“Today, when you heard what he said, did you argue with him at the banquet and even agree to confront him outside?”
Zhuang Han Ming hesitated before nodding.
“Don’t you know that if I hadn’t come here today, they wouldn’t have let this go? You would have been the one suffering—how could I rest easy?” Bitterness filled Han Yan’s voice: “Now we siblings only have each other to rely on. When I came out looking for you, I thought: if anything happened to you, what reason would I have to live?”
Zhuang Han Ming, who hadn’t made a sound while being beaten earlier, now reddened his eyes at Han Yan’s words and grabbed her hand: “Sister…”
Han Yan patted his shoulder: “If you want to protect me, you must first protect yourself. Don’t resort to brute force. When our Zhou cousins trouble you again in the future, ignore them, and don’t engage. Mad dogs tire of their games when they’re ignored. If you react strongly, you’ll fall right into their trap. Don’t waste too much thought on irrelevant people.”
Zhuang Han Ming bit his lip: “I understand.”
“Go back now,” Han Yan shook her head. “I’ll have Shu Hong accompany you. I came out alone, so it’s not appropriate for us to return together. You go first, I’ll follow shortly.”
Zhuang Han Ming thought for a moment, nodded, then remembered something and muttered while walking: “You’re only a year older than me, yet you worry about everything for me…”
Han Yan gestured for Shu Hong to follow him, smiling behind him: “Even if I were only a quarter hour older, it would be the same—I am your sister.”
Zhuang Han Ming had already walked too far to hear Han Yan’s words. As Ji Lan was adjusting Han Yan’s clothes before leaving, they suddenly heard a somewhat childish voice: “You certainly think a lot about him.”
Han Yan was startled and turned to see a youth in imperial yellow robes looking at her contemptuously: “You don’t even know how to kneel before me!”
Han Yan laughed in surprise: “Your Highness jests. Officials only bow to the Crown Prince as equals would. As a subject’s daughter, a curtsy suffices—there’s no need for kneeling. Since ancient times, one kneels to Heaven, Earth, and the Emperor. Between us, Your Highness is not yet Emperor, and I am not yet a subject—it wouldn’t be proper. Or does the Crown Prince already harbor ambitions for the throne? Though the realm will eventually be yours, the current Emperor is not you!”
“You…” The young boy was nearly bursting with anger: “You’re talking nonsense, trying to frame me. I have no thoughts of rebellion—Father wouldn’t believe you!” Seeing Han Yan remain silent, only looking at him mockingly, he commanded: “Even if we’re not ruler and subject, you must still bow to me. Though you’ve done nothing wrong, I can have my servants punish you right now!”
Han Yan found it amusing—royal family members were all the same. When threatening punishment, they all carried themselves with the same air of authority, even a ten-year-old child could muster such presence.
“Crown Prince?” Han Yan looked at him with a half-smile: “I was merely passing through the garden on my way to the restroom—how would I encounter the Crown Prince? Your Highness should be at the palace banquet now, not lowering yourself to mix with concubines’ sons and watching fights like some commoner. What would His Majesty think if he knew?”
The Crown Prince was startled, hearing the threat in Han Yan’s words, but she continued carelessly: “If this young master is lost, you’d better return quickly. Surely you have guards following you, so I need not lend you my maid. Safe journey, no need to see you off.”
In his ten years of life, the young Crown Prince had only known flattery and respect from those around him. Never had anyone dared to oppose him like this, showing no fear of his position and even daring to threaten him.
Initially, he had come out with Zhang Wei simply because Zhang Wei’s flattery pleased him, so when he saw the conflict with Zhuang Han Ming, he was merely interested in watching the drama. Deep down, he didn’t particularly like Zhuang Han Ming either, viewing him as someone of low status who wasn’t favored. People naturally tend to kick others when they’re down, especially those raised in the palace.
He hadn’t expected to witness this scene—Zhuang Han Ming’s sister daring to slap Zhang Wei in front of everyone, then frightening him away with just a few words. He knew Han Yan was lying, so he had secretly stayed behind after Zhang Wei left. Hearing her conversation with Zhuang Han Ming had surprised him.
Her relationship with Zhuang Han Ming seemed very close.
Such genuine familial affection was rare in the royal family. His sisters, except for Princess Yun Ni, were quite distant from him, their closeness merely superficial.
Though curious, royal dignity could not be violated. When Han Yan mentioned his father, the young Crown Prince wanted to suppress her arrogance, preferably make her admit her mistake and beg for forgiveness. Yet unexpectedly, he—the Crown Prince—was the one being threatened.
Han Yan watched the Crown Prince’s face turn red: “You… how dare you!”
“If the Crown Prince doesn’t return soon and His Majesty finds out, that would be true insolence. One more piece of advice, Your Highness—there aren’t so many spectacles worth watching in this world. Watch too many, and it becomes difficult to remain uninvolved. I’ve said my piece, farewell.”
This was clearly warning the Crown Prince that if he continued to watch from the sidelines with schadenfreude, she wouldn’t hesitate to drag him into the mess—if she had to die, she’d make sure to take someone down with her.
Following Han Yan out of the garden, Ji Lan secretly marveled at how her Young Miss had even dared to threaten the Crown Prince—such boldness! But… he was still the Crown Prince; what if he sought revenge?
Han Yan was unaware of her maid’s worried thoughts, as the scene before her was even more concerning than her maid’s anxieties.
After walking just a few steps, about to exit the garden, they saw several tall, elegant figures waiting there for some time. Their previous conversation had fallen into others’ ears—who knew from which point they had started watching this play?
Han Yan considered the situation, frowning slightly, then suddenly smiled brightly, intending to walk past as if she hadn’t seen anything.
“It’s you!” a voice exclaimed.
Han Yan froze, inwardly cursing, then raised her head to meet that incomparably beautiful face, asking in surprise: “Does the young master know me?”
He Lian Yu felt a surge of frustration at her words: “Don’t pretend you’ve forgotten, Miss… Nei…” He spoke each word with gritted teeth, clearly unable to let go of how Han Yan had tricked him before.
Han Yan inwardly fell silent—there was no way she could admit to anything now, so she smiled: “This humble girl’s surname isn’t Nei. The young master must have mistaken me for someone else.” She tried to leave.
But then she heard the person beside He Lian Yu speak calmly: “What is your surname?”
Han Yan’s heart sank to rock bottom. What she had feared most had come to pass—why wasn’t Prince Xuan Qing staying at the palace banquet? Why did he have to come here and get involved? And… he had heard her threatening the Crown Prince, his nephew. According to rumors, Prince Xuan Qing was unmatched in martial prowess—would he strike her dead to avenge his nephew?
Was there anyone in the world more pitiful than her?