You're the one who wants to marry a mistress, and I'm marrying someone else, yet you still

Shen Yanzhi used to think that Xie Wanru had taken his mother's place, which was why his mother had to raise him and his sister outside for so many years.

But once he entered the palace and met people and things he had never seen before, he realized that if Xie Wanru were his birth mother, he would also be kept in the palace and would be enjoying unimaginable favor.

What doesn't he want? This Shen mansion is nothing compared to it.

Moreover, Xie Wanru had once risked her life to save him, and afterwards she never mentioned the life-saving grace again, so his feelings for Xie Wanru had long since changed.

So the initial agreement to find a legal wife for his biological mother was no longer so important; in his heart, things had already subtly changed.

Although Xie Wanru was not present, she knew most of the details of what happened at the Shen residence, since her junior brother Xu Jing was still living there.

Shen Cong'an was extremely polite to Xu Jing, and would even occasionally ask Xu Jing to teach him a move or two so that he could defend himself.

Xie Wanru accompanied the Empress to enjoy the flowers and stroll in the garden, then warmed up and chatted about everyday things. She spent a period of peace that she hadn't experienced in a long time. In the palace, she didn't need to be on guard, as the Empress always had her back.

"I heard that you set up a porridge shop at the Xie residence several months ago. You have really grown up now."

The Empress pulled Xie Wanru back to the palace. The weather was unbearably cold at the end of the year, so she only went out for a short while each day and spent most of her time in the room with a charcoal fire.

“My father and brothers are away from home all year round, and there is no one in the mansion. We need to keep the Xie mansion lively. Moreover, this winter seems to be particularly long.”

Xie Wanru did not take credit; she did these things with her own ulterior motives.

"Yes, hopefully the ice and snow will melt in time after the New Year."

The snow disaster in the North has caused unrest in both the government and the public.

As night fell, another snowfall occurred. Xie Wanru stayed in her room with Dongzhu, counting the imperial gifts they had received over the past few days. Some were bestowed by the Emperor and Empress, and some were even sent by the concubines of various palaces to curry favor with the Emperor.

“Miss, I have compiled all the item names into a book, and there will be no mistakes.”

Dongzhu was full of confidence, her eyes shining.

The Empress and the Emperor have been incredibly generous this time; the gifts they've bestowed are more than the dowry a noblewoman would receive when she gets married.

"miser."

Xie Wanru couldn't help but chuckle when she saw Dongzhu's gaze.

The two, mistress and servant, were very happy together. It seemed as if they had come to the palace not to accompany the Empress, but to buy goods and ask for rewards. Xie Wanru originally only intended to show weakness to the Empress and leave a pitiful image of her being extremely wronged.

When she proposes a divorce, the Empress and the Emperor won't object too much. She never expected so many unexpected surprises, and she just happens to be a little short of money.

After ordering, Xie Wanru felt a bit bored, so she went out for a walk with Dongzhu. The Empress was with the Emperor, so she didn't want to disturb her.

As luck would have it, just as they stepped outside, they bumped into Xiao Yan, dressed in a white robe, brocade and jade belt, with unparalleled elegance.

Xie Wanru was no longer interested in him. She glanced at him, then lowered her eyes and gave a curtsy.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

She finished her bow and got up to leave, but was stopped.

"Do you really not want to see me right now? Or is it your useless husband who's telling you not to come near me?"

Xiao Yan's eyes were bloodshot, and his wit was shattered when Xie Wanru ignored him.

He thought he could control himself, but the moment he saw Xie Wanru, all his previous assumptions became empty talk.

"Your Highness, although my husband is not as prestigious as you, he is willing to marry me, which shows that he is a responsible and dependable person. As for whether he is a good-for-nothing, I know better than anyone else."

Xie Wanru's tone was somewhat contemptuous, and she still didn't look at Xiao Yan.

Although praising Shen Nian'an was somewhat disgusting, she felt it was worth it as long as it disgusted Xiao Yan.

"I told my father I wanted to marry you, but he forbade it. Xie Wanru, I was clearly trying my best, yet you turned around and married Shen Nian'an. What right do you have to talk to me like that? What right do you have!"

Xiao Yan was somewhat out of control, his voice trembling with resentment. He stepped forward, seemingly wanting to grab Xie Wanru's wrist, but she easily dodged him.

The daughter of a military family is not someone he can easily capture.

Xie Wanru raised her head and looked at Xiao Yan with a cold gaze.

Effort? Is she still the same naive Xie Wanru from before? Realizing the Emperor wouldn't grant her a marriage, she immediately seduced another woman. In her past life, she showed no mercy to the Xie family. Is this Xiao Yan's effort?

"Your Highness, you are of noble birth. What kind of woman could you not have? Why bother with me? I am already married. Please have some self-respect."

Xiao Yan's expression turned even more unpleasant.

Dongzhu had no choice but to keep watch for the two of them, otherwise if others saw her young lady and the Third Prince together, her young lady would not be able to explain herself.

"Do you think Shen Nian'an can protect you? What can he give you? I, Xiao Yan, will tell you today that I will make you regret your choice! If Shen Cong'an never wakes up, he can still inherit the title, and you can become the mistress of the Marquis's mansion. Now that Shen Cong'an has woken up, he is just the second son of the Marquis's mansion, and he will be nothing in the future."

Xiao Yan snorted coldly.

"You think I can't forget you? You're really presumptuous. What kind of woman can't I, Xiao Yan, have?"

Xie Wanru smiled dismissively and said, "Your Highness, I think you've misunderstood."

"Misunderstanding? If I misunderstood you, why haven't you consummated your marriage with Shen Nian'an in the two years since you married into the Shen family? Xie Wanru, you still love me, don't you?"

Xiao Yan's expression suddenly relaxed.

"You're just upset that I'm close to someone else. I, Xiao Yan, the Third Prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty, will not lose my dignity for a married man. You are the one who should feel sorry, not me!"

"Yes, I feel extremely sorry. How about Your Highness cancels the engagement, I'll get a divorce, and Your Highness will marry me?"

Xie Wanru suddenly put on a pitiful look.

"Hehe, you wanted to hear me say all this, didn't you? I've already said it, and Your Highness has heard what Your Highness wanted to hear. Can you let me go now? I don't want to be misunderstood as still having feelings for you and have someone drag me to a pig cage."

Xie Wanru's expression at this moment was not good; in fact, it could be described as quite unpleasant.

But even such an unpleasant expression stirred ripples in Xiao Yan's heart. He was attracted to this woman and completely lost control of himself.

"Xie Wanru, speak properly to me."

Xiao Yan suppressed the urge to pull Xie Wanru into his arms.

He couldn't wait to possess the quirky and clever Xie Wanru and make her have only him in her heart for the rest of her life.

What makes Shen Nian'an so special! What makes him so special!