"You are utterly unworthy of the throne! In my eyes, you're as insignificant as a blade of grass! How dare someone like you stand before me, blocking my path?"
"Childhood sweethearts? Please! If you hadn't been the most promising candidate for crown prince, you wouldn't have even qualified to polish my shoes, let alone be considered my childhood sweetheart!"
"Don't you ever come crawling back to me. You sicken me! Just the thought of you is enough to ruin my appetite!"
Qiao Wanyan's mind reeled. According to the novel, wasn't he supposed to be at the Zhaohua Palace banquet? Why was he here, now? Had she somehow missed a crucial plot point involving him?
How in the world did he end up here?
Yanyan wracked her brain, but this scene felt completely unfamiliar. Had she accidentally skipped a chapter?
She hadn't even managed to calm Qiao Yi Huan, and now He Yanli had arrived to complicate things further? Yanyan felt a wave of despair wash over her. She wanted to scream.
As He Yanli advanced, each step deliberate and menacing, Zi Yuan, paralyzed with terror, dropped to her knees with a resounding thud.
Realizing her own inadequacy, she spoke up, hoping to redeem herself. "This servant greets Your Highness Prince Jing."
Qiao Yihuan glanced at the stunned Qiao Wanyan before rushing to her side to offer support. "Wanyan, quickly pay your respects to His Highness Prince Jing."
He Zhiyu observed the unease and surprise on Qiao Wanyan's face, but noted the absence of fear. He understood the reasons behind the Ninth Prince's suicide attempt, his subsequent three years of seclusion at the National Temple, and his eventual exile to Beiming City.
Now that he had returned, and knowing his ruthlessness in recent years, He Zhiyu was certain he would seek revenge on Qiao Wanyan.
But that was of no concern to him. He had sent the invitation to the Qiao family, specifically addressed to Qiao Wanyan, solely to ensure that Qiao Yihuan would be permitted to attend.
He cared not who suffered the consequences.
But he had just shown favouritism towards Yi Huan, and now he felt a twinge of guilt towards Qiao Wanyan.
Power and influence were coercive, even to a young girl who felt wronged and simply wanted to go home. He Ziyu believed that Wanyan's reluctance to punish Xiaoying and her desire to leave stemmed from his power as the Crown Prince, hence his guilt.
It would be shameful to remain idle in this situation.
"Ninth Prince, why have you come here? The wind is biting. It's much warmer in Zhaohua Palace. Please, come with me, Ninth Prince."
He Yanli approached Qiao Wanyan, his gaze fixed on the face that had haunted his dreams for the past five years. Then, he smiled, but the smile was sinister and wicked. Qiao Wanyan saw no kindness in it, only a chilling malice that sent shivers down her spine. The novel claimed that even though He Yanli hated Wanyan, he would eventually soften and never truly harm her. But looking at his expression now, she felt only pure hatred. Was it because he sensed that the soul within this body had changed, and he could no longer feel any love for her?
With military power firmly in his grasp, He Yanli was a god in the eyes of the people of Beiming City.
He had once been a cheerful, radiant man, a refreshing breeze in the world. But now, he was the story's ultimate villain.
They were the thorns and obstacles in the path of the male protagonist, He Zhiyu, to the throne.
She had read the novel until the end, but she had skipped many parts, and some plots remained hazy in her memory. It was as if someone were deliberately making her forget those crucial details. She suspected that the mysterious voice was responsible.
"I came here because there is someone I want to see," He Yanli said, his gaze flickering towards Qiao Wanyan.
Qiao Yihuan spoke softly, "Your Highness Prince Jing, my sister is soaking wet and needs to change her clothes. I will take her away immediately."
He Yanli raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "It seems you sisters share a very close bond."
Qiao Yihuan pursed her lips, avoiding a direct answer, and finally offered an awkward smile. "My sister is young and a bit mischievous. As her older sister, it is my duty to care for her."
He Yanli's sinister gaze lingered on her face. "I loathe hypocrites above all else."
He could never believe that someone could be bullied for years and still harbor goodwill towards their tormentor.
Qiao Yihuan's lips paled slightly; she couldn't understand why he was humiliating her in this way.
"Ninth Prince, you're going too far," He Zhiyu said, his brow furrowed in displeasure.
Yi Huan is the purest and kindest person in the world. If others don't know it, how could I not?
Zi Yuan spoke cautiously, "Your Highness Prince Jing, my young lady is soaking wet. It's so cold outside. May I take her downstairs to change her clothes? Otherwise, she might freeze to death if we stay any longer."
He Yanli said calmly, "Your young lady has always cherished her appearance. If she could die at the prime of her life, she could preserve her beauty forever. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Wanyan's eyes widened as she stared at him. Wow! His words really cut deep, and he certainly knows how to scare me, she thought. Wait a minute, why should I be afraid of him? I'm definitely not going to die at this time. Who does he think he's scaring! Wanyan was about to puff out her chest, feeling a surge of confidence, but the way he looked at her, his imposing stature, caused her confidence to plummet to zero. Never mind, let's just act weak. Should I pretend to faint?