"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I was simply distracted." Su Wanwan smiled demurely. "It struck me just now—there are all sorts of people in this world. Some minds truly go beyond our comprehension."
Prince Nalan Xiao's interest was piqued. "What do you think, Miss Su?"
Meeting the sharp gaze of the man beside her, Su Wanwan felt her face flush despite herself. She knew well how Prince Xiao operated—he was a man who valued status and propriety. "Wanwan dares not presume. A crow is still a crow. Even if it flies up a tree to perch beside a phoenix, it can never shed its lowly bones."
Her voice suddenly rose just loud enough for the next private room to hear. Jiang Yunting, sitting beside Su Yiyi, stiffened. My cousin is right next door?! He looked nervously at Su Yiyi, afraid her feelings would be hurt by such a pointed insult.
But the veiled young woman across from him remained completely unfazed, savoring the delicate pastries one bite at a time as if she hadn't heard a thing.
"You're right," Prince Xiao said casually. "What I can't stand the most are those who don't know their own place."
Jiang Yunting's face twisted. When did my cousin become close enough with Prince Xiao to be sitting in the same private room?!
"Cousin, why don't we move to a quieter room?" he asked quickly. "It might disturb Third Cousin's mood if things get noisy…"
"Oh? Cousin, are you also so disgusted by some people's ridiculous words that you've lost your appetite?" Su Yiyi's sweet voice drifted over playfully.
Nalan Xiao's eyes narrowed. As a martial cultivator, his hearing was far sharper than the average person's. That crazy girl really is here!
He turned slightly toward the partition wall. There, he could sense a girl lazily resting her chin in her palm, eyes sparkling with amusement, carrying an otherworldly charm that made it hard to look away.
"N-no, not at all," Jiang Yunting stammered. "Yunting just thinks it's a little noisy here." He suddenly remembered—Su Yiyi had forgotten many things. Maybe her obsession with Prince Xiao had vanished as well?
Su Wanwan's eyes flickered with disdain before she adopted a pitiful expression, pretending not to hear the voices next door. "Your Highness, you might not know, but my Third Sister's reputation has been utterly destroyed. I once advised her not to draw attention to herself. She even snuck out once and scared a passing child!"
"Oh? Truly?" Nalan Xiao said, feigning shock. "How disgraceful."
"Did I ever scare a child?" Su Yiyi leaned in close to Jiang Yunting's ear. The proximity made the young man blush, and he quickly averted his gaze. "Hm? Yunting's never heard of such a thing."
Su Yiyi immediately understood that Su Wanwan was mocking her—saying that it wasn't her fault for being ugly, but it was a crime to show her face in public and scare others.
She's stabbing me from behind again! A glint of mischief flashed in Su Yiyi's eyes. If it's a battle of rumors and public humiliation… I've still got some tricks up my sleeve.
"Cousin, let me tell you a little secret. But you have to promise not to tell anyone—especially Third Sister!"
A secret?!
The two neighboring private rooms immediately fell silent.
Jiang Yunting's face turned serious, and even Su Wanwan subconsciously held her breath. What could this crazy girl possibly have on me? If it's serious enough… maybe we can use it against her!
"Well, it's about our eldest cousin—she has this habit of always going to the bathroom right in the middle of a meal!"
PFFT—! Someone from the next room sprayed tea out of their mouth.
"You… you're speaking nonsense!" Su Wanwan never expected such a random attack. She stood up abruptly, her refined image crumbling in an instant. Her voice rang out clearly through the flower boat, and murmurs began to rise.
"Isn't that the eldest lady from Xiangfu?"
"Yes, who's she arguing with?"
Su Wanwan's heart dropped. No! I wanted to appear gentle and refined in front of His Highness, but now… now I've made a scene because of that idiot's provocation!
She bit her lip and lowered her head pitifully. Her eyes grew red as she leaned slightly toward Prince Xiao. "Your Highness…"
Fortunately, Nalan Xiao didn't seem bothered. He simply patted her shoulder gently. "Why let vulgar people affect your mood?"
Vulgar?! Su Yiyi rolled her eyes. She had even used the most refined way to describe someone's flatulence! That was already showing mercy.
But now? No more mercy.
"You don't know," Su Yiyi said sweetly, "my elder sister has all sorts of odd little habits. She drools when she sleeps, puts her legs up when she sits, and never washes her hands after using the toilet…"
"You—you… Shut up!" Su Wanwan was losing control. The more Su Yiyi spoke, the more flustered she became. His Highness is listening! What must he think of me now?! I never did those things!
Su Yiyi grinned as she covered her mouth, her eyes gleaming with mischief. Jiang Yunting was visibly delighted by her playful demeanor.
Back in the day, his Third Cousin never dared talk back to the eldest, but now? It was honestly quite entertaining.
"Cousin, did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Jiang Yunting played along perfectly.
Su Yiyi leaned in and whispered dramatically, "Seems like a pheasant's slipped in among the phoenixes, trying to crow with the flock. So noisy."
It was a direct jab at Su Wanwan—a fake phoenix desperate to fly above her station.
"Your Highness, please listen—this… this is outrageous!" Su Wanwan's voice wavered, her beautiful face filled with helpless grievance.
Nalan Xiao frowned slightly. "Don't worry. I'll take care of it. I won't let such uncouth women offend Miss Su."
A moment later, he sent word through Steward Bai to remove the vulgar woman from the boat. Such crude people shouldn't be allowed to tarnish a poetry gathering!
As he spoke, he gently patted Su Wanwan's shoulder. Taking the chance, she leaned against him like a fragile bird, sniffling softly. With her beloved's comfort, she felt much better.
"Thank you, Your Highness. You're always so considerate."
Her voice was soft and sweet like honey, and her eyes carried a touch of pride—as if to say: You see? I have Prince Xiao's protection. Let's see what you can do now, you ugly freak!
At that moment, Su Yiyi narrowed her eyes.
Prince Xiao, arrogant and petty. Su Wanwan, shallow and pretentious… Truly a perfect match.
"Cousin," Su Yiyi said cheerfully, "remember this: flaunting your love life leads to an early grave!"
Jealous, are you?! Su Wanwan's gaze turned venomous. As long as I live, I'll never let that madwoman get close to His Highness!