"Oh? What did Zhou Hanxiao say about me?" Wu Caiwei narrowed her eyes dangerously.
"She said you're smart, beautiful, and good with money, but she didn't say you had such a likable personality, like a little chili pepper. I like this kind of personality. There's a thrill after taming it," the Third Prince felt more and more that the woman before him was lively and spirited. At first, he thought the sisters were very similar, but after chatting for a while, he clearly noticed the difference.
Wu Caiwei listened to him saying increasingly outrageous things. If it weren't for the crowded street, she would have really wanted to beat him up.
"Third Prince, please have some self-respect. We've met, and if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave," Wu Caiwei stopped checking the accounts and wanted to leave quickly.
"Don't go. We've finally met, let me treat you to a meal." The Third Prince had finally caught hold of her and felt he had to get closer.
"Men and women should not touch each other. If the Third Prince has any matters to discuss, you can find Master Zhou. There's nothing to discuss with a little lady like me," Wu Caiwei didn't want to deal with him anymore and made to leave.
The Third Prince was not a patient man. After talking to her for so long and seeing her disregard him, he strode forward and grabbed her hand, his face darkening. He threatened, "Don't think too highly of yourself. It's your honor that I fancy you. Believe it or not, I can deal with you right now."
"The Third Prince should have heard of my deeds. I'm not even afraid of the Prime Minister and dared to challenge him before the Emperor. What makes you think I'm afraid of you? Anyway, my life is cheap, my parents don't love me, my mother doesn't love me. At worst, we'll perish together," Wu Caiwei said defiantly. Although she valued her life, her spirit couldn't be weak.
"You... You're good, we'll see." The Third Prince pointed at her, trembling with rage.
He gave her a venomous look, flicked his sleeve, turned, and left.
That afternoon, Wu Caiwei sent out an invitation, hoping to visit Zhou Hanxiao the next day.
Zhou Hanxiao had heard about the Third Prince seeking her out and was secretly delighted. Upon hearing that the other party wanted to visit, she immediately agreed. She felt that her cheap sister must be coming to beg for mercy, and she would definitely mock her then.
The next day, she woke up very early and quickly dressed and applied makeup, putting on her most magnificent attire. However, upon seeing the Third Prince, who had unexpectedly arrived, she felt a mix of emotions. She didn't know how he got the news, as he was already waiting there early.
When Wu Caiwei walked into the courtyard, she saw Zhou Hanxiao looking at her with resentment, which left her feeling utterly bewildered. It seemed like she was the one who had framed her, yet she hadn't offended her recently.
However, upon entering the room and seeing the Third Prince, who had been waiting for a long time, she understood everything. So, she was jealous. Such a man was disgusting to look at. How poor must her taste be to have fancied him? Her worries were destined to be in vain.
"Third Miss, have you come to your senses? Offering yourself?" The Third Prince was inwardly pleased, but his tone was stern, not wanting the other party to detect his eagerness.
"Third Prince, you're overthinking it. I will never be a concubine in this lifetime. I just want to see Madam Zhou," Wu Caiwei refused directly and stated her purpose.
"Truly a refusal of a toast and then a penalty drink." The Third Prince knew he had misunderstood and, unable to save face, was about to leave in a huff.
Wu Caiwei suddenly remembered something and quickly stopped him, "Third Prince, wait."
The Third Prince's face lit up, and he quickly turned around, continuing to grumble, "You angered me quite a bit. Now you regret it, but I can't forgive you immediately, making it seem like I have no principles."
Wu Caiwei smiled and remained silent. She personally poured a cup of tea and presented it to him. "It was my first meeting yesterday, and I was rather rude. Today, I offer this tea in place of wine to ask for your forgiveness."
"You think you can dismiss me with two sentences? You're dreaming." The Third Prince was inwardly pleased and wanted to make things difficult for her. He didn't even look at the tea in her hand, looking at her with ambiguous eyes.
Zhou Hanxiao stood aside, clutching her handkerchief with both hands, almost tearing it apart, yet maintaining a polite smile on her face.
Although she wanted the Third Prince to make things difficult for this cheap sister, she didn't want them to have too much interaction. Furthermore, in front of the Third Prince, she still wanted to portray sisterly affection and act as a good sister who cared for her sibling.
So, she walked up to the Third Prince, took the cup, and casually blocked his view. She said solicitously, "Your Highness, magnanimous people overlook minor faults. She grew up in a nunnery and never learned any etiquette. She doesn't even respect me, her sister, and fears nothing. For my sake, drink this cup of tea. If she speaks disrespectfully again, Your Highness can discipline her as you please."
"My darling understands me best. I'll drink this cup of tea today for your sake," the Third Prince intimately tapped her nose and said dotingly.
Then, he took the cup and drank it in one gulp.
Zhou Hanxiao quickly snuggled into his embrace. "Your Highness is so good to me."
Wu Caiwei looked at this discordant scene, finding it somewhat of a visual assault. She coughed twice, reminding them, "I'm still here. Shouldn't you two restrain yourselves?"
"You lack romance." The Third Prince rolled his eyes, feeling that although the rose before him was beautiful, it was a bit prickly. He was determined to remove her thorns.
Just then, a servant found him with important matters and whispered a few words in his ear. He suddenly stood up and hurried away.
With no one else in the room, Zhou Hanxiao revealed her true colors. She sat in her seat, sipping tea, and looked at Wu Caiwei with disdain. "I thought you were so noble. You flirt with my man right in front of me. An unmarried young girl with no sense of shame."
"Isn't this what you wanted?" Wu Caiwei looked at her with a half-smile.
"I don't understand what you're talking about. I heard you offended the Third Prince yesterday. Fortunately, I smoothed things over for you today. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to bear the Third Prince's wrath," Zhou Hanxiao said arrogantly, quickly changing the subject.
"You know what you did. This is my first time in a prince's mansion since I grew up. Of course, I have to take a good look," Wu Caiwei said as she touched and looked at things here and there, like Liu Grandma entering the Grand View Garden.
"Looking at you like a country bumpkin, these things are tribute. Be careful. You can't afford to lose anything," Zhou Hanxiao finally found a sense of superiority and said loftily.
"This flower of yours is very special and looks good. Let me see what kind of fertilizer you used?" She had touched almost everything in the room. Walking to a potted plant, she dug out some soil without minding the dirt.
"Letting you in here is embarrassing me. It's disgusting." Zhou Hanxiao felt that her cheap sister lacked the demeanor and grace of a young lady from a prominent family.