ARTTEDSBGT Chapter 112
It was late afternoon, and Xiao Rulei lay napping on a cool couch while a maid fanned her gently. The cool breeze dispersed the summer heat. At some point, the voices from outside fell silent, followed by faint footsteps that gradually faded away, leaving the inner room quiet once again.
Li Zhizhi followed Xiao Yan all the way to the back door of the flower hall, where a maid was waiting. Upon seeing them, she was about to speak when Xiao Yan gestured for her to keep quiet.
The maid quickly closed her mouth and watched as the two entered. They passed through the curtains and around a Wenbai cabinet before stopping in front of a Cloud Pine Autumn Moon screen. Through that screen, Li Zhizhi heard the voice of the Grand Princess and the Consort of Sheng, the latter complaining, “… It’s been so many years, and my health is not good. Everything inside and outside the mansion relies on Man’er to manage. But she’s just a girl…”
The Grand Princess comforted her, saying, “Girls are more caring, especially your Man’er, who is so understanding.”
“How can she be understanding?” The Consort of Sheng smiled bitterly. “If she were, she wouldn’t have made mistakes.”
Hearing this, the Grand Princess was surprised. “What mistakes did she make?”
The Consort of Sheng sighed and said, “That’s why I came to visit today.”
She then turned to Xiao Man and said, “Explain it to the Princess yourself.”
The Grand Princess also looked at Xiao Man, who lowered her head with a hint of shame on her face. She said, “Aunt, it’s Man’er’s fault. Back then, at the academy, I listened to others’ instigation, misunderstood the Princess, said some foolish things, and had a falling out with her. Later, I realized I was being used by someone else. Man’er has been feeling guilty about it…”
Behind the screen, Li Zhizhi raised her eyebrows in surprise and exchanged a glance with Xiao Yan. She really hadn’t expected Xiao Man to suddenly stage such a scene. What was she thinking? If Xiao Man had come to apologize sincerely, Li Zhizhi wouldn’t have believed her.
Xiao Yan lowered his head slightly and leaned towards her ear as if to say something. Li Zhizhi tilted her head to the side and heard his lowered voice, “The weasel wishes the chicken a happy new year.”
Almost in a whisper, his warm breath gently brushed against her earlobe, causing a tingling sensation. Li Zhizhi instinctively turned her head, quickly covering her ears and rubbing them, trying to forget the strange itchiness.
Xiao Yan watched her movements, and her originally white earlobes turned red from being rubbed, resembling a cherry, tempting one to take a bite, savoring its sweetness just like its color suggested.
But he didn’t move, only slightly lowering his eyes, hiding the profound meaning in his phoenix-like eyes in the dim light.
Inside the flower hall, Queen Sheng was still speaking, “I just heard about it myself. She had some grievances with the Princess in your mansion. This child has always been like this, sharp-tongued and not sparing in words. If she said something wrong, she might have offended the Princess. It’s all because I’ve been lax in discipline on weekdays. That’s why I brought her to your mansion today, wanting to apologize to the Princess.”
Upon hearing this, the Grand Princess frowned, saying, “Zhizhi has always been gentle and never had a dispute with anyone or turned hostile. What did Man say to offend her?”
Xiao Man probably hadn’t expected her to inquire so thoroughly, her expression slightly stiffening as she stammered, “I… I only heard from Li Suwan. She said the Princess bullied her at the Li mansion, and so on. I was friends with her at that time, naturally believed her lies, and spoke ill of the Princess. Later, I saw through Li Suwan’s true nature and ended my friendship with her.”
She continued, “The Princess has a broad and forgiving personality. I don’t think she took it to heart. But I’ve always felt guilty and wanted to find an opportunity to apologize to her…”
Li Zhizhi listened with a cold smile in her heart, suddenly feeling Xiao Yan pulling her arm. She looked up in puzzlement, her eyes showing some confusion: What’s wrong?
Xiao Yan didn’t say anything, simply took her wrist and walked outside. Li Zhizhi had no choice but to follow. Their movements were silent, not attracting any attention from the people in the flower hall.
Once outside, Li Zhizhi asked, “Why did we leave?”
Xiao Yan replied, “There’s nothing more to listen to. She’s just showing remorse in front of her aunt, pretending to be pitiful. Her aunt will send someone to find you soon, and then they’ll bring you over, begging for forgiveness. If you don’t agree, you’ll seem mean-spirited. If you do agree, can you really swallow your pride?”
Li Zhizhi:…
Xiao Yan glanced back at her, raising an eyebrow. “Can you really?”
Li Zhizhi stubbornly said, “I can’t.”
In her past life, she was killed by Xiao Man. No matter what, Li Zhizhi couldn’t swallow this anger. Forgiving Xiao Man? Absolutely impossible.
“If you can’t swallow it, then don’t,” Xiao Yan said, leading her forward. “Xiao Man is a treacherous person, fond of scheming behind people’s backs, using sweet words while harboring sinister intentions. Her apology this time is just to confuse you first, then plot something else.”
Li Zhizhi was somewhat surprised and asked, “How do you know all this?”
Xiao Yan paused for a moment, and said vaguely, “I heard her scheming against someone before.”
“You eavesdropped on her as well?” Li Zhizhi immediately caught on, her interest piqued as she asked, “Tell me more about it.”
Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment before saying, “It was during the March outing banquet. I overheard it in the Xiao Buddha Hall.”
He stopped walking and turned to look at Li Zhizhi, speaking softly, “I heard her instructing someone to frame Li Suwan, and then instructing Li Suwan to frame someone else, saying… saying it’s like passing the buck to get ahead.”
Li Zhizhi was taken aback, meeting Xiao Yan’s gaze directly. His beautiful phoenix eyes were slightly lowered, showing complex emotions at the bottom of his eyes, as if carrying a hint of regret. There was none of his usual composure; the Crown Prince frowned, looking unusually anxious and remorseful. He said with self-reproach, “So when I said those nonsensical things to you later, I… thought you were like Li Suwan, trying to shift blame onto someone like A’yang who doesn’t understand anything.”
Li Zhizhi felt a slight pain in her wrist. She looked down and realized that Xiao Yan was still holding onto her wrist. She said, “You’re hurting me.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan seemed to wake up suddenly, immediately letting go of her hand. A few faint finger marks appeared on her fair wrist, quickly fading away. Li Zhizhi rubbed it and then heard him say, “It was my fault back then, saying those unpleasant words. Are you still angry?”
Li Zhizhi paused for a moment before raising her eyes to look at him, saying, “Yes, I’m angry.”
Xiao Yan’s heart sank slightly, his thin lips pursing slightly. The anxiety and regret once again appeared in his phoenix eyes, his expression also showing a hint of seriousness. He asked, “It was indeed my fault. How can I make it up to you?”
Seeing him being so cautious and sincere, Li Zhizhi couldn’t help but think mischievously and said, “Is Brother Prince trying to apologize to me?”
“Mm,” Xiao Yan added, “How should I apologize?”
Li Zhizhi smiled and replied, “Then Brother Prince should repeat what he said back then?”
Xiao Yan instinctively frowned, then heard Li Zhizhi continue, “But just say it to Xiao Man.”
The young girl smiled, her eyes sparkling like stars falling in the rain, reminiscent of wild peach blossoms in the mountains—beautiful yet cunning.