Lu Yao smiled faintly. “You overestimate me. What ‘princess consort’? That’s just a joke they make at my expense. My name is Lu Yao.”
Hong Ning ignored her words. “Did you come looking for me?”
Lu Yao took a graceful step forward. “Lu Jiu truly owes you an apology. Father King has already punished him, and Kunlun’s Celestial Sovereign has also issued a decree…”
“You want me to forgive him?” Hong Ning cut her off. “Impossible. Bai Ling will never return. A mere punishment can’t erase the wrong he’s done. Where is your so-called Heavenly Retribution?” She shook her head. “Ah, I forgot—your divine powers are only ever used against mortals.”
Lu Yao smiled. “You mean the seal? He did it for your own good.”
Hong Ning naturally knew who he referred to, but she changed the subject. “So, what business does Miss Lu have with me?”
Lu Yao’s voice was soft. “He asked me to look after you.”
His fiancée was supposed to ‘take care’ of her? Hong Ning almost found it laughable, yet her face remained completely expressionless. “I appreciate the thought. Zhongtian King is truly considerate, but there’s no need for all this trouble. I do just fine on my own.”
Lu Yao sighed lightly, still maintaining her graceful and dignified demeanor. “Lu Jiu is my younger brother. I suppose you wouldn’t be too fond of me. But since he entrusted me with this task, you may ask for anything, and I will do my best to fulfill it.”
Hong Ning did not hesitate. “Never seeing any of you again—that would be the greatest care you could offer me.”
Lu Yao chuckled. “Why be so stubborn? Well then, we shall speak of it another time.”
With a sweep of her snow-white sleeves, she vanished into thin air.
Hong Ning lowered her gaze, staring at the ground, standing motionless for a long time—until a voice rang out.
“Do you plan to stand there forever?”
—
After dealing with Zhong Wencai’s situation, Yang Zhen had noticed that Hong Ning hadn’t returned for quite some time, so he came out to look for her. Unexpectedly, he had stumbled upon the conversation between the two women. Finding it inconvenient to interrupt, he had stood by and observed.
Now, seeing Lu Yao leave, he couldn’t help but tease her.
For once, Hong Ning didn’t retort. She simply lifted her face and looked at him. “Your Highness arrived at just the right moment.”
Yang Zhen strolled over with his hands clasped behind his back. “She knows magic as well. Is she from the same sect as you?”
Clearly, he had no idea about Lu Yao’s true identity and must not have overheard the earlier conversation.
Hong Ning sneered and didn’t bother answering. Instead, she countered, “How did you know I was here?”
Yang Zhen replied, “Zhong Wencai has already been sent away.”
Hong Ning scoffed. “You had someone follow me.”
Yang Zhen neither denied nor explained. “I originally thought you weren’t simple, but compared to her, you’re still just a little girl.” His gaze lingered on her, full of intrigue. “She was warning you.”
Hong Ning laughed instead. “Your Highness is quite skilled at fanning the flames.”
Yang Zhen said, “She is a woman among women. You lost.”
Hong Ning was not someone who admitted defeat easily. But this time, she had no choice but to acknowledge it—she had indeed lost. Anything related to him, she lost completely. He controlled her fate, time and again giving her hope, only to personally shatter it before her eyes. And even now, he refused to let her go.
Seeing her remain silent, Yang Zhen continued, “It’s not unusual for women to scheme and play tricks when competing out of jealousy. But you—you're not foolish in other matters, yet when it comes to this… I must say, I’m rather surprised.”
Hong Ning sneered. “Jealous rivalry—Your Highness speaks from personal experience, I assume?”
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