"I will forgive you this time. But if it happens again, I won’t be so lenient!" Princess Chang Le warned in a low voice.

Hearing this, Xuanyuan Jing suddenly burst out crying. "Auntie, I’m your own niece! How could you help an outsider go against me..."

"I side with what is right, not with family. You were the one who started it, bullying the weak and throwing your weight around. If your grandfather, the Emperor, were to find out about this, he wouldn’t take your side. Instead, he would punish you severely," Princess Chang Le said, her eyes narrowing.

At these words, Xuanyuan Jing choked, and her sobs died down.

Princess Chang Le sized her up and asked in confusion, "I don’t understand. What did Zhi Wan do to offend you, to make you plot so meticulously against her?"

"She... She’s hideous!" Xuanyuan Jing couldn’t help but blurt out.

"Someone like her, you call hideous?" Princess Chang Le glanced at Zhi Wan’s beautiful face, unsure whether to laugh or cry. "Then what does that make you? A twisted, blue-faced demon with fangs?"

Xuanyuan Jing’s lips trembled with anger, but she didn’t dare to talk back.

Princess Chang Le said with disgust, "I’d bet you’re just jealous of her pretty face!"

"I... I am not," Xuanyuan Jing flatly denied.

"If you’re not jealous of her pretty face, then you must be jealous that she’s Mr. Lu’s cousin and gets to be close to him!" Princess Chang Le said with conviction.

Xuanyuan Jing’s face instantly flushed red. Her lips parted as if to retort, but in the end, she fell silent.

"Hit the nail on the head, did I?" Princess Chang Le raised an eyebrow, her expression playful. "Then you should just give up. There’s no way Lu Zhan could ever like you."

"Well, he could never like you either!" Xuanyuan Jing blurted out, refusing to back down.

The atmosphere suddenly froze.

Zhi Wan couldn’t help but feel awkward.

’I can’t believe this ended up involving my cousin.’

She recalled the first time she had met Xuanyuan Jing, when she’d seen her pestering her cousin.

’So, has Xuanyuan Jing been targeting me and making things difficult for me this whole time because of my cousin?’

She stole a glance at Princess Chang Le’s reaction.

’I’d noticed before that Princess Chang Le’s attitude toward my cousin was a little unusual. Could it be that she also has feelings for him?’

Thinking of her cousin’s face, she couldn’t help but grumble inwardly, ’He’s such a walking disaster, attracting one after another!’

"Shut up!" Princess Chang Le slammed her hand on the armrest and snapped, "It’s not your place to comment on my affairs!"

Xuanyuan Jing pouted but ultimately didn’t dare say anything more and lowered her head.

"You’d better remember what happened today. If you dare to bully Zhi Wan again, I certainly won’t spare you!" Princess Chang Le said, rising to her feet.

"I understand." ’This is so unfair,’ Xuanyuan Jing thought, but she didn’t dare disobey her aunt.

’Now I finally understand why Auntie is protecting Zhi Wan.’

’It seems it’s all because of Lu Zhan.’

’But surely my aunt doesn’t think she can capture Lu Zhan’s heart through Zhi Wan, does she?’

Recalling Lu Zhan’s attitude toward Zhi Wan, she belatedly realized that the path of winning over Zhi Wan to capture Lu Zhan’s heart wasn’t entirely impossible.

Realizing her aunt’s intentions, Xuanyuan Jing spat inwardly, ’Auntie is so shameless and cunning!’

Princess Chang Le paid her no more mind, sweeping out with Zhi Wan in tow.

Once outside the Prince’s Villa, Zhi Wan solemnly thanked Princess Chang Le, "Thank you for coming to my rescue today, Your Highness. Otherwise, I would have ended up in a miserable state."

"As long as you’re aware," Princess Chang Le nodded, not in the least bit humble.

Zhi Wan smiled. "It’s almost noon. I’d like to be so bold as to invite Your Highness to a meal at the Hundred Flavors Building. Would Your Highness do me the honor?"

"When does your cousin return?" Princess Chang Le asked abruptly, ignoring the invitation.

Zhi Wan paused, taken aback, then shook her head. "I’m not sure."

"I heard you went to Yangzhou a while ago. Were you with Mr. Lu?" Princess Chang Le asked, her interest piqued.

Zhi Wan hesitated before nodding. "Yes."

"So what did you two do?" Princess Chang Le suddenly stepped forward, pressing her against the carriage.

Staring at the person suddenly so close, Zhi Wan was stunned, but she still answered truthfully, "My cousin was busy handling a case, but he spared some time to accompany me back to my hometown to pay respects at my parents’ graves."

"It seems your cousin is truly fond of you," Princess Chang Le nodded thoughtfully.

Just as Chen Jiu swooped down from a rooftop, he saw Miss being pressed against the carriage by Princess Chang Le. His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately stepped forward to interrupt, "Princess Chang Le. Miss."

"Chen Jiu?" Princess Chang Le turned to see him, quite surprised.

"My greetings, Princess Chang Le," Chen Jiu bowed again, thinking to himself, ’Can the rumors be true? Does Princess Chang Le really like both men and women? That’s not good. The Miss belongs to the Princely Heir; no one else can have designs on her.’

"Aren’t you supposed to be with your Princely Heir? What are you doing here?" Princess Chang Le asked in surprise as she released Zhi Wan.

"My Princely Heir sent me to protect the Miss," Chen Jiu said with his head lowered.

Hearing this, Princess Chang Le gave Zhi Wan a thoughtful look. "Your cousin is certainly thorough in his care for you, even sending his most trusted guard to protect you."

"My cousin sees me as a little sister; he always dotes on me and takes care of me," Zhi Wan said, speaking honestly.

"A little sister?" Princess Chang Le’s gaze lingered on her face for a moment, a playful light flashing in her eyes. "I’m not so sure about that."

Zhi Wan froze.

"Let’s go. I’m hungry. We’ll go to that Hundred Flavors Building you mentioned." Princess Chang Le grabbed her wrist and pulled her up into her own carriage.

Seeing this, Chen Jiu was alarmed. "Your Highness, the weather is hot and stuffy. I fear you’ll be uncomfortable with the Miss squeezed into the same carriage. I’ve brought another one..."

"Chen Jiu, are you this wary of me on your own accord, or is it on your Princely Heir’s orders? Am I some kind of ravenous beast that’s going to eat your Miss?" Princess Chang Le cut him off, displeased.

’You’re more terrifying than any ravenous beast,’ Chen Jiu thought. ’The Miss is pure and innocent. If you were to lay a hand on her, I’d have to atone to the Princely Heir with my life.’

Outwardly, however, he said sheepishly, "That’s not what I meant."

Princess Chang Le snorted coldly and ignored him, leading Zhi Wan into the carriage compartment.

Chen Jiu was just about to go and get the other carriage when he heard Princess Chang Le’s suggestive voice drift from the compartment, "Your skin is as smooth as cream. I like it very much."

Chen Jiu’s footing faltered, and he nearly stumbled.

’It’s over, it’s over! The Princely Heir hasn’t even touched her yet, but Princess Chang Le has beaten him to it. Will the Princely Heir blame me for my failure to protect her?’

Inside the carriage, Zhi Wan awkwardly pulled her hand back. "My apologies, Your Highness. I must seem ridiculous."

Princess Chang Le gave her an unreadable smile, then suddenly leaned toward her neck and sniffed lightly. "You smell like a delicate orchid!" she praised. "It’s lovely!"

The corner of Zhi Wan’s mouth twitched. ’I’m starting to seriously suspect this princess has some... unspeakable hobbies.’

"Your Highness smells very nice as well," she complimented.

"Not as nice as you," Princess Chang Le said dismissively.

Zhi Wan: "..."

Fortunately, Princess Chang Le didn’t tease her any further.

Princess Chang Le rubbed her forehead. "I had to wake up early today because of your troubles, and now my head hurts."

Zhi Wan felt a pang of guilt. "I’m so sorry to have troubled Your Highness..."

Before she could finish, Princess Chang Le rested her head on her lap.

"Resting my head on a beauty’s lap... perhaps this will cure my headache."