After the divorce, I pursued the Ninth Prince 100 times.

When Shen Zhiyi saw the man was about to leave, she felt inexplicably panicked.

I always feel that once he leaves, I will never be able to catch him again.

When Xie Tingyu saw the woman's pale and pitiful face, his heart softened a little.

He sighed: "In a few days, I will discuss with the Princess Consort the possibility of taking you as my concubine. What do you think?"

Shen Zhiyi's eyes suddenly widened, and his already pale face became even more bloodless.

Her eyes were full of disbelief and tears welled up in her eyes.

She raised her hand and pointed at the tall and graceful man standing beside the bed: "Brother Yu, you...you actually let Yi'er be your concubine?"

Xie Tingyu was displeased upon hearing this. He frowned, but still patiently explained to her.

"Although both are concubines, there is a significant difference between a prince's concubine and a concubine from an ordinary family. Her food, clothing, and daily necessities are all provided to a high standard..."

"When you enter the mansion, except for the color of your clothing, all other treatment will be in accordance with the rules for a legitimate wife. You and I won't have to meet secretly anymore, we can meet openly..."

"Xie Tingyu!"

Shen Zhiyi couldn't bear to listen any longer, his eyes turned red and he roared.

"You said that you only love me and that you would find a way to marry me as your concubine in the future. That's why I...that's why I disregarded my reputation as a woman and gave up on you...on you..."

"But how did you treat me? Now, for that bitch Shen Nanxing, you broke your promise and want me to be your concubine?"

"You clearly said before you married her that you wouldn't treat her sincerely, let alone touch her. Once you get her..."

"enough!"

Xie Tingyu shouted angrily, interrupting the woman: "Shen Zhiyi, do you know what you are talking about?"

This angry shout made Shen Zhiyi suddenly clear-headed. Thinking of what he almost said just now, he couldn't help but feel a little scared.

Seeing the woman flinching in fear, Xie Tingyu finally said, "Yier, why don't you understand my painstaking efforts?"

"You are an orphan who doesn't even know who your parents are. If I were just a commoner, I could marry you and no one would say anything."

"But I am a descendant of the royal family. Even without Shen Nanxing, I would never marry you as my principal wife. Even if you were a concubine, I would still need to find ways and make arrangements to make it happen. It is not an easy task. Do you understand?"

"I know this is cruel to you, but this is the way the world is. I can't change it by myself..."

"Yier, can you understand me?"

Shen Zhiyi lowered her head and shed tears silently: "But you clearly said that you only want me in this life, even if it means going against the whole world, you must marry me as your principal wife..."

"Have you forgotten all this?"

Xie Tingyu's face was grim, and after a long pause, he managed to squeeze out, "Back then, I was still young and didn't understand the rules of the imperial family. I was naive..."

"I'm sorry for you..."

Shen Zhiyi smiled bitterly and continued:

"A few days ago, you said that due to various considerations, you had to pretend to marry Shen Nanxing, but there was only one place in your heart, and that was reserved for me. There was no room for anyone else."

"You said you would never touch her, and even if you married her, you would just keep her as a vase in the palace..."

She suddenly raised her head: "But just now, if I hadn't arrived in time and disrupted your relationship... would you and her have already consummated your marriage?"

With tears in her eyes, the woman voiced her question.

Xie Tingyu choked on his words, remained silent for a long while, and then said, "Yi'er, I mistook her for you, that's why I was momentarily confused and infatuated..."

"I miss you so much, and since you're not here, that's why..."

He ignored the woman's struggle and held her in his arms: "Yier, it's Brother Yu's fault. She looks a bit like you..."

Shen Zhiyi's heart beat fast, and then her emotions slowly calmed down. She opened her arms and hugged the man in front of her.

Even if she knew he was lying to her, so what?

If she could snatch him from Shen Nanxing once, she could snatch him from him a second time!

Brother Yu is hers!

God knows how despaired she felt the moment she pushed open the door.

She saw the man she loved most, shirtless, covering another woman, his eyes full of affection, and was about to bend down to kiss that woman...

She also heard him say to the woman, "Brother Yu is Xing'er's husband, so naturally his heart is full of Xing'er."

The voice was extremely gentle.

That scene and that sound were like a sharp dagger, piercing her heart fiercely, splattering her with blood and turning her into a demon.

For a moment, she just wanted to cut that woman into pieces.

Shen Nanxing, damn it!!!

She has lived under the shadow of Shen Nanxing since she was a child.

They clearly have the same father, but Shen Nanxing's mother is her father's legal wife, while her mother is a concubine who is despised by everyone and cannot be seen in public.

So even though her mother was the one her father loved, she could only watch Shen Nanxing dressed up like a little princess every day and being loved and spoiled by everyone in the Nanyang Marquis' Mansion.

Every year during the Lantern Festival, her father would take Shen Nanxing and her brother to the streets to stroll through the lantern displays, and he would always buy them some little trinkets that they liked.

When there were many people around, Dad would carry Shen Nanxing on his shoulders so that she could see the lively performance clearly. Shen Nanxing would always sit on Dad's shoulders excitedly and sway.

She could only follow them like a rat in a sewer, secretly dreaming countless times of the day when her father could carry her on his back and walk openly through the streets and alleys...

Although Dad would often buy things for her and her brother, and would hug them, all of this was done in secret. He only dared to be affectionate with them in the small courtyard where they lived.

Once they leave this courtyard, even if they bump into each other outside, he will act as if he doesn't know them.

She also envied Shen Nanxing's mother, who always wore silk and satin, and wore all kinds of beautiful jewelry, and was respected wherever she went.

Unlike her mother, who was always cautious in her actions, afraid of making a mistake and being ridiculed, she could only secretly wipe away her tears if she got into a fight or suffered injustice.

Even if Dad knew, he wouldn't stand up for Mom, because he was afraid his relationship with Mom would be discovered...

And then there's Shen Nanxing's grandfather, who is also her grandfather, but that old man only treats Shen Nanxing well and spoils her in everything.

What she envied most was that Shen Nanxing had a childhood sweetheart, a prince, who later became Prince Jing Xie Tingyu.

Shen Nanxing always shamelessly followed the boy, calling him Brother Yu, and although the boy looked disgusted, he always stopped to wait for her.

He often gave her novel little trinkets, bought her her favorite snacks, and would even carefully wipe the corners of her mouth, always looking at her with warm eyes...

She often secretly followed behind them, stealing glances at the handsome and warm-hearted boy.