Chapter 9: 第九章

Chapter 9. "Xi'er, let's go! We're never coming back to this godforsaken place again?!" Luo Wanqing swung her bundle onto her shoulder and turned to leave with Xi'er.

"Miss, slow down!" Xi'er followed behind with a little jog.

The two of them stormed out of the Prince's mansion in a huff. Standing at the entrance, they turned back to glare angrily at the large, gold-leafed characters on the mansion's gatehouse: *Prince Han's Mansion*.

"Pah! Even if you sent an eight-person sedan chair to invite your Great Auntie here, she wouldn't give you the face! Never coming back!" After saying this, she turned and kicked the mansion's main gate before walking away.

Not far from the mansion gate sat a silver carriage. With its magnificent body, its dragon-patterned white horses, and its silver saddles and ornaments, one could tell at a glance that its owner was either incredibly wealthy or of high status.

A silver-white figure pulled back a curtain and sat elegantly into the carriage. However, the curtain was not lowered; instead, deep eyes gazed indifferently at the two women before him. Every movement Luo Wanqing had just made had fallen clearly into those detached eyes, sparking a flicker of interest.

"Shall we depart, Your Highness?"

A personal attendant, having read his master's thoughts, approached to seek his opinion.

"No rush."

Luo Wanqing led Xi'er down the steps with large strides. Having nowhere else to go, she could only return home. A married daughter being divorced and sent back to her parental home—one could only imagine how that felt. This was a world where men were held in high esteem and women were lowly; once a woman was divorced, her life was effectively over. Not only would men look down on her, but even other women would despise her.

The rules were set by men, and women were their accomplices. Although Luo Wanqing didn't care about such things, it was ultimately not a glorious situation. Furthermore, she was an impostor; the real Luo Wanqing had committed suicide in the lake. She didn't know anyone here! Once she arrived at someone's home, there was no guarantee she wouldn't make a mistake. If she recognized the wrong husband, what if she became a laughingstock?

She walked with her head bowed, lost in thought, until she brushed past the carriage.

The carriage caught up to her at a leisurely pace. "Where is Imperial Sister-in-law heading?! Shall this Prince give you a ride?!" The voice was sweet and mellow, exuding an incomparable nobility.

Luo Wanqing looked up and caught a glimpse of that face, which was as handsome as a celestial being.

"Sorry, you have the wrong person. I am not your Imperial Sister-in-law. Your Imperial Sister-in-law is still inside those gates. Don't call me that again in the future! Watch out, or I'll give you a beating!" Having said that, she turned her face away, not bothering to look at him again. He was the brother of that bastard Third Prince; why was she acting so intimate with him?

Long Qiyou's handsome brows furrowed slightly, and his deep eyes were tinged with a thick layer of amusement. Just a moment ago, this woman was still clinging to his embrace, talking about having children and saying that if he didn't touch her, she wouldn't be able to conceive. How could she turn so cold and aloof in the blink of an eye? Had she truly damaged her brain in the fall?

"Fine, fine! I won't call you Imperial Sister-in-law. I know a little bit about your business with my Imperial Brother. I'll call you Wanqing. How about this: I'll escort you home? If you walk like this, you won't reach the Censorate Mansion until after dark. Aren't you afraid of encountering villains in the dark?" Long Qiyou smiled faintly. His smile, as gentle as jade, was as clean, bright, and dazzling as spring snow, making it impossible to look away.

Luo Wanqing suddenly felt a rush of heat on her face. Her jade-like cheeks gradually blushed a faint red, making her look as beautiful as a dew-covered flower—as elegant as a lotus in autumn or a plum blossom in spring, with a charm that carried the essence of springtime. Her heart beat like a drum. She took a deep breath but said nothing, nor did she agree.

"Miss, why don't we just take the carriage? It really is quite far. If we keep walking like this, we probably won't get home until the middle of the night." Xi'er looked at her pleadingly. It really was a long way!