Xiao Huaijin originally wanted to rest at Yan Shiman's mansion, but he couldn't stand his cousin's noisy personality, so he changed his mind and went to Ziyun Tower instead.

But no matter how much we planned, we never expected such a coincidence.

Yan Shiman is also at Ziyun Tower tonight.

However, tonight she was appearing as "Lady Miaoyin," so even if she was excited when she saw her cousin, she had to put on a gentle and demure appearance.

"Cousin, why did you come with Madam Shen?" Yan Shi's eyes were full of curiosity. Last time her cousin saw Madam Shen, he was indifferent. Now he was coming and going with her. What happened in between?

"Shi Man, it's your turn." Shen Yunjiao hurriedly said. Her relationship with Xiao Huaijin was still uncertain. If Yan Shi Man rashly asked, Xiao Huaijin might throw her back to Qingxin Pavilion in a fit of anger.

She didn't want to go back to that room full of animal carcasses.

"Oh, okay, Yun Jiao, wait for me. I'll come find you after my performance tonight." After saying this, Yan Shiman went to the back to get her pipa.

"Time's up???"

Xiao Huaijin casually remarked from behind her, "You two are really close."

He emphasized the last two words, "intimate," which carried an unusual connotation.

Shen Yunjiao knew that this person's jealousy had struck again, so she smiled and said, "Shiman and I are on good terms because he likes the rouge and face powder I make. Your Majesty, please don't misunderstand."

Her smiling face, amidst the dimly lit restaurant, possessed an indescribable allure.

Xiao Huaijin felt a surge of emotion at just one glance.

"I have not misunderstood."

After saying that, he started walking up to the second floor.

The innkeeper hurriedly invited his master to the private room on the second floor, and was about to ask if he wanted wine and dishes prepared when Xiao Huaijin waved his hand and stared at the door for a long time.

When he saw Shen Yunjiao being helped to the door step by step by her maid, he finally spoke, "All of you, step back and close the door tightly."

The servants, upon receiving the order, quickly lowered their heads and shuffled out, leaving even Fu Xia outside the door.

For a moment, the room was completely silent, as if it were a completely different world from the singing and dancing outside.

The moon is high in the sky.

Shen Yunjiao's eyes were dark and bright as she stared at Xiao Huaijin and asked, "What does Your Majesty wish to ask?"

Xiao Huaijin stretched out his hand, and a poorly made, slightly faded pink rope appeared in his palm.

"Is this yours?" Xiao Huaijin asked in a deep voice.

One day, when he got up, he found the rope twisted like a pretzel under his pillow.

When he thought about throwing it away, he hesitated. After that, whenever he couldn't sleep, he would take out the pink string and examine it closely.

His intuition told him that this was not his.

Shen Yunjiao took the string tied with pink jade, her eyes crinkling into a smile, a dimple appearing on her cheek. "Your Majesty guessed correctly, this pink string is mine."

Xiao Huaijin snapped out of his daze from her smile, and upon hearing such a definite answer, it felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from his heart.

The answer to why he kept Shen Yunjiao's belongings is obvious.

After tying the pink rope around her wrist, Shen Yunjiao waved her snow-white wrist in front of Xiao Huaijin and said with a smile, "Your Majesty doesn't remember, but this was made for me by Your Majesty yourself."

Xiao Huaijin was stunned after hearing this.

Would he personally braid pink ribbons for the girl?

Xiao Huaijin couldn't believe, nor did he want to believe, that he could have fallen so low.

"Is this all Your Majesty has to say?" Shen Yun smiled and looked up at him. She knew that although he remained calm on the surface, his emotions must be churning inside.

"Shen Yunjiao".

Xiao Huaijin knew that since things had come to this point, any further probing was pointless.

With a stern face, he walked up to Shen Yunjiao and asked in a cold voice, "Have we ever had any romantic relationship before?"

"Your Majesty guessed correctly."

Shen Yunjiao readily agreed, her gaze sweeping over Xiao Huaijin's face, but she noticed that he did not show any signs of happiness or surprise.

Shen Yunjiao's heart sank to the bottom, and even her smile vanished.

She pointed at Xiao Huaijin and said, "Your Majesty, before you lost your memory, we had already confirmed our relationship."

Even though Xiao Huaijin had anticipated this answer, a crack still appeared on his usually icy face when he heard such a definite reply.

Does he like Shen Yunjiao?

That's absolutely bizarre.

In his imagination, he should be the kind of person who is heartless and emotionless, but unexpectedly, he already has someone he likes.

What's more, the object of his affections is the daughter of the Shen family, who has the worst reputation in the capital.

If he remembered correctly, Shen Yunjiao had caused a lot of trouble back then in order to pursue Prince Pei, and in the end she did not hesitate to use the power of Prime Minister Shen to force Prince Pei to submit.

How could such an arrogant and domineering woman possibly catch his eye?

While he was puzzled by this, Shen Yunjiao continued, "Your Majesty, you were the one who started bothering me first."

Xiao Huaijin's eyes darkened, and he stood there silently listening to Shen Yunjiao recount the whole story of how they met.

"His Majesty?"

Shen Yunjiao talked on and on, but when she finished, she found the person opposite her staring blankly into space, so she couldn't help but call out to them.

Xiao Huaijin snapped out of his daze, nonchalantly twitching his lips, his eyes slowly lowering, revealing no emotion.

After a moment, Shen Yunjiao heard him slowly say, "I understand."

"The Shen family."

Hearing him call her that, Shen Yunjiao opened her eyes wide in astonishment.

An inner unease spread wildly.

But then he heard Xiao Huaijin say, "Just forget about the past."

"I don't remember you, nor do I want to bother trying to retrieve that memory."

"Therefore, whatever has happened between you and me, from now on, there is no need to mention it again."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yunjiao felt a chill run down her spine, as if something inside her had exploded.

The boundless pain spread and permeated every part of my body.

Xiao Huaijin meant that even if he knew about this, he would remain indifferent and would rather sever all ties with them.

Hearing his cold tone and icy, malevolent gaze, Shen Yunjiao felt as if the sharpest blade in the world had pierced her chest.

Only then did she realize that all her strength seemed to have been drained by his few light words.

Seeing Shen Yunjiao's devastated state, Xiao Huaijin couldn't help but feel a pang of pain in his heart.

Now that the truth has come out, there's no need for him to linger here any longer.

He took a deep breath and was about to turn and leave when he saw Shen Yunjiao sway as she stood up.

"Now that Your Majesty has made this matter clear, there is no need for me to stay here any longer."

Her voice trembled, but her steps were extremely firm.

Xiao Huaijin watched as she opened the door without turning her head and slowly disappeared from his sight with Fu Xia's help.

We shouldn't chase after them.

Xiao Huaijin admonished himself.

Previously, Chen Xiang abused his power, creating chaos and disorder in the court and among the people.

As his daughter, Shen Yunjiao was utterly incompetent in both character and reputation.

He is the supreme ruler; how could he possibly get entangled with a woman like that?

However, his heart was trembling and aching for no reason, and his mouth was filled with an indescribable bitterness.

With a loud bang.

A sudden clap of thunder rang out, followed by the start of large raindrops.