Xiao Zhen sneered, "You don't need to play dumb in front of me. You know Qingqing isn't your daughter, which is why you dared to treat her like that."

Upon hearing this, Rong Shiqing broke out in a cold sweat. "This humble official...this humble official does not understand Your Highness's meaning..."

"Don't you understand?" Xiao Zhen's face was grim.

Rong Shiqing had heard people talk about how terrifying Xiao Zhen was, and now that he sensed Xiao Zhen's murderous intent towards him, he was so shocked that his clothes were soaked with sweat. He stammered, "Please, Your Highness, come and sit inside the mansion."

Xiao Zhen looked down on him with disdain for his timid and submissive nature.

The person in front of him, apart from being reasonably good-looking, didn't even have the pride of a scholar. He couldn't understand why Lan Yin would marry such a person back then.

He suppressed his anger and stepped into the Rong residence.

Looking at the man walking ahead, Rong Shiqing felt both complicated and apprehensive.

He never expected that this man would one day come knocking on his door.

He thought he would never know that Rong Qingqing was...

Thinking of what he had done to Rong Qingqing before, he trembled and forced himself to follow.

Rong Shiqing did not take Xiao Zhen to the front hall for tea, but instead took him to Fuqu Garden, where Lan Shi once lived.

Looking at the desolate courtyard, Xiao Zhen was stunned.

"What does Lord Rong mean by this?"

Standing by the desolate lotus pond, Rong Shiqing suddenly said, "This is the courtyard where Lan Yin used to live."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhen appeared somewhat dazed.

Although he had a vague guess, hearing it with his own ears still shocked him.

So, Lan Yin has been living here since she left him?

Looking at the desolate pond, Rong Shiqing felt a surge of emotions. After a long while, he suddenly said, "Prince Su must not know why Lan Yin left so early, right?"

Xiao Zhen came to his senses, his voice desolate, "I heard that she died to save the Empress Dowager."

Rong Shiqing shook his head, his expression somewhat desolate and sorrowful. "In fact, she had long since given up on living. The assassination attempt on the Empress Dowager was just the right opportunity, so she rushed out without hesitation, hoping to earn a favor for her daughter."

Xiao Zhen narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean she didn't want to live anymore?"

Rong Shiqing smiled. At this moment, she suddenly didn't think the man in front of her was so scary. Compared to herself, this man seemed more pitiful.

"Although Lan Yin married me, I have never touched her. To be honest, I fell in love with her the first time I saw her. Even though I knew she was pregnant out of wedlock, I didn't care. But after the marriage, she kept me at arm's length. No matter how well I treated her, I couldn't warm her heart. She always had your heart in her mind and hoped that you would come to find her."

I am her husband, but she is heartbroken over another man. I can't stand it and want to be her real husband and wife, but she always refuses. When I push her too hard, she wants to leave me... Later, in a fit of anger, I got together with her maid, but she never cared.

Years passed, and you still hadn't come. Only then did she become utterly disillusioned. During those years, her health had deteriorated due to the weight of her worries; she was frail and frequently ill. "I never expected that on the day I took her to the palace banquet, an assassin would suddenly appear. Before I could react, she had already rushed towards the assassin, shielding the Empress Dowager..."

When talking about the past, Rong Shiqing's expression became slightly agitated, and he still felt a bit resentful.

He believed he had treated Lan Shi well, but she remained cold and unacceptable to him. Later, she died right in front of him...