Hongshi remembered what he had said before. He had promised to stay with Linlang tonight, and he couldn't go back on his word. Besides, he was so impulsive right now. If he went there and hurt Ruan Meiying, or even killed her in a fit of anger, then he wouldn't be able to get anything out of her.

He calmed himself down and said, "I'm tired, let's rest!"

Linlang smiled shyly, then got up to help Hongshi change his clothes.

The next day, after getting up, Hongshi went straight to Ruan Meiying's room without saying goodbye to Linlang.

Ruan Meiying was putting on her makeup in front of the mirror, unaware that Hongshi already suspected her, and hurriedly went to greet him. ^_^

"Your Highness is here. Why didn't you send a servant to announce your arrival beforehand so that Meiying could have made preparations?"

Hongshi grabbed Ruan Meiying's hand and moved closer to her, asking,

"I'm asking you, so answer honestly, where are you from?"

Ruan Meiying was startled, wondering why Hongshi was asking this, and whether he knew something.

But on the surface, she remained calm and composed, smiling as she said that she didn't even know where she was from. She had been sold to a brothel by her family when she was young, so how could she remember where she was from? Besides, even if she knew, what use would it be? They had sold her back then, and she would never forgive them.

"How did you hear about that Baixianglou? You've been staying in your residence ever since you came to the capital, how would you know about what's going on outside?" Hongshi said.

Ruan Meiying replied, "Meiying heard from the servants that there is a Baixiang Restaurant not far from the Prince's Mansion, and that the food there is very good, so I wanted to go and have a look."

Hongshi then asked, "I heard you're hosting a banquet for the entire household. You could have booked the food at a restaurant outside, but why did you specifically send that waiter surnamed Ruan from Baixianglou to the mansion to order the dishes? Do you know him?"

Ruan Meiying said, "How could that be! Meiying just saw that he shared the same surname as her, and maybe they were even from the same clan. She felt it was fate. Seeing him working so hard as a waiter at Baixianglou, she felt sorry for him and wanted to promote him, so she brought him here."

Ruan Meiying guessed that her brother Ruan Dafeng might have already complained, which was why Hongshi suspected her.

Seeing that Ruan Meiying answered fluently, Hongshi couldn't help but wonder if he had misunderstood her. She hadn't contacted anyone from Geshan Village at all; it was just that Eighth Master was being too cautious.

Ruan Meiying asked, "Sir, what's wrong? Why are you asking about Meiying's family?"

Hongshi said, "It's nothing. I was just asking. You've been by my side for a while now, and I still don't know where you're from."

"Then Meiying thanks Your Highness for your concern," Ruan Meiying said with a smile.

She then led Hongshi to sit on the bed, wrapped her arms around his strong arms, and rested her head on his shoulder, like a couple in love.

Ruan Meiying said, "Your Highness, you seem a bit off today. Have you encountered some trouble at court recently? Why don't you tell me? I might be able to help you figure it out." Ruan Meiying hoped to find clues about Ruan Dafeng through Hongshi's answer.

Hongshi said, "It's nothing." Although he no longer suspected Ruan Meiying, this was, after all, a matter concerning his life and fortune, and he didn't want to talk about it, because it would be troublesome if word got out.

Seeing that he wouldn't speak, Ruan Meiying was unsure whether Ruan Dafeng had gone to report him. If he had, was he safe now? If not, where was he now?