Reborn Spoiled Girl Tames the Regent

Chapter 123 The Aftermath Argument

As Jiang Wan heard the approaching footsteps, she clenched her fists.

How to do?

There is no chance of winning in a direct confrontation.

Xiao Hengzhi's eyes were like sharp blades that could see through people's hearts. If she pretended to be docile, he would definitely notice.

"Calm down... Jiang Man, calm down..."

She stared intently at the door.

But nothing happened for a long time.

After a long time, the door was finally pushed open, and a chill rushed into the room.

Xiao Hengzhi stood at the door, his gaze sweeping around the room before finally settling on her.

Jiang Mian raised her hand to smooth her temples, trying to make her expression look more natural.

"Are you calmed down?"

Her fingers tightened unconsciously as she frantically tried to come up with a solution.

Since pretending to be docile will arouse suspicion, it's better to let her vent her anger first.

A moment later, she turned and stared at Xiao Hengzhi.

"So Your Highness knew that doing this would anger people."

Xiao Hengzhi had already prepared himself to let her vent her anger, and these words were exactly what he expected.

He closed the door, walked to her side, and said softly, "Last night, it was my fault."

"Is Your Highness apologizing to me?"

"Yes."

Xiao Hengzhi raised his head and looked into her cold eyes, and suddenly felt a tightness in his chest.

“Jiang Wan,” he said in a very low voice, “I never intended to hurt you…”

"Never intended to hurt me?" Jiang Wan stood up, her voice rising slightly. "Last night, I was acting strangely. You must have drugged me at some point. Is this your so-called 'never intended to hurt me'? Such a despicable and shameless tactic?"

Jiang Mian looked at him coldly, her eyes filled with obvious disappointment and mockery.

Xiao Hengzhi grasped her hand and calmly said, "Whether you hate me or resent me..."

"As long as you stay by my side, I can guarantee that what happened in our past life will never happen again..."

Jiang Wan suppressed her anger and said, "Since Your Highness thinks this way, then so be it."

How could she not want to leave?

She dared not accept the love of such a madman...

She struggled to pull her hand away, but he gripped it even tighter.

"Let go!"

"Jiang Wan, you're already in this state, are you still thinking of running away?"

Jiang Mian bit her lower lip, stubbornly remaining silent.

Xiao Hengzhi stared into her eyes and asked, "I'm asking you, was the person you saw yesterday Ning Zhi?"

Jiang Mian's breath hitched, then she answered decisively, "Of course, I only see Your Highness, and my thoughts are only of Your Highness."

Xiao Hengzhi gritted his teeth. Even though he knew Jiang Wan was deliberately provoking him, he still felt very aggrieved when he heard her call him "Your Highness" repeatedly.

"Have I ever told you about what Ning Zhi did? From the time you were taken hostage and thrown into the river to the lion attack, it was always him. Why do you still have feelings for him?...

"Where's the evidence?" Jiang Wan retorted. "Relying on the prince's guesses?"

"All of this can only be made sense by Ning Zhi, and only he could have done it! To win over the General's Mansion, he deliberately sent someone to abduct you and plunge you into the river. After rescuing you, he became the benefactor of the Jiang family. And that time with the lion, did you really think it was just a wild beast that rushed out of the mountains..."

"Enough!" Jiang Mian interrupted him. "The prince has always harbored ill intentions towards His Highness. Such speculation is naturally based on preconceived notions. How can you take it seriously?"

"You are so tolerant and magnanimous towards him, but can't you tolerate even the slightest bit towards me?!"

"Because everything the prince did to me is proven true!"

"What if I find concrete evidence?"

"If Your Highness thinks that this will make you seem less despicable, you should save your breath! Even if I don't go to His Highness's side, I would never associate with someone like you!"

"..."

The heated argument eventually ended with Xiao Hengzhi speechless.

This favoritism tore at his heart and fueled his anger.

He let out a cold snort and gritted his teeth as he spoke: "Jiang Wan, you just think I wouldn't dare to do anything to you because I like you?"

"You and Ning Zhi only have one child, yet it has caused you to worry about him for two lifetimes..."

"In the past, I couldn't bear to do it, but tonight is different..."

"This is how it should be between us..."

His chest heaved violently as he pulled Jiang Mian toward the bed.

"..."

Jiang Mian fell onto the bed.

Unexpectedly, she didn't react much, only letting out a cold laugh: "So how can I believe you?"

Xiao Hengzhi's subordinates were taken aback.

"Just now you swore you wouldn't hurt me, and that what happened in my past life wouldn't happen again. And now, less than a quarter of an hour later..."

Jiang Wan tilted her head, frowned, and grasped his hand: "Does Your Highness wish me to serve you? Are your preferences still the same as before?"

She took the initiative to move closer, but Xiao Hengzhi stood up and took a step back.

"If you want to get angry, then get angry, but don't...don't belittle yourself like this..."

"I despise myself?" She scoffed. "When has the prince ever shown me even the slightest respect? Shouldn't you ask yourself that question before you say it?"

Xiao Hengzhi moved his lips, wanting to say something, but ultimately his words remained stuck in his throat.

In the end, he only said one sentence: "As long as you don't think about leaving, I guarantee that your life will not change at all."

"Leave? How can I leave...? Now that we're in a relationship, I won't be able to pass the Crown Princess's physical examination. Besides, next spring, the Emperor will bestow marriage upon His Highness and Chi Yu. It's all too late..."

She looked up at Xiao Hengzhi and sneered, "Your Highness has won this life too..."

Her words sounded calm, but they were like a knife stabbing Xiao Hengzhi in the heart.

He looked at her silently, as if all his strength had been drained away.

Jiang Mian turned her body away from him.

Xiao Hengzhi, who was usually very perceptive, was now in a state of confusion because of her.

Completely unaware of the cold smile that appeared on Jiang Wan's face as she turned her back.

......

That night, when Rong'er came to add charcoal to the fire, she said, "The prince is drinking outside. It's cold at night, and I'm afraid he'll catch a chill. Miss Jiang, would you like to go and check on him?"

Jiang Mian casually replied, "A mere bit of coldness? You really underestimate Your Highness."

She paused for a moment, then said, "My mouth tastes bitter, I'd like to eat some fruit, do you have any sweet fruit?"

"Yes, Miss Jiang, what would you like to eat? I'll go to the kitchen and get it."

"I don't know either. Bring me a few items and I'll choose."

"Yes."

Rong'er responded and went out, quickly returning with a basket of fruit.

Jiang Mian glanced at it and sure enough, there was a small knife in the basket. It wasn't big, but it was just the right size for her.

"Miss Jiang, is there anything you'd like to eat?"

Jiang Mian frowned, feigning boredom, and said, "It seems that the aroma of fruit would make it better. Why don't we just put the basket here and save ourselves the trouble of peeling and spitting out the pulp?"

"Then if I put it on this cabinet, can Miss Jiang smell it?"

Jiang Man nodded, and Zhuan Tou lay down, holding the cup.

Rong'er didn't say anything more, and left after finishing her service.

After she left, Jiang Mian got up again and then hid the dagger under her pillow.

In the courtyard, the moonlight was like water, and a cold wind blew through the hall.

Xiao Hengzhi and Gui Ye sat facing each other.

He twirled his wine glass and muttered to himself, "Back then, all I wanted was for her to stay by my side, but now that I have her, why can't I be happy?"

Guiye ignored his melancholy and picked up her chopsticks to eat.

"If you ask me, all the guards in your manor are too cowardly. Today, when Jiang Wan wanted to leave, not a single one dared to stop her. If I hadn't been there, she probably would have run off somewhere!"

Xiao Hengzhi tilted his head back and drank the wine without saying a word.

Seeing his half-dead appearance, Guiye stood up and dusted off his sleeves.

"Alright, now that I've eaten and drunk my fill, I should get back to business. You'd better stay alive until I get back."

Xiao Hengzhi smiled faintly, "What? Afraid I'll do something rash and kill myself?"

Guiye shrugged: "What if?"

After he finished speaking, he stared at the roof beam and stomped his newly healed foot.

"Use the main entrance—"

No sooner had Xiao Hengzhi finished speaking than he leaped up and nimbly disappeared from the rooftop.

He shook his head and picked up the wine jug again.

When he had almost finished drinking, Xiao Hengzhi looked towards the backyard, his gaze unconsciously falling in the direction of Jiang Mian's house.

He stood up, his steps unsteady, and walked towards the closed door.

He has a high alcohol tolerance, but perhaps because he didn't eat anything tonight, he seemed more tired than usual.

At the door, the wind flickered the candlelight; inside, all was quiet.

He stood at the door, raising his hand several times, but he couldn't push it open.

After standing there for a while, Xiao Hengzhi ultimately didn't go in, but turned around and slowly left.

His shadow stretched long in the moonlight, yet it appeared exceptionally lonely.

But Jiang Mian inside the room was completely unaware, only thinking that since he had broken through that barrier, he must be staying overnight every night.

But she waited anxiously for a long time, and the door never opened.