Chapter 5

I lay in bed, embroidering flowers for over a month. During that time, Xiao Dezi came by a few times, bringing me some scar-removal medicine.

Once again, I thought of Yin Jiuqing’s infuriating face. If he hadn’t meddled, I wouldn’t have ended up like this.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized I was being unreasonable-like a dog biting Lü Dongbin.

Xiaotao supported me as I strolled through the garden. After admiring the chrysanthemums, I sat under the corridor, lost in thought, when voices sounded behind me.

It was my legitimate brother Zhang Zhaoheng and his cousin-the crown prince of Wuan Marquis Mansion, Li Rongchuan.

Zhang Zhaoheng glanced at me, his expression indifferent as he withdrew his gaze. Li Rongchuan, however, couldn’t take his eyes off me. Ignoring Zhang Zhaoheng, he walked straight over to strike up a conversation. Only when Zhang Zhaoheng frowned and urged him did he reluctantly follow Zhang Zhaoheng to pay respects to the Eldest Wife.

After that, he clung to me like a Dogskin Plaster, constantly fussing over me, impossible to shake off.

Li Rongchuan was the Eldest Wife’s nephew, the sole heir of the Wuan Marquis Mansion-arrogant, unruly, with a fat head, big ears, and a face full of flesh.

Just seeing him made me nauseous, yet he insisted on copying lewd poems to disgust me. Even when I returned them, he persisted in sending more.

Liu Chaoming told me to endure it, and I knew there was no other way. Li Rongchuan, as the crown prince, was someone I truly couldn’t afford to offend.

But he only grew more outrageous. One day, he even sent me a copy of Jinling Bedchamber Arts.

I was so furious my head nearly smoked. The next time Li Rongchuan harassed me, I cursed him out in front of the Maids of the mansion.

Unexpectedly, he turned the tables, retorting, “Second Sister, if you didn’t look at me with such shy, inviting eyes, why would I be so eager to approach you? I’m a crown prince-I’ve seen all kinds of women. No one would believe what you’re saying.”

I trembled with rage, clenching my fists tightly.

Though I was angry, tears streamed down uncontrollably.

Zhang Jincan appeared once again, curling her lip in disdain. “Zhang Qiuhe, don’t be so ungrateful. So many people cry and beg to marry into the Marquis Mansion, but not everyone is lucky enough to catch Cousin’s eye.”

I truly wanted to rush over and slap Zhang Jincan, but thinking of the consequences, I ultimately left in silence, fists clenched.

Whenever I cried under the moonlight, Liu Chaoming would suddenly appear, crouching before me and teasing, “Don’t cry, don’t cry, tears are pearls,” and would slip me a Sugar Cube to eat.

Back then, eating that sweet candy, I naively believed that everything would be fine, that at least there was hope for the future.