Third Prince's Estate—
"Oh, my lady! You’ve finally returned!"
A young maid with her hair in a side bun, petite and charming in a light green dress, came running over, her face etched with anxious concern.
"Yes, my lady, please, you must not act impulsively later," added another girl, whose hair was styled in twin buns and who had a round, dumpling-like face.
In her memory, these two were her personal maids, Qiushui and Yisan, both of whom were unfailingly loyal.
"The Third Prince is currently in a rage. You must hurry—"
Before she could finish, they saw Xuantian Ze pushing his wheelchair to the entrance of the main hall. His face was gloomy, and his voice was cold enough to chill one to the bone:
"Yun Feiwan, you still have the nerve to come back? Parading through the streets looking like this—is it not enough that you’ve embarrassed me enough for one day!"
In his fury, he grabbed the teacup beside him and hurled it with force.
*Crash!*
The cup grazed her cheek and shattered against the floor behind Yun Feiwan.
*This jerk of a male lead—he acts so polished outside, but at home, he only knows how to bully women and children? If his legs weren't crippled, he’d probably be trying to rule the world!*
Yun Feiwan clenched her fists, pursing her lips as she looked at the man fuming not far away. She couldn't help but mutter internally: *Divorce! I must get a divorce as soon as possible!*
"What did you say?"
Xuantian Ze narrowed his eyes, his face turning livid. "What are you muttering about over there? Yun Feiwan, you’d best not push these 'hard-to-get' games too far! I acknowledge that your little tricks have been somewhat amusing, but everything has its limits!"
Having almost been overheard while speaking her mind, Yun Feiwan gave a slight start and patted her chest with her small hand. *Thank goodness the distance was great enough and my voice was soft enough.*
Over there, Xuantian Ze was still venting incessantly, like a tiger that had lost its mind:
"If it weren't for the sake of Gu Ruoxi, I wouldn't have even let you step foot through the gates of this estate today! Know your place—who is the true master of this household!"
"Third Prince, so you really despise me that much, huh?"
Yun Feiwan patted her chest as she looked up, her curled lips revealing her current good mood. As long as she could see this scum of a man frustrated, she was happy!
She raised an eyebrow slightly and said with a faint smile:
"Since you like my older sister so much, why don't we... divorce? Or I could cast you aside? If that doesn't work, you could just divorce me!"
"Hah! Divorce? Cast me aside? That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. You are being unreasonable and delusional!"
Xuantian Ze looked as if he had heard a joke; he lunged forward, his body exuding a murderous aura. One hand clamped firmly onto Yun Feiwan’s wrist, his eyes shooting cold daggers at her.
"You want a divorce from me? In your dreams! It will only happen when I have grown tired of you and decide to toss you away. You think you’re worthy of a graceful exit?"
"Xuantian Ze! It hurts! Let me go!"
Yun Feiwan struggled with all her might, her wrist creaking as if it were about to be crushed. But given the disparity in strength between man and woman, a red mark appeared on her skin within moments, and involuntary tears welled up in her eyes, making her look pitiable.
Yet, this fragile appearance seemed to trigger something in Xuantian Ze. Instead of letting go, he reached out his other hand to pinch her cheek, his gaze turning icy:
"Yun Feiwan, even if Gu Ruoxi asked you to take her place in this marriage, couldn't you have summoned the courage to refuse? In the end, aren't you still just trying to compete for my favor, hoping to sit firmly as the Princess Consort?"
Xuantian Ze grew more agitated as he spoke, his eyes filled not just with anger, but with an emotion others couldn't decipher:
"You knew well that this marriage was a decree from His Majesty, yet you put on an act before me. Fine, your goal has been achieved, you should be happy. Why are you crying so hypocritically? You want to compete for favor? Fine, I'll satisfy you right now!"
With that, he pulled her toward him. The distance between them vanished...
*Damn it!* She clearly wanted a divorce, but this scum not only refused, he was actually delusional enough to try to kiss her! *He's a sociopath! A total lunatic!*
In a panic, Yun Feiwan opened her mouth and bit down viciously on the hand pinching her cheek. A metallic, savory taste spread through her mouth as she used every ounce of her strength.
"Ah! Yun Feiwan, you actually dare to bite me? Have you lost your mind?"
Xuantian Ze let go in pain, his reflexive push sending her stumbling almost to the ground.
"Ptooey! That’s disgusting—tastes like rot and blood, much worse than anyone else!" Yun Feiwan licked the corner of her mouth and spat to the side.
For some reason, at that moment, the image of that man, Xuan Junheng, flashed through her mind! His sexy collarbones, that warm, slightly sweet... *No, no! I cannot let my mind wander!*
Yun Feiwan patted her cheeks, then looked up to meet Xuantian Ze’s eyes, wearing a bewitching smile:
"Third Prince, it seems your love for my older sister isn't all that, then. You aren't about to say, 'This damned woman, even though I hate her so much, I can't bear to let her go,' are you?"
She curled her lips, her previously icy expression replaced by a smile: "What, could it be that you've fallen in love with me, and that’s why you can’t bear to let me leave?"
"You! Hmph!"
As if his inner thoughts had been laid bare, Xuantian Ze, who had been composed just moments ago, coldly snorted:
"I am merely keeping you for the sake of the Emperor's decree. Otherwise, a woman like you, devoid of any feminine virtue, should have been sold off into a brothel long ago! The Spring Banquet is in two days, and the Emperor will be attending. I must take you with me—you had better not pull any stunts to embarrass me!"
Having left those words behind, Xuantian Ze stormed off.
Watching his receding back, Yun Feiwan wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth with utter disgust, her mind racing.
*The Spring Banquet...*
It seemed there was a segment like this in the middle of the original story. The supporting character, Gu Ruoxi, was the one who shone brilliantly at this banquet. Relying on a poem, she not only won the praise of the noble sons but also caught the eye of the Emperor and the Crown Prince.
And she, as the female lead of this miserable drama and the sister of the protagonist, would be ridiculed by everyone for her lack of etiquette and talent, becoming a major source of conflict.
*Hmph. Trying to shine by plagiarizing someone else's work? Then I shall help you see it through!*
Yun Feiwan curled the corner of her lips and beckoned to Qiushui with her finger.
"Qiushui, go and..."