Chapter 176 It Will Be Over Soon

Shen Nanyuan: "..."

Gao Xueluo paused: "Forget it, I might as well just wait and see when that wooden-headed Liu Yuli finally figures things out!"

She took a sip of tea to moisten her throat and began talking to Shen Nanyuan about Liu Yuli. Although she sounded like she was complaining, every word was laced with deep affection. After listening for a moment, Shen Nanyuan found it quite interesting, but suddenly, footsteps echoed nearby. Gao Xueluo's voice cut off abruptly, and both of them turned their heads simultaneously. The smile on Shen Nanyuan's face stiffened slightly.

A wave of aversion instantly rose in her heart. She and Gao Xueluo stood up together, curtsied, and lowered their heads in a salute: "Your Highness."

Gu Shengyu’s eyes narrowed slightly, his cold gaze falling upon Shen Nanyuan. His tone lacked its former hypocritical warmth, filled instead with chilling frost.

"Judging by the County Princess's expression, you certainly didn't expect to run into this prince?"

Indeed, she had not expected it.

She had assumed that, given the Second Prince's pride, he would avoid showing himself before her entirely.

She kept her head lowered in silence, wondering if the Second Prince possessed enough self-awareness to roll far away. Immediately afterward, she heard Gu Shengyu's voice continue: "Thanks to the County Princess, this prince has lost many things."

"..." A wave of irritation surged in Shen Nanyuan's heart. "If Your Highness had never done those things, I suppose this would never have happened, nor would Your Highness have lost anything."

Gu Shengyu's expression grew even colder, seething with profound anger: "I never knew the County Princess harbored such deep schemes, yet you managed to outmaneuver me."

"Was it not Your Highness who was overly conceited?" Shen Nanyuan raised her head, her eyes clear and calm, neither servile nor overbearing. "You believed everything was within your absolute grasp, and that everyone could be deceived by you. The mistakes Your Highness made should not be shifted onto this subject's daughter."

She continued: "If Your Highness possesses any sense of responsibility, you should bring Wu Miaofu—who is still waiting bitterly for you outside the palace—into the palace walls, sparing her from being so utterly helpless that she has to seek help from the Defense State Duke's Manor. Doing otherwise will only make the common people feel that Your Highness..."

She parted her lips slightly, pronouncing each word distinctly: "...is not a good person."

"You!" The eunuch’s shrill voice suddenly spiked. "Does the County Princess know what crime it is to commit lèse-majesté!"

He only dared to shout without daring to step forward. Gu Shengyu glared darkly at Shen Nanyuan, his expression terrifyingly grim.

Gao Xueluo felt a twinge of fear and gently tugged at Shen Nanyuan's sleeve. Shen Nanyuan glanced back, shaking her head slightly to reassure her that everything was fine.

The Second Prince had now lost all his influence and dared not lay a hand on her.

Lost in thought for a moment, Gu Shengyu suddenly chuckled, though his eyes remained sinister and deeply unsettling.

"No matter."

He said indifferently: "The County Princess must think you have already shaken off this prince? What a pity, for this prince has never once thought of letting you go."

This remark gave Shen Nanyuan a sudden chill, raising goosebumps all over her skin. Frowning, she raised her head: "Your Highness need not be so obsessed. Sometimes, taking a step back means opening up a vast new horizon."

"Why should this prince back down?"

A fierce and ruthless look surfaced on Gu Shengyu's face: "It was supposed to be mine in the first place!"

Shen Nanyuan pressed her lips together, a vague sense of unease coiling deep inside her heart like creeping vines: "Your Highness's obsession runs too deep; it is by no means a good thing for you..."

As her voice trailed off, another sound suddenly echoed from nearby, cutting off what she was about to say: "Imperial Elder Brother."

The familiar voice instantly allowed Shen Nanyuan to set down the burden in her heart. With a sigh of relief, she and Gao Xueluo shifted slightly to the side and bowed in greeting: "Third Highness."

Xiao Yan's calm gaze swept lightly across Shen Nanyuan before he continued: "What brings Imperial Elder Brother here?"

The look in Gu Shengyu's eyes tightened slightly. With a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, he replied: "And what brings Third Younger Brother here?"

"I was merely passing by and happened to catch sight of Imperial Elder Brother." Xiao Yan's gaze narrowed slightly, and he continued with a trace of chilliness, "As far as I know, Imperial Elder Brother has already annulled your engagement with the County Princess. Isn't acting like this rather unbefitting of proper etiquette?"

Gu Shengyu stated: "Whether it befits etiquette or not seems to have nothing to do with Third Younger Brother."

"Yet it is quite clear the County Princess does not wish to see you. Was Imperial Elder Brother always someone so fond of coercing others?"

Gu Shengyu frowned, his dark eyes brimming with suppressed emotion: "I never knew before that Third Younger Brother was someone so fond of meddling in other people's affairs."

Xiao Yan looked at him calmly. Although he said nothing, the mildness on the surface faded away, replaced by a brooding cruelty and coldness that surrounded him. A chilling bleakness churned in the depths of his eyes, making even Shen Nanyuan's scalp tingle slightly.

An intensely oppressive aura washed over the area. Unable to help herself, Gao Xueluo lowered her head, shuffled closer to Shen Nanyuan, and grabbed onto her clothes.

Xiao Yan let out a mocking laugh: "Could it be that Imperial Elder Brother is feeling unreconciled?"

He bowed his head slightly, his gaze flashing with cold brilliance: "Yet even if Imperial Elder Brother regrets it now, it is too late. His Majesty long ago issued an imperial decree annulling the marriage between you and the County Princess. If General Shen were to find out and report this to His Majesty, Imperial Elder Brother might find himself punished all over again."

He smiled: "Imperial Elder Brother only finished being punished not long ago, which truly gives me cause for concern."

"..." The composure on Gu Shengyu's face faltered slightly. Forcing a smile, he said, "To think Third Younger Brother cares about me so much."

He knew better than anyone how much the Defense State Duke's Manor loathed him now.

Shen Siyuan should indeed be returning from the Empress's side very soon.

"Naturally," Xiao Yan said. "We are blood brothers, Imperial Elder Brother."

Shen Nanyuan clearly caught the ridicule hidden within those words. Lowering her gaze, she heard Gu Shengyu's voice reach her: "Third Younger Brother perhaps holds some misunderstanding toward this prince. I was merely taking a stroll and happened to run into the County Princess."

A flash of murky shadow crossed the depths of his eyes: "In that case, this prince will take his leave."

Xiao Yan nodded with a smile: "Safe journey, Imperial Elder Brother."

Watching him turn and seeing his figure disappear from view, Xiao Yan's gaze shifted and finally fell upon Shen Nanyuan. The chill and overt hostility from a moment before vanished, replaced now by a lingering, tender warmth: "Do not wander about these next few days. Stay right here, do you hear me?"

Shen Nanyuan looked slightly bewildered: "Why? Is something going to happen?"

"No," Xiao Yan replied. "I am simply afraid the Second Prince might seek you out as he did today, so do not run around."

Shen Nanyuan nodded with a half-understanding expression.

Xiao Yan stepped forward, reached out to gently touch her face, and straightened the pearl hairpin atop her head: "Everything will pass very soon."

Shen Nanyuan: "..."

Long after he had departed, Shen Nanyuan remained lost in thought over his final remark.

Perhaps Xiao Yan was about to be officially named Crown Prince very soon.