Chapter Thirty-Two: No one can resist accepting it.

After the hairpin ceremony, Emerald helped her up and took her to a side hall to change into a plain-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), before returning to the main hall to have her hairpins added.

This process continued until Yuan Siyin finally breathed a sigh of relief after putting on a bright red, wide-sleeved gown.

By the time the whole process was over, it was already noon. Apart from eating a couple of bites of white rice during the libation ceremony, I didn't eat anything else.

If it weren't for the fact that Marquis Ziyuan had given her some snacks in the side hall, she would have collapsed from hunger long ago, given how heavy she was on her head and body.

"There will be a coming-of-age banquet this afternoon, and His Majesty will also be there, but he will only stay for a short while and will probably leave soon."

Yuan Siyin lay weakly on the table, shaking her head with difficulty.

Due to the circumstances, she cannot agree now.

Fortunately, the coming-of-age ceremony only happened once, otherwise she was really afraid she wouldn't have made it to the end.

This is absolutely outrageous!

Compared to the small villa that Emerald had prepared for her before, it was nothing.

"By the way, Ziyuan, where is Yu Shiyan now? And where is Qi Xinxin?"

"The Seventh Prince and Miss Qi are still at the banquet. What's wrong, Miss?"

"Go to the front hall and keep an eye on things for me. If Yu Shiyan leaves his seat midway, hurry up and follow him. Don't worry about what you see, just keep watching. Come back and tell me when you're done."

Although Zi Yuan didn't understand what she meant, she didn't ask any further questions, simply responded and left.

Yuan Si sighed, bracing herself against the table with her hands, trying to straighten herself up.

"Jade, send someone to summon the second young lady of the Shen family to see me."

Emerald responded through the curtain and followed to the front hall. Soon after, Shen Ruolan was brought there.

"Greetings, Sister Yuan."

"You're here, please have a seat."

Yuan Siyin casually brushed her rosy nails across the wine pot in front of her, a bewitching smile playing on her lips as she looked up at her with a sly smile: "Have you had any wine?"

Shen Ruolan instantly became wary.

"What do you mean, sister?"

"We agreed on this before, right? Hmm? At Juxianlou."

I thought you understood.

She sighed softly, raised her wine glass, and looked around, a hint of amusement on her beautiful face.

"Ruolan doesn't drink alcohol, but I appreciate your kindness, sister."

Shen Ruolan was defeated by her unspoken but powerful aura, and felt intimidated, subconsciously taking two steps back.

Yuan Siyin frowned slightly, looking at the hesitant expression on her face, a cold glint flashing in her eyes: "Oh? You appreciate it? Alright then."

Unfortunately, you've chosen the wrong person.

"No one can refuse anything I, Yuan Siyin, choose to give away."

She stood up, a cold smile playing on her lips, and pressed closer with each step.

"You don't need to pretend in front of me; I know what you're thinking."

Since things have come to this point, I might as well tell you that I will be engaged to the Crown Prince tomorrow.

Even if you don't know what kind of person I am, you must have heard plenty of gossip about me from others, right?

And here's some bad news: what they said—is true.

She chuckled softly, drew the golden whip from her waist, and played with it in her hand.

"If you regret it later and try every means to get close to the Crown Prince again, relying on those low-class methods to win the position of concubine, I'm afraid you won't be able to."

Because I, Yuan Siyin, will not show mercy to those who try to take advantage of another woman's husband.

As she spoke, Yuan Siyin raised her hand and lashed out with her whip. With a "crack," Shen Ruolan was so frightened that she collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face.

"Did you see that? Just like before."

Think it through, or I can't guarantee that next time this whip won't strike the ground instead of you.