Aunt Jing sighed.

I only hope that His Highness the Fourth Prince can live up to expectations and not disappoint His Highness.

Shen Ruixue returned to the dusty mansion, exhausted, with her packed belongings in hand, feeling a pang of sadness.

She sighed, thinking of that vile woman and the current regent's passionate love, and her jealousy was about to overflow.

If only I hadn't come up with the idea of ​​a substitute marriage back then.

Shen Ruixue suddenly felt a pang of regret.

But the thought of starting over and willingly marrying a useless and incompetent regent filled her with reluctance.

Shen Ruixue sighed, put the packed valuables on the table, and was about to turn and leave when a dark shadow suddenly appeared in front of her.

The overwhelming heat emanating from the man was palpable.

Gu Qing clearly saw the fleeting surprise on the woman's face, and a wicked smile curled at the corner of his lips.

He stepped forward and gently lifted the woman's porcelain-white, rounded chin.

His eyes, however, seemed to be swirling, as if trying to suck people in.

"Madam, was what you said in the Eastern Palace earlier true?"

Shen Ruixue was caught off guard and subconsciously asked, "What did you say?"

Gu Qing smiled and instantly moved to the woman's ear.

Her breath was as sweet as orchids: "If Madam cannot remember, I can personally help you recall it."

The warm breath sprayed onto the woman's earlobe, the heat sending a shiver down her spine.

Shen Ruixue already knew what the man in front of her was going to do. Thinking of his domineering behavior that day, she immediately took a step back.

She quickly begged for mercy: "I...I...I remember everything, please let me go."

Gu Qing remained motionless: "What if I don't let go?"

Shen Ruixue's eyes seemed to be misty with tears. "Gu Qing, I... what I said was just to protect myself. Don't overthink it. I... I didn't mean it that way."

Hearing the woman's explanation, the danger in Gu Qing's eyes lessened somewhat, but the aura still lingered.

"Whether you meant it or not, you can't say such things in the future, even if you want to protect yourself."

Gu Qing exuded an overwhelming aura of pressure, "If I hear those words again..."

Shen Ruixue knew all too well what kind of methods this man had up his sleeve, and quickly begged for mercy, "I...I know, Ruixue knows everything, Ruixue won't say anything more."

"Um."

As the man's voice faded, so too did the aura of danger dissipate.

Shen Ruixue watched Gu Qing leave before she dared to lean against the wall and take deep breaths of air.

I wonder what sins she committed in her life, and what kind of people she met.

Gu Qing, who had just left, was unaware of Shen Ruixue's thoughts. He was currently deep in thought about what Shen Ruixue had said not long ago.

This is not Ruixue's fault at all. The blame lies with him for coming out of the Great Fog Mountain too late, meeting her too late, and failing to protect her properly.

He regretted it.

It seems he needs to gradually become stronger so he can get rid of that Su Xuanmao.

That way, Shen Ruixue will be all by herself.

The thought that Shen Ruixue would only belong to him in the future strengthened Gu Qing's resolve.

Su Xuanmao was unaware that he had been cuckolded and had just arrived at the mansion.

He has been raised as the crown prince since he can remember, because the current empress is unable to bear children.

His mother, Consort Shu, had the powerful backing of the Xiao family, and he also possessed extraordinary talent that he had shown since childhood.

Therefore, his father quickly made him the crown prince.

Looking at the Fourth Prince's residence, which he had never set foot in before, Su Xuanmao only wished that this was the last time he would ever visit it.

The Crown Prince, he will come back!