You like Su Miaoling?

The same in what way?

What were Song Huanhuan and Pei Yunluo talking about?

Why couldn't she understand them?

Su Miaoling watched them with a slight frown, feeling rather uncomfortable that they actually had little secrets they were keeping from her.

[In what way are you the same as her? Go on, give us the details! You always stop halfway through what you're saying. You're really keeping us hanging.]

Watching Pei Yunluo and Song Huanhuan trade cryptic remarks, Ning Sang-sang couldn't help grumbling inwardly.

For someone who loved gossip, hearing only half the story was sheer torment. Either say nothing or finish what you started. Leaving people hanging halfway through was downright vicious.

Song Huanhuan turned her gaze back to Su Miaoling, wanting to know whether she could hear Ning Sang-sang's thoughts as they could. Seeing that her face remained calm, without any change in emotion, her eyes flickered. It seemed Miaoling couldn't hear this girl's thoughts.

"Huanhuan, Miaoling, let's go have some fun at the waterside pavilion," Pei Yunluo said.

"All right."

Su Miaoling agreed gently.

Her voice was soft and sweet, extremely pleasant to the ear.

Ning Sang-sang muttered inwardly:

[Su Miaoling's voice played a big part in her enchanting a whole crowd of men.]

[The brothers Song Minghan and Song Mingze were bewitched by that voice of hers. They'd feel uncomfortable all over if they went a single day without hearing it.]

Song Minghan: "..."

Song Mingze: "..."

When had they ever been bewitched by Su Miaoling's voice? And feeling uncomfortable all over after a day without hearing it? That was utter nonsense!

Song Mingze parted his lips, about to defend himself, when her voice rang out again.

[Song Minghan and Song Mingze haven't realized their feelings for Su Miaoling yet. Once she performs at today's flower-viewing banquet, sparks of love for her will ignite in both brothers at once. She'll bewitch them until they lose their souls and their senses. After that, they'll pine for Su Miaoling, go mad for Su Miaoling, and turn into a pair of lunatics.]

Song Minghan: "..."

Song Mingze: "..."

They didn't like Su Miaoling at all! They only saw her as a younger sister. Song Minghan and Song Mingze exchanged a glance, their eyes conveying the same question: You like Su Miaoling?

Both brothers shook their heads at once, each making it clear that he didn't like Su Miaoling. The same thought arose in both their minds: this girl's claim that they would turn against each other and fight to the death over Su Miaoling was pure nonsense. They would never become enemies over a woman.

[I'll find a chance to slip away later. Hanging around these people will make me stupid.]

The three Song siblings and Pei Yunluo all looked rather displeased upon hearing this.

Pei Yunluo parted her lips, wanting to say something, but recalling the mysterious force that had stopped her from speaking and made her heart palpitate, she swallowed the words.

Never mind. She would be magnanimous and overlook this petty offense; she couldn't be bothered to argue with this girl. She looked away from Ning Sang-sang, then led her and the others toward the waterside pavilion.

Along the way, Pei Yunluo chatted cheerfully with Song Huanhuan and Su Miaoling. Uninterested in their conversation, Ning Sang-sang strolled leisurely behind them, admiring the scenery.

As Song Minghan and Song Mingze walked, they secretly observed Ning Sang-sang, thinking about what she had just said.

They soon arrived outside the waterside pavilion, where more than a dozen richly dressed young ladies were already seated.

Since everyone inside was female, Song Minghan and Song Mingze didn't enter the pavilion. The brothers went elsewhere instead.

Seeing so many people in the pavilion, Ning Sang-sang didn't want to go in either, so she lied to Pei Yunluo. "Commandery Princess Yunluo, my stomach hurts. I need to use the privy, so I won't be keeping you company."

Without waiting for Pei Yunluo to answer, Ning Sang-sang hurried away.

"Stop!" Pei Yunluo hastily called out to stop her when she saw her leaving.

Ning Sang-sang didn't stop. Instead, she quickened her steps.

Pei Yunluo watched Ning Sang-sang's retreating figure with a sour expression. A stomachache? The privy? Hmph, she was surely faking it.

After shaking off Pei Yunluo and her companions, Ning Sang-sang began wandering around the Chancellor's Residence. With the flower-viewing banquet being held today, the residence was full of people. Noble ladies and young women strolled about in twos and threes, admiring flowers and chatting, making the place exceptionally lively.

Ning Sang-sang wanted somewhere quiet to sit for a while, so she headed toward a less crowded area. Upon reaching a secluded pavilion, she stepped inside.

Only after entering did she discover a young woman in blue seated there, her hair tied in a high ponytail. Her features were bright and striking, and she looked spirited and valiant. Recognizing her identity at once from her appearance, Ning Sang-sang walked over and sat down.

Seeing a pretty young girl suddenly sit beside her, Hua Liuli parted her lips and was about to say something when a clear voice rang in her ears.

[So she's Hua Liuli, the female lead whose whole life was ruined by meeting the male lead? She looks pretty spirited and valiant, not like the sort of woman who'd threaten to kill herself over a man.]

Hua Liuli: "???"

Her brows drew together almost imperceptibly. Who was speaking? She glanced around before finally settling her gaze on Ning Sang-sang. Before she could react, that clear voice rang out again.

[Hua Liuli really is exactly my type. Bright, striking features, a resilient air, and such commanding heroic spirit. Beautiful and bold.]

[What a pity the author forcibly dumbed her down later and turned her into the male lead's lapdog.]

Thinking of Hua Liuli, Ning Sang-sang couldn't help sighing inwardly. In the novel, Hua Liuli was the only daughter of General Hua, the great general who guarded the nation. She had accompanied her father in defending the northwest since childhood and had grown up there. Spirited and valiant, she loved wielding sabers and swords. Her original dream had been to fight enemies alongside her father and become a female general renowned throughout the land. Who could have known that one encounter with the male lead would ruin her entire life?

The male lead was the current Seventh Prince Chu Aotian, who had been betrothed to her since childhood. Accomplished in both scholarly and martial pursuits, brimming with talent, and exceptionally handsome, he was the dream lover of countless young ladies. While Hua Liuli was back in the capital to celebrate her grandmother's birthday, she accompanied her grandmother to the flower-viewing banquet hosted by Princess Yongle.

When she saw the male lead rescue her little nephew, who had climbed onto a rockery while playing, she was drawn to his looks, his kindness, and his powerful protagonist's halo, and fell for him.

After that, her intelligence was forcibly lowered. She stopped using her brain, became hopelessly infatuated with the male lead, lost herself, and ultimately even lost her life for him. It was utterly absurd.

Coming back to her senses and finding Hua Liuli staring at her, Ning Sang-sang gave her a friendly smile and introduced herself simply. "My name is Ning Sang-sang. I'm from the Duke of Ning's Residence."

Hearing that voice, Hua Liuli was momentarily stunned. Had the voice she heard just now belonged to this girl named Ning Sang-sang?

But she had clearly seen that the girl's lips hadn't moved, yet she could hear her voice. Suddenly, a bold idea surfaced in her mind. Could what she'd heard just now have been her inner thoughts?

While she was still puzzling over it, that voice rang out again.