noffsinger Chapter 458 Zhiyan's Sweet Story (Part 1)
Chapter 458 Zhiyan's Sweet Story (Part 1)
"You scoundrel! This is outrageous!"
After learning the whole story, Lin Zhiyan was so angry that he slammed his fist on the table and stood up.
Although he appeared angry, a hint of barely suppressed gleam shone deep in his eyes.
A cool, excited feeling mingled with the anger in his heart.
"Father, Mother, I'm going out for a bit."
Before Gao Mengli and Lin Xi could respond, he grabbed an outer robe and draped it over his shoulders before hurrying out of the house.
Just as he arrived outside the mansion, he saw Dou Xiaoxiao's carriage drive up from the side. The curtain was half-lifted, and he could catch a glimpse of the man's plain white sleeves, but he quickly pulled it back down.
Only when the sound of horses' hooves faded into the distance did he cautiously peek out.
"Young Master, what are you looking at?"
Butler Zhao's voice rang out from above him, startling him so much that he froze and quickly covered Butler Zhao's mouth, "Shh! Uncle Zhao, don't speak."
Steward Zhao groaned as his mouth was covered. Lin Zhiyan relaxed a little, but still whispered, "Uncle Zhao, don't make a sound. Let me see what kind of trouble the Crown Prince is up to."
Butler Zhao nodded quickly, his eyes immediately blazing with gossip.
The two peeked through the wall and saw Dou Xiaoxiao lift the curtain and get out of the car, with Su Wan by his side.
Su Wan, dressed in a plain-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), walked to the vermilion gate of the Mu residence and raised her hand to tidy her hair.
With a slight flick of her wrist, she deliberately revealed the white jade pendant at her waist.
Before long, servants from the Mu family led Mu Tiantian out.
She wore a moon-white silk dress, and there was still a hint of lingering grievance in her eyes.
Upon seeing Shawn Dou, a hint of tenderness still welled up in her eyes.
But when this gentle touch met the jade pendant at Su Wan's waist, it froze instantly, and her expression turned icy cold.
Dou Xiaoxiao stepped forward, his voice deep and serious, “Sweetie, Wan’er was abrupt and inappropriate in her words earlier. I brought her here specifically to apologize to you.”
Su Wan curtsied, a faint smile playing on her lips. As she bent over, her waist tilted slightly, making the jade pendant even more noticeable. "Princess, I spoke without thinking and said something inappropriate. I hope you will be magnanimous and not hold it against me."
Mu Tiantian didn't say anything, but just stared blankly at the jade pendant at Su Wan's waist.
She specially obtained this jade pendant from the temple on the day the Crown Prince went to war, and personally handed it to him.
At this moment, it was on Su Wan's waist.
Was her affection so easily given to someone else...?
She looked up at Shawn Dou, hoping he would say something to explain.
Dou Xiaoxiao didn't notice Su Wan's deliberate actions, nor did he notice Mu Tiantian's expression. He simply said, "Tiantian, this is her fault. If you're not angry, have her serve you a cup of tea, and we'll let bygones be bygones."
Seeing this, Su Wan's smile deepened.
Just as she was about to speak again, Mu Tiantian looked up first.
She suppressed the bitterness in her eyes: "Your Highness is too kind. It was nothing serious, so there's no need for apologizing."
"You can leave now, and don't ever come back again."
Su Wan's smile froze instantly, as if she hadn't expected Mu Tiantian to be so direct, and a hint of surprise flashed across her eyes.
She quickly concealed it, her face now showing a hint of grievance as she timidly looked at Dou Xiaoxiao.
Dou Xiaoxiao was also stunned, his brows furrowed slightly, and his tone was filled with confusion and frustration: "Sweetie, it's just an apology, why get angry?"
You've always been magnanimous, why are you holding onto this so tightly?
Upon hearing these words, the last trace of warmth in Mu Tiantian's eyes suddenly turned cold.
A faint, self-deprecating smile tugged at the corners of his lips, but the smile didn't reach his eyes at all.
"I've always been generous?"
"Does Your Highness think that I should accept Miss Su's offense with a smile?"
Is it only magnanimous of me to see her standing before me, wearing the jade pendant I personally gave you, and apologizing?
Dou Xiaoxiao was speechless at her question, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Su Wan grabbing his sleeve.
With her eyes slightly reddening, she frowned and said, "It's just a jade pendant, why make such a fuss about it?"
"Wan'er saved my life, and she refused all rewards except for this jade pendant."
"Is my life not worth as much as a jade pendant? Your petty calculations only make you seem narrow-minded."
"Ha ha……"
Mu Tiantian staggered back a step and burst out laughing.
His laughter was tinged with bitterness. "Your Highness certainly knows how to cherish a beautiful woman."
"Your Highness has forgotten that this jade pendant was given to you by me, Mu Tiantian. It is a token of my heartfelt gratitude, not something you would use to do a favor."
Is her sincerity just going to be laid bare for others to trample on?
Su Wan then sobbed softly, "Miss Mu, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have accepted His Highness's jade pendant and upset you. I'll take it off right now..."
As she spoke, she made a gesture to remove the jade pendant, but Dou Xiaoxiao raised his hand to stop her, saying, "No need. There's no reason to take back something I gave you."
This scene, in Mu Tiantian's eyes, became a boulder that crushed the last string in her heart.
Suddenly, she stopped feeling angry and sore, and only felt cold all over.
All those tender words and promises of "keeping it in my heart" were so fleeting, no match for a timid cry from someone else, no match for his words, "It's just a jade pendant."
He was the crown prince, and she could accept having countless women around her in the future, but she couldn't accept that her feelings were being trampled on like this.
This person's heart has already strayed, so why should she give up everything and enter that cannibalistic palace?
Suddenly, she felt relieved.
Anything that seems amiss before the wedding should be treated as a happy occasion.
Mu Tiantian lowered her eyes and took a deep breath.
When I looked up again, there was only deathly stillness in my eyes.
Even the way he looked at Shawn Dou was like he was looking at a stranger.
"Yes, I was petty and calculating."
Mu Tiantian's tone was flat, revealing no emotion whatsoever. "Your Highness is right. I shouldn't have kept harping on this."
Seeing that she had given in, Dou Xiaoxiao's expression softened slightly. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Mu Tiantian continue, "In that case, I will not upset Your Highness again in the future."
"I treasured the things His Highness gave me in the past, but now it seems I made a mistake in keeping them."
"Pearl, fetch it."
There's no need to keep these things anymore.
With red eyes, Zhu'er responded and quickly turned to enter the mansion.
A moment later, he came out carrying a carved wooden box and handed it to Dou Xiaoxiao, saying, "Your Highness, the item is returned to its rightful owner."
Dou Xiaoxiao's face suddenly darkened, and he slapped the wooden box away, scattering the contents all over the ground. "Mu Tiantian, haven't you made enough trouble?"
It was just a casual remark, and you're bringing this up now?
Dou Xiaoxiao's chest heaved violently, and he trembled with anger.
Anger and a hint of resentment at being betrayed surged in his eyes, his usual gentle composure gone: "Mu Tiantian, do you really think I have no temper?"
"For the past two years, I have been guarding the northern pass, and even amidst the flames of war, I still think of sending you letters. But what about you?"
Not a single reply!
I initially thought you were too busy to find the time, but now it seems you have absolutely no feelings for me whatsoever!
His words were piercing, turning his longing for the border and his anticipation of returning to the capital into resentment at this moment.
Mu Tiantian raised her eyes and replied coldly, "Just because I didn't reply, does that mean I'm heartless? Dou Xiaoxiao, do you know that I didn't receive a single one of those letters?"
Who is truly heartless?
Not only did he not write the letter, but he also brought a woman back to provoke her, as if she were someone who would just accept anything?
But at this moment, Dou Xiaoxiao had already lost his mind and wouldn't listen to a single explanation.
He glanced at the broken pieces of his heart scattered on the ground, then looked at her indifferent face.
A mixture of anger and disappointment welled up inside her, and she blurted out resolute words: "No need to explain! You've long since stopped caring about me anyway, and now, using Su Wan's matter as an excuse, you might as well tear off all pretense of civility!"
"Very well, I, Dou Xiaoxiao, am not the kind of person to pester. Since you are so heartless, then so be it."
From this day forward, we are severing all ties and will have no further connection whatsoever!
"Exactly what I want!"
"Pearl, see the guest out!"
Sweetie snorted coldly, turned around and went into the mansion.
"Your Highness, please leave!" Pearl, being very perceptive, began to shoo them away.
"Don't regret it!"
Dou Xiao looked at the tightly closed gates of the mansion, then turned and boarded the carriage.
Upon seeing this, Su Wan quickly followed.