This is even more disgusting than his previous hypocritical face!

"To protect my reputation? To care about me?"

"Pei Ziqing, stop with your disgusting tricks! Does praising my music lower you to such an extent?"

"How dare you, a mere scholar, presume to dictate my words and actions, or define my social status?!"

Helian Yue suddenly let out a cold laugh, the laugh filled with biting self-mockery.

With each word she spoke, her heart grew colder, yet her mind became increasingly clear.

Those subtle clues that I had deliberately ignored are now flashing before my eyes like a revolving lantern.

The hatred that flashed in Pei Ziqing's eyes when he mentioned the Eight Treasures Pavilion, and the cunning and scheming he laid out in his words, all now formed a clear and unambiguous thread.

How could she have been so bewitched by such a petty and vindictive person that she could have developed even the slightest affection for him?

"Qingdai!"

Helian Yue's voice returned to calm, but carried an unquestionable command.

"This servant is here."

Qingdai stepped forward.

“This person’s words and actions are inappropriate and have repeatedly offended this princess.”

"Drag him out and beat him! Make him realize his place."

Helian Yue's gaze swept coldly over Pei Ziqing, who was trembling like a leaf on the ground, as if he were looking at a piece of dirty garbage.

"yes!"

Qingdai responded, her eyes sharp.

Two burly, expressionless guards immediately darted in from outside the door.

"No! Your Highness, spare me!! I know I was wrong! I..."

Knowing that it was all over, Pei Ziqing screamed in terror, tears streaming down his face, completely losing his former charming and talented demeanor.

He struggled to lunge at Helian Yue, but the guards grabbed his arms like he was a chick and dragged him away without mercy.

Soon, muffled thuds and Pei Ziqing's pig-like screams and pleas for mercy came from the back alley downstairs, but they quickly faded away, leaving only suppressed groans of pain.

The private room returned to silence, with only the faint aroma of the dishes lingering in the air.

Helian Yue slowly sat back down and removed her veil, revealing a bright face that was filled with deep weariness and disappointment.

She felt a void in her heart, as if something had ripped out of her, or as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

In the private room next door, Helian Jue slowly loosened his slender fingers, and the fingerprints remaining on the white jade wine glass gradually faded away.

He smiled slightly, picked up his glass, and drank the rest of the fruit wine in one gulp.

Helian Yue's resounding rebuke, the loud slap, and the unquestionable order to leave were all clear and distinct.

Helian Jue's smile deepened, and his tense shoulders and back finally relaxed, bringing him an unprecedented sense of ease.

Now she should finally see Pei Ziqing's true colors, right?

He thought he would have to deal with this mess himself, but to his surprise, she took matters into her own hands and swept the trash out the door.

As for Pei Ziqing, who was being humiliated and disheveled downstairs, Helian Jue didn't even bother to glance at him.

He's just a clown, not worth his time or effort.

The melodious sound of a zither drifted gently from the lobby downstairs.

The handsome musician lowered his eyes, seemingly undisturbed by the commotion upstairs, still immersed in his own melody.

The smile on Helian Jue's lips suddenly turned cold. His gaze swept over the musician's gentle demeanor as he thanked the guests, and he couldn't help but let out a soft scoff.

Where did Miss Liu find the musician?

How come... he's so eye-catching?