She refused to marry.

Ying Zheng walked over, looked at her disheveled appearance, felt heartbroken, and hugged her tightly.

Hearing his apology, Su Wanwan felt a bitter taste in her mouth. "You're not the one who hurt me... I don't blame you..."

After several months apart, he had lost weight, and the lines on his face had become more defined.

What did she do to make the male lead fall so deeply in love with her? She really shouldn't have done that.

"Let me see your hands..." Ying Zheng gripped her hand and rolled up her sleeve.

"It's all better now, nothing's wrong," Su Wanwan said softly.

Now that the Crown Prince has arrived, he will certainly not tolerate Feng Chenjun. Her priority now is to take the Crown Prince away from this place.

"It's my fault, I've made you suffer." Ying Zheng looked at her with a pained expression.

Su Wanwan looked up and caught a glimpse of the Emperor's figure flashing past the alley entrance.

Su Wanwan's heart was in her throat.

"I'm hungry, I'll eat something first."

Ying Zheng pulled her to a stop in front of a restaurant, and the group went inside.

"Shopkeeper, bring out the best of everything, along with a bowl of dumplings and a pot of tea." Ying Zheng settled Su Wanwan down and then gazed intently at her, unable to look away.

Su Wanwan looked away from his gaze, "Why are you always staring at me? I'm not some rare thing."

"I have dreamt of you for so long, and I am overjoyed to finally see you today." Ying Zheng took her hand and stroked her palm.

Su Wanwan withdrew her hand. "Your Highness, men and women should not touch each other."

"It was my abruptness," Ying Zheng said with a smile in his eyes.

The waiter brought tea.

Ying Zheng poured tea and placed it in front of her, saying, "Have some tea."

Su Wanwan took a sip of tea guiltily. Ying Zheng hadn't mentioned the emperor at all from beginning to end, so she didn't know what he was thinking.

"Are you tired?" Ying Zheng asked gently, his hand unconsciously smoothing her hair behind her ear.

Her hair was so messy; she must have suffered a lot during that bumpy journey.

"Someone, bring me some clean new clothes," Ying Zheng ordered.

"Yes!" said the person standing at the door.

Su Wanwan pursed her lips, not daring to speak. She had come to deliver grain to Prince Fengchen, and the prince must already know about it.

He doesn't mention it, which means he definitely doesn't want to.

I wonder if Lord Fengchen has escaped yet.

"Your Highness has won a great victory. Now you should reorganize your troops and continue south. There is no need to take such a risk by coming here." Su Wanwan put down her tea.

"It's worth it for you."

The waiter served the dishes.

Ying Zheng picked up his chopsticks and filled her bowl to the brim.

"It has been 150 or 16 days since we last parted. Although I was not in the capital, I sent many treasures from the Northern Frontier through someone. Among them was a string of dzi beads, which is very effective in protecting the wearer. Have you received them?"

Su Wanwan's almond-shaped eyes widened slightly; he had calculated it so clearly.

As for rare items, apart from those from restaurants, cosmetic shops, and silk stores in the capital, we have never received any from the northern border.

"Looks like he's been detained." Ying Zheng chuckled self-deprecatingly.

Su Wanwan put down her chopsticks. "Your Highness, there are some things I need to make clear to you. You wield great power and have fought on the battlefield. With such great abilities, you shouldn't be preoccupied with matters of the heart."

Moreover, I chose Lu Huai'an back then. He had no family background, so marrying into the Su family would be the icing on the cake for him.

But you are the heir apparent, destined for greatness. There is a world of difference between us.

I was in the inner room when the prince summoned you. After you left...

The prince made it clear that he would not allow you to indulge in romantic love. He would not allow you to marry anyone you liked. Besides, I didn't want to get married in the first place.

Therefore, Your Highness, it's best not to have any worries from now on.

Ying Zheng's face darkened, as if he hadn't heard him. "Let's eat."

Su Wanwan had no choice but to lower her head and eat.

After the two had their meal, Ying Zheng took Su Wanwan to the residence of the local prefect.

The prefectural magistrate lived in a three-courtyard house, guarded both inside and outside.

Su Wanwan was led into the inner courtyard of the three-section house.

Just as he sat down, a guard came in and said, "Your Highness, the scouts at the city gate have reported that they saw a white-haired man leave the city."

Our men have already given chase and will catch up within half a day.

"Understood. Gather the twelve secret guards immediately. I will be there shortly," Ying Zheng said to the outside.

Su Wanwan's heart tightened, and she poured herself a cup of tea to calm her nerves.

No matter how powerful Feng Chenjun is, he can't fight against four opponents alone.

Is it possible that I still can't escape my fate?

"You can stay here. I'll come to pick you up later," Ying Zheng said, turning to the woman.

Su Wanwan couldn't help but ask, "Would you kill Feng Chenjun?"

"If he were willing to surrender, of course not." Ying Zheng's gaze sharpened. "Are you worried about him?"

"He is the former master of my Su family, so of course I have to care about him," Su Wanwan said softly.

"Former master, Wanwan, you are lying. In the past, when you saw me, your eyebrows and eyes were always open."

"Since I found you today, the only time your expression changed was when you heard about Feng Chenjun. You've changed." Ying Zheng's expression turned serious.

Su Wanwan turned the teacup around.

"If that's the case, then I, the Crown Prince, cannot tolerate him."

Ying Zheng closed the door with a slightly angry expression and strode away.

Su Wanwan nervously got up and pulled on the door, but it was already locked from the inside.

"Ying Zheng, if you really care about me, then spare his life!" she shouted, banging on the door.

The only response she received was the sound of footsteps fading into the distance.

"Lu Huai'an, you promised me you'd spare his life!!! Lu Huai'an!!" she shouted through the crack in the door.

Ying Zheng listened to her words from afar, his face growing increasingly gloomy.

The more she cared, the tighter his heart became.

He led his twelve secret guards and hurriedly chased after them out of the city. After half a day of pursuit, it was already dark.

The thirteen men chased after him frantically and finally found the white-haired man at the city gate by a river.

"Your Highness, we've fallen into a trap!!!" the guard exclaimed.

Ying Zheng rode up to the man who was resting and asked, "Why are you playing tricks?"

The man looked up, puzzled, and asked, "Playing tricks?"

"Why did you bring a wig out of town?" Ying Zheng asked, pointing to the wig lying to the side.

"Oh, it's a misunderstanding. Someone gave me a silver ingot and made a bet with me that if I could reach this mountain within half a day,..."

"Then give me another silver ingot. I only just noticed this wig," the man said with a chuckle.

Ying Zheng tightened the reins, spurred his horse back, and shouted, "Retreat!!!"

Inside the mansion.

Su Wanwan was restless, pacing around the room. There were guards outside, and any noise she made would attract their attention.

If the man wearing a straw raincoat at the door was just looking at her, why would he keep looking around?

It's obvious they want to make a move when no one's around.

The young prince underestimated the prince's methods; the more the young prince hid, the more the prince wanted her dead.

She couldn't just sit and wait to die.

Just as she thought of this, she heard footsteps at the door and hurriedly looked out through the crack.

The man pulled a dagger from his sleeve and began prying open the door.

It’s over.