Chapter 12 One is being coquettish, the other is jealous.

"What did you say?"

Xie Yuanxun glanced at Xie Xuanyin subconsciously, a hint of nervousness flashing in his eyes.

He straightened his expression. "Your Highness, you can't say such things! You are the Crown Princess, how can the Prince of Chu give you advice? If someone overheard this, wouldn't it damage the Crown Prince's dignity?"

"This is utterly ridiculous!"

Xie Yuanxun gave a low rebuke.

Shen Ruoli's eyes were brimming with tears, and she looked as aggrieved as a kitten that had just been abandoned.

She sobbed, "Sixth Imperial Uncle, you've misunderstood! I have never met with the Prince of Chu in private. It's just that my former maid, Qingying, was a maid given to me by the Prince of Chu."

"Qingying persuaded me to come to Tianzhao Mountain to pray for blessings yesterday."

In the blink of an eye, Shen Ruoli had already come up with her explanation.

She clutched the handkerchief, her eyes slightly red. "I was thinking that my mother's birthday was approaching, and I wanted to pray for her. I originally planned to go to Dongyang Temple."

"But Qingying also said that she heard from the Prince of Chu that the gods of Tianzhao Temple are very efficacious! In addition, Tianzhao Mountain is located in Fuzhou, not far from the Sixth Prince's mansion. With the Sixth Prince's protection, nothing will happen!"

Upon hearing this, Xie Yuanxun's heart skipped a beat.

This brat's words are a bit off.

"I have also heard that the Sixth Imperial Uncle has governed his fiefdom very well, and the people live in peace and prosperity! So the rumors about rampant bandits are definitely just baseless!"

Shen Ruoli blinked, looking at them innocently.

It seemed like a genuine compliment to Hsieh Yuan-hsun.

Xie Yuanxun looked somewhat awkward. "Ahem, that's natural."

"I only came to Tianzhao Mountain to pray for blessings because I trusted my sixth uncle. Who could have imagined that such a thing would happen!"

Shen Ruoli changed the subject and sighed softly, "It's one thing for me to be injured, but to cause Your Highness to be injured is something I deeply regret! I shouldn't have trusted others so easily!"

Oh wow!

Xie Yuanxun's face stiffened.

Shen Ruoli's words were a slap in the face to him!

Tianzhao Mountain is indeed located within the territory of Fuzhou.

If he had truly governed Fuzhou well, the rampant banditry would not have occurred!

In the end, it turns out he's the one to blame for this whole mess!

Perhaps seeing his unpleasant expression, Shen Ruoli smiled again, "Your Highness and I were injured by bandits today, so Sixth Imperial Uncle need not blame himself! After all, Sixth Imperial Uncle is busy with many affairs of state and it is understandable that he has no time to deal with bandits."

Xie Yuanxun: "..."

If he could pretend to be stupid just now.

But now that Shen Ruoli's words are so straightforward, it would be unreasonable for him to pretend to be stupid any longer!

Therefore, Xie Yuanxun could only grit his teeth and force a smile, "Indeed, it is my poor governance that caused the Crown Prince and Crown Princess to be injured! But the Prince of Chu is really something!"

A piece of trash who's more likely to cause trouble than to accomplish anything!

The struggle for the crown prince position has been fruitless for so long, and has even implicated him!

"Isn't the affairs of the Chu Prince's residence enough to worry him about? He's actually meddling in other people's business and trying to interfere in the Eastern Palace! I will submit a memorial to my elder brother tomorrow!"

Xie Yuanxun's last words were clearly squeezed out through gritted teeth, sounding like he was gritting his teeth.

He was genuinely angry with Xie Xuansong!

"Yes, if word gets out that bandits are rampant in Tianzhao Mountain, it will damage the reputation of the Sixth Imperial Uncle."

Shen Ruoli's face was pale, whether from injury or shock, it was hard to tell. "I have another request to make of Sixth Imperial Uncle!"

"Qingying was knocked off a cliff by bandits while protecting me, and her fate is currently unknown! I hope Sixth Prince will send more people to help me search for her! Otherwise, if the Chu Prince's Mansion and the Crown Prince's Palace become discordant because of a maid... then it will be my fault!"

"He dares!"

In front of Xie Xuanyin, Xie Yuanxun patted his chest and assured him, "Don't worry, if the Prince of Chu dares to overstep his bounds, I will be the first to not forgive him!"

"Thank you, Sixth Imperial Uncle."

Shen Ruoli nodded slightly and lowered the curtain.

Oh.

Whether Xie Yuanxun and Xie Xuansong are colluding together will soon be revealed!

It would be best if they were "innocent".

If they are truly in cahoots, this incident could serve as a pretext to sow discord between them!

After all, it concerned his own interests, and Xie Yuanxun wasn't a fool!

When Shen Ruoli lowered the curtain just now, a hint of triumph flashed clearly in her eyes.

Xie Yuanxun couldn't see it clearly, but Xie Xuanyin saw it perfectly!

Was Shen Ruoli deliberately testing the Sixth Prince, or was she trying to remind him of something?

Xie Xuanyin suppressed his doubts and remained calm on the surface. "I will trouble Sixth Imperial Uncle with the matter of searching for Qingying!"

"This is my duty!"

After saying this, Xie Yuanxun ordered his men to search for Qingying's whereabouts.

After arranging everything, he invited Xie Xuanyin and Shen Ruoli to stay overnight at the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion.

"It's late at night, and the Crown Prince and Crown Princess are both injured. The long journey has hindered their recovery. Tianzhao Mountain is not far from the Prince of Zhenbei's residence. Why don't we rest at the residence tonight and return to the capital tomorrow?"

Xie Xuanyin initially wanted to refuse.

Unexpectedly, Shen Ruoli coughed softly a few times.

"Alright."

Xie Xuanyin nodded in agreement.

When Xie Yuanxun sent someone back to the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion to deliver the message, he lifted the curtain and looked at Shen Ruoli with a cold gaze, "What do you want to do?"

Shen Ruoli shook her head innocently.

"Then why were you coughing just now?"

Xie Xuanyin's gaze grew even colder.

"It's too cold in the mountains. I must have caught a chill. My throat is sore."

Shen Ruoli pointed to her throat, indicating that she was genuinely uncomfortable.

Xie Xuanyin: "...Be mindful of the occasion when you cough in the future!"

It's easy for people to misunderstand!

He frowned and was about to lower the curtain when Shen Ruoli beat him to it and grabbed his hand!

"Your Highness!"

She sat up and leaned closer. "Don't you think it's a bit strange that Sixth Prince came tonight? And isn't it even stranger that he's so sure we're both injured?"

A gentle mountain breeze carried the faint, sweet fragrance emanating from Shen Ruoli, like an invisible hand caressing his cheek.

He stood tall, she leaned against him, her clothes half-undone, her eyes alluring…

Xie Xuanyin's breathing became slightly heavier.

This woman is really...

Sows wearing bras—one set after another!

Is she still Shen Ruoli?

Why is she so different in this life compared to her previous one?

In her previous life, she was spoiled, willful, and annoying!

I've never been so clingy in front of him before!

Perhaps this is how she always was in front of Xie Xuansong?

Thinking of this, Xie Xuanyin, who had been trying his best to hide his confusion, immediately turned away with a cold expression.

He withdrew his hand without hesitation. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"I want to say that Your Highness's heart seems to be made of stone or iron, and you don't even know how to feel pain."

Xie Xuanyin had pulled his hand away with considerable force, and her elbow had hit the carriage, causing it to sting painfully.

Shen Ruoli pouted and lifted her sleeve to check her elbow.

It turned completely red.

Looking at her fair arms, Xie Xuanyin's face tightened, and his thin lips pressed into a straight line!

Was Shen Ruoli just being coquettish?

Before Xie Xuanyin could think further, he caught a glimpse of Xie Yuanxun turning back out of the corner of his eye.

He immediately stepped forward, blocking Xie Yuanxun and the others' view, and sternly scolded Shen Ruoli, "What kind of behavior is this! Sit down! Don't come out again!"

Xie Xuanyin pushed Shen Ruoli's face back and lowered the curtain with a dark expression.

The beaded curtain swayed, and Shen Ruoli blinked.

Um?

Xie Xuanyin seems angry?

But the anger he felt this time seemed to be a different kind of anger than the anger he felt two days ago when he wanted to kill her.

...

When the carriage arrived at the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion, dawn was already breaking.

After a whole day of running around, I can finally get some rest.

But looking at the large bed in front of them, Shen Ruoli and Xie Xuanyin seemed to have encountered a new "problem"...