These past few days, the spring rain has been falling softly and steadily. With nothing to do, Shen Yunjiao moved a chair to the door to watch the rain.

Granny Lin brought back a box of jujube and yam cakes from some shop in the capital. She had someone brew a pot of hot tea, and she enjoyed a bite of cake with a sip of hot pre-rain Longjing tea while admiring the flowers and the rain. It was incredibly pleasant.

The peaceful time did not last long. Shen Yunjiao saw a maid named Yingchun run into the courtyard with a gloating look on her face.

"Young Madam, the Madam has rewarded Miss Fang, who is staying at the manor, with a lot of gold and silver jewelry."

Upon hearing this, Fu Xia pouted, "What's there to be happy about!"

"Oh, Sister Fuxia, please let me finish."

"Madam also bestowed upon Miss Fang a large courtyard house with three courtyards in the capital, but she told her to move out and live there on her own soon, and not to stay in the mansion!"

"Is this true?" Shen Yunjiao raised an eyebrow. "Didn't Madam agree to the young master marrying Fang Ziyu a few days ago? Why did she change her mind so quickly?"

This Xu family is so unpredictable, always changing their tune.

Yingchun took out a small stool and sat down next to Shen Yunjiao. She picked up a piece of pastry and stuffed it into her mouth, gossiping with everyone as she ate, "I heard that Madam went to the Marquis of Yongping's mansion as a guest yesterday and was ridiculed for it."

"They say the young master takes in women of dubious origin, and that rumors are circulating in the capital that this Miss Fang's identity as a doctor is fake, and that she is actually a prostitute the young master met in brothels."

Shen Yunjiao frowned. "Isn't it inappropriate to belittle innocent young women like this?"

"I wish everyone would curse her!" Fu Xia said excitedly, but then shut up when she saw the displeasure on Shen Yunjiao's face.

Shen Yunjiao placed the teacup lightly on the table. "Fuxia, you're not allowed to say such things again!"

"And you all too."

"I don't want to hear any bad words about Miss Fang or any unrelated woman from anyone."

"But!" Fu Xia wanted to say something, but Lin Mama tugged at her sleeve and mouthed for her to stop.

Fu Xia saw this, and she lowered her head, still complaining in a low voice, "But it's all her fault. She made you suffer and become a laughing stock in the capital."

Yingchun also asked quietly, "Don't you dislike Miss Fang? She's been monopolizing His Highness the Crown Prince."

Shen Yunjiao understood that those standing and sitting in front of her were a group of traditional ancient people, but she felt it was necessary to instill new ideas in them.

“I don’t dislike Fang Ziyu, and she wasn’t the one who started this whole thing, so why should I hold a grudge against a woman?”

"If it's not Miss Fang, then it'll be Miss Li, Miss Wang. Am I supposed to hate them all one by one?"

"If we're talking about hatred, I should hate Pei Zhixuan. He's the one who's heartless."

Shen Yunjiao was so angry that she gritted her teeth whenever she mentioned that scoundrel of a prince. She said bitterly, "I really don't know why I was blind enough to fall for a man like that."

She was heartbroken once again by the original owner's poor judgment of people!

Two figures, one in blue and one in gray, stood outside the courtyard of Chunhe Hall.

Ping An stood outside the courtyard gate holding an umbrella for the Crown Prince, listening to all the conversations inside.

This Crown Princess is really unlucky. She was caught by His Highness even when she was hiding in the courtyard talking badly. No wonder he doesn't like her.

Pei Zhixuan stood upright, his eyes filled with a deep, unfathomable emotion.

He was momentarily stunned when he heard Shen Yun scolding the maid.

When has she ever been so understanding?

Unexpectedly, upon hearing the end, I discovered that she actually held this view of herself.

The thought that Shen Yunjiao actually regretted marrying him made Pei Zhixuan feel as if a stone was pressing down on his heart.

Ping An bowed respectfully, holding the umbrella, but then saw his master suddenly walk straight into the courtyard. "You stay here."

The Chunhe Hall was filled with beautiful women. Shen Yunjiao, dressed in a dark blue indigo-patterned silk gauze, sat in the center, surrounded by a group of maids and servants.

Her expression was languid and delicate, and even though the lines and curves of her beautiful face were blurred by the misty rain, her eyes and brows still looked vivid.

She was still talking when she saw Pei Zhixuan, and the relaxed and indifferent look on her face vanished instantly.

His Highness's expression was as cold as frost and snow. He simply opened his mouth and said, "Get out."

The servants dared not linger, bowed their heads in greeting, and then retreated.

Pei Zhixuan looked at Shen Yunjiao, who seemed to have changed a bit in just three days. Her eyebrows were as green as willow leaves and her face as red as peach blossoms.

He had never really liked the pungent scent of perfume on Shen Yunjiao before, but surprisingly, he didn't smell it today.

Surprisingly, Shen Yunjiao did not dress up or put on any makeup.

Pei Zhixuan suddenly thought of the saying "Women dress up for those who appreciate them," and his lips sank. Did she not want to put any effort into herself now?

Shen Yunjiao felt Pei Zhixuan's gaze and raised her eyes in confusion. Pei Zhixuan stood tall and elegant in a blue official robe, as aloof and graceful as ever, but his face held a gloomy look as if a storm was brewing.

Oh, I see. He was criticized by his boss at work and came to me unhappy after get off work.

Shen Yunjiao sighed and patted the pastry crumbs off her hands. "What brings you here, Your Highness?"

Pei Zhixuan looked at her coldly, "Shen Yunjiao, this is my courtyard. I can come and go as I please."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yunjiao realized that it made sense, so she stood up and said calmly, "Then Your Highness, please stay here. I'll go back to my room."

Staying even a second longer might not be good for her breast tissue.

As she turned to leave, her foot accidentally stepped on the hem of her soft gauze skirt, causing her to stumble and fall.

Just as Shen Yunjiao was about to make intimate contact with the floor, she panicked, only to find that a force around her waist hooked her up and lifted her up in an instant.

She had only two thoughts at the time: first, she was determined to shorten all the hems of these clothes; second, that bastard was quite strong and could lift her up with one arm.

Pei Zhixuan was stunned. He didn't understand why his reaction was faster than his thinking, and he reached out and hooked his arm around that slender waist without hesitation.

Now, with her in his arms, her gentle breath enveloped him like a silent spring drizzle.

But the next second, that breath left his embrace.

Thank you.

Shen Yunjiao quickly stopped and patted the dust off her body. In Pei Zhixuan's eyes, however, it seemed as if she was disgusted with him.

Do you really hate touching yourself that much?

Just two years ago, she was relentlessly pursuing him, eager to get into his bed.