After severing all ties with family and friends, the villain's entire family was filled with re

Why wasn't this chapter mentioned before, Chapter 31?

It was past the beginning of the You hour (5-7 PM).

The streets were getting less and less crowded; everyone had gone to Daming Lake to wait for the fireworks display. Qin Wan calculated the time and figured they should have already left.

"Wan Shuang, let's go back to the manor!" Qin Wan put down her teacup and said softly.

Wan Shuang replied, "Alright, Miss, please sit and wait a moment. I'll go and call the coachman to bring the carriage over!"

Qin Wan nodded, glanced at Wan Shuang's back, and continued to sit, looking at the tea in front of her that had already been drunk up. The tea from this small street stall was a bit bitter, but she still finished it.

When she was at Leishan Temple, she couldn't even get tea like this. Sometimes, if she missed a day while sweeping snow, she would have no food at all.

She has eaten snow to stave off hunger in the middle of the night, and she still remembers the sandy feeling and the refreshing coolness of the snow melting in her mouth.

Compared to this, Qin Wan thought the tea tasted much better.

Just as Qin Wan was feeling sentimental, suddenly, a figure strode over from behind her.

Before Qin Wan could react, a large hand grabbed her wrist, pulled her up from her seat, and headed straight for a side alley.

Qin Wan instinctively resisted, but the person pulling her was too strong, and she could only let the person drag her along.

Qin Wan did not see the man's face, but she could tell who he was from his back.

But she no longer wanted to have anything to do with him, so she pulled a hairpin from her hair, pricked the man's hand, and shouted sharply, "Let me go!"

The man didn't say anything, but Qin Wan's heart softened in the end. She didn't dare to pierce his hand, but only made a light cut.

These minor injuries were nothing to him, and therefore not enough to make him let go of her.

There's a fireworks display by Daming Lake today, so there are far fewer people on Zhuque Street, not to mention the alleys, which are practically deserted right now.

After pulling Qin Wan deeper into the alley, the man released her wrist. He had gripped her wrist too tightly, making it ache, but he seemed to realize how much force he had used only when he released her.

"Wan'er, are you alright?"

Qin Wan frowned slightly, glanced at Xiao Jingyu in front of her, remained silent for a long time, but finally bowed.

"Greetings, Your Highness. I didn't know who was pulling me just now, and I was afraid that I would be harmed by a villain, so I stabbed him. I didn't expect to hurt Your Highness. Please forgive me!"

Looking at Qin Wan, who was so respectful to him, Xiao Jingyu felt as if something was stuck in his heart. In the past, she could recognize him at a glance even when he was dozens of meters away.

And now he's right in front of her, yet she doesn't recognize him. Perhaps she's angry that he's engaged to Shen Siyi.

"Wan'er, are you angry?"

Xiao Jingyu stepped forward, forcing Qin Wan into a corner, and grabbed her shoulders with both hands.

Qin Wan was stunned for a moment; she seemed to see a hint of concern and tenderness in his eyes.

However, Qin Wan quickly realized that someone who had been pursuing her for many years and remained indifferent to her could not possibly care about her.

In her previous life, when Qin Wan saw him and Shen Siyi walk past her hand in hand, she knew he must have recognized her, but he refused to give her a single glance, acting as if she were a stranger.

If she treated him like this before their engagement, why bother getting involved in this life?

Qin Wan knew that if she didn't leave soon, Wan Shuang wouldn't be able to find her.

Thinking of this, Qin Wan raised her hand and pulled Xiao Jingyu's hand off her shoulder.

"Thank you for your concern, Fourth Prince. Why would I be angry if I'm not upset?"

Xiao Jingyu knew she was doing it on purpose, so she said...

"Wan'er is so distant from me, it must be because of the marriage arranged by the Emperor. I don't like Shen Siyi, but I can't disobey the Emperor's order, so I'm in a difficult position!"

I've been wanting to talk to you for the past few days to explain, but I've been too busy with other things and haven't had the time. I just saw you from afar in the carriage.

Knowing you might be waiting for me here, I came!

"Your Highness has misunderstood. I was simply waiting for a maid from the manor," Qin Wan replied respectfully.

"Since His Majesty's command is inviolable, then there is no need to disobey. I also believe that Miss Shen is a perfect match for the Fourth Prince, with her stunning beauty!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingyu's eyes widened suddenly. These were just words spoken in anger; she must have been deliberately trying to provoke her.

"Wan'er, you should understand my pain. As a prince, I cannot control my own marriage. It is very difficult for me to do this. Wan'er, please don't be angry with me, okay?"

Qin Wan smiled. She didn't know what had gotten into Xiao Jingyu today, that he had said so much to her. But in the end, he was saying that his marriage to Shen Siyi was not something he could control.

Marriage is beyond our control, but can't feelings be too?

He had never spoken a heartfelt word to her before, and even when she spoke, he seemed somewhat impatient.

Now that they're engaged, he tells himself so much about how reluctant he is to part ways.

It seems the man was fickle, always wanting more than he had.

Thinking of this, Qin Wan felt a little lost and sad. She had once fantasized about spending the rest of her life with him, but from now on, she would never be by his side.

Qin Wan composed herself, suppressed her emotions, and said coldly.

"Your Highness, I was ignorant before and mistook joy for love. Now I understand that I only regarded Your Highness as an older brother. Please do not misunderstand me anymore."

Your Highness already has a fiancée. This humble woman wishes Your Highness and Miss Shen a long and loving life together!

Xiao Jingyu stood there stunned, feeling as if something was tearing her heart apart. Everyone else knew that the prince's marriage was a matter of national importance, so why didn't she know?

Why make a fuss and say hurtful things because of this!

"Wan'er, I used to be a little cold to you, but that was because I didn't know I had feelings for you. Only today have I seen my own heart clearly!"

Qin Wan stared wide-eyed at Xiao Jingyu, wondering if she had misheard him. He said he had feelings for her?

Qin Wan thought she would be happy to hear this, but she was filled with disappointment. Why didn't he say these things before? Why did he wait until he was engaged to someone else to say them?

And why didn't they tell the Empress and His Majesty? Why did they have to tell someone like her who has no say in anything?

Was it to mock her past expressions?