Trapped against Fu Yun Xi’s chest, Han Yan’s heart pounded like a drum. The position was truly too intimate. Being pinned against a table by such a handsome and dominant person would make any woman lose her composure. As she grew uneasy, Fu Yun Xi’s magnetic voice sounded softly: “Too late.” Looking up in surprise, she saw that handsome face leaning down toward her.

Han Yan couldn’t help but close her eyes.

A moment later, instead of what she’d imagined, someone flicked her forehead hard enough to make it hurt.

Fu Yun Xi straightened up, his lips curving into a playful smile: “Fourth Miss Zhuang, let this Prince teach you – sometimes, one shouldn’t speak carelessly.”

Like a small beast belatedly realizing it had fallen into a trap, Han Yan jumped up, putting three steps between herself and Fu Yun Xi. One hand clutched the spot he’d flicked, as she raged: “Hey! How dare you hit me!”

This person who appeared so cold, profound, and indifferent to everything was so childish. What angered her more was her reaction – for that brief moment, had her heart fluttered? The young lady, furious and embarrassed, refused to acknowledge that momentary attraction, her cheeks burning red with indignation.

Little did she know that Fu Yun Xi had always been arrogant, viewing worldly etiquette as mere numbers, not worth following. Earlier, he’d merely felt like teasing her, like playing with a little lamb he once kept. Seeing Han Yan truly angry, as if he’d committed some terrible crime, though puzzled, he withdrew his playful expression.

“This Prince will request imperial permission for marriage tomorrow,” he said, his voice full of certainty.

Han Yan was startled: “Nonsense! I never said I’d marry you.”

“You and I have already been intimate, so you are this Prince’s person,” Fu Yun Xi raised an eyebrow.

Han Yan hadn’t expected him to say such a thing, and bit her lip: “Flicking someone’s forehead doesn’t count as intimacy.”

“This Prince will certainly take responsibility,” Fu Yun Xi walked to her side. As Han Yan tried to dodge, he caught her collar and inserted something into her hair.

Han Yan reached up to touch it, but he grabbed her arm: “Don’t move.”

Unable to break free, Han Yan could only glare at him angrily. The lawless man smiled and said: “Dawn is approaching, and I should return. Every word this Prince said today was true.” He paused, then added: “Also, this Prince never thought you were easy to bully.” With a soft laugh, he leaped away, vanishing from the ancestral hall.

Han Yan remembered her earlier words: “You think I’m easy to bully. After entering the manor and discovering I’ve been deceived, I’ll have nowhere to turn for help and can only suffer in silence.” She felt somewhat embarrassed – anyone who bullied her received payback with interest. Well, she indeed wasn’t easy to bully.

Her forehead seemed to still retain the warmth of his lips, his low laughter echoing in her ears. Han Yan’s face turned crimson – to think that someone who appeared so otherworldly could be so forward. She sat down on the prayer mat, resting her chin on her hand, deep in thought.

Was Fu Yun Xi serious about marrying her?

Suddenly, a rooster crowed outside – dawn had broken. Han Yan remembered Fu Yun Xi’s parting words. Had he… come specifically to keep her company? Otherwise, alone in the damp ancestral hall through the long night, hungry and cold, how difficult would it have been?

As gratitude rippled through her heart, she suddenly remembered something and touched her hair. The ornament Fu Yun Xi had inserted turned out to be a blue jade hairpin.

The jade was exceptionally clear and vibrant, without a single flaw. The pin’s head was shaped like a crystalline little fish, so lifelike – a masterwork of extraordinary craftsmanship and immense value.

What did Fu Yun Xi mean by giving her this hairpin? Han Yan held it in her hand, staring absently out the window. Meanwhile, when Zhuang Yu Shan learned that Han Yan wouldn’t be marrying Wei Ru Feng alongside her, she first felt some resentment, but upon hearing of Han Yan’s vow, she became delighted, waiting for Han Yan to become an unmarriageable old maid living a life worse than death.

For women, being docile and magnanimous was most important. In Zhuang Yu Shan’s eyes, Han Yan’s pretense of nobility was contemptible. These days, she focused more intently on preparing her dowry – even as a secondary consort of the Wei Wang’s manor, she couldn’t be underestimated.

Elder Madam Zhou felt very sorry for her niece and helped with the dowry preparations. During a break, she asked Madam Zhou: “Is this all? Sister, are all the manor’s good things here?”

Madam Zhou replied proudly: “The Master has given all his best things to Yu Er. For her marriage, the Master told the storehouse manager to open the accounts, saying I could take whatever I wanted.”

Elder Madam Zhou thought for a moment and said: “That’s excellent, but since Yu Er’s marriage is no ordinary matter, why don’t I help? I’ve seen many fine things at the Grand Tutor’s Manor and can help select some items. With these, Yu Er won’t be looked down upon when she arrives.”

Hearing this, Madam Zhou looked at her suspiciously: “Sister, why are you so concerned about Yu Er’s dowry?”

Elder Madam Zhou glanced at her sideways and sneered: “Could it be you think I covet your manor’s wealth? The Grand Tutor has given me many fine things – why would I want Yu Er’s dowry?”

Madam Zhou realized her mistake. Looking at Elder Madam Zhou’s wealthy appearance, her clothes and jewelry all valuable, and knowing the Grand Tutor’s well-known fondness and generosity toward Elder Madam Zhou, the Zhuang manor’s possessions likely wouldn’t interest her. Yet even thinking this, she remained somewhat suspicious. She smiled and said: “How could you say that, Sister? That little wretch has addled my mind. I’ll have Granny Zhao give you the storehouse keys – you can go with her later to select some items.” She gave Granny Zhao a meaningful look, and Granny Zhao understood immediately, quickly nodding: “This old servant will handle everything properly.”

Only then did Madam Zhou’s anger turn to joy.

When Han Yan was finally released from the ancestral hall the next morning, it seemed the maids had just remembered her. Zhuang Yu Shan personally came to open the hall doors, expecting to find Han Yan collapsed unconscious or in a weakened state. However, when the doors opened, they found Han Yan sitting properly on the prayer mat. Hearing the noise, she turned and gave them a natural smile, showing no signs of weakness – instead, she appeared energetic and vibrant.

Zhuang Yu Shan was stunned. Not seeing Han Yan in the expected pitiful state angered her greatly. After some thought, she stepped inside and, noticing the disturbed fruit offerings on the altar table, angrily exclaimed: “You dared to touch the offerings – this is disrespectful to the deities!”

Han Yan looked at her calmly: “Not at all, not at all. Last night as I prayed before the deities, perhaps my sincerity moved the heavens. Around midnight, I saw a white-robed immortal arrive on the moonlit wind. He ate these offerings and spoke with me for a while.”