Han Yan idly observed everyone around her, intending to look for Zhuang Han Ming, but realized he was nowhere to be found at the banquet. Her heart instantly sank. Although Han Ming was mischievous, he always maintained proper etiquette on formal occasions and wouldn’t have sneaked away on his own.
After waiting for quite some time without seeing him return, Han Yan could no longer contain her anxiety. She excused herself to use the restroom, taking Ji Lan and Shu Hong with her as she left the main hall.
She heard Zhuang Yu Shan making some disparaging remarks behind her, but at this moment, Han Yan had no mind to care about such things—her thoughts were solely focused on Han Ming. The palace was not large, but the residence within was even more treacherous. Han Ming was her reason for living, the person she would protect with all her might. If anything were to happen to him here, she wouldn’t know what to do.
Around the palace banquet, besides the guards, there were a few eunuchs and palace maids. Han Yan couldn’t directly inquire about Han Ming’s whereabouts. After wandering around for several circles, she found herself in what appeared to be an Imperial Garden, unsure of her exact location.
It was winter, and the night wind carried a chill that could penetrate one’s bones. Han Yan felt her hair dampened by the garden’s frost, and her fingers were eerily cold. She instinctively reached for a hand warmer, only to realize she hadn’t brought one. Ji Lan stretched her neck to look around and said, “Young Miss, don’t worry. It’s pitch black here, but there are lights ahead. Let’s follow the light in that direction. Be careful not to slip.”
Han Yan was anxious, and her steps were hurried as she walked toward the light. Suddenly, Shu Hong spoke up: “There are voices over there!”
Han Yan’s heart tightened. She gestured for Ji Lan and Shu Hong to soften their steps as they crouched and moved closer to the source. In the palace, one should act as if blind and deaf. Previously, Han Yan would have avoided such situations at all costs, never risking discovery by approaching. But thoughts of Ming’er made her heart burn with anxiety as if scorched by fire.
Shu Hong walked to the front. As they got closer, she stopped and turned her head, silently mouthing three words to Han Yan: “Found him.”
Han Yan’s heart leaped with joy—Ming’er had been found as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Shu Hong stop her with an oddly peculiar expression.
Han Yan froze, a sense of foreboding rising within her. She immediately stepped forward, pushing Shu Hong aside to get a clear view of what lay ahead.
In the dim light of the palace lanterns, several teenagers around ten years old were gathered together, up to something. One of them was pushed against a rockery, wearing a familiar pine-colored soft silk jacket.
The tallest youth in pink clothing stood before the rockery, his tone arrogant and domineering. His originally handsome face bore a twisted, evil smile: “Zhuang Han Ming, don’t think you can throw tantrums in front of me just because you’re a legitimate son. So what if your sister is a legitimate daughter? Everyone knows she’s not favored. I’ll call her ugly, stupid, and lowborn if I want to—what can you do about it?”
The boy pressed against the rockery had bloodshot eyes, and his fair face bore five bright red handprints, particularly striking under the lantern light.
“Don’t you dare speak of her that way!” Zhuang Han Ming glared fiercely at the person before him, wanting to throw a punch, but his limbs were restrained by the others. Unable to move, he could only angrily shout, “What kind of ability is it to bully someone with numbers? Zhang Wei! If you have the courage, fight me one-on-one!”
Hearing this, the pink-clad youth simply smiled and mocked, “Someone like you wants to fight me one-on-one? You’re just as stupid as your sister!”
Han Yan recognized these people with just one glance. Madam Zhou’s elder sister, Grand Madam Zhou, had married Minister Zhang as a concubine, and these youths were Grand Madam Zhou’s sons—Madam Zhou’s nephews. Though born to a concubine, Minister Zhang deeply loved this favored concubine and doted extremely on these sons. In her previous life, after Madam Zhou entered their household, these young men would occasionally visit the Zhuang residence and frequently clash with Zhuang Han Ming. Each time, Zhuang Shi Yang would severely punish Han Ming, which led to Han Ming’s unfriendly attitude toward these nominal cousins. Yet after each punishment, Madam Zhou and her daughter would come to apologize to her, making Han Yan feel awkward instead. Now she realized—so this was how their previous conflicts had been!
The one in pink clothing was Madam Zhou’s eldest nephew, Zhang Wei, typically a competitive and unruly youth who now ganged up with his brothers to bully Zhuang Han Ming. Han Yan’s eyes narrowed—but why was the Crown Prince here as well?
Zhang Wei’s targeting of Han Ming was instructed by Madam Zhou. Just seeing Zhuang Han Ming pinned against the rockery, refusing to submit while defending himself, made Han Yan’s heartache.
She hadn’t been a good sister, which had led to her brother being bullied and beaten while trying to protect her. If she had been more capable, how could these people have dared to bully Zhuang Han Ming?
Han Yan clenched her fists, glancing at the imperial yellow robes to one side. Regardless of why the Crown Prince appeared here today, she would settle today’s account for Zhuang Han Ming!
Taking a deep breath, Han Yan leisurely walked out from the garden’s depths with her hands behind her back, speaking softly. Her clear voice rang particularly distinct in the quiet night.
“Everyone seems to be in quite good spirits, willing to miss the palace banquet to bring my brother here. However, it’s a cold winter night, and there are no flowers to appreciate—what might be the purpose of this gathering?”
The winter night was at its coldest, and though the young lady’s voice was bright and relaxed, it carried no warmth. Though the words were ordinary, they somehow caused everyone present to feel a shock in their hearts.
Zhang Wei looked up to see Han Yan emerging gracefully from behind the flower beds, her clothes bright and her lips slightly curved upward. Her expression carried a trace of severity that hadn’t been there before, inexplicably making him flinch.
After a moment, he recovered and looked at Han Yan sideways: “Oh, if it isn’t cousin.”
Han Yan stopped beside him, with Ji Lan and Shu Hong standing in front of her to prevent Zhang Wei from making any sudden moves.
“Cousin seems to be in good spirits. What were you doing with Fifth Brother?” Han Yan was two years younger than Zhang Wei, so addressing him as a cousin wasn’t inappropriate.
The other youths remained silent, just staring at Han Yan, while Zhang Wei was their leader, and they instinctively surrounded Han Yan and her two servants.
Zhang Wei seemed unwilling to linger, glancing at Han Yan and casually saying, “I just came to have a few words with cousin. If a sister has nothing else, I’ll take my leave.” With that, he released his grip on Zhuang Han Ming’s collar and turned to leave.
“Wait.” Han Yan suddenly spoke.
Zhang Wei paused, as if surprised that Han Yan would stop him, and impatiently replied, “What is it?”
Han Yan glanced at the Crown Prince, who had been smiling while watching everything. His somewhat childish face wore an expression of schadenfreude. Han Yan didn’t believe Zhang Wei and the Crown Prince had become such good friends—the Crown Prince’s spectator attitude suggested he truly was just here for entertainment.
Han Yan walked to Zhuang Han Ming’s side and reached out to touch his right cheek. The burning sensation under her hand and the swollen red marks silently told everything. Han Yan withdrew her hand and smiled, “Fifth Brother, is this how it is?”