Chapter 046 Purely Displeased by Her!

“What are you holding?” Wu Tan sat up, turning over and stretching her shoulders.

Apricot hesitated, worry evident in her expression, before handing over the two porcelain bottles in her hands. “The guard from Prince Sheng’s residence just delivered these. He said the prince ordered him to bring them—trauma wine.”

Wu Tan took one of the bottles, didn’t bother to open it, but examined the bottle repeatedly before tossing it back to Apricot. “I don’t use things from her. Go to Doctor Xu later and get me some medicine.”

Apricot was puzzled. “Miss, are you worried there might be something wrong with this medicinal wine? Prince Sheng surely wouldn’t…”

She couldn’t bring herself to say it outright—

Would a dignified prince really stoop so low as to poison a mere girl like you?

“I’m not suspicious of him!” Wu Tan rolled her eyes, reaching for her outer robe. “But that woman named Feng in his residence—she’s not trustworthy. Better to be careful!” She glanced at the bottle again. “If she slipped something into it, she wouldn’t dare kill me outright, but if it made my wound never heal… The injury is on my body. Am I supposed to strip and complain everywhere? I refuse to suffer in silence!”

She tossed the bottle aside.

Apricot was frightened by her words, put down the other bottle, and helped her dress, still uncertain. “But… I don’t think she would dare!”

“Whether she dares or not, she certainly doesn’t like me!” Wu Tan replied.

Call it paranoia, or timidity… She’d never let herself be taken advantage of when she could avoid it. If she must die, it certainly wouldn’t be at the hands of such a woman—how humiliating.

As they spoke, Orange entered from outside. “Miss, you’re awake? The Old Madam sent someone to invite you to dinner!”

“I understand. Fetch some water, I’ll wash my face and go!” Wu Tan replied.

She was truly hungry now.

At noon, at Xiao Yue’s, the food hadn’t suited her, and with all the noblewomen present, she couldn’t eat freely. Add to that the irritation from Xiao Yue and Xiao Yun, she hadn’t eaten her fill. Now, hunger gnawed at her.

Orange went out to fetch water.

Wu Tan sat before the dressing table, letting Apricot do her hair.

Apricot glanced at the two bottles tossed on the bed, then remembered the events at Prince Sheng’s residence, still unsettled. “Miss… forgive me for saying too much, but how could you, an unmarried young lady, speak those words before Prince Sheng today? Even if your intentions were good…”

Wu Tan pursed her lips, interrupting, “Who said I had good intentions?”

“Ah?” Apricot was stunned. “Weren’t you reminding Prince Sheng…”

Wu Tan sneered, “That woman is too annoying! She gave me attitude, acted superior—what is she!”

“You did it just for that?” Apricot held the comb, dumbfounded. “Just for that? You deliberately made trouble for her in front of Prince Sheng?”

Oh, dear ancestor, with your petty complaints, it’s no wonder she wants to poison you—there’s hardly any logical error in that.

Wu Tan was unconcerned, rummaging through the jewelry box with one hand. “Exactly! I just don’t like her!”

“Miss!” Apricot finally couldn’t help but lecture her. “Can’t you bear it? This is Prince Sheng’s residence…”

She was cut off again as Wu Tan retorted, “That’s precisely why! We were in Prince Sheng’s residence, not her home. Why should I endure her?”

Apricot: “…”

Fine. Better to stay quiet—her mistress always has her own logic. If anyone’s to blame, it’s that woman named Feng, who didn’t know her place and started trouble with this little ancestor.

*

Meanwhile, in the Eastern Palace, Xiao Yun returned from training, sweat dampening his body. He wanted to bathe, but the day’s events at Prince Sheng’s residence left him uneasy, so he went straight to the study.

“Greetings, Your Highness!” The man dressed as a guard knelt in salute.

“Rise!” Xiao Yun walked past him, going straight to sit behind his desk. “Have you investigated what I asked you to?”

The man knelt on one knee, not rising, and respectfully replied, “On the fifteenth, at the West Street temple fair, Prince Sheng said he wanted some excitement after being away from the capital. That day, the heir to Marquis Dingyuan brought Miss Wu—Second Miss Wu—to that street. It seems they met under the archway as they were leaving in the afternoon. The stalkers were sent by His Majesty, and I went to ask them. They said both sides exchanged only a few polite words, nothing more. The next day, Prince Sheng sent an invitation, but there’s been no further contact.”

At today’s luncheon in Prince Sheng’s residence, Xiao Yun had been present throughout. He was sure Wu Qinglin and Xiao Yue exchanged only a couple of polite sentences and nothing more.

Between the two, there seemed to be no real acquaintance.

Xiao Yun frowned in thought.

Little Yuzi came in with tea, saw the Prince’s troubled expression, and cautiously approached, whispering, “Your Highness, I’ve heard something as well. It seems there really isn’t any connection between Prince Sheng and Marquis Dingyuan’s residence…”

Xiao Yun glanced sideways, questioning.

Little Yuzi explained, “On the day Prince Sheng returned to the capital, he said he saw you arguing with Miss Wu. I just went to ask the guards on duty that day—they said Prince Sheng borrowed an umbrella from Second Miss Wu while waiting at the second palace gate. So… perhaps today Miss Wu went to Prince Sheng’s residence just to thank him in person.”

He meant to comfort Xiao Yun, but instead, Xiao Yun let out a cold laugh. “Borrow an umbrella? Since when did my imperial uncle develop a saintly heart?”

And if it was only to thank him, why would Wu Tan bother to conceal the matter from him?

The kneeling guard, seeing Xiao Yun’s lingering anger, hesitated before saying, “Your Highness, there may truly be no connection with Marquis Dingyuan. Before coming, I received word that Prince Sheng’s personal guard again delivered trauma wine to the Wu residence, specifically stating it was sent to Second Miss Wu.”

Miss Wu is not unattractive, and Prince Sheng is young and full of vigor. If there were mutual feelings, it would not be surprising.

He knew nothing about the prince’s previous marriage proposal, but sensed that after speaking, the young prince’s anger only grew.

Little Yuzi desperately gave him warning glances, so he quickly bowed. “If Your Highness has no further orders, I will take my leave.”

Xiao Yun grunted, and the guard hurried out.

Little Yuzi originally wanted to say more, but thought better of it—

My prince, your fate doesn’t match hers, so why persist? Even if you just want to spite your imperial uncle and snatch her away, it’s not possible. No matter how unhappy you are, that’s how it must be!

After Wu Tan finished dinner with the Old Madam, she returned to her room, where Orange had already prepared her bed.

Apricot went inside to fetch her nightgown, only to see the two small bottles neatly placed on the bedside cabinet by Orange.

－－－－－－Side note－－－－－－

Public chapters always end in such a frustrating manner—boohoo~

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