"That's utter nonsense!"

Amidst the guests' jeers, Tan Yingying's cheeks quickly flushed red. Scenes of being rejected by Xiao Xun over the past few days flashed through her mind, along with Xiao Xun's double standards towards her and Ye Linxi. A wave of embarrassment washed over her.

Anger consumed her reason; she completely disregarded her father's admonitions and the threat from Prince Li.

Tan Yingying raised her hand high, looking at the two beautiful faces opposite her, her eyes full of malice.

Just as the slap was about to land on Song Zhiyu's face, the expressions of the people present varied: some were reluctant, some were indifferent, and some were gloating, but no one spoke up to stop it.

Seeing this, Shen Yanxi's eyes sharpened, and he involuntarily took a step forward. However, when he heard Shen Jinshu cry out in pain beside him, he stopped abruptly. After hesitating for a moment, he turned his head to check on her condition.

"Shu'er, what's wrong?"

"It's alright, don't worry about me. Fourth Brother, look at Second Sister, she..." Shen Jinshu swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue. She stared intently at the scene before her, her expression extremely complicated.

"Smack."

A crisp slap rang out as Tan Yingying was slapped to the ground, her cheeks swelling up high with five prominent handprints, demonstrating the force of the blow.

She lay sprawled on the ground, looking at the newcomer in disbelief, her voice trembling with sobs, "Brother-in-law, you actually hit me for her sake."

Li Wang stood with his hands behind his back, coldly looking down at Tan Yingying with an oppressive aura. His gaze was as terrifying as if it were poisoned, as if he were looking at a dead person.

"I warned you long ago not to provoke the wrong people. Did you ignore my words?"

Tan Yingying lowered her head in fear, met Li Wang's cold gaze, and scrambled to her feet, folding her hands in front of her, completely losing her previous arrogance.

"You don't need to attend today's lakeside banquet. Go back to the Tan residence and reflect on your mistakes. If there's a next time, don't blame me for being ruthless." Prince Li looked away with disgust, his expression instantly softening, as if the cold and gloomy person from just moments before wasn't him at all.

If Tan Yingying were to ruin everything he had worked so hard to build, he would skin her alive.

"I'm not going back..." Before Tan Yingying could finish speaking, she was forcibly taken away by the people sent by the Prince of Li, without even a chance to struggle, leaving only her angry curses echoing in the air.

As soon as Tan Yingying left, the scene fell silent. Everyone turned their attention to Li Wang and the other two, whispering among themselves.

"His Highness Prince Li is not only handsome and gentle, but also reasonable and able to distinguish right from wrong. He truly deserves to be called a famous scholar in the capital."

"Unexpectedly, His Highness Prince Li not only did not favor Tan Yingying, but also helped Song Zhiyu and Ye Linxi."

"..."

"Miss Song, Miss Ye, are you both alright?" Hearing the crowd's discussion, Li Wang's smile deepened, and the ruthlessness in his eyes had long since faded.

If Song Zhiyu hadn't known his personality well, she probably would have been fooled by his charming gentlemanly appearance.

Song Zhiyu felt a slight sense of regret. She had indeed intentionally provoked Tan Yingying to make her take action.

But unexpectedly, a roadblock appeared out of nowhere, disrupting her plans.

It seems this tactic won't work.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am fine." Song Zhiyu raised her eyes to look at the man in front of her who had a half-smile. She sneered inwardly, but her face remained expressionless. Every move she made was flawless.

As their eyes met, a chill flashed in their gazes, and their bodies were enveloped in a fierce, confrontational aura.

"Why do I suddenly feel a bit cold?" someone muttered, breaking the tense atmosphere.

Li Wang slightly curled the corners of his lips, looked at Song Zhiyu with newfound respect, and his murderous intent towards her intensified.

Song Zhiyu is cunning and ruthless, and she is adept at killing without leaving a trace. If you are not careful, you may fall into her trap and be smashed to pieces. Not to mention that she also has medical skills that can bring the dead back to life.

If such a person cannot be used by him, then he must be eliminated by any means necessary.

That idiot Tan Yingying, if he hadn't arrived at the right time, she would have almost been tricked by Song Zhiyu again.

"It's good that Miss Song and Miss Ye are alright, otherwise the Crown Prince and Prince Xiao would have caused me trouble." Prince Li shook his head with a smile, his words teasing and subtly probing.

He could sense that the Crown Prince treated Song Zhiyu differently; he was truly taking her to heart. He just didn't know what Song Zhiyu thought about it.

It would be quite interesting if the arrogant and aloof Crown Prince could be unable to have the one he desires.

"Your Highness is too kind." Song Zhiyu sensed the probing in his words and responded deftly, neither admitting nor refuting, her smiling face revealing no flaw.

When Ye Linxi heard Xiao Xun's name, she was stunned for a moment, and her knuckles turned white from clenching her fists.

Li Wang raised an eyebrow, knowing he wouldn't get anything useful out of her. He then turned to the crowd, a perfectly timed smile playing on his lips. "The lake tour banquet is about to begin. Please take your seats."

As soon as he finished speaking, the melodious sounds of string and bamboo instruments began to rise, accompanied by the clear notes of the zither, and the banquet returned to its previous lively atmosphere.

Shen Yanxi stepped closer to Song Zhiyu, moved his lips as if to speak, but she ignored him, took Ye Linxi's hand, and led her to a corner seat.

"I didn't have a chance to thank you last time, I didn't expect to run into you here today."

"It was nothing, don't worry about it."

"..."

As their voices faded into the distance, Shen Yanxi could only awkwardly shut his mouth and sit down to drink in silence.

So this is what it feels like to be ignored. Shen Yanxi couldn't help but laugh at himself.

*

On the other side.

Mingzhu glanced coldly at Song Zhiyu and Ye Linxi, who were chatting happily in the corner, and smiled disdainfully, "They really are all lowly people, yet they manage to get together."

After saying that, she glanced at Pei Qingyan again, still feeling resentful.

Seeing Mingzhu's expression, the girl next to her rolled her eyes and suddenly spoke up, "Mingzhu, how can someone like Song Zhiyu be worth your attention? Lord Pei just hasn't seen your good qualities yet, otherwise Song Zhiyu wouldn't stand a chance."

"When you unleash your true abilities later, you'll surely amaze everyone. At that time, even Lord Pei will become your devoted follower."

Upon hearing this, Mingzhu's expression gradually improved, and she arrogantly raised her chin, showing no modesty whatsoever, "That's for sure."

"I do have a way to embarrass Song Zhiyu..." the young woman said with a fawning smile, leaning close to Mingzhu's ear and whispering.

"Your idea is good." Mingzhu nodded repeatedly, her eyes shining brighter, as if she could already see Song Zhiyu making a fool of herself and being disliked by Pei Qingyan.

Shen Jinshu, who was sitting not far away, overheard their conversation. She glanced at Song Zhiyu without making a sound, her smile enigmatic.

The moment Song Zhiyu looked up, he raised his hand and drank the tea in his cup in one gulp.