Anli Plays the Frail One

Meng Anli picked them up. "But mother stitched these stitch by stitch."

"Is she a Weaver Girl? Did she sew a Heavenly Robe? Go back and tell her that I'm doing very well now. Don't come looking for me again—I'll be even better off."

Meng Anli was truly a little angry. "Even a dog does not disdain a poor home. How could you reject mother's heartfelt kindness?"

"You! You dare insult me?" Meng Shiwan raised her hand to slap her.

Meng Anli could easily have dodged, but a familiar, terrifying voice rang in her ears.

She took the slap head-on and staggered backward with the momentum.

Just as she was about to fall, a pair of large hands caught her by the back.

She looked up and saw a face of unparalleled handsomeness.

It was this face that had coldly and mercilessly stuffed her into the Jade Bottle and melted her away.

It was the Crown Prince.

Meng Anli shuddered, and her eyes instantly reddened.

The Crown Prince found the look in her eyes far too complicated, and for a moment, he did not let go of her.

He asked instinctively, "Do we know each other?"

Meng Anli shook her head in frightened humility. She tried to stand, only to collapse limply again.

The Crown Prince instinctively supported her once more.

Meng Anli's voice was delicate and weak, her eyes full of fear, like a startled fawn.

Her little hand clutched tightly at the Crown Prince's hem. "I'm sorry, I... I was just too frightened."

"Don't be afraid," the Crown Prince comforted her gently. "Tell me, who bullied you?"

"I..." Meng Anli glanced toward Meng Shiwan, then carefully bit her lip. "No one bullied me. I simply tripped by accident."

Meng Shiwan's eyes showed satisfaction, yet she also felt that Meng Ying did not deserve to be in this handsome brother's arms.

She was far too much of an eyesore.

"Brother," she said, taking dainty lotus steps as she deliberately twisted herself into the posture of a willow branch swaying in the wind.

But before she could approach the Crown Prince—

Meng Anli raised both hands to her cheeks in a defensive posture.

Weakly, yet quickly and clearly, she said, "I'm sorry, little sister. I was wrong. I'll never bring you clothes mother made again. You are wearing Floating Light Brocade now; the clothes mother stitched by hand are unworthy of you."

The Crown Prince's gaze shifted slightly. He pulled Meng Anli back a step and lowered his eyes to her face, where a bright red handprint stood out.

He raised a hand and gently touched her cheek. "Does it hurt? Just now, those beautiful eyes of yours drew away all my attention."

Meng Anli felt a chill of disgust.

At the same time, she found it deeply ironic.

In her previous life, how desperately had she wanted to get close to the Crown Prince? Yet he had ordered her to stay eight zhang away from him.

And now, he was willing to touch her of his own accord.

Meng Anli's eyes instantly brimmed with tears, but she forced herself not to let them fall.

"It did not hurt at first, but now that you ask, it does."

The Crown Prince's gaze darkened as he said hoarsely, "Don't cry. Was this younger sister of yours the one who bullied you?"

Meng Anli said, "No."

Meng Shiwan said, "Brother, don't listen to her nonsense."

The two spoke in unison.

The difference between them was immediately clear.

The Crown Prince looked at Meng Shiwan with utter disgust. "Don't listen to her nonsense? She said no. Are you saying that you were the one who bullied her?"

"I..."

Meng Shiwan's silver tongue, usually so glib, failed her now.

Just as she was in a difficult spot, her eldest brother's voice came from afar, drawing nearer. "Your Highness, I have asked around. My younger sister went this way."

Remembering why he had come, the Crown Prince lowered his eyes and said warmly to Meng Anli, "Wait here for me first. When I return, I will seek justice for you."

He released Meng Anli.

Yet he still reluctantly rubbed her shoulder once.

Meng Anli felt goosebumps rise densely across her back.

How disgusting.

Suppressing her revulsion, she looked at Meng Liangmiao, but could not help feeling surprised.

Why did her eldest brother, once as radiant and upright as a clear wind and bright moon, now carry such a gloomy air around him?

He had once stood tall and jade-like, but now his back was slightly hunched.

Though he was smiling, the smile did not reach his eyes, and the curve of his lips was terribly stiff.

That forced smile was far inferior to Mo Ziqian's naturally smiling mask.

The Crown Prince's gaze also deepened when he saw how Meng Anli looked at Meng Liangmiao.

A trace of jealousy rose in him, and he pinched her cheek. "Do those eyes of yours look at everyone as though bound by fate?"

Meng Anli lifted her eyes to him, her gaze innocent.

Meng Liangmiao naturally saw their interaction as well, but looked as though he were already used to it.

"Your Highness, let us go see my sister first. Once she returns to her own little Zen room, it will no longer be convenient."

The Crown Prince frowned in displeasure. Before he could speak, Meng Shiwan cried out, "Big Brother!"

The Crown Prince turned slightly to the side.

Meng Liangmiao saw her as well, and a genuine smile appeared on his face. "Wanwan."

Meng Shiwan looked at the Crown Prince again, and the more she looked, the more satisfied her gaze became.

The Crown Prince grew even more displeased.

Meng Shiwan stepped forward and tipped up her face to examine him. "You're the Crown Prince? Just as the rumors say."

Meng Anli withdrew at the right moment and gave a beautiful, proper bow in frightened humility. "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Xiao Ying was presumptuous just now." After saying that, her heart began to pound.

In her previous life, the Crown Prince had said that his Wanwan was very different.

Everyone called him the Crown Prince, but only Wanwan said that all people were equal. She called him by name, called him Brother Shaoguang, and made him feel loved as a man.

Meng Anli only felt that the Crown Prince seemed somewhat displeased at the moment.

He probably did not like being offended.

But who could say for certain? Perhaps the Crown Prince liked someone as rash and bold as Meng Shiwan.

A stern shout came from above her head. "Insolence!"

The corners of Meng Anli's lips lifted slightly. This "insolence" could not possibly be directed at her.

Sure enough, in the next instant, the Crown Prince questioned Meng Liangmiao, "This is the kind-hearted, polite, gentle, and demure younger sister you spoke of?"

Meng Liangmiao hurriedly explained, "My sister is still young, after all—innocent and carefree..."

"Being young and innocent does not mean she should not understand etiquette. Since she already knows my identity, why is she still staring at me and examining me without bowing?"

Meng Shiwan rushed to say, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, all people are born equal. Though you are the Crown Prince, to me, you are simply a very handsome older brother."

Meng Anli's heart skipped a beat.

It was precisely those words, "all people are equal," that had moved the Crown Prince.

Holding the bundle in her arms, she reminded her weakly, "Little sister, he is first the Crown Prince, and only then an elder brother. Even as an elder brother, he is still an elder and should be shown proper respect."

The Crown Prince looked at the round peach-shaped hairpin atop her round little head, and his expression softened.

When his gaze swept over her small hands, he saw the bundle. Then he recalled her earlier words—that Meng Shiwan wore Floating Light Brocade and despised the clothes her mother had stitched.

The Crown Prince's face turned cold again. "All people are equal? Fine. I will not punish you for disrespecting me, but you bullied your elder sister..."

Meng Liangmiao anxiously cut him off and explained again, "That was all Meng Anli's fault."

"Did I mention Meng Anli? Why are you dragging her into this again?" The Crown Prince took Meng Anli's hand. "The sister I mean is her."

Meng Shiwan said, "I did not bully her. She is pretending. She is not my sister either, only my wet nurse's daughter."

The tears Meng Anli had held back for so long finally fell. She choked out her accusation, "Never mind that mother carried you for ten months and gave birth to you, only for you to call her a wet nurse because she is a mortal. I, your elder sister born of the same mother, came to bring you clothes, yet you treat me as a servant. You just said all people are equal—is this what you call equality?"