Chapter 160 Stop Daydreaming
When Shen Qingnian heard the old lady say this, she knew that she had no way to defend herself.
No one would believe anything she says, given her insignificance.
She saw Xie Yanzhi looking at her again, his face expressionless.
She looked up at Xie Yanzhi, a hint of barely perceptible grievance in her eyes, and asked softly, "Does my husband not believe me either?"
Upon hearing this, the old lady angrily retorted, "You're wrong, that's all. Why are you looking for Yan-ge'er?"
"Isn't it enough to embarrass Yan-ge'er?"
She always needed Yan Ge'er's support, yet she had other men on her mind.
But Yan Ge'er always falls for her tricks and protects her at every turn.
Upon hearing the word "husband," Li Huiyan felt as if she had been stabbed in the heart.
She noticed that Xie Yanzhi's gaze towards Shen Qingnian contained neither comfort nor blame, but rather an unfathomable depth that made it impossible to fathom his thoughts. This caused Li Huiyan a vague sense of unease.
Xie Yanzhi's gaze never fell on her. She sighed inwardly, knowing that if she continued to pester him today, it would only make Xie Yanzhi more disgusted with her.
She suppressed the bitterness in her heart, forced a smile, took a few steps forward, and reached out to hold Shen Qingnian's hand: "Qingnian, it's just a bracelet. If it's broken, it's broken. Let's not make a fuss over such a small thing and hurt our harmony."
Before her hand could even touch Shen Qingnian, Xie Yanzhi stepped forward and grabbed Shen Qingnian's wrist to examine it closely. As if afraid she might be injured, he then asked softly, "Why aren't you wearing the imperial green bracelet I gave you before?"
Shen Qingnian looked surprised. Xie Yanzhi completely ignored Li Huiyan and asked a completely unrelated question.
His words, though seemingly casual, struck Li Huiyan like a knife to the heart.
The meaning of Xie Yanzhi is self-evident.
Before she could recover, Xie Yanzhi added, "No wonder you don't like this jade bracelet."
"You don't even want the imperial green bracelet that I, the young master, gave you. Your standards are really high."
Upon hearing this, Li Huiyan's face instantly turned extremely ugly, as this was a blatant statement that her possessions were not worthy of Shen Qingnian.
She couldn't believe that Xie Yanzhi had embarrassed her in front of others like that.
Her eyes reddened again.
"Yan-ge'er!" At this moment, the old lady couldn't help but speak up again to help Li Huiyan.
Xie Yanzhi looked at the old lady and said, "Grandmother, everyone was watching just now, but did anyone see with their own eyes that Nian'er knocked the bracelet to the ground?"
The old lady was speechless for a moment. When Li Xiaoniangzi gave the bracelet to Shen Qingnian, she had her back to her.
She didn't see it clearly; she only heard Li Xiaoniangzi shout it.
The other maids and servants also lowered their heads. They really hadn't seen clearly either.
Seeing that the old lady was speechless, Xie Yanzhi looked at Li Huiyan and said, "I see that Miss Li's wrists are more than twice as thick as our Nian'er's, and she must be much stronger."
"Why couldn't Miss Li hold the bracelet more firmly in her hand the whole time?"
After hearing this, Li Huiyan's face turned from unpleasant to deathly pale. She stood there blankly, unable to utter a single word in rebuttal.
Even if her wrists aren't slender, they shouldn't be twice as thick as Shen Qingnian's!
Is Xie Yanzhi indirectly implying that she is not as gentle and beautiful as Shen Qingnian?
Upon hearing this, Hongyu thought to herself that only the eldest young master could utter such sharp words.
She glanced at Shen Qingnian again, a hint of envy in her eyes.
Seeing the hint of disdain in Xie Yanzhi's eyes, Li Huiyan realized that her purpose in coming today was definitely not to make Xie Yanzhi dislike her.
It wasn't what she expected.
Having come this far, she couldn't give up.
Otherwise, all the humiliation she had endured while trying to please Shen Qingnian would have been for nothing.
Thinking this, she composed herself, stepped forward again, trying to seize the last chance, and reached out to hold Shen Qingnian's hand: "Qingnian, we..."
Upon seeing this, Xie Yanzhi immediately pulled Shen Qingnian to his side.
He looked at Li Huiyan with a cold gaze and said with a hint of sarcasm, "Miss Li, you'd better be careful with the other bracelet. Nian'er didn't touch it this time."
After saying that, he looked at the old lady and bowed slightly: "Grandmother, if there is nothing else, I will take Nian'er back first."
"So as not to disturb your conversation with Lady Li."
Before the old lady could speak, Xie Yanzhi helped Shen Qingnian up, turned around, and strode out.
Seeing this, Li Huiyan disregarded her embarrassment and hurriedly bowed to the old lady to take her leave.
Seeing her embarrassed appearance, the old lady nodded helplessly at her.
Li Huiyan quickly took her maid and hurried after them.
"Young Master, please wait!" Xie Yanzhi stopped in his tracks.
As Li Huiyan spoke, she handed over the two ancient books in her hand, saying, "I've really come to return these books today."
Her tone was both ingratiating and aggrieved: "Your Highness, what happened just now was truly a misunderstanding."
"I never intended to slander Qingnian, please don't misunderstand me."
“She is someone you value, Your Highness, so naturally I will respect her as well.”
Upon hearing this, Xie Yanzhi turned to Shen Qingnian and said gently, "Go back to your room and wait for me. I'll go back after I've finished dealing with things here." Shen Qingnian glanced at Li Huiyan, nodded obediently, and turned to leave first.
After Shen Qingnian walked away, the gentleness on Xie Yanzhi's face vanished instantly.
He suddenly leaned closer to Li Huiyan, his eyes sharp as knives, and said coldly, "You like me that much?"
"In order to stay by my side, you're even willing to lower yourself and curry favor with a lowly concubine you've always looked down upon?"
Li Huiyan's heart trembled at his gaze, but she still mustered her courage and looked at him with firm eyes: "Yes. As long as I can be with the prince, I am willing to do anything."
Today, she was tolerant and forgiving towards Shen Qingnian in every way, even suppressing her displeasure and addressing Shen Qingnian as sisters. Wasn't this just to let Xie Yanzhi know that she could tolerate his concubine?
Let Xie Yanzhi know that he has chosen her as the mistress of the house, and she will treat Shen Qingnian well.
She deliberately dropped the bracelet on the ground so that Shen Qingnian would be blamed.
She then showed that she wouldn't hold it against her, and even offered her some comforting words.
Even if Xie Yanzhi is not around, these things will still reach his ears through her arrangements.
But before she could even make her move, Xie Yanzhi returned and turned things into what they are now.
Fortunately, Xie Yanzhi took the initiative to ask about it.
Her heart was pounding; she felt both ashamed and afraid.
She had already abandoned the reserve of a young lady for Xie Yanzhi and openly admitted her feelings for him.
This is the best way for her to express her feelings for Xie Yanzhi.
But upon closer inspection, Xie Yanzhi's eyes remained cold, showing no sign of emotion.
Xie Yanzhi took the ancient book from his hand and left only one sentence: "Miss Li, you'd better stop daydreaming. I will not marry you."
After saying that, he ignored Li Huiyan and turned to leave quickly.
"Your Highness!"
Li Huiyan stood there, tears streaming down her face.
She felt both resentful and aggrieved.
She's gone to such lengths, yet Xie Yanzhi still refuses to accept her!
Li Huiyan was filled with resentment and doubt: What exactly was better about Shen Qingnian than her?
Why does the Crown Prince only have eyes for her?
Seeing her young mistress crying so sadly, Jinluo lowered her head and dared not step forward to comfort her.
She knew the young lady's temperament; going up at this moment would definitely invite trouble.
Li Huiyan glanced in the direction Xie Yanzhi had left, wiped away her tears with a handkerchief, and prepared to leave with Jinluo.
Just as I was about to lift my foot, a person walked out from behind the artificial hill.
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