Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Now that Pei Heng was disabled, the eyes that once watched him shifted toward the other princes.

Overnight, he went from a frontrunner in the struggle for the throne to a yesterday’s man.

At the same time, the sympathy, pity, and rumors surrounding him increased significantly.

I was dragged into it as well, becoming the most pitied girl in the capital. I could even enjoy discounts when I went out shopping.

Because of this, I went out for strolls more and more happily.

Someone who couldn’t stand the sight of me blocked my path at the Treasure Pavilion.

“Song Yuhui, Prince Rui is still ill. Why aren’t you accompanying him instead of having the heart to buy things here? I don’t think your heart is with the Prince at all.”

The speaker was Zhao Sanniang, the daughter of Minister Zhao.

She had met Pei Heng at the same time I did, but his eyes had only ever landed on me.

Later, when Pei Heng and I became engaged, she delayed her own marriage prospects until now. I heard she refused to give up until she saw Pei Heng and me officially married with her own eyes.

I gave her a flat look, feeling a bit of contempt for her.

I no longer had a “love brain,” but she certainly did.

I whispered softly into her ear, “Do you like Prince Rui?”

“I don’t! What nonsense are you talking about?” Zhao Sanniang was both embarrassed and annoyed, stomping her feet in anger.

I continued with a devilish whisper.

“You do like him. You stare at me every day just because you want to see if my relationship with Prince Rui is good or not.”

“You take every opportunity to slander me because you’re jealous. You wonder why the one by Prince Rui’s side is me and not you.”

“You love him but don’t dare to speak up. You’re a coward who only dares to act tough in front of me. If you’re so brave, why don’t you tell Prince Rui you like him?”

“As long as you dare to say it, I’ll give Prince Rui up to you.”

Zhao Sanniang was shocked. “Really? You’d be willing to let him go?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? Prince Rui is disfigured, paralyzed, and can’t father children. Only a fool would want him.”

Zhao Sanniang flew into a rage. “I won’t allow you to speak of Prince Rui that way! He will definitely get better.”

I sneered and reached out to turn Zhao Sanniang around, making her clearly see Pei Heng sitting in his wheelchair behind her.

Zhao Sanniang panicked and tried to flee.

I held her down, forcing her to stay still.

This despicable person only dared to spout nonsense around me. Today, I was going to make her direct that nonsense to Pei Heng.

“Say it! Is your love for Prince Rui so shameful that it can’t be shown?”

Zhao Sanniang was incensed.

Mustering her courage, she closed her eyes and said with a death-defying tremble, “Your Highness… this servant… this servant admires you.”

Pei Heng slowly removed the mask from his face and said calmly, “I am like this. Do you still like me?”

The red sores on his face were quite large, and some areas were oozing pus. He looked filthy and terrifying.

Zhao Sanniang’s body stiffened.

I laughed in her ear. “You’re so brave. I’ll go to the Empress right now and explain that I’m giving Prince Rui to you. Your love for him has moved even me.”

Zhao Sanniang grabbed my hand tightly.

“No, this servant was joking. Please forgive me, Your Highness!”

She ran away as if she had wings on her feet.

Coward.