"Miss Hua, what brings you here?"

When Xiao Hong saw that it was Hua Ruyu, she quickly dismissed the frightening person who was blocking Hua Ruyu. Hua Ruyu walked straight towards Li Youran.

Do you know where Tang Lei went?

Before Li Youran could get up from the recliner, Hua Ruyu angrily questioned her.

After saying that, she sat down on a stone stool in the corridor, one hand on her knee, the other holding a knife stuck straight in the ground, looking quite imposing.

"I don't know."

Li Youran said with a frown.

"Miss Hua, our young lady had a high fever last night and has only just recovered today."

Although Xiao Hong knew that Hua Ruyu and Li Youran were good friends, seeing Hua Ruyu's murderous look, she couldn't help but feel worried for Li Youran, fearing that the sword in Hua Ruyu's hand might fly towards Li Youran without any eyes. She hurriedly and timidly said to Hua Ruyu.

Are you sick?

Hua Ruyu looked at Li Youran and saw that her face was pale, with only a slight flush on her cheeks, and she looked very weak.

She suddenly remembered that ever since she entered the Second Prince's residence, she had been in a fit of anger, and even when she spoke to Li Youran, she was full of hostility. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel a little regretful.

"Since you don't know, that's fine. I have something to do, so I'll leave first. You take good care of yourself."

After Hua Ruyu finished speaking, she got up and left without waiting for Li Youran's reply.

"We haven't eaten together in a long time, why don't we stay and have hot pot together?"

"The hot pot utensils I use are with me; I'll go back and get them now."

When Li Youran suggested having hot pot together, Hua Ruyu was taken aback. Her thoughts then drifted back to before she came to the capital, and she suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

Ultimately, Tang Lei and Li Youran's affairs are their own business, and as an outsider, she doesn't need to be so anxious.

Besides, the main reason she cares so much is that she can't let go of Tang Lei.

Thinking of this, Hua Ruyu felt even more apologetic, feeling somewhat sorry for Li Youran. From the beginning, Li Youran knew that she liked Tang Lei and had encouraged her to boldly pursue him.

However, Tang Lei's feelings for Li Youran are no one's fault but her own, and she secretly directed her anger at Li Youran, completely betraying Li Youran who considered her her best friend.

"No need, I'll go with you."

As Li Youran spoke, she walked towards Hua Ruyu with Xiao Hong's help.

"I've been so busy these days that I haven't had a proper chance to relax. Today is a day off for me."

After hearing Li Youran's words, Hua Ruyu nodded without saying a word, her guilt deepening.

"I never thought that eating hot pot in the summer would be more comfortable than in the winter."

As Hua Ruyi spoke, she waved her hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead. If Liu Zhiyuan hadn't been there, Hua Ruyu would have liked to take off her clothes as well.

"Seriously, that was so much fun!"

As Hua Ruyu spoke, she picked up the chilled plum wine and drank it all in one gulp.

Originally, Li Youran and Hua Ruyu planned to have hot pot together at Hua Ruyu's residence, but halfway there, they encountered Liu Zhiyuan, who had just delivered a letter to Li Youran.

Feeling guilty, Li Youran invited Liu Zhiyuan to go to Hua Ruyu's place for hot pot.

"I never imagined there was such food. The originally uninteresting dishes became so unique after being rolled around like this."

This was Liu Zhiyuan's first time eating hot pot, but that didn't diminish his love for it. As he talked, he put several slices of tripe directly into the pot. He had never thought that offal was inedible, but he was surprised to find it delicious when eaten this way.

Although Liu Zhiyuan ate heartily, his manners were far more refined than Hua Ruyu's.

"Eating hot pot in winter keeps you warm, and eating hot pot in summer is a great way to enjoy yourself."

Having just recovered from a serious illness, Li Youran dared not eat spicy food and could only pitifully eat blanched food in plain water. However, the piping hot food made her feel extremely comfortable.

Every hair on her body stood on end, dripping with sweat. In this way, Li Youran felt as if she had been reborn.

"What a cunning Li Youran."

As Hu Qinqin spoke, she gently wiped the Guanyin statue in her hand, which symbolizes the granting of children.

Since returning from the banquet, Hu Qinqin had been pondering what happened that day, and only today did she finally understand it completely.

There must be something going on between Feng Lei and Zhou Caidie, and Li Youran sensed something was amiss, which is why she suddenly appeared in the back garden and prevented them from meeting.

"Li Youran's plan is truly ingenious. By getting Feng Yun together with her friend Jiang Qianqian and Feng Lei together with Zhou Caidie, she has managed to take down all three Feng brothers in one fell swoop. It seems that from now on, the Feng family will be completely aligned with His Highness the Second Prince."

He remained silent, head bowed, engrossed in the book about the Fourth Prince. Upon hearing Hu Qinqin's words, he glanced up at her, then lowered his head again to continue reading, speaking coldly and indifferently.

"The most terrifying person right now is not the Second Prince, but the Third Prince."

What do you mean?

Hu Qinqin put down the Guanyin statue of the Goddess of Mercy who grants children and looked at the Fourth Prince, asking him in confusion.

In Hu Qinqin's heart, the most competitive and oppressive person was His Highness the Second Prince, because he was the Crown Prince.

As for the Third Prince, Hu Qinqin never considered him a rival.

Previously, her father had been very close to the Third Prince and had analyzed him very thoroughly, which is why she had been invincible against him. Hu Qinqin did not think that the Third Prince was a worthy opponent.

"My father said that His Highness the Third Prince has not done anything unusual recently."

"That's because His Highness the Third Prince stopped trusting your father after you married me, and he wouldn't let him know anything about it."

As the Fourth Prince spoke, he put down the book in his hand and then took out a letter from the box.

When Hu Qinqin had just married the Fourth Prince, the Fourth Prince was still wary of her.

However, he later discovered that since marrying him, this woman had been wholeheartedly pursuing him, which made him lower his guard and instead take the initiative to curry favor with the prime minister, offering even more favorable terms.

The Prime Minister wasn't stupid. Rather than helping outsiders, he should help the Fourth Prince. If the Fourth Prince could successfully ascend the throne, then he would become the Emperor's father-in-law.

Therefore, the current Prime Minister has already secretly changed his tune. Although he still stands with the Third Prince on the surface, he is actually serving the Fourth Prince.