Chapter 204 Severing Ties
Consort Zhang lifted her eyelids, glanced at her in surprise, and then laughed, "As expected, you see things very clearly."
Because of her connections, the Zhang family had long been considered part of the Crown Prince's faction. If Zhang Chengxian and Pei Siyan were to have a falling out, it would indeed put Emperor Muzong at ease.
If this is just a play, and they can think of this, then others probably will too. I wonder if they have grasped the right balance.
To their surprise, things seemed to be spiraling out of control.
"...Your Highness, Your Highness, and Young Master Zhang are all heading towards Jingkun Palace."
A short while later, Zhang Chengxian, emanating a chill from his body, strode into the hall, "Aunt—"
Dou Wenyi froze slightly and looked in the direction of the sound.
Zhang Chengxian's lips were swollen and bloody, his face was bluish-purple, and his purple official robe was stained with blood. The goldfish pouch on his belt swayed violently with his steps, and he looked visibly dejected and lost.
He forced a smile. "The Crown Princess is here too?"
"Hmm." Dou Wenyi's heart tightened, and she replied faintly.
Zhang Chengxian is no weak scholar; it seems Pei Siyan must have gone all out to beat him so badly!
"You wretched child! You're infuriating me!" Consort Zhang raised her eyebrows, her anger rising rapidly.
Even if she knew they might be putting on an act, how could she not understand Zhang Chengxian's intentions? No man would allow another man to covet his wife, especially when that man was the Crown Prince.
Dou Wenyi rejected him first, and Pei Siyan was betrothed to him by the Emperor. The die was cast. No matter how angry Zhang Chengxian was, he shouldn't have taken action against the Crown Prince. Did he want to change allegiance?
That's incredibly audacious!
"You risked your life on the frontier to earn military merit, do you want to ruin it all? If your father were alive, he would have punished you severely long ago. You have no sense of propriety!"
"Sense of propriety?" Zhang Chengxian pondered these two words, staring intently at her.
"He was the one who betrayed me first. I treated him as a friend, but what did he do? He was the one who stabbed me in the back. He's a complete scoundrel, a hypocrite through and through. Back then, he rushed me to the frontier. He was harboring malicious intentions! He played me like a fool..."
“Zhang Chengxian, she is the Crown Princess! She is not someone you can compete with.”
It was Pei Siyan's angry voice.
He also had a bruise on his face and forehead, and his robes were slightly disheveled, so his injuries were much better than Zhang Chengxian's.
A golden four-clawed python robe flashed past his eyes, and Pei Siyan strode up to Zhang Chengxian, his face contorted with terrifying rage, his jawline taut as if he were about to tear the man before him apart at any moment.
"You and she have never been engaged, and she has never had any romantic feelings for you. Do you still want to ruin her reputation?" Pei Siyan's voice was terrifyingly low, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth. He suddenly took a step closer, radiating a chilling pressure. "I'm warning you, this is the last time!"
Dou Wenyi's breath hitched, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on her back. This wasn't acting; she was clearly genuinely angry!
Pei Siyan's face was contorted with rage. He suddenly drew the sword from his waist and threw it to the ground with a clang.
"Zhang Chengxian, you didn't even use your full strength just now," he shouted sharply, his eyes burning with raging anger. "Let's continue somewhere else!"
Zhang Chengxian stared at the gleaming blade on the ground, his expression shifting repeatedly. He suddenly let out a cold laugh, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Pei Siyan, you've gone too far! You think I wouldn't dare?"
"Outrageous!" Consort Zhang trembled with rage. "Zhang Chengxian, if you dare to cause trouble again, I... I will discipline you properly on behalf of my father, you unfilial son!"
“Aunt, there’s no need to use Father to pressure me. I’ll go back to the frontier tomorrow. Whoever wants to stay in this godforsaken place, Tianning City, can stay.”
Zhang Chengxian bent down to pick up his sword, his knuckles turning bluish-white from the excessive force.
He suddenly raised his hand and swung the sword, the blade tearing through the brocade robe with a piercing ripping sound, "Pei Siyan—"
He gripped the sword hilt tightly, his voice hoarse, "From now on, you go your way, and I'll go mine. I, Zhang Chengxian, will sever all ties with you!"
The last word fell heavily, and half of the robe fluttered to the ground...
Inside the Chaohua Hall.
Dou Wenyi carefully applied ice to Pei Siyan's wound with a brocade bag filled with ice. He sat quietly and said gently, "Don't bother, it's just a minor injury."
Her mind was filled with a thousand thoughts, and she was somewhat unsure. If they were really putting on an act, their acting skills were so good that it was hard to tell what was real and what was fake.
Are you worried about me, or about him?
Dou Wenyi rolled her eyes at him, ultimately unable to deny her worries, "You know perfectly well why!"
Pei Siyan grasped her wrist, stroking it repeatedly, his eyes smiling. "He and I have been friends since we were kids, you don't need to worry."
Dou Wenyi really wanted to ask him, did Zhang Chengxian think the same way? Had he explained it to him properly?
But if she asks the question, Pei Siyan might misunderstand her relationship with Zhang Chengxian.
She frowned slightly, and Pei Siyan suddenly pulled her into his arms, his eyes filled with inquiry. "Consort Zhang is planning to arrange a marriage for him and then send him to the frontier. Which family's daughter do you think is a good match for him?"
Dou Wenyi's heart skipped a beat. "Your Highness, what do you mean by that?"
In that instant, she felt she couldn't understand him anymore.
If they secretly arrange a marriage, what if Zhang Chengxian leaves Tianning City in a huff? Are they going to make other girls waste their youth waiting for him?
Pei Siyan said calmly, "Marriage is a major life event, and it's a matter of parents' wishes and matchmakers' words. He should settle down and start thinking about it."
Dou Wenyi found it even more amusing. He himself didn't believe in this set of fallacies and heresies, yet he wanted to use it to restrain Zhang Chengxian.
Or is it that he simply doesn't trust Zhang Chengxian or her, and therefore wants to cut things off quickly?
She could tolerate his occasional domineering and forceful behavior, but she couldn't tolerate his constant suspicion.
Pei Siyan's deep phoenix eyes were fixed on hers. "And what about in your previous life? Was he married?"
She paused for a moment, then pretended to be nonchalant, "He has never married."
Pei Siyan's dark eyes narrowed slightly, and he ultimately remained silent.
As night deepened, twilight descended, everything was pitch black, and the only sound was the patter of wind and rain.
Fanlou was brightly lit and bustling with activity, but there were no private rooms left on the second floor.
Shen Lishu changed into men's clothing. She had finally managed to sneak out of the mansion, just to eat Fanlou's crispy fish. How could she let herself return empty-handed?
I don't know which fool actually spent a fortune to book the entire second-floor private room.
“Miss, shall we go back first? Or should we sit in the lobby on the first floor? If that doesn’t work… shall we take some food back to eat? The second floor is reserved by a distinguished guest, so let’s not go up there.” The maid Xiu’er earnestly advised.
Shen Lishu crouched low and tiptoed up to the second floor. "What's your hurry? Besides, you should call me Young Master now!"
Xiuer looked anxious. "Young Master, if we're discovered, Master and the Eldest Young Master will blame us..."
No sooner had he finished speaking than he heard a waiter shout from behind, "Who's over there?"
"Sir, sir, the second floor is fully booked for today. Please leave."
"Quick! Hide!" Shen Lishu took off running, and in her panic, she pushed open a carved wooden door and slipped inside.
But the next moment, she tripped over the threshold and fell to the ground.
Shen Lishu cursed her bad luck inwardly.
No, she got up and looked closely, only to realize with a start that the person who had tripped her was a man who was completely drunk, Zhang Chengxian, a newly promoted military general of the dynasty.
"Don't go—"
Shen Lishu was startled and was about to leave when someone grabbed her calf.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
