nonsense! You were the one who climbed into Imperial Uncle’s bridal sedan of your own accord!”
Cheng Yao sneered. “You really have no shame at all. Just now, you said I was infatuated with you, but now you’re claiming that I coveted the War King. You’re contradicting yourself. Who exactly do you take us for—idiots?”
Murong Chen argued, “You’re shameless and fickle-minded—”
“Ha!” Cheng Yao let out a contemptuous laugh. “The moment you can’t win an argument, you resort to hurling abuse like some shrew. Is this the dignity and refinement befitting a Second Prince?”
“You!”
Murong Chen was enraged and humiliated, the veins in his neck bulging.
Just then, a palace eunuch came out in quick, mincing steps and asked Cheng Yao to enter.
When he saw that Murong Chen was there as well, the eunuch smiled. “His Majesty was just mentioning the Second Prince and Second Princess. Since you’re both here, you may as well go in together.”
Cheng Yao entered first. Murong Chen supported Cheng Lan as they followed behind.
“Husband.” Cheng Lan tugged at Murong Chen’s hand, her face full of worry. “Will Father punish us?”
Murong Chen stared directly into her eyes. “Tell me honestly. Were you the one who forced Cheng Yao to marry Imperial Uncle in your place?”
Cheng Lan parted her lips, her eyes darting away guiltily. “The auspicious hour had already arrived yesterday, and I was desperate. I truly had no other choice…”
“You fool!” Murong Chen stamped his foot in anger. “Didn’t I tell you that I had already made arrangements? You only had to follow my plan. Why didn’t you listen?”
“I…I…” Cheng Lan hurriedly explained, “Brother Chen, it was because I love you too much and was terrified that something might go wrong. That’s why I took the risk…”
Her delicate face had gone pale, and her damp eyes were filled with helpless confusion, making her look utterly pitiful.
“How did you force her?”
His expression was grim. Cheng Lan didn’t dare hide anything and quietly recounted the entire matter.
Murong Chen drew a deep breath. “Did the people around Cheng Yao know about this too? Have you dealt with them?”
“N-no…” Cheng Lan stammered. “I left those maids and old palace women beside Sister as spies. That way, they could also keep her from making mistakes because she didn’t understand the rules of the prince’s residence.”
Murong Chen nearly collapsed. “Why did you leave them there? If Cheng Yao tells Imperial Uncle that you forced the drug down her throat, those servants will become witnesses!”
Cheng Lan’s expression changed as well. “N-no, she couldn’t, could she? Cheng Yao did so many outrageous things for your sake before. Surely the Prince must loathe her by now. Why would he believe her so easily?”
“Those weaknesses are still a blade hanging over our heads.” Recalling how Cheng Yao had attacked him relentlessly just now, Murong Chen couldn’t help feeling irritated. “Let’s go in first and discuss it later.”
Cheng Lan slipped her soft little hand into his palm, gazing up at him with her bright, captivating eyes shimmering like water. “Blame me for caring too much about you. I acted on impulse and did something wrong. If Imperial Father must punish someone, let him punish me.”
Her voice was crisp and sweet, and her eyes were so meek and tender that most of Murong Chen’s fury melted away. He clasped her hand, their fingers interlacing. “I will not abandon you.”
Cheng Lan answered shyly, then nestled against his arm as she led him inside.
Within the palace.
