Supported by the Matron, Yu Wantang stepped down from the carriage.

The moment she appeared, the previously bustling alley fell dead silent.

Liu Ruyan shivered in fear, tears clinging to her eyelashes, threatening to spill. Looking at Yu Wantang, she shrank and cowered behind Xie Xuanan.

"Your Highness... Ruyan does not know what she did wrong to provoke such fury from you..."

Yu Wantang ignored her completely and walked straight over to Xie Xuanan.

Xie Xuanan lay on the stretcher, forcing his head up, his eyes filled with hatred.

"Yu Wantang, you have already broken my legs! What more do you want? Will you only be satisfied once you force us to death?"

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"Force you to death?"

Yu Wantang gave a soft chuckle, suddenly raising her foot and stomping down heavily on Xie Xuanan's broken leg.

"Ahhh!"

Xie Xuanan let out a bloodcurdling scream, writhing in agony as his entire body convulsed.

Terrified out of her wits, Liu Ruyan lunged forward, trying to shove Yu Wantang away.

"Let go of him! You madwoman!"

With a backhanded slap, the Matron sent Liu Ruyan spinning on the spot before she crashed heavily to the ground, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of her mouth.

"When Her Highness speaks, what right does a lowly wench like you have to butt in?"

Yu Wantang pulled her foot back. "Xie Xuanan, the imperial edict will arrive shortly. You have been stripped of your official post, never to be employed again. As for this marriage contract, this princess wants no part in it."

She glanced around the manor and smiled coldly.

"This manor, and even the very clothes on your back, were bestowed by this princess. Since you're so lofty and proud, take your savior and get the hell out of here."

Trembling with pain, Xie Xuanan stared with utter disbelief in his eyes.

He had still harbored a sliver of hope, believing the Emperor would not go back on his own royal word.

Yu Wantang waved her hand.

The accompanying guards immediately rushed into the manor, packing up and carrying out all the valuable items inside.

Yu Wantang walked over to Liu Ruyan, bent down, and tilted her chin up.

"Liu Ruyan, this princess is truly curious. How could an orphan girl barely scraping by at the border happen to save Xie Xuanan right when he was besieged by bandits?"

Liu Ruyan's eyes darted away, her voice trembling. "That was... that was just Ruyan's good luck..."

"Good luck?"

Yu Wantang pinched harder, making Liu Ruyan's chin throb with pain.

"Those ruthless bandits kill without batting an eye, yet they spared a weak woman like you and even let you carry Xie Xuanan away. Such good fortune—even this princess wouldn't mind having some."

She leaned close to Liu Ruyan's ear, her voice barely audible.

"Don't let me find out you have ties with foreign tribes. Otherwise, I will show you what it truly means to wish for death."

Liu Ruyan's face instantly went deathly pale.

Yu Wantang let go, wiped her hands in disgust with a handkerchief, and casually tossed it onto Liu Ruyan's face.

"Throw them out. Seal this manor."

In less than half an hour, Xie Xuanan and Liu Ruyan were tossed at the entrance of the alley like ragged sacks.

The once-noble Top Scholar now sprawled across the ground, in a state more wretched than a beggar.

The carriage slowly rolled away.

In the alley, Xie Xuanan lay on the ground, glaring viciously in the direction where the carriage vanished.

"Yu Wantang... You humiliate me like this... I will definitely make your Eldest Princesss Estate... pay in blood!"

Disregarding the pain on her face, Liu Ruyan crawled over to support him, though her eyes held a sinister malice that Xie Xuanan failed to comprehend.

"Brother Xuanan, don't be afraid. We still have... He won't abandon us."

Xie Xuanan did not hear her clearly; he only felt the piercing agony from his broken leg, though what hurt even more was his pride, now shattered into dust.

...

The carriage wheels ground over the bluestone pavement, making a dull rumble.

Leaning back against the soft divan, Yu Wantang tapped her knee rhythmically with her fingertips.

"An idiot like Xie Xuanan truly believes he's the male lead of some play."

If she wished, crushing him would be no different from crushing an ant.

Eldest Princesss Estate.

Yu Wantang returned to her bedchamber.

Just as she sat down, her personal maid, Xiaolian, came forward carrying a teacup.

Though pretty, her face was currently fraught with worry as she handed over the tea, muttering in a low voice.

"Your Highness, you were truly too reckless today."

Xiaolian set down the teacup, squatted beside Yu Wantang's legs, and reached out to massage them, her tone laced with resentment.

Yu Wantang did not answer. She walked straight to the head seat, sat down, and took a sip from the warm teacup.

"Your Highness, you are being foolish! In this world, what man would ever fancy a woman who is too domineering?

As an esteemed princess, you already inspire awe and fear. If you act so ruthlessly on top of that, what will you do if Young Master Xie ignores you from now on? He is a role model for all scholars under the heavens; acting like this will ruin your reputation."

Yu Wantang had been resting with her eyes closed, but upon hearing this, her eyelids twitched and she slowly opened them.

She remained silent, just quietly watching Xiaolian.

Xiaolian felt unnerved under her gaze, yet still believed she was acting for her mistress's own good, steeling herself to continue persuading her.

"A man as haughty and noble as Young Master Xie values face above all. Since you humiliated him in public, he must surely bear a grudge in his heart.

Listen to this servant's advice: send some rare and precious medicinal herbs over tomorrow and say a few soothing words. Young Master Xie will definitely have a change of heart..."

Staring at the personal maid before her, Yu Wantang finally understood how the Original Host had developed such an obsessive love-struck brain.

Surrounded by such a treacherous wretch whispering poison into her ear every day, even the sanest person would be led astray.

"Nanny Li."

Yu Wantang interrupted her, her tone chillingly flat.

Nanny Li had been guarding by the door; hearing her name, she immediately entered with downcast eyes, bowing deeply.

"This old servant is here."

"Matron, do you think Xiaolian is right?"

Yu Wantang shifted into a more comfortable posture, casually tucking away stray hairs by her temples with an indifferent air.

Having lived past half a lifetime, Nanny Li possessed an exceedingly sharp eye.

"In reply to Your Highness," Nanny Li's voice was steady, without a hint of hesitation. "You are Dayong Dynasty's most noble Eldest Princess, born of royal blood. Your favor toward Xie Xuanan was great fortune his ancestors must have earned in the afterlife. It was bad enough that he lacked gratitude, but to dare covet another—he was courting his own death. A servant is merely a servant; harbouring thoughts one shouldn't have is nothing short of insolent overstepping."

Hearing the words "insolent overstepping", Xiaolian's knees gave out, and she fell directly to her knees.

"Your Highness, this servant... this servant was only thinking of your reputation!"

Yu Wantang leaned forward, lifting Xiaolian's chin with her fingertips to force her head up.

"Xiaolian, how long have you served me?"

Meeting Yu Wantang's unhinged and icy gaze, Xiaolian was so terrified that tears instantly welled up, her voice trembling.

"In... in reply to Your Highness, this servant has served you since childhood; it has been ten years."

"Ten years, huh."

"Ten years. It seems the discipline in this manor has indeed been lax for too long, making you all forget who the master is, even learning to instruct this princess on what to do!"

Her face drained of color, Xiaolian kowtowed frantically. "Your Highness, spare my life! This servant knows her mistake! This servant will never dare again!"

She waved her hand, her tone devoid of any emotion.

"Someone, drag her out and cane her to death."