"LISTEN! YOU ARE MY WIFE! SO YOUR PROBLEMS ARE ALSO MY PROBLEMS! I'LL FIND THE KILLERS, SO YOU'D BETTER STOP DOING ANYTHING FOOLISH AND STAY SAFELY IN YOUR ROOM!"
After saying that, Prince Li immediately left the room, leaving TanTan sitting silently on the bed.
"..."
What was that?
If he hadn't said it in such an angry tone, I might have thought he was genuinely concerned about HuaMuTan...
Since when did he start considering HuaMuTan his wife?
Since when did he start considering... me his wife?
That last thought suddenly made TanTan's cheeks turn red.
She shook her head vigorously.
"Stop it! That's silly, TanTan! Prince Li is probably just concerned about his own reputation. He doesn't want HuaMuTan causing trouble that might drag him into it later. Yes... It must be something like that!"
Trying to distract herself, TanTan began thinking about what she should do next.
She hadn't gained any useful clues from the Silver Mask. In fact, she felt terribly disappointed. It seemed she wasn't making any progress at all in solving the mystery surrounding her situation.
Yet the dream she had just experienced remained vivid in her mind. It made her feel even more responsible for finding the people who had tried to kill HuaMuTan.
Perhaps LiShuiXian's wish is the reason I ended up in HuaMuTan's body. If I can fulfill her wish... could I finally return to my own time?
But if Prince Li really intended to restrict her movements from now on, how could she continue investigating?
Maybe I need to deal with this Prince first. I can't keep sneaking out of the mansion forever. Either we make peace with each other, or... I definitely need to get a divorce as soon as possible!
Just then, the door opened again.
TanTan immediately looked up, thinking Prince Li had returned.
But it wasn't him.
Instead, a woman entered—the very same woman TanTan had rescued from the ship.
"It's... you!"
TanTan felt relieved to see that the woman was safe, although she was also a little confused about why she had come to her room.
A Xing greeted her politely before approaching and handing her a piece of paper.
TanTan took it and read the words written on it.
My name is A Xing. I am deeply grateful to Madam HuaMuTan for saving me. You have given me a new life, and I owe you everything. To repay your kindness, I wish to serve you from now on.
TanTan was surprised.
She hadn't expected to gain another servant. XiaoRue was already enough for her. As a modern woman, she wasn't comfortable with the idea of having several people constantly waiting on her.
"You don't need to become my servant. I already have XiaoRue..."
Then she suddenly remembered something.
"That's right! Where is XiaoRue? Shouldn't she be here to help me get ready this morning?"
A Xing seemed to want to explain, but her disability made communication difficult.
TanTan noticed immediately.
"Wait... You can't speak?"
A Xing nodded sadly. She opened her mouth and showed TanTan her severed tongue.
TanTan was shocked.
"That bastard Crown Prince is truly cruel! I hope he rots in jail!"
A Xing smiled sadly.
She then picked up a basin of warm water and began preparing to wash TanTan's feet. Despite TanTan's attempts to stop her, A Xing insisted on serving her.
"Really, you don't have to do this. After everything that happened on the ship, you're free now. You don't owe me anything! Besides, where is XiaoRue?"
A Xing shook her head.
Then she gently took TanTan's hand and wrote two words on her palm.
Angry.
Punish.
"Angry? Who's angry? Prince Li?"
A Xing nodded.
"And... punish? Who is being punished? Are you saying Prince Li is punishing XiaoRue?"
A Xing nodded again.
TanTan immediately stood up.
"What?! Where is she?!"
At that very moment, someone hurried into the room.
"Oh, good! You're awake!"
It was QingQing.
She smiled with relief, but TanTan could also detect a trace of worry in her expression, as though she were trying to hide something.
"What's wrong? Is it about XiaoRue?"
QingQing glanced at A Xing before asking, "She already told you?"
A Xing nodded.
"Well... your husband is angry with XiaoRue for letting you sneak out last night."
"He can't do that! XiaoRue is innocent! Where is she now?!"
TanTan was furious.
"She's kneeling in front of the main hall right now," QingQing explained.
Without another word, TanTan hurriedly changed into her daily clothes and rushed out of the room.
QingQing and A Xing followed her.
In front of the main hall, XiaoRue had been kneeling ever since Prince Li had ordered her out of TanTan's room the previous night to reflect on her mistake.
Uncle Tong happened to pass by and noticed her.
What a silly girl. She's punishing herself...
When Prince Li returned to the main hall, Uncle Tong greeted him before reporting the situation.
"Master, XiaoRue has been kneeling here since last night. She refuses to stand until she receives your forgiveness."
Prince Li hadn't expected XiaoRue to punish herself so severely. He had only intended to give her a warning.
He could also tell that Uncle Tong was concerned about the girl.
"...Tell her to return to her room. And—"
Before he could finish, he noticed TanTan and the others approaching.
TanTan hurried toward XiaoRue, her face full of concern.
"Are you all right, XiaoRue?"
"XiaoJie! You're awake!"
XiaoRue looked relieved.
"Now XiaoRue can accept the punishment with a peaceful heart..."
"What are you talking about, XiaoRue?! There's no need for any punishment! I'll deal with him!"
Hearing TanTan's loud voice, Prince Li stepped out of the main hall.
The moment TanTan saw him, she immediately directed her anger toward him, although XiaoRue weakly tried to stop her.
"What do you think you're doing?! XiaoRue hasn't done anything wrong! Besides, she's my servant! You have no right to punish her!"
"XiaoJie... It's not like that..."
"Don't be afraid, XiaoRue! Stand up now and go back to your room!"
"B-but..."
XiaoRue glanced toward Prince Li. She still wanted his forgiveness before she could feel at ease.
Prince Li sighed.
"Fine. She may stand. But she must be sent back to Mansion Hua immediately!"
Everyone was stunned by his order.
Without waiting for anyone's response, Prince Li turned and went back inside.
"You can't do that!"
TanTan immediately chased after him.
QingQing was about to follow, but Uncle Tong stopped her with a gentle shake of his head, silently signaling her not to interfere.
Meanwhile, A Xing helped XiaoRue get back on her feet.
"Will XiaoJie be all right?" XiaoRue asked worriedly.
QingQing glanced at XiaoRue, who was struggling to stand because her knees had become weak. She had to lean against A Xing for support.
"They'll be fine. You should worry about yourself first. Come, I'll help you back to your room."
QingQing put an arm around XiaoRue's shoulders and helped her walk.
A Xing hesitated, unsure whether she should follow them or stay behind to wait for TanTan.
Uncle Tong noticed her uncertainty and gently told her to remain there with him until TanTan returned.
Inside the main hall, Prince Li immediately sat down in his chair.
TanTan followed him in, still furious.
"You have no right to send XiaoRue away from me! Why does she have to leave?!"
Prince Li glanced at her before replying coldly.
"She has failed to do her job properly."
"She has! You only want to do this because I disobeyed your orders! Aren't you ashamed of taking your anger out on an innocent girl?!"
"HuaMuTan!"
BANG!
Prince Li slammed his hand against the table beside him.
TanTan immediately fell silent.
He stood up and approached her.
"If you're saying XiaoRue might be sent away because of you, then you're absolutely right! You made a mistake, and XiaoRue must bear the consequences of failing to carry out my orders. So do you think your behavior right now will help her?! You're only giving me more reason to send her away immediately!"
TanTan was stunned.
Only then did she fully remember that the man standing before her was not just a prince. He was also a fierce general who commanded an army.
His threat sounded very serious.
Maybe I shouldn't provoke him too much... Otherwise, I might really lose XiaoRue.
Prince Li watched her expression closely.
He leaned toward her, studying her face.
"So? What are you thinking?"
TanTan spoke more softly, but she didn't want to surrender too easily. She raised her eyes and stared back at him defiantly.
"...I know I made a mistake. If you're still angry, you can punish me instead. But please let XiaoRue stay by my side."
Prince Li smirked.
"Oh? How generous of you. But how dare I punish the precious daughter of Lady Hua? Will you use Lady Hua's honored name to pressure me again this time?"
TanTan tried to recall HuaMuTan's memories.
Did she really do that? Hmm... Knowing the old HuaMuTan, she probably did.
Then another thought occurred to her.
Wait! The power of Lady Hua's name... Why haven't I thought of using that before?
"Well... In that case, you shouldn't dare to send XiaoRue away! If you do, XiaoRue will report all the terrible things you've done to me to Lady Hua!"
"...!"
Standing so close to TanTan, Prince Li stared at her angrily.
But he soon calmed himself, turned away, and returned to his chair.
"Then I'll prepare myself to hear Lady Hua's complaints. I'd like to see how you intend to explain these terrible things I've supposedly done to you. Have I ever truly harmed you while you've been living in Li Mansion?"
"...!"
TanTan couldn't answer.
She wouldn't dare report something like that to the old lady and make her worry. Besides, as Prince Li had pointed out, she didn't have any solid evidence that she had been mistreated in Li Mansion.
And hadn't she just decided that she wanted to make peace with him?
Taking a deep breath, she tried a different approach.
"...Prince Li, can't we make a deal?"
Prince Li narrowed his eyes.
"What do you want?"
TanTan took another deep breath, then sat down and began speaking seriously.
"Listen, Prince Li... I really don't want to cause any more trouble. I know our relationship has been terrible in the past, and I understand that. But I'm really not the same person I used to be. You can rest assured that I have no romantic feelings for you. So... can we just be friends?"
"What?"
Prince Li's expression suddenly turned cold.
TanTan continued, unaware of how much her words had affected him.
"I mean, even though we're still married, I'll give you the freedom to do whatever you want. I've said it before, and I won't interfere with any relationship you have with another woman. Wouldn't that be better for both of us? We wouldn't have to keep torturing each other anymore."
"..."
Prince Li remained silent.
His unreadable expression made TanTan increasingly nervous.
"I just want to make peace with you. Sincerely. And I'll find a way for us to get divorced without either of us being punished by the kingdom."
Prince Li suddenly stood up and approached her.
He placed both hands on the armrests of her chair and leaned closer.
"Are you really serious about what you just said?"
Thump!
TanTan's heart skipped a beat.
Why does he keep getting so close to me lately?! He always catches me off guard! It's making me uncomfortable... Why is my heart beating so fast? Am I really that afraid of him?
She forced herself to maintain eye contact and nodded slowly.
"...Of course. I'm serious."
"What a generous offer, HuaMuTan. But..."
He looked directly into her eyes.
Thump!
This woman is driving me mad... She is HuaMuTan, but what she just suggested is something the HuaMuTan I knew would never have said.
Prince Li struggled with his own thoughts.
He should have been able to accept her offer without hesitation. After all, getting rid of this marriage was what he had wanted for so long.
But something deep in his heart wouldn't allow him to agree.
He didn't want it anymore.
"...But what?"
"I won't accept it."
"W-Why?! Don't you hate me? Isn't this what you've always wanted? To get rid of me?"
"I don't...!"
Prince Li stopped himself.
He had almost said, I don't hate you.
But was he really ready to admit that to her?
What if she was only pretending? What if this was another one of her schemes?
Yet TanTan kept looking at him, her eyes clear and challenging him to answer.
After a moment, he spoke again, more slowly.
"I... don't hate you anymore."
TanTan's eyes widened.
Did he just say...?
Prince Li stepped back and turned away, trying to hide his own awkwardness.
"..."
Hearing those words made TanTan's heart feel strangely pleased.
But she quickly reminded herself to stay realistic.
"Then... why do your actions always tell me the opposite?"
"I...!"
Prince Li wanted to say more, but before he could, a voice suddenly called from outside.
"Master, Minister Hua has arrived."
Prince Li immediately straightened up.
"Let him enter."