Chapter Thirty-One: Three Men, Three Hearts

The night was deep, but the Xiao residence was brightly lit. Xiao Yun, the Associate Administrator of the Privy Council, stood with his hands behind his back in the front hall. His official robes were still on, and the candlelight made his stern and cold demeanor even more pronounced.

He stroked a black jade chess piece with his fingertips, his gaze fixed intently on the direction of the mansion gate, as if waiting for someone.

Before long, the sound of horses' hooves came from outside the mansion. Xiao Han returned, stepping through the night dew. As soon as he crossed the threshold, he saw his father standing in the hall, his eyes like blades, piercing straight at him.

"Father." Xiao Han clasped his hands in a salute, his expression unchanged, but he couldn't hide the weariness in his eyes.

Xiao Yun did not respond, but turned and walked towards the study, leaving behind the words, "Come with me."

Inside the study, the candlelight flickered.

Xiao Yunji raised his hand and closed the door. He pressed a button on the hidden compartment, and the mechanism turned, cutting off outside noise.

He turned around, his gaze fixed intently on Xiao Han, his voice low and deep: "I have heard about what happened at the hunting grounds today."

Xiao Han's back stiffened slightly, but he still lowered his eyes and remained silent.

"You risked your life to save the Li family's daughter." Xiao Yunji slowly walked to the desk, his fingertips lightly tapping the surface. "Han'er, do you think your father doesn't know your thoughts?"

Xiao Han suddenly raised his eyes, a flicker of emotion flashing in them.

Xiao Yunji sneered, his tone laced with sarcasm: "Li Bao'er"

"I know perfectly well what you think of her."

Xiao Han clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, but he remained silent.

Xiao Yunji's voice suddenly turned cold, "But don't forget, who the Xiao family is loyal to. The Crown Prince, Prince Jing, and the Third Prince are sworn enemies. Since the eldest daughter of the Li family has been betrothed to Mu Cenlin, she is destined to be our enemy."

He took a step closer, his gaze sharp as a knife: "You are my son, Xiao Yunji's son. You are destined to inherit the power of the Xiao family, not to ruin your future for a woman!"

Xiao Han's Adam's apple bobbed, his voice slightly hoarse: "Father, I have never let personal matters interfere with public duty."

"Is that so?" Xiao Yunji sneered, pulling a secret letter from his sleeve and tossing it onto the table. "Then what is this?"

The letter unfolded, revealing a secret report from Xiao Han regarding his recent investigation of Mu Cenlin.

Xiao Han's pupils suddenly contracted.

Xiao Yunji said in a heavy voice, "Han'er, this is my last warning to you."

"Don't let one woman ruin the Xiao family's century-old foundation."

Xiao Han left the study and looked up at the moonlight, his heart filled with resentment. He was the only outstanding child in the Xiao family, and everything could only be inherited by him. But he and Bao'er were childhood sweethearts who had grown up together! Who could understand the feelings he cherished but could only keep hidden in his heart?!

*

"Your Highness, what are you thinking about? Is the moon not beautiful tonight?" A sweet and charming voice interrupted Mu Yuan's thoughts.

He looked down at the disheveled beauty in his arms. Her deliberately coquettish demeanor was utterly vulgar and nauseating compared to the bright and lively smile of someone in his memory.

Mu Yuan immediately lost interest, pushed the person off him, and said emotionlessly, "Get out."

These three words pierced the woman's ears like ice picks. She froze in disbelief, her nails, painted with red nail polish, digging deeply into her palms. This was the first time in a year that Mu Yuan had been angry with her.

What happened at the hunting grounds? Yue'er forcefully suppressed her doubts, feigning pitifulness as she squeezed out a few tears, saying resentfully, "Your Highness, you haven't touched Yue'er for almost a month." Her voice trembled with even more grievance as she spoke, "Have you grown tired of Yue'er?"

"Oh."

Mu Yuan suddenly chuckled softly, his jade thumb ring tapping crisply on the table. The candlelight gilded his silhouette with a layer of gold, but it couldn't illuminate his deep, dark eyes.

"It seems I've been too lenient with you. When I want you, I will; when I don't, you should shut up and get out. Don't you understand?" He slowly leaned down, his python-patterned sleeve brushing against her bare shoulder, sending a shiver down her spine.

Before the woman could even feel joy, a sharp pain suddenly shot through her chin. Mu Yuan's grip on her jaw was so tight it felt like he was crushing her bones, forcing her to look up at his sinister face.

"Do you remember how you left it?" He stroked the small mole she had deliberately drawn on the tip of her nose with his thumb, which looked just like someone else's. "A counterfeit should be aware of its own nature."

"Bang!" Mu Yuan slapped the woman's face hard, his eyes filled with rage.

She was slammed to the ground, and amidst her disheveled hair, she saw Mu Yuan repeatedly wiping the fingers that had touched her with a silk handkerchief, as if they were stained with something dirty.

Startled by Mu Yuan's sudden change in expression, Yue'er hurriedly picked up her clothes and ran outside.

How did she end up staying in the manor? When she first arrived in the capital, she had no fixed abode and was being taken to a brothel when Mu Yuan saw her.

Ah, because she looks three parts like the eldest daughter of the Li family, Li Bao'er.

Everyone says that the Third Prince Mu Yuan dislikes the eldest daughter of the Li family, but no one knows that the woman Mu Yuan most desires is Li Bao'er, but Li Bao'er simply does not want him to touch her.

What a hypocrite! He's using Miss Li for his own purposes, while keeping her double in his mansion to satisfy his own desires.

Men are always so hypocritical! If it weren't for... if it weren't for him, she would have left this awful place long ago!

On the other side of the Prince Jing's Mansion, three furtive figures were lurking on the eaves of the kitchen.

The tiles creaked softly, and the moonlight outlined their silhouettes.

"At the hunting grounds today, Miss Li nearly lost her life saving the Fourth Princess." Yuan Ting lowered his voice, "The Prince rushed over immediately, and most importantly, she used the debt of saving the princess to plead with His Majesty to retrieve the Moonlit Sword belonging to the Prince's birth mother!"

Zhu Zhi frowned deeply: "This woman stole the tiger tally for the Third Prince one minute, and then immediately asked for a sword for the Prince the next? Such a quick change of heart, her intentions are despicable!"

Feng Li sat bolt upright, the roof tiles rattling loudly: "She wouldn't really be trying to toy with our Prince's feelings, would she?!"

“If she is sincere, that’s a good thing,” Yuan Ting said quietly. “But do you remember the day the Prince returned to the capital? Before he even removed his armor, he ordered his guards to investigate her. The Prince treats her differently. We can’t afford to gamble on whether she is sincere or not.”

Zhu Zhi sneered, his dagger gleaming coldly in the moonlight: "Why guess? We'll find out soon enough. If she still sides with Mu Yuan, there must be some connection. Capture her trusted maid, pry her open, and we'll know everything!"

Feng Li gasped, "If the Prince finds out..."

"If Your Highness blames me, I will bear the responsibility alone!" A fierce glint flashed in Zhu Zhi's eyes. "We absolutely cannot leave a scourge by Your Highness's side!"

"When did it become your turn to test my people?" A chilling voice suddenly exploded behind the three of them!

Mu Cenlin stood silently atop the eaves, the night wind ruffling his dark robes. His face was hidden in shadow, only his eyes gleaming with a fierce aura.

The three of them froze instantly, their faces drained of color, terrified out of their wits.

He heard it! He heard it all!

Mu Cenlin approached step by step, stopping in front of Zhu Zhi, his gaze falling on the dagger.

"It seems that my orders have become nothing but a passing breeze to you."

Before he could finish speaking, Mu Cenlin struck suddenly, as fast as a ghost! With a crisp "crack" and a muffled groan, Zhu Zhi was knocked off the roof, his dagger clattering to the ground.

"Your Highness, please calm down!" Yuan Ting and Feng Li immediately knelt on the ground, their backs soaked with cold sweat.

Mu Cenlin glanced at Zhu Zhi, who was curled up in pain: "Go to the punishment hall and receive one hundred lashes."

His gaze swept over the trembling Yuan Ting and Feng Li: "You're the same. Get out."

The two were overjoyed, both shocked and terrified. They almost tumbled off the roof and staggered away, helping the screaming Zhu Zhi.

Mu Cenlin stood alone under the moon, his eyes churning with emotions.

He recalled how she had risked her life to seek the sword during the day, her bright yet stubborn eyes, and his own involuntary emotions.

Real? Or fake?

He really needs an answer.

But not in this way.

He flashed down from the roof like an owl, disappearing without a sound.

He would ask for some answers in person.