Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 406: Fish Die and the Net Is Torn

Liu Xi brought over the medicine that had been simmering for an hour to Bai Chen.

Bai Chen obediently drank the bitter medicine, though he was usually unbearably picky and never willing to take his medicine properly.

But this was different—it was Liu Xi who made it for him.

Liu Xi took back the bowl and said, "Princely Heir, you’ll stay here for the next seven days. Xiao Tao and I can squeeze a bit."

Saying this, she was about to leave, but Bai Chen cried out, "Ouch," covering his leg in pain.

Liu Xi hurriedly came over and checked. Pulling back the blanket, she saw his wound bleeding again.

Frowning, Liu Xi asked, "Didn’t the bleeding stop earlier? Why is it bleeding again?"

Bai Chen, with a wronged expression, said, "Miss Liu, this Princely Heir knows you think I’m a frivolous noble, so you have some prejudice against me. I know I do like to win ladies’ favor, but since meeting you, I’ve realized all my little tricks are useless. I’m not asking you to accept me immediately, but... shouldn’t you at least give me a chance to prove myself and let you get to know me better?"

Liu Xi looked at Bai Chen coldly. "Even if I give you another year or more, my answer will still be the same. It’s impossible between us."

Bai Chen clutched his leg in pain as Liu Xi sighed and said, "Lie flat."

Bai Chen obediently lay down as instructed. Liu Xi sat by the bed and gently pressed his wound with gauze to stop the bleeding.

After applying another layer of ointment, she said, "Princely Heir, I’ll stay here tonight. Once your wound has stopped bleeding, I’ll move out. You can sleep here, and I’ll take the small cot outside."

Bai Chen, lying on the bed, softly responded, "Okay."

After Liu Xi left, the corners of Bai Chen’s lips curled into a faint smile. His fingers were stained with blood from him deliberately pressing his wound earlier.

In order to spend more time with Liu Xi, he realized that physical pain was nothing.

...

In the afternoon, Zhan Lan went to Yunyin Academy.

Upon seeing Zhan Lan, Qingfeng Scholar first bowed. "Greetings, Prince Zhenbei, Regent Princess Consort."

Zhan Lan looked at the white-haired scholar and immediately supported him. "Sir, you don’t need to do that."

Before she joined the military, she would visit the academy every fifteen days to listen to Qingfeng Scholar’s lectures.

The scholar’s life experiences had taught her many lessons, but Zhan Lan understood: the best teacher is experience.

No matter how many times others explain something, if she didn’t experience it personally, it wouldn’t truly resonate with her.

As the saying goes, people can teach, but personal experience teaches best.

Much of what she understood now had been learned only after being reborn once.

Back then, Zhan Lan had purposely schemed to become Qingfeng Scholar’s disciple as part of her calculated revenge against Zhan Xuerou.

After returning from Heifeng Pass, she had only visited the scholar once and had seldom returned to the academy since.

Now, looking back, her singular focus on revenge felt excessive. Some of her methods for revenge weren’t exactly honorable, either.

Zhan Lan respectfully bowed to Qingfeng Scholar. "Master, please accept this disciple’s respect."

The scholar’s expression remained warm as he looked at Zhan Lan. "You are the disciple I’m most proud of. To be honest, I feel a bit ashamed—I don’t think I’ve really taught you much."

Zhan Lan remarked with a smile, "Master, how could that be? Without your guidance, how could I command subordinates or strategize during military campaigns?"

"I’m just a young woman anyway. On the battlefield, I rely on wit most of the time," Zhan Lan said, pointing to her head.

Qingfeng Scholar burst into hearty laughter. "You mischievous girl—you’ve always had a silver tongue!"

Zhan Lan helped the scholar to sit down, then motioned to the Hidden Guards to present the ancient books she’d painstakingly found.

Qingfeng Scholar’s mood visibly lightened as he flipped through the books, his eyes sparkling with joy. These were treasures one couldn’t simply buy with silver.

"Girl, you’ve truly put in the effort," the scholar said, smiling at Zhan Lan while carefully storing the books like precious gems.

As the two were speaking, a servant suddenly entered and announced, "Reporting to the scholar: King Wei has arrived."

The smile on Qingfeng Scholar’s face shifted subtly.

Given the current tensions over the Crown Prince struggle, King Wei’s visit was rather inappropriate.

Zhan Lan’s circumstances were different; she was, after all, a woman and held a prominent place in the public’s esteem.

King Wei, however, was the Crown Prince’s arch-nemesis. Furthermore, Lu Zhong, Qingfeng Scholar’s most favored disciple, was part of the Crown Prince Faction.

This created a web of complex and delicate connections.

Hence, Qingfeng Scholar was disinclined to meet Si Jun.

Noticing her master’s unease, Zhan Lan spoke up. "Master, I’ll visit you another day."

Qingfeng Scholar nodded and instructed the servant, "Tell King Wei that I’m feeling unwell and have gone to bed."

"Understood!"

As Zhan Lan left Yunyin Academy and boarded her carriage, she suddenly heard Si Jun’s voice.

"Zhan Lan, wait."

Zhan Lan turned to look in the direction of the voice. Si Jun, as always, maintained his refined elegance, gazing at her with deep and tender eyes.

Not wanting to engage, Zhan Lan attempted to board her carriage, but Si Jun quickly approached. "Zhan Lan, there’s something I want to say."

She turned back, her expression cold, and replied, "King Wei, please show propriety. I’m your Imperial Aunt, yet you just addressed me by name. Has no one taught you manners?"

Si Jun was momentarily stunned but then smiled. "Zhan Lan, did you see the Master today?"

Her gaze grew distant, and she took a step back. "No."

Si Jun nodded and began reminiscing. "Do you remember the days we studied together under the scholar at the academy..."

Zhan Lan interrupted him. "Does King Wei have anything else to say?"

Seeing her trying to board the carriage, Si Jun quickly grabbed her wrist, but Zhan Lan yanked her hand away and gave him a sharp slap across the face.

Si Jun was stunned, his cheek stinging painfully.

"King Wei, if you continue to be so discourteous and harass this Princess Consort, I’ll show you what the strength of a warrior truly means."

With that, Zhan Lan turned her back and boarded the carriage without a glance.

Si Jun stood there, dazed, wondering why Zhan Lan despised him so much. freёnovelkiss.com

All he wanted was to close the gap between them. After all, he didn’t want hostilities with Zhan Lan and Mu Yan to escalate further.

If they sided against him while he opposed the Crown Prince, what would he do then?

As Zhan Lan’s carriage gradually disappeared, Hei Yu clenched his fists and said, "Master, right now Zhan Lan is alone with only a few Hidden Guards. Shall we simply...?"

Si Jun glanced at Hei Yu, touched his burning cheek, and said, "Make it clean. Take her to the dungeon."

He had originally intended to win Zhan Lan over, but her ruthless rejection had pushed him over the edge. He would make her pay and humiliate Mu Yan properly.

So be it—let this end in mutual destruction if it must!

"Yes, Master," Hei Yu acknowledged, stealthily leading his men to follow Zhan Lan.