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Miss Tang isn’t at the mansion painting or practicing calligraphy, and yet she’s also out shopping with us?

Miss Tang, don’t you always say that this is a boring waste of time?

" An Yueyue, having inherited eight-tenths of An Yixiang’s aura, still clearly seemed quite naive compared to An Yixiang’s easy composure.

With a slight hook of her lips, Tang Ruyan did not retort. Instead, she gave her a look so light it was almost imperceptible.

And it was this look that made An Yueyue feel ignored—this woman was putting on airs again!

"You!"

"Yuer!" Before An Yueyue could get riled up, Zhao Hongsheng cast a stern glance at her and said, "Didn’t you want to see the Fragrant Full Building after its reopening? Since we’re here to have fun, why aren’t you happy now?"

"Your Highness! Clearly, she was the one looking down on me first, so why are you turning it around on me?" An Yueyue pouted, adopting an injured and wronged expression.

"Yuer, no one is looking down on you. Moreover, in the future, you will be this prince’s person, who would dare to look down on you?" Zhao Hongsheng suppressed the impatience in his heart, trying to comfort An Yueyue with the gentlest voice he could muster.

An Yueyue was amused by his words "this prince’s person," her face delicately charming, her cheeks flushed, and her lively eyes rolled a big, disdainful white eye at Tang Ruyan.

Tang Ruyan sneered softly, pretending she hadn’t seen it.

However, Zhao Hongsheng took her slightly cold hand and mouthed four words to her: "You’ve been wronged."

A man’s sweet nothings are always the best medicine for a woman, especially from the man she fancies.

Tang Ruyan gently shook her head, her eyes tender as water. Her well-educated demeanor contrasted with An Yueyue’s capriciousness, and Zhao Hongsheng’s heart tilted once more in Tang Ruyan’s favor.

Feeling Zhao Hongsheng’s grip on her hand tighten, Tang Ruyan lowered her eyes and stole a laugh—what an idiot An Yueyue was!

When Lin Yuan saw these three, her first impression was of a smoke-filled battlefield, but with only a glance, the status between the two women by Zhao Hongsheng’s side was clear.

"Heh, lucky man, the big bad wolf has found two she-wolves so quickly. When do you plan to have little wolf cubs? When the time comes, I’ll send over some chickens and ducks to guarantee you all plenty of joy," Xia Zheng, arms crossed, sat leisurely in his chair, showing no intention to stand and salute, though he knew Zhao Hongsheng’s identity.

Lin Yuan arched an eyebrow and settled back into her chair confidently. Since Xia Zheng hadn’t bothered to formally introduce her to the dignitary, there was surely no need for her to salute him either.

But An Yueyue was the first to express her displeasure, puffing angrily as she strode up to Lin Yuan and Xia Zheng, and exclaimed, "Who are you calling she-wolves? How rude!"

After saying that, she turned to Zhao Hongsheng, "Your Highness, he insulted you by calling you a wolf. Punish him for his crime!"

Tang Ruyan inwardly sneered, worrying for An Yueyue’s intelligence. It seemed her competition for the Empress’s struggle had just diminished by one.

Zhao Hongsheng’s mouth twitched, too lazy even to look at An Yueyue, and took the seat directly opposite Xia Zheng, "You, Little Tyrant, still have such a sharp tongue! What, your Fragrant Full Building is nearly running aground, and yet you don’t feel the slightest bit sorry?"

Xia Zheng looked at him, amused, "Sorry? Which eye of yours saw me feeling sorry? Oh right, I should ask, which eye of yours sees my Fragrant Full Building unable to continue?"

"Is that something that needs to be seen?" Zhao Hongsheng spread his hands, making a circle in the deserted hall, "Look, where are there any customers in the tavern?"

Xia Zheng’s lips curled, and Lin Yuan, who had been calmly pouring her own tea, let out a chuckle.

This chuckle immediately caught Zhao Hongsheng’s attention.

"This lady must be your confidante, right? I heard you took a little peasant girl to be your woman, tsk tsk, when I got this news in the Capital City, I thought my servant had made a mistake. But now, seeing it with my own eyes, turns out it’s true."

Zhao Hongsheng shook his head with a face full of regret and mockery, "Xia Zheng, oh Xia Zheng, your taste really is getting worse!"

Xia Zheng’s eyes darkened, and he sneered, "Worse? No matter how bad it gets, it’s still better than yours, choosing an empty-headed bimbo!"

Zhao Hongsheng’s face changed.

Tang Ruyan lowered her gaze, hiding the fleeting smile on her lips.

Only An Yueyue suddenly asked, "Where’s the bimbo?"