The villainous female supporting character becomes a heartthrob, and the powerful man successfully r

"Zizhang, His Highness the Crown Prince is getting married. We're preparing to deliver our congratulatory gifts. What have you been busy with these past few days? Why don't you come with us?"

"I... wasn't busy with anything."

Xiao Nanzhou looked at his colleague in front of him, somewhat dazed.

He was shocked when he thought about the news he heard today. His Highness the Crown Prince was moving so fast that he had already set a wedding date for a month from now.

Time was of the essence, and the officials from the Imperial Observatory, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of Rites were already busy.

However, before he could find out the identity of the Crown Princess, he was about to ask his colleagues when he felt a strange panic in his heart, and the words he uttered turned into a rejection of his colleagues' suggestion.

Several colleagues looked at each other, bewildered, as he strode away.

The Xia family home was eerily silent.

In the main courtyard, Mr. and Mrs. Xia sat in armchairs, their faces drooping, and no one spoke.

"Father, it might just be a coincidence of names. Besides, there's a rumor that this girl is the reincarnation of a phoenix star, but Xia Ying is a jinx. How could they be the same person?" Xia Mufeng said disdainfully.

Xia Qingfeng immediately chimed in, "Father, Mother, and Third Brother are right. Besides, how could someone like Xia Ying possibly catch His Highness the Crown Prince's eye?"

The atmosphere froze instantly. They thought of Xia Ying's true appearance; if judged solely on looks, Xia Ying could be considered the most beautiful woman in the world.

Madam Xia frowned impatiently, slamming her large hand on the table beside her. "Even if it is her, so what? Can she really disown her own parents? I think she's really gone too far. If she doesn't acknowledge me as her own mother, I will kneel before the Yongle Gate and ask His Majesty and the Empress, how can such a person be worthy of being the Crown Princess!"

Her eyes gleamed with shrewdness, and she was secretly overjoyed. Eight years ago, Xia Ying's fate was in her hands, and eight years later, she, as Xia Ying's biological mother, could still control everything about Xia Ying.

Now, she almost wished the other party was her daughter, Xia Ying. That way, they could not only get close to the Crown Prince, but also have their Xia family dominate the capital after the Crown Prince ascended the throne.

Even the favored concubines had to shut up and grovel before her!

Thinking this, Xia's mother glanced at Xia's father beside her and saw that his expression had clearly relaxed.

"What do you say, sir?"

"What you say is absolutely right, Madam. Your words are truly enlightening. Filial piety is paramount in Daqing. Even with this letter severing ties, as long as Xia Ying still wants the position of Crown Princess, she will have no choice but to compromise."

After discussing it for a long time, the family finally showed relaxed smiles.

There was only one person who found it hard to laugh, and that was Xia Yanxin.

Back then, she took away Xia Ying's life of wealth and luxury. Now that Xia Ying has become the Crown Princess, if she were to ask Xia Ying's father to kick her out, she believed that Xia Ying's father would definitely comply.

Just like back then, they abandoned Xia Ying.

Thinking of this, she felt a sudden panic. She absolutely could not, could not lose everything she had now!

Yes, she also has Xiao Nanzhou!

Suppressing her panic, Xia Yanxin headed straight for the Xiao residence with her maid.

The steward of the Xiao family did not announce her arrival but instead took her directly to Xiao Nanzhou's study.

At this moment, Xiao Nanzhou was communicating with his subordinates about Xia Ying's whereabouts.

"My lord, I heard a few days ago that there is a woman at Xiangguo Temple who looks similar to Miss Xia, but when I went there today, I found nothing."

Xiao Nanzhou, his face grim, flipped through the clues in his hand, his mood at its lowest point.

No, nothing at all. Xia Ying vanished from the capital city as if she had evaporated into thin air.

How could this be? Unless, there is a more powerful force preventing his investigation.

who can that be?

As Xiao Nanzhou pondered, he heard his subordinate continue, "I have made a new discovery." He hesitated for a moment, then boldly said, "The Crown Princess shares the same name as Miss Xia."

"What did you say?!" Xiao Nanzhou's body trembled, and he shouted. He stood up in disbelief, walked to his subordinate, and because of his panic, he staggered and fell down completely.

"I just find it suspicious. You are close to His Highness, so you must know the inside story."

Inside story? Xiao Nanzhou thought of Rong Xuanzhou's mysterious smile, his evasiveness, and his eagerness to ask for an imperial decree to grant him and Xia Yanxin a marriage.

This undoubtedly points to one thing—the Crown Princess is Xia Ying!

Having figured all this out, Xiao Nanzhou slumped into a chair next to him, his eyes vacant and lifeless.

After a long pause, he said in a hoarse voice, "Go and investigate this lead. Make sure you get to the bottom of it. Remember, don't alert His Highness the Crown Prince."

Xia Yanxin, standing outside the door, had already frozen in place. Xiao Nanzhou, her fiancé, was actually still worried about Xia Ying!

Why did Xia Ying not only become the Crown Princess, but also steal Xiao Nanzhou's heart?

All of this should belong to her!

Xia Yanxin angrily pushed open the door, startling Xiao Nanzhou.

"Xin'er, what brings you here?"

"Brother Nanzhou, do you still like Xia Ying and not me, right?"

Xiao Nanzhou saw her face covered in tears and wanted to comfort her, but when he opened his mouth, he couldn't say a word.

His hesitation said it all.

Xia Yanxin's tears flowed even more fiercely upon seeing this.

"I understand. But, Brother Nanzhou, our marriage is bestowed by His Majesty. Do you still intend to marry Xia Ying?"

Xia Yanxin's words left Xiao Nanzhou speechless. Yes, thanks to the Crown Prince's machinations, he and Xia Yanxin were completely bound together. His Highness the Crown Prince is truly cunning!

"Xin'er, I'm just trying to make it up to Xia Ying, after all, she once saved me."

Xia Yanxin sneered inwardly. Make amends? It's probably too late to make amends now.

"Brother Nanzhou, my sister is now the Crown Princess, she doesn't need you to make amends for her. Let's just wish her well."

Her gentle words pierced Xiao Nanzhou's heart like a sharp blade.

The title of Crown Princess completely severed any possibility between Xiao Nanzhou and Xia Ying; he would never have Xia Ying again.

Xiao Nanzhou smiled bitterly, and suddenly, even more resentment welled up in his heart.

He was clearly the one who met Xia Ying first.

He was the one who was engaged to Xia Ying.

Clearly... clearly, if he had just let things take their natural course, he and Xia Ying could have gotten married. Why?!

Xiao Nanzhou was in great pain, but Xia Yanxin ignored him and left on her own.

Xia Ying wouldn't let her have an easy time, so naturally, she wouldn't let Xia Ying have an easy time either.

She remembered that Rong Xuanzhou was no good person; when he was in a bad mood, he could snap a person's neck with his bare hands.

If she were to reveal Xia Ying and Xiao Nanzhou's past to Rong Xuanzhou, then Xia Ying...

As Xia Yanxin pondered this, her eyes shone with excitement.

She found several of her brothers and inquired about Xiao Nanzhou's past, having her maid write it down. She also found tokens of their past relationship in Xia Ying's former courtyard.

After doing all this, Xia Yanxin invited Rong Yunfei out for a stroll, to watch a play and enjoy tea, before finally starting the conversation.

"Princess, I have some things here that my sister left behind. Please convey my message to her."

Rong Yunfei didn't want to help, but Xia Yanxin changed the subject and said, "Please give it to His Highness the Crown Prince. If His Highness feels it's inappropriate, there's no need to show it to my sister. Just throw it away so she won't be sad."

Something was wrong—this was the strange feeling that arose in Rong Yunfei's heart. Usually, when she appeared with her brother, Xin Jiejie didn't dare to look directly at him and would stay far away.

Now, they're actually mentioning my elder brother directly, could it be...?

Remembering that she had been used before, Rong Yunfei suppressed her doubts and agreed this time.

She wanted to see what was inside.