Now is indeed a crucial time.

Xiao Xiyou will definitely need to screen the people around him.

He couldn't possibly keep someone with ulterior motives around him.

In his mind, Zhou Zhizhi was the kind of person who was fickle and opportunistic.

Today they flatter others by name, and now they fawn over others.

This is simply a lack of principle!

Xiao Xiyou sneered: "Do you think I don't know what kind of person you are?"

"You liar!"

Xiao Xiyou said this with a slight hint of grievance.

Zhou Zhizhi just couldn't understand how she, who had worked so diligently, had become a liar.

Such groveling and fawning ultimately brought nothing to change, and even backfired.

Anyone would be angry in that situation.

"Your Highness, I know I can't compare to you."

"But you can't doubt my loyalty to you. If that's the case, then I might as well die to prove my innocence, which would be a way to clear my name."

Zhou Zhizhi spoke with great grievance, as if she could jump off the building at any moment, which was exactly what she intended to do.

Xiao Xiyou pretended to pour himself a cup of tea.

Her well-defined knuckles held the tear-stained hand, her thumb slowly rubbing it.

Those calculating fox-like eyes finally lifted up and looked at the person in front of them.

"Zhou Zhizhi, are you a child? You wouldn't die if you jumped from here. How can I trust you?"

Zhou Zhizhi: "???"

Okay, okay, so now you really want me to die, right?

Zhou Zhizhi was furious, but she felt increasingly aggrieved.

Her eyes turned red and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

"If I ask myself honestly, since I started following you, I have never held any other two-star rank. If Your Highness does not believe me, then please just send me away."

"When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked; this saying truly applies."

The two have become familiar with each other. Although Xiao Xiyou usually seems aloof, they occasionally bicker like children.

Zhou Zhizhi grew bolder and bolder, which enabled her to say such things.

Bang!

Xiao Xiyou slammed his teacup heavily onto the table again.

He gritted his teeth, stood up as if he were furious, and walked up to Zhou Zhizhi.

Standing there, his enormous size made him seem like a mountain pressing down on Zhou Zhizhi.

Zhou Zhizhi felt a little scared and wanted to take two steps back, but a hand with distinct knuckles gripped her chin tightly.

"How dare you speak to me like that?"

"They're really getting more and more arrogant."

"Someone come here!"

Xiao Xiyou spoke through gritted teeth, his expression slightly changing, revealing a hint of ferocity.

A short while later, Ru Feng appeared at the door of the private room with the others.

"My lord, what are your orders?"

Xiao Xiyou revealed a cruel smile: "Minister Shang has no respect for the law. Now, execute the twenty punishments immediately!"

After he finished speaking, Ru Feng and the others were also momentarily surprised.

Zhou Zhizhi's eyes became even redder, and even carried a hint of unyielding stubbornness.

She certainly knew what kind of temper she had, but she didn't deserve to be accused of this.

"Fine, you've got a beating today. Your Highness, you'd better think this through carefully. I really won't trust you anymore!"

She was being rather direct.

They assumed that if they had just casually built a step, the arrogant Second Prince would have come down it.

But I didn't expect that they would become even more arrogant.

The hand that was gripping Zhou Zhizhi's chin loosened its grip, and he simply turned away with a flick of his sleeve.

He even snorted coldly, refusing to speak.

"So you're going to criticize my gifts now?"

Xiao Xiyou, don't be angry, they were both at fault in this matter.

But I am a prince.

It's unlikely that they would easily admit their mistakes.

Even if I say a few wrong things, it's not a big problem.

Zhou Zhizhi also snorted coldly: "Our lives are as worthless as grass. If Your Highness wants to punish us, then punish us as you see fit."

She knew, of course, that the Second Prince was absolutely out of the question.

However, she does have a temper that can be quite impulsive at times. If she can't change her weak personality all at once, she'll suffer the consequences later.

When Xiao Xiyou turned around, he was hoping that this person would say a few kind words.

In that case, wouldn't I save face and have a way out so I can let it go?

But unexpectedly, we encountered a tough opponent.

He turned around angrily, seemingly wanting to say something but ultimately said nothing more.

"Get out of my sight, all of you!"

Xiao Xiyou was already very upset, and now that he had encountered such a terrible thing, he really didn't want to say anything more.

This time, Zhou Zhizhi was naturally unwilling to back down.

I often live in constant fear around him.

Sometimes you even have to put on a fawning smile to curry favor, but what's going on? Now you've caused trouble by currying favor again.

Seeing his boss like this, Wu Da didn't know what to say.

He simply walked over and handed the horse's reins.

"Elder, the prince is just that kind of person—sharp-tongued but kind-hearted. Why bother arguing with him?"

"Let's just treat this as a game to amuse the kids, why take it so seriously?"

Zhou Zhizhi became even angrier after hearing this.

"A child? I think he's not a child anymore. He has such a bad temper. Are we supposed to live in constant fear like this?"

All of Zhou Zhizhi's words were said in anger.

As if he had seen something, Wu Er quickly tugged at Zhou Zhizhi's sleeve, who was standing in front of him.

Zhou Zhizhi is currently in a fit of anger and doesn't want to be disturbed.

"What are you doing?"

"He's already gone through all that, so I can't even say a few unpleasant things?"

Looking into Wu Er's eyes, Zhou Zhizhi suddenly seemed to understand something.

Stiffly turning his neck, he saw Xiao Xiyou standing by the window with a particularly gloomy expression.

Xiao Xiyou revealed a wicked smile: "Zhou Zhizhi, it seems that following my orders has been a disservice to you, hasn't it?"

"In that case, I'll have to settle accounts with you properly."

They both knew many of each other's secrets, and even if they fell out, they would restrain each other. But now the Second Prince was so angry that he was unwilling to continue to tolerate it.

Zhou Zhizhi was a little embarrassed, but she didn't know what else to say. She simply grabbed the horse's reins, covered in dust, and mounted the horse.

The second prince slammed the window shut.