Firecrackers boomed, creating a lively atmosphere. The long street was teeming with people, and blessings echoed from one after another.
Dressed in a red groom's suit, Huo Yan sat calmly on horseback, nodding slightly to the cheering crowd.
As if sensing someone watching him, his gaze suddenly shifted upwards, but he saw no one by the window; it was all just his imagination.
Su Ruanruan hid by the window, poured herself a glass of wine, and raised the glass high, saying, "Huo Yan, from this day forward, we are strangers."
...
New Year's Eve arrived in the blink of an eye. At the grand banquet in the palace, Su Ruanruan sat upright, scrutinizing everyone in the palace.
Princess Jingyi and her beloved adopted daughter Su Qingyu sat in front of her, while Baiyun sat in an inconspicuous position behind her.
Huo Yan and Fu Xinrou sat side by side, their affectionate appearance making others envious. After not seeing each other for a long time, the scar between his eyebrows had faded to the point of being almost imperceptible, making him appear even more handsome and dashing.
It truly proves the saying that women adorn themselves for those they love, and men will also shine for the ones they cherish.
Su Ruanruan's gaze shifted again, meeting a pair of gentle eyes. Su Zhen's body had not yet fully recovered, and his heartache was even more difficult to cure.
He visited her repeatedly with gifts, but Su Ruanruan always turned him away.
He knew that Su Ruanruan would definitely attend the palace banquet today, so he forced himself to come despite his illness, just so he could catch a few more glimpses of her from afar.
Su Ruanruan pursed her lips and glanced to the side. She saw a man smiling at her, his face as handsome as jade. He was truly a man of unparalleled beauty.
Su Ruanruan instantly recognized his identity; he was Su Tinghan, who had returned from disaster relief with Prince Yi, and was also the original owner's elder brother.
During this time, he and Su Zhen visited Su Ruanruan's residence many times, but were always turned away.
She glanced at Su Ruowu sitting next to Su Tinghan again, only to see him scrutinizing Su Ruanruan with a gloomy expression.
Finally, Su Ruanruan smiled slightly, her lips curving upwards as she looked at the one-eyed Chu Ran sitting beside the Prince of Zhennan. At this moment, Chu Ran was gripping his wine cup tightly, his venomous gaze fixed intently on Su Ruanruan. She had heard that he had been recuperating in his residence these past few days; this behavior was quite unusual.
Su Ruanruan calmly raised the wine glass in her hand and drank it all in one gulp.
She felt a gaze upon her back, and when she looked up at the people in the high positions, she found them watching the songstress's dance with great interest, as if it were all just her imagination.
Su Ruanruan had no interest in the song and dance performance; she simply lowered her head and savored the delicate almond shortbread in front of her.
A slender white hand reached out, and another plate of untouched almond cookies appeared before her. The palace maid carefully filled Su Ruanruan's cup with fruit wine and said softly, "Princess, the young master Su saw that you like them, so he specially instructed me to bring you his portion as well."
Su Ruanruan looked up and, sure enough, saw Su Tinghan nodding and smiling at her.
She smiled slightly; with so many people watching at the banquet, she couldn't very well refuse his kindness.
But she never touched that plate of almond cookies again.
Amidst the clinking of glasses and cheerful conversation, Su Ruanruan savored the fruit wine in front of her, one cup after another.
The palace maid looked at the empty wine cup and slowly refilled it.
Su Ruanruan rested her chin on her hand, glancing at her with a half-smile, "Are you trying to get me drunk?"
The palace maid paused in her pouring of wine, and said tremblingly, "This fruit wine is fragrant and sweet, I thought Your Highness would like to drink it..."
Su Ruanruan grabbed her cold hand. "What are you afraid of? I'm not going to eat you. Why are you so nervous?"
The palace maid glanced furtively in Chu Ran's direction, trembling, "This servant is nervous because... I'm afraid of offending Your Excellency."
Su Ruanruan pushed the wine glass forward again and said nonchalantly, "It's alright, pour it."
The palace maid's hand trembled, and the spilled wine, like beads from a broken string, soaked most of Su Ruanruan's sleeve.
The palace maid panicked and was about to kneel down when Su Ruanruan smiled and pressed her down, "It's alright, it's just a piece of clothing anyway. I'll go out with you to take care of it."
Su Ruanruan slowly retreated with the palace maid. Under the maid's guidance, they turned left and right, eventually entering an inconspicuous side hall.
The moment the door closed, a sharp dagger was pressed against the palace maid's throat like a venomous snake.
"What is your purpose in bringing me here?"
"This servant...this servant didn't do anything. There are always several new outfits prepared here, specifically for the young ladies to prevent their clothes from getting dirty. That's why this servant brought the county princess here..."
The palace maid's eyes flickered uncertainly, and she dared not meet Su Ruanruan's gaze. Her words were clearly tinged with guilt.
Su Ruanruan was filled with doubt and was about to ask further when she suddenly smelled a faint fragrance in the air.
This taste...
"Oh no, it's sleeping potion!" Su Ruanruan thought to herself, realizing something was wrong.
She struck the palace maid on the back of the neck with a dagger, causing the maid to faint instantly. Then, she tore a handkerchief into shreds and stuffed them into her nose.
She had just placed the palace maid on the bed when hurried footsteps sounded outside. She quickly blew out the candles inside and, like a cat, stealthily hid behind the screen in the dark.
In a short while, the palace door was pushed open, and a dark figure silently entered like a ghost.
"Beauty, beauty, where are you?" A man's voice came, and Su Ruanruan suddenly realized that someone was going to use this despicable trick to ruin her.
To indulge in debauchery within the palace is a grave crime. She remained hidden, touching her cheek, feeling the heat within her intensify; the aphrodisiac was truly potent.
Heavy breathing came from the other end of the line, accompanied by the rustling of clothes. Taking advantage of the two men's confusion and passion, Su Ruanruan tiptoed out of the room.
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