Chapter 36, Chapter 14: The Heir Apparent's Wife
The next moment, the door to the private room was pushed open.
Tinglan and the maid Xiaotang brought were arguing, while Xu Qingzhou and Xu Mingche stood outside the door looking in.
Yu Wanwan: ...
She looked at her hand that Xiaotang had just grabbed, then at the Xu brothers who were completely bewildered and didn't understand what was going on, and finally, she turned her gaze to Xiaotang, who was lying on the ground looking pitiful, and smiled.
I thought she had gone to so much trouble to hypnotize her, that she was planning to do something earth-shattering.
So this was all for this whole thing?
What a waste that she even went out of her way to put on that performance!
Xiaotang's maid stopped arguing with Tinglan and rushed into the room before Xu Qingzhou could. She knelt on the ground, held Xiaotang's hand, and cried heartbrokenly.
"Miss...Miss, are you alright?"
Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly looked up and glared angrily at Yu Wanwan.
"Princess Consort! My young lady, remembering you as an old friend, kindly played music for you, yet you treat her so disrespectfully! This is truly outrageous!"
"..."
Yu Wanwan was absolutely amused.
"Am I going too far?"
She looked at Xiaotang, her expression as gentle as ever.
"Does Miss Xiaotang think so too?"
Xiaotang's pupils contracted, and she finally realized what was happening.
Yu Wanwan's reaction was completely different from what she had expected.
There was no confusion or anger at being wronged in her eyes, only a gentle, faint smile.
It seemed that what had just happened was unimportant to her.
Xiaotang was unsure whether she had fallen under her hypnosis spell.
But the play has already come to this point, and it's impossible to stop now; we can only continue.
Xiaotang bit her lip lightly, snuggled into the maid's arms, and trembled slightly.
"No...the Crown Princess did not humiliate me..."
That's what they said, but their reaction seemed more like an attempt to cover something up.
She seemed to realize it herself, and hurriedly looked up at Xu Qingzhou with tearful eyes.
"Your Highness..."
She pronounced those two short words with great care and emotion, conveying boundless feelings.
"Believe me, the Crown Princess really did not humiliate me!"
Tinglan was absolutely furious.
If Yu Wanwan hadn't been holding her down and preventing her from making a sound, she would have rushed up and torn her mouth apart long ago!
Xu Qingzhou remained silent for a few seconds, then lifted his robe and walked into the private room.
Xu Mingche was also quick-witted; after he went in, he immediately closed the door to prevent people outside from laughing at him.
Xu Qingzhou didn't even glance at Xiaotang, who was crying her eyes out. She walked straight to Yu Wanwan, looked her up and down, and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that she was not injured.
“My wife is virtuous, gentle, and dignified; she would never do anything to humiliate others.”
He walked step by step to Xiaotang's side and squatted down. His face no longer showed the flirtatious and frivolous demeanor he usually feigned; only indifference filled his eyes.
“But I am different. Your wife is magnanimous and will not hold it against you, but I am not like that.”
Xiaotang choked up, forgetting even to cry, and stared blankly at him.
She had never seen him so cold and indifferent before.
Even Yu Wanwan gave him a strange look.
Xu Qingzhou didn't notice Yu Wanwan's gaze. He just wanted to cut the Gordian knot and completely extinguish Xiaotang's feelings, severing all ties with her.
"I thought we had a past relationship, and since you have no intention of entering my manor, we should part amicably. But you are too ambitious and have set your sights on my wife. What, you don't really think I would abandon my wife and marry a prostitute like you, ruining my future?"
He lifted her chin with his index finger, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
Do you really think I'm some kind of virtuous person?
His fingers were clearly warm, carrying a masculine heat.
Xiaotang felt a chill run through her body, and when she opened her mouth, she couldn't utter a single word.
She finally realized, belatedly, that the person in front of her was no longer the fool she had once manipulated.
From the day she refused to become his concubine in the street, everything spiraled out of control.
Xiaotang's fingers tightened, a ruthless glint flashing in her eyes.
Since that's the case, then we can't blame her!
The next instant, two inexplicable voices suddenly rang in Yu Wanwan's ears.
The voice that asked the question was a stereotypical electronic tone, somewhat like the broken system of the Time and Space Administration.
The next one is Xiaotang's voice.
But she could see clearly that Xiaotang hadn't said a word.
Moreover, after Xiaotang finished speaking, an unknown power emanated from Xiaotang and surged towards Xu Qingzhou.
In an instant, Xu Qingzhou's body went limp, and he fell forward.
Xiaotang exclaimed in surprise and reached out to catch it, feigning astonishment.
【Wanwan! Save the male lead!】
Before Yu Wanwan could think, she instinctively obeyed Dao Guo's command, flashed to Xu Qingzhou's side, grabbed his arm, and pulled him back.
Although Daoguo can be a bit annoying at times, it complements her and won't do anything to harm her.
Xiaotang had barely touched Xu Qingzhou's sleeve when she was pulled into Yu Wanwan's arms.
Looking at the person who ruined her plans, Xiaotang's eyes flashed with anger.
"What is the Crown Princess doing?!"
Yu Wanwan held the unconscious Xu Qingzhou with one arm and glanced at Xiaotang.
"Tinglan".
"lady!"
Slap him in the face.
Xiaotang's hand tightened, and her face turned pale.
"You dare?!"
Yu Wanwan chuckled, too lazy to even look at her, and helped Xu Qingzhou back.
Her response was Tinglan's cold laugh.
“My lady is the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Changrong’s family, and the Crown Princess of the Marquis of Chengqing’s family, personally appointed by His Majesty! You are just a commoner, yet you have repeatedly disrespected the Crown Princess and committed insubordination. What harm is there in beating you?”
Tinglan had long disliked Xiaotang, and now that she had received the order, she didn't hold back at all and slapped her across the face.
Xiaotang's maid tried to stop her, but Tinglan stopped her in her tracks with just one sentence, preventing her from making any rash moves.
"What? You also want to go to the government office with your master?"
Xiaotang didn't understand, but the maid knew very well.
If their actions were taken to the authorities, they would be convicted of serious disrespect, or at the very least, punished with a beating.
After such a beating, whether he'll even survive is a question.
Her face turned deathly pale, and she dared not stop him any longer.
The maid dared not stop her, but Xiaotang continued to resist, her eyes blazing with fury.
"Even the emperor is subject to the law! You are merely a princess consort! How dare you disregard etiquette and bully ordinary people like this?!"
These words made Xu Mingche glance at her a few more times.
The mere mention of etiquette from her mouth made Tinglan laugh. Too lazy to listen to her rant, she simply shut her up.
"Mmm..."
Although Xiaotang didn't have any noble status, as the top courtesan of Zuixianlou, she was treated like a pampered young lady and was no match for Tinglan.
She could only sob and look at Xu Mingche with tearful eyes, her gaze full of pleading.
"What, are you getting soft-hearted?"
Xu Mingche snapped out of his daze.
Although he didn't know much about what had happened between her and her older brother, they had heard everything Xiaotang said to Yu Wanwan in the next private room.
She had previously refused to become her elder brother's concubine, but now she was coming to her sister-in-law and saying these things, all while spouting about etiquette.
It's simply...
Xu Mingche shook his head and didn't look in that direction again.
"What's going on, brother?"
Yu Wanwan asked casually, not caring what he thought.
"She's probably just tired; she'll be fine after a rest."
Xu Mingche glanced at Xu Qingzhou, who was lying on the soft couch, breathing evenly, with a rosy complexion, looking as if he was just asleep.
"Brother has indeed been working very hard lately."
The two fell silent for a moment. In the private room, only Xiaotang's sobs and the crisp sound of slapping her face could be heard.
While checking on Xu Qingzhou's condition, Yu Wanwan asked about the fruit.
What's wrong with him?
I wasn't poisoned.
[Have you read any strategy novels? Xiaotang should have one of those strategy systems from those novels. That system is integrated with her, but it didn't use its power during our previous two encounters, and I didn't notice it either. His current coma is probably caused by that so-called item card.]
Yu Wanwan was full of questions.
How come Xiaotang has a system?
Isn't the Time and Space Administration too lazy to manage the virtual world?
And what the heck is this strategy system?
Is Qin Huai, that idiot, bored out of his mind, coming up with another new variety system?
Wake up! This "system" clearly doesn't belong to the Time and Space Administration.
Yu Wanwan quickly realized what was happening.
When that unknown power surged forth, she indeed did not sense any otherworldly aura.
If it's not a system from the Time and Space Administration and doesn't have any otherworldly aura, then it can only be something that comes with this world.
So, is Xiaotang's possession of a strategy system a foreshadowing element in this world?
This explains why the not-so-incompetent young master would be so obsessed with marrying Xiaotang, regardless of the consequences.
It turns out it wasn't true love after all; I was just tricked by the strategy system.
However, Yu Wanwan is a little worried now.
Xu Qingzhou has been hit by that "love at first sight" item card. How can she save her?
I wonder what effect this item card will have.
Is it possible that he falls in love with whoever he sees as soon as he opens his eyes?
[You're right. So, you'd better take him away quickly before he wakes up, making sure you're the first person he sees.]
"..."
Why should I be the first person he sees?
Are you trying to make him fall for someone else? Don't forget! You still have to help him with the guardian quest! What will happen to the quest if he falls for someone else?
His mission is simply to protect the original owner and prevent her from repeating the same mistakes. What does it have to do with who he likes?
[...]
That cannot be refuted.
【Do as you please, but Xiaotang and her system have ulterior motives; it's best not to let her succeed.】
Annoyed, Yu Wanwan ordered Tinglan to throw Xiaotang and her servant out.
Her gaze involuntarily drifted to Xu Mingche, who was still standing to the side, looking at Xu Qingzhou with worry.
Suddenly, a bold idea popped into my head.
Please, have some decency!
"..." Due to Dao Guo's strong opposition, Yu Wanwan had no choice but to regretfully abandon this bold idea.
She beckoned Xu Mingche over.
"Find a strip of cloth and blindfold him."
Xu Mingche looked completely confused.
Why?
Yu Wanwan paused for a second, then started making things up.
"He just looked at her. I feel uncomfortable. I don't want to be looked at by eyes that have seen other women. It's disgusting!"
"..."
"???"
Is she serious?
Yu Wanwan spoke with confidence and conviction.
The Fruit of the Path...
Daoguo chose to cover his eyes and retreat.
Seriously, I'm speechless. Could she have come up with anything any more outrageous?
Xu Mingche had mixed feelings, but out of admiration for her, he still found a strip of cloth.
Yu Wanwan didn't do it herself; she sat far away and let Xu Mingche do the deception.
They acted as if Xu Qingzhou were some kind of virus, and that getting close to him would infect you.
Xu Mingche was puzzled but impressed, and could only sigh silently, wondering how he hadn't noticed before that his sister-in-law was so jealous.
Will his future wife be like that too?
As Xu Mingche thought about it, he bent down and covered Xu Qingzhou's eyes with a strip of cloth.
As luck would have it, just as the strip of cloth approached Xu Qingzhou, the person lying on the soft couch suddenly opened their eyes.
"..."
"Mingche? What are you doing?"
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