Chapter 36: Wang AnZhi

It was at Prince Liang, her uncle’s birthday feast that she next met Wang AnZhi after the incident, he was standing unmovingly on the spot, emitting an air of chill to keep people away from his side, but somehow, it hadn’t work for Chu YunShang, as she bustling near his side.

“Who is Ah Luan staring at?” Yan Jing asked softly, his words were gentle, as if he was plainly curious, but the painful squeeze on her hand said otherwise.

“Chu YunShang, of course.” Yan Luan chuckled stiffly as she relied to his question dryly.

To think that the prideful and arrogant Chu YunShang would willing fall for a man, who had shown her nothing but distain and indifference. To have her presence unwanted like this, but still, she had smiled as sweetly as she could while not leaving his side at all.

Chu YunShang’s stubbornness confuses her, was Wang AnZhi really worth it at the price of being the emperor’s queen?

Prince Liang was the third prince of the previous emperor, the younger brother of Princess YongKang. He was the only prince who hadn’t left for his own feudal estate, instead, chose to stay within the city. But though he doesn’t share the same mother as Princess YongKang, they were very close to each other, as compared to their other siblings, which was why Princess YongKang had arrived at the feast fairly early with her children in tow.

“Elder brother, I heard that uncle had hosted some party games, why don’t you go there? I’ll be hanging out with Jiang FuYuan.” As soon as they left their mother’s side, Yan Jing had been keeping a tight eye on her, especially the ‘reminder’ hand squeezing whenever she glanced at any men in the banquet hall, her hand is probably swollen now!

“Ah Luan, are you chasing me away so you can meet with that Wang AnZhi?” He scoffed at her words before leading her towards the lantern-filled bridge in the garden behind the banquet hall. He was magnificent, dressed in a royal purple gown and jade artifact that hanged from the side of his waist. His tall and handsome figure loomed over her lazily, like an overprotective brother that was on full alert to his surroundings just so his sister could walk in peace.

The sight was enough to send the entire group of noble girls behind him to stare dreamily at his actions.

Yan Luan pursed her lips tightly together, it’s true that she meant to meet with Wang AnZhi, and as expected, she wasn’t able to keep it a secret from him.

“Elder brother, he’s my savior and it wouldn’t be polite of me if I don’t thank him, since it’s my first time meeting him after the incident at the villa.”

Yan Jing glanced at her as she explained herself, her eyes sparkled from the lanterns on the bridge, the warm lights softening her facial expressions and enhanced her striking beauty perfectly, “I don’t see why not, but do mind yourself and not get too close to him, otherwise…”

Who was the one who said that women are prone to jealousy? Men are much more scarier when they are jealous! Yan Luan’s lips curled up slightly as stared at her handsome elder brother’s deep eyes, the unconcealable tenderness and dominance swirled within his eyes, causing her to pause in her steps instantly while her heart skipped a beat.

Meanwhile, the noble ladies following not far behind them were increasing by the second, and some were even brave enough to walk up to them with their baskets in tow, intending to offer Yan Jing their flowers.

To her surprise, Prince Liang’s young daughter, her cousin, was in the crowd too, her face filled with cheerful smiles as she tried to offer a flower to Yan Jing.

(TNote: For events such as these, men and women alike would offer flowers to people to their liking, to express that they’re interested in the person.
And as to how some might ask, why was the cousin allowed to show interest in their own relatives, this is because during the olden days, cousins from the father’s side are direct relatives, while cousins from the mother’s side are indirect relatives, hence it wouldn’t be counted as incest.
Furthermore, ancient families loved the ideas of cousins marrying – cousins from the mother’s side of the family to be exact, as this will bound the two families even tightly together, they call this ‘亲上加亲’, which means to cement old ties by marriage.)
TL:DR You can marry a cousin from your mother’s side of the family and it wouldn’t be counted as incest lmfao.

“Ah Cha, stop your nonsense.” Yan Jing snapped instantly at his young cousin’s actions.

Yan Luan, who had been preparing herself to enjoy watching a lovely young lady expressing her love and admiration for a handsome man, jumped at her brother’s sudden words, the gentle man that had gazed at her with tender eyes was gone in a blink of an eye.

“C…Cousin, I was going to give this to Little Sister Ah Luan…” Ah Cha JunZhu stuttered as she stared at Yan Jing’s gentle but cold face, quickly stuffing the flower into her hands before running back into the crowd.

The other noble ladies stared at the fleeing JunZhu in shock, instantly rearing back from Yan Jing.

Meanwhile, Yan Jing had made sure to remind his sister once more about keeping a distance from other men before making his way to his uncle’s location.

Yan Luan let out a long sigh of relief as she stared at her elder brother’s disappearing figure, it was obvious that he despised and had no patience for any of the noble ladies, it was as if he had spent up all of his tenderness and patience on her. She knew that his love and care for her came from deep within his heart, but she could not help but wonder if this was a good thing.

“I see that WengZhu is here.” A somewhat familiar voice sounded up from behind her, and she turned her head towards it curiously, only to see Wang AnZhi standing not far away from her while holding onto a beautifully bloomed white lotus.

His gloomy face had lit up instantly when he noticed her alone, and he had quickly made his way towards her.

“Were you looking for me?” Yan Luan nodded at him in greeting, his previous words had seemed like he had been searching for her the entire night.

“I’ve noticed WengZhu earlier before, but before I could call out in greeting, something else came up, and you were already gone when I returned. But it’s fortunate that I could still meet you.”

Wang AnZhi wasn’t tall and his presence, too, was not filled with dominance and a hint of murderous intent like Yan Jing, though his gloomy face was as handsome. He was now grinning at her cheerfully, his brown eyes lighting up as he stared at her face, the gloominess from before disappearing entirely from him.

“Such coincidence, I was actually searching for you too, you saved my life that day and I had to leave before sincerely thanking you for the help.” Yan Luan smiled gently at him, “How are your injuries healing?”

“They’re of no burden to me, and there’s no need to thank me for my actions, anyone would’ve did the same thing, I’m just glad that WengZhu is fine.”

Such a fine gentleman, Yan Luan thought in approval, it seems that the only thing Wang AnZhi had inherited from his father was that sly and gloomy handsome face, other than that, he was kind.

“WengZhu’s flower…” His words faded into nothingness as he stared at the flower in Yan Luan’s hands, today was Prince Liang’s birthday feast, and everyone, men and women alike, was allowed to offer flowers to their person of interest.

“Ah, Sister Ah Cha gave me this flower.”

Yan Luan wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but his eyes somewhat brightened up instantly at her words.

“I see, it was Ah Cha WengZhu…” He chuckled softly before pushing a white lotus right into her hand, “I passed by a pond filled entirely with white lotus, now that I think about it, it really does fit WengZhu’s gown today.”

“Eh?…” She raised her head up from the flower in her hand, intending to reply to his words, before she caught a figure standing right next to the pond.

It was Chu YunShang, and she was currently glaring viciously at the flower held in Yan Luan’s hand, her eyes seeping with poison as she stared daggers at her.

“Please do not misunderstand, I picked the flower randomly, it’s not that I picked it specifically for you…” Wang AnZhi explained nervously, not noticing the glaring Chu YunShang behind him.

Ignoring the furious glare, she giggled at his flustered words, it was obvious that he had intended to gift it to her, as he had been holding the flower as he searched for her.

Wait… Yan Luan’s eye grew wide suddenly as an unwanted thought flashed through her mind, Is he interested in me?!

All of a sudden, she felt as if the flower in her hand was scorching her intensely as dread filled through her.

“I see, thank you, it’s the thoughts that counts, but still, I cannot accept this from you.”

Ignoring the fact that Chu YunShang had been shooting poisonous daggers at her, she could not imagine how she would calm Yan Jing down later when he sees the new flower in her hand.

It’s difficult to calm down a jealous man, after all.

Wang AnZhi paused slightly at her words, confused at the sudden rejection as his face dimmed significantly, returning back into his usual gloomy expression while he took the white lotus from her shakily.

Yan Luan stared in silence at his desolated figure as he left in a hurry, it had somewhat reminded her of Ah Cha JunZhu, their escape looked similar after all…