Chapter 29: Wu Tan Is a Madman!

"You..." Huo Yunhua opened her mouth, her eyes filled with wariness.

"We?" Wu Tan swayed in front of her, shrugged indifferently, and replied with a careless expression, "We're fine now, about to go back!"

What did that mean? She had ruined the other's once-in-a-lifetime marriage to power, so Wu Tan had come tonight only to intimidate her, without even laying a finger on her, and that was it?

Huo Yunhua herself found it hard to believe, suspicion written all over her face. After all—

If anyone had done such a thing to her, she would have been willing to drag the other down with her rather than let it go.

Wu Tan, however, seemed to see right through her, flashing a toothy grin. "Although it's a pity I can't marry the Crown Prince and become the future Empress, thinking about it, having you—His future consort—bow and scrape before me, a puppet on my strings, is quite the consolation."

As she spoke, she pointed meaningfully at her own sleeve, and sure enough, Huo Yunhua's face turned ashen.

Huo Yunhua stared fixedly at that sleeve, visibly restraining herself from lunging forward to snatch it away.

So—

Was Wu Tan threatening her? Trying to control her?

How could she possibly accept that?

Huo Yunhua gritted her teeth and demanded, "What exactly do you want?"

"Nothing in particular," Wu Tan replied, pausing a moment and looking slightly more serious. "Let’s not beat around the bush. I was never interested in being that so-called Crown Princess. Since you and His Highness are so passionately in love, I suppose we’ve both gotten what we wanted. From today, you pursue your bright future, and I'll live my peaceful life. But don’t get clever and meddle with my family again—your petty tricks are hardly worth mentioning. I’m not easy to deal with, and I never forget a grudge. This business isn’t over yet; if you cross me again, I’ll settle old and new scores together!"

Not want to be the Crown Princess? She actually didn’t want to be the Crown Princess?

Huo Yunhua instinctively didn't believe it, but Wu Qinglin was already calling for Xiao Lingzi to bring the carriage around.

"Well, I’m off!" Wu Tan was lifted into the carriage, yet she turned back cheerfully to wave at Huo Yunhua, as if they were merely visiting guests and not antagonists who had just fought bitterly.

Huo Yunhua stood rooted to the spot, her face livid, thinking back on the night’s bizarre events. She felt she was on the verge of madness, while Wu Tan still smiled so radiantly before her.

"You’re absolutely insane!" At last, she could only squeeze these words out from between clenched teeth.

She thought Wu Tan might be angered, but instead, Wu Tan burst out laughing—her voice crisp and merry. "Exactly! I am insane! So let this be a lesson—never provoke me again. If I really lose my mind, you won’t be able to handle it!"

Before she finished, Wu Qinglin had already grown impatient and dragged her into the carriage.

The carriage was simple and light; the horses’ hooves clattered swiftly as it disappeared around the corner at the end of the alley.

Inside, Wu Tan was in high spirits, humming a little tune. Huo Yunhua might not believe it, but with the marriage to Xiao Yun ruined, Wu Tan, of all people, was indeed the happiest—after all—

Xiao Yun had always disliked her, and as the Crown Prince and future Emperor, he would have left her with no room for resistance or reprisal.

Wu Qinglin, watching her, reached out to stroke her hair, his eyes filled with unconcealed affection, though he sighed softly.

His thoughts, however, were the opposite of Wu Tan’s: perhaps he shouldn’t have opposed the marriage to Xiao Yun so strongly. To be honest, with a girl this wild, it was a blessing someone was willing to marry her at all...

Wu Tan, hearing his sigh, looked at him curiously. "Brother, what’s wrong? Didn’t everything turn out perfectly?"

Wu Qinglin looked down at her, his expression solemn. "I’m worried you’ll never get married!"

Wu Tan was startled, then, realizing what he meant, couldn’t help but burst into laughter, clutching her belly as she rolled onto his knee.

Wu Qinglin pulled her upright. "Sit properly—what do you think you’re doing?"

Wu Tan wiped away tears of laughter, still as carefree as ever. "If I can’t marry, you can support me for the rest of my life!"

Wu Qinglin replied firmly, "Absolutely not!"

Wu Tan blinked at him, taken aback. "Why not? I don’t eat that much..."

Wu Qinglin turned away. "It’s embarrassing..."

Wu Tan: "..."

Meanwhile, in the back alley of the Huo residence, Huo Yunhua stood for a long time, her gaze fixed hatefully on the now-empty street corner, unwilling to go inside.

Because last time, she had hidden her plans from Qiu Ning, so much so that Qiu Ning still didn’t quite understand what had happened—only that her mistress had somehow sabotaged the marriage between the Wu family’s second miss and the Crown Prince, creating a bitter feud.

"Miss, it’s late, and your hand is still injured. Why not... go inside first?" After a long silence, Qiu Ning finally mustered the courage to softly suggest.

Huo Yunhua was full of unwillingness, but with things as they were, what else could she do?

She clutched the handkerchief wrapped around her wounded hand, her gaze icy, and finally gritted her teeth. "Let’s go in."

As she entered the house, at the far corner of the alley, Huo Yunhao, supported by her maid Nan Zhi, stepped out from the shadows.

Both mistress and maid looked serious and suspicious.

"Was it the Wu family’s second miss who came? Because of what happened in the palace a few days ago?" Nan Zhi wondered aloud.

Though Huo Yunhao never vied for attention with Huo Yunhua, she had spies in her cousin’s quarters. While not privy to secrets, she always knew her whereabouts. So, when Huo Yunhua snuck out with her maid, Huo Yunhao got word and circled around to watch from a distance, careful not to get involved.

"It makes sense, but something still feels... off," Huo Yunhao said, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on what was wrong.

At that moment, another maid from her courtyard came running, breathless and sweating. "Miss! Please—come quickly! The master—something’s happened—the authorities just brought him back!"

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