Luo Sheng calmly sipped her tea, then smiled casually at the young woman with lowered head. “Then the Commandery Princess must not be so rash in the future.”

Wei Wen couldn’t help feeling stifled with anger.

This wench was truly pushing her advantage!

Luo Sheng’s eyes held dismissive coldness.

The little girl who once drooled while begging for candy had become a spoiled and hypocritical young woman in the blink of an eye. The butcher’s knife of time was truly sharp.

“Wei Wen?” Seeing Wei Wen remain silent, Wei Qiang gave a cool reminder.

A thousand grievances surged in Wei Wen’s heart, but in the end, these grievances could only be swallowed down with gritted teeth and transformed into an awkward smile. “I was worried about my brother’s health and acted impulsively. I apologize to Miss Luo.”

Luo Sheng nodded, indicating her forgiveness.

Wei Qiang’s tone became gentler. “Go back now.”

Wei Wen bent her knees slightly and quickly walked out of the wine house.

Outside the wine house, the prince’s residence guards were all disheveled and groaning pitifully.

Wei Wen glared angrily at these people and strode past them.

These good-for-nothings—not a single useful one!

The guards exchanged glances and followed with steeled resolve.

“Don’t follow me!” Wei Wen angrily drove away the guards about to follow and quickened her pace.

It wasn’t yet time to light the lanterns. The evening glow floated on the horizon like a thin layer of brocade gauze.

On Qingxing Street, the flow of people was like weaving threads.

Wei Wen’s steps grew faster and faster, wishing she could immediately leave this wretched place that made her feel stifled.

A hand suddenly grabbed her sleeve.

“Who!” Wei Wen’s heart tightened, and her whole body tensed up.

A low voice reached her ear. “Commandery Princess, it’s me.”

Wei Wen was startled and looked at the person who had stopped her.

That person’s face was filthy, their clothing ragged, impossible to distinguish whether male or female.

But that voice was extremely familiar to Wei Wen.

“Hanshuang?”

Muddy tears streamed from the corners of that person’s eyes as she choked out, “It’s me.”

Wei Wen was greatly alarmed. “Hanshuang, how did you end up looking like this?”

Zhu Hanshuang looked around furtively and said in a low voice, “Commandery Princess, this isn’t a convenient place to talk—”

Wei Wen thought for a moment and said quietly, “Follow me.”

In a private tea room, Zhu Hanshuang gulped down hot tea in large mouthfuls.

Wei Wen watched her, her expression indecipherable.

Finally, Zhu Hanshuang stopped drinking tea and, clutching the teacup, began sobbing.

“Hanshuang, what on earth happened? Aren’t you supposed to be in mourning?”

Lady Anguo had only been buried not long ago. During this period, children were supposed to remain at home and couldn’t visit relatives and friends or attend banquets.

Zhu Hanshuang’s hands clutching the teacup kept trembling. In a quavering voice, she said, “It’s a long story…”

“No rush, take your time.” Seeing her good friend’s wretched state, the stifled feeling in Wei Wen’s heart actually dissipated considerably.

For some people, the misfortune or sadness they encounter could only find comfort from those even more unfortunate, even more sorrowful.

Especially those around them.

…

The tea had gone completely cold. Wei Wen finally finished hearing Zhu Hanshuang’s account.

“So what you’re saying is, to avoid being caught and brought back, you escaped from where your second brother had settled you, then encountered criminals and nearly got abducted, and finally disguised yourself as a beggar and have been hiding until now?”

Zhu Hanshuang nodded vigorously, her eyes full of pleading. “Commandery Princess, for the sake of our friendship since childhood, please help me. I truly have nowhere else to turn.”

After coming out, she realized how difficult it was for a weak woman to survive.

What she truly experienced was of course even more terrifying and dangerous than what she told the young commandery princess, but there was no need to mention those things.

Mentioning them would bring her no benefit at all.

Wei Wen lowered her eyelids slightly and asked softly, “You don’t plan to return to Duke Anguo’s residence, and you don’t plan to resume your original identity?”

“Right, I never want to go back to that place again!”

“Then you can never be a noble lady again. Even if I can help you, at most you’ll live under an assumed name as an ordinary commoner woman. Hanshuang, what are your plans for the future?”

Based on her understanding of her good friend, Zhu Hanshuang was definitely not someone willing to accept such a fate.

“I want revenge!” Zhu Hanshuang’s eyes suddenly lit up.

“Revenge?” Wei Wen instinctively frowned. “Don’t tell me you still want to trouble your father and brothers?”

If that was the case, she didn’t want to get involved in this trouble.

Zhu Hanshuang was indeed her friend, but this was a family matter. If she interfered to help, in the end she would very likely get no thanks for her efforts and be despised by all sides.

“How could that be?” Zhu Hanshuang’s expression was neither crying nor smiling, as if hiding unspeakable grievance and helplessness. “That my relationship with my father and brothers has deteriorated to this point can only be called the cruel tricks of fate.”

“Then who do you want to take revenge on?”

Zhu Hanshuang’s eyes turned dark as she said through gritted teeth, “Naturally that wench Luo Sheng!”

If it weren’t for Luo Sheng, how would she have acted against a cook?

If the matter of dealing with the cook hadn’t been exposed, how would Father have lost his temper with her so severely and accidentally killed Mother?

If Mother were still alive, she would still be that pampered noble lady, not reduced to a beggar-like state.

All of this was caused by Luo Sheng. She wished she could devour her flesh and drink her blood.

“Take revenge on Luo Sheng?” The corners of Wei Wen’s eyes lifted, and amusement appeared in their depths.

If that was the case, she could consider it.

“That I’ve fallen to this state today is all Luo Sheng’s fault. This revenge must be taken!”

“But although her father is now imprisoned, the Grand Commander’s residence hasn’t fallen yet. She has people protecting her comings and goings, and inside there are expert guards from my Young Prince Uncle.” Wei Wen reminded her good-naturedly.

Wanting revenge was of course good, but if impulsive recklessness led to implicating her, that would be bad.

She didn’t want to experience today’s humiliation a second time.

Zhu Hanshuang bit her lip, her expression resolute. “I know! That’s why I’m not in a hurry. I’ll keep watching her, waiting for an opportunity. If one day doesn’t work, then two days. If one year doesn’t work, then two years. I refuse to believe I’ll never get this opportunity!”

Wei Wen silently drank a mouthful of tea, a hundred thoughts turning in her mind.

“Commandery Princess, please help me. I don’t need to return to a life of luxury. Just give me a place to shelter and an identity that can face people.” Seeing Wei Wen’s silence, Zhu Hanshuang became somewhat anxious.

“Hanshuang, are you really going to live just for revenge from now on?” Wei Wen’s face seemed to show disapproval.

Zhu Hanshuang bit her lip hard. “Yes, the only purpose of my survival is revenge!”

The outside world was a hell even more terrifying than Duke Anguo’s residence after Mother’s death. Having experienced those things, she no longer had any desires. As long as she could make Luo Sheng’s life miserable in this lifetime, she would have gained!

Wei Wen sipped her tea and finally set down the teacup, grasping Zhu Hanshuang’s hand. “Alright, I’ll help you. Who told us we’re best friends?”

“Commandery Princess, thank you, thank you…” Zhu Hanshuang looked at Wei Wen, tears streaming down her face.

In the tea room, two young women held hands and smiled at each other.

It was already time for You Jian Wine House to open, but Wei Qiang hadn’t left.

“Does Your Highness plan to stay and dine?” Luo Sheng suppressed her inner doubts and asked impassively.

Wei Qiang had originally prepared to take his leave. The words reached his lips but somehow changed. “Mm, I haven’t been here in a long time. I’ve been craving the fish ball hotpot.”

Luo Sheng raised her eyebrows slightly, confirming the doubt that had surfaced in her mind.

Wei Qiang had ulterior motives!