Chapter 51: Favor: Dimmed in Comparison

The summer breeze brushed over the copper bell at the eaves.

The crisp ringing shattered the doubt in the woman’s eyes.

Zhao Huairen frowned and said, “What nonsense are you spouting?”

“A beauty trap can’t be used by just one person.” Yan Yiqing leisurely circled the office before finally stopping at Zhao Huairen’s side.

“Blocking the dossier was just an instinctive move on my part.” Meeting her gaze, Yan Yiqing raised her hand to cover the red mark on her forehead and continued, “It’s not even a real injury, yet the Heir Apparent thinks I’m using a beauty trap. Doesn’t that count as feeling sorry for me?”

Her thin lips pressed into a line as Zhao Huairen looked at her calmly. “Ridiculous.”

“There’s nothing I can do if the Heir Apparent refuses to admit it,” Yan Yiqing sighed.

“It’s all baseless. Why would I admit to something that doesn’t exist?” The fingers gripping the purple brush tightened unconsciously. Zhao Huairen lowered her eyes to the document, her clear voice devoid of emotion. “This is an important area of Dali Temple. If there’s nothing else, Young Master Yan, please leave as soon as possible.”

“What time is it already?” Yan Yiqing glanced at the dossiers on the desk and said, “The principle of balancing work and rest is key to longevity. Doesn’t the Heir Apparent know that?”

“It has nothing to do with you.” This time, Zhao Huairen didn’t even lift her head.

“Even if nothing else, I’m nominally your wife. How could your health have nothing to do with me?”

Her breathing hitched for a moment. Zhao Huairen set down the purple brush, her gaze distant. “I don’t need to explain how this marriage came about. Does Young Master Yan not find it laughable to now claim the identity of my wife?”

Her peach blossom eyes narrowed slightly as Yan Yiqing countered, “Then what identity does the Heir Apparent think I should claim?”

“Si Nong Temple Junior Minister, second daughter of the Yan family, Princess Gong Consort’s younger sister.”

“You’re right. All those titles can refer to me,” Yan Yiqing said, a shadow passing through her peach blossom eyes. “But if someone mentions the Heir Consort of Duke Rui, who do you think they would picture?”

The question needed no answer.

In the eyes of the world, they were already one and the same.

Zhao Huairen pressed her lips together, suppressing the strange emotions in her heart before speaking again. “What I’m saying is, since there are so many identities to choose from, why does Young Master Yan insist on clinging to—”

“Zhao Huairen!” Yan Yiqing interrupted her.

Her light brown eyes trembled faintly. Meeting Yan Yiqing’s unwavering gaze, Zhao Huairen realized she’d misheard, but before she could recover, Yan Yiqing continued, “No matter how many choices I have.”

“I should be the one to choose for myself.”

Zhao Huairen lowered her eyes, subtly avoiding her gaze.

“Whether Heir Consort or wife, they’re just labels for me.” The edge of her nail dug into her palm as Yan Yiqing voiced her inner question. “We’ve been married for days now, and we’re no strangers. Why have you suddenly changed your attitude?”

“What exactly are you afraid of?”

Her thin lips formed a straight line, her long lashes trembling uneasily. Zhao Huairen didn’t want to tangle with her on these matters. “My attitude toward you hasn’t changed from beginning to end. Between you and me—”

“You’re afraid I like you?”

The wind outside the courtyard suddenly stopped, and the copper bell fell silent.

The stray thoughts buried deepest in her chest were forcibly torn open, laid bare.

Zhao Huairen forced a smile, her tone natural. “Young Master Yan is joking. Why would I be afraid of that?”

I want to know too.

Why are you afraid of that?

“Whether you’re afraid or not.” Her eyes flickered, true feelings swallowed by lies as Yan Yiqing casually hooked her lips. “I just wanted to tell you—don’t get ahead of yourself. I have no feelings for you whatsoever.”

Hearing this, the taut string in her heart suddenly loosened, but at the same time—a unfamiliar sense of loss surged within Zhao Huairen.

Yan Yiqing didn’t like her.

She hadn’t taken a fancy to the role of “elder brother” she was playing.

“Yan Capital’s number one young noble.” Yan Yiqing stood with hands behind her back, her aura bold and vibrant. “Grown up in the prosperous capital since childhood, proficient in rites, music, archery, and horsemanship, and your looks… are passable enough.”

“You’re indeed quite impressive.”

“But what right does a weakling who’s never been to battle and enjoys my protection have to win my favor?”

As the next head of Duke Rui’s Mansion.

Weakling? It was the first time Zhao Huairen had received such an evaluation.

“I’m far more beautiful than you.” Her fingertips clenched as Yan Yiqing smoothed her sleeve. “If anyone’s doing the liking, it should be you chasing after me.”

Her lips were naturally red, her dark peach blossom eyes clear and shimmering. Her figure was graceful yet not frail. Yan Yiqing raised her chin arrogantly. Simply standing there, she outshone the myriad hues of a poetic spring.

Zhao Huairen bit her tongue lightly, forcing her gaze away from her.

She was absolutely right.

This time… she really had been too presumptuous.

“Since we’ve cleared the air.” Yan Yiqing placed her fist against her lips and continued matter-of-factly, “From now on, I hope we can get along normally and treat each other as friends.”

Zhao Huairen’s sword brows furrowed slightly, and she didn’t respond immediately.

“We’re not on opposing sides, and we can’t avoid interacting daily. Treating each other as friends is the best option.” Her volume rose unavoidably as Yan Yiqing carefully stole glances at Zhao Huairen’s face, not daring to miss any subtle expression. “Heir Apparent, I’m right, aren’t I?”

Back then, she had been in Youzhou, still young.

Based on the evidence she held.

Yan Yiqing had no connection to the murder case from those years.

That was one of the reasons she had initially wanted to befriend Yan Yiqing. Her crow-black lashes trembled as Zhao Huairen looked up at her. “Treating each other as friends is indeed the best choice right now.”

“Mm!” Yan Yiqing cleared her throat lightly, desperately suppressing the curve of her lips and feigning nonchalance. “The Yan Capital’s situation is chaotic. Better to have one more friend than one more enemy.”

Her distinct knuckles clenched into a fist, her brow bone lowered, thin lips pressed pale.

Seeing Zhao Huairen’s odd expression.

Her lashes fluttered as Yan Yiqing guiltily swallowed.

“I’m sorry. It was narrow-minded of me before.” Her brows tightly knit, Zhao Huairen rose from the official hat chair and bowed deeply to Yan Yiqing.

The corner of Yan Yiqing’s mouth twitched as she waved her hand. “We’re friends now. No need for such formalities.”

Zhao Huairen nodded slightly.

The gloom weighing on her heart quietly dissipated.

Her thin lips curved faintly, a smile rippling in her phoenix eyes, serene as a spring pool.

“What’s wrong?” Seeing her staring, Zhao Huairen asked.

Why is she staring again! Will she die if she looks away for a second?! Annoyed with herself inwardly, Yan Yiqing scratched her ear and said calmly, “Nothing. You’re just not as good-looking as me, as expected.”

“Mm.” Zhao Huairen replied, “Young Master Yan’s appearance is indeed superior to mine.”

No way!

We’re each beautiful in our own way.

Suppressing her inner retort, Yan Yiqing forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Although…” Zhao Huairen hesitated before speaking again. “As someone not from Dali Temple, Young Master Yan shouldn’t linger in the office too long. If there’s nothing else, it’s best to leave.”

“Then come with me.”

Zhao Huairen looked puzzled. “Hm?”

“It’s already noon. Doesn’t the Heir Apparent feel hungry?” Masking her swirling emotions, Yan Yiqing raised a brow and said composedly, “I noticed you’d misunderstood, so I came to explain. Then, I thought we could grab lunch at Dali Temple’s official kitchen.”

“And it just so happened that we ran into the Hejia Princess causing a scene.”

So it was just a coincidence.

And she’d even accused her of using a beauty trap…

A blush crept up her pale ear tips as Zhao Huairen feigned composure. “In that case, Young Master Yan, follow me.”

“After you, Heir Apparent.” Yan Yiqing nodded and followed leisurely behind Zhao Huairen.

Her steps were elegant and steady, shoulders straight—Zhao Huairen’s walking posture was a sight to behold.

No longer rejected by the one she loved.

Her fine brows relaxed, a refreshing pleasure permeating even her bones.

Her gaze remained steady yet not too overt. Yan Yiqing lagged half a step behind, myriad thoughts flashing through her mind.

After getting off the carriage, she had replayed every interaction with Zhao Huairen in her head, trying to pinpoint when their relationship had shifted.

In the end, she realized—

The problem lay with herself.

Huairen had been friendly and proactive toward her at first. The change had begun from that dreamlike night.

Though she still didn’t know the root cause.

It was clear Huairen didn’t want her to like her.

“Young Master Yan?” Noticing the footsteps behind her had stopped, Zhao Huairen turned back to her.

Everything around her paled in comparison.

The misty serene pool enveloped her, drawing her apostle slowly into its depths.