Wei Yu's chest heaved, her breathing heavy with anger.
The Crown Prince had become a stranger.
She realized, after all these years, she had never truly known him.
"Your Highness, are you planning to depose me?" Wei Yu bit her lip fiercely, a hint of ferocity on her face as she stared directly at the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince disliked her gaze, aggressive and utterly unlike a young lady.
"Rest assured, you are a daughter of the Wei family, the beloved niece of my mother, and the Crown Princess personally decreed by the Emperor. I will not depose you. However, you must understand that even if I don't depose you, it would be effortless to make you a mere nominal Crown Princess!"
The Crown Prince spoke coldly, his voice devoid of any emotion.
It was as if the person standing opposite him was not his childhood sweetheart, nor his ally who had fought alongside him, and certainly not the wife who shared his bed.
It was as if she were merely an unrelated person whom he found extremely detestable.
Wei Yu's heart sank, a chill spreading through her entire body.
Even though their union was not born of love, their shared childhood memories and their marital bond meant nothing to the Crown Prince!
She couldn't fathom how things had deteriorated to this point.
It seemed that ever since the Crown Prince had taken an interest in He Rufang, their relationship had worsened with each passing day...
Wang Qingyao's face flashed in Wei Yu's mind.
That's right, Wang Qingyao!
It was her, it was all her doing!
It was she who, harboring resentment, deliberately paraded He Rufang before the Crown Prince, intentionally sabotaging her relationship with him!
Wei Yu vowed never to let Wang Qingyao off the hook, but for now, the priority was not to deal with Wang Qingyao, but to regain the Crown Prince's favor!
Wei Yu was indeed intelligent. In an instant, her clarity returned, and the petty emotions of young love were suppressed deep within her heart.
She looked at the Crown Prince, her bright eyes brimming with tears, her face etched with a look of vulnerability and bewilderment.
"Cousin," she sobbed, "you are so heartless. I devoted my heart to you, yet you are so cruel!"
Her tone still held a hint of defiance, but with the change in address, her words now carried a tender, lingering sentiment.
The Crown Prince's heart softened, and his tone also eased. "If you were obedient and didn't always anger me, I would naturally bestow upon you the honor of Crown Princess."
Wei Yu's tears fell, one by one.
"I am only worried about you. Others will only flatter you and say what you wish to hear, unlike me, who genuinely wishes you well. You like Consort He; then take her. But Consort He is the cousin of the Princess of Ding'an, whose eyes were blinded in the Eastern Palace.
I fear she intends to seek revenge on me, and on you, Cousin, by deliberately offering Consort He to you. It is not out of jealousy... You are the Crown Prince, of noble status, and even the slightest danger cannot be tolerated!"
No man could remain unmoved by such profound devotion.
Earlier, at the warm room banquet at Prince Yue's manor, Wei Yu had also spoken of her concern for the Crown Prince, but he had not believed her, convinced she was merely jealous.
Now, Wei Yu revealed her vulnerable, tender, and deeply affectionate side. Even if the Crown Prince did not love her, his anger gradually dissipated.
"You misunderstood," the Crown Prince explained. "After County Princess Mu Jin recognized her kin, Prince Ding'an intended to offer He Rufang to the Seventh Prince. The spies I dispatched overheard it with their own ears. I only expressed my admiration for Consort He at the banquet. If Consort He were truly sent to Prince Yue, what would the court officials think of me, the Crown Prince? Furthermore, Prince Ding'an promised to send beauties to Prince Yue but sent one to the Eastern Palace instead. What would Prince Yue think?"
Wei Yu feigned a look of sudden realization. "In this way, a rift would form between Prince Ding'an and Prince Yue."
The Crown Prince nodded. "Wang Qingyao must die, but even after her death, Prince Ding'an will remarry. The Xiao family is the wealthiest in Da Sheng. With their support, it would be a significant advantage for me!"
"Killing two birds with one stone. Cousin is truly brilliant, so thoughtful in your planning." Wei Yu gazed at the Crown Prince with admiration.
The Crown Prince's vanity was greatly satisfied.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess reconciled.
Wei Yu finally understood that the Crown Prince was no different from ordinary men. He disliked strong women; showing weakness was what pleased him.