Chapter 317 Would I be stingy and refuse to give it to you?

The two entered Jiang Zhi's room one after the other.

Xiao Xuanyou sat down opposite her, his posture relaxed and composed, as if he were not in a dark and long-abandoned villa, but in the magnificent inner courtyard of his Eastern Palace.

"Are you really going to give up all your efforts these past few days, leave the Eastern Palace, and elope with Xie Qi?" Xiao Xuanyou asked her, his handsome and noble face illuminated by the dim candlelight.

Jiang Zhi nodded.

Xiao Xuanyou half-lifted his eyelashes, his imposing aura, long accustomed to his high position, making one's heart tighten. "I will not agree."

Just as I expected.

Jiang Zhi clenched her sleeves tightly. "But the Crown Prince said he wouldn't force me."

“But this is something you promised me,” Xiao Xuanyou said.

"People always change. Besides, if I help the Crown Prince fulfill his wish, and after it's done, His Highness will have great power in his hands, how can I trust that you will let me leave?"

Jiang Zhi looked directly at him, not backing down because of his imposing manner.

She now wants Xiao Xuanyou to give her a guarantee, a guarantee that she can leave unscathed and will not be arbitrarily controlled by him.

Xiao Xuanyou stared at her for a long time, then suddenly tugged at the corner of his lips, "So that's what you're worried about, which is why you're thinking of leaving with Xie Qi?"

Jiang Zhi wasn't annoyed that his thoughts had been exposed; she simply waited quietly for him to continue.

After a long while, Xiao Xuanyou sighed helplessly, "Your ambition is really growing bigger and bigger. If you want something, just tell me directly. Why make such a big fuss?"

Jiang Zhi smiled but remained silent.

If we don't make such a big show of it, how can we force him to comply?

Xiao Xuanyou deftly removed the jade ring from his slender fingers and handed it to her, saying, "It's yours now."

Jiang Zhi looked at it and took it. The yellow jade ring still had his body heat on it. Its color was an extremely rare chicken fat yellow, and it was as smooth and rich as beeswax. There was not a single impurity or cotton-like lint on it. A winding dragon pattern was engraved on it.

"This is……"

"With this jade thumb ring, you can mobilize all my secret guards," Xiao Xuanyou's voice was clear and noble, like the sound of jade striking stone, "Are you satisfied now?"

Back in her previous life, Jiang Zhi had heard about Xiao Xuanyou's secret guards.

They were family servants passed down from the time of the Holy Ancestor, and were absolutely loyal to the royal family.

After Xiao Xuanyou was made crown prince, Emperor Xuanzhao assigned some of his secret guards to him for training. After so many years, they were no longer the same as before, including Ruying and Anyue.

"This, this is too valuable, I can't accept it."

She originally just wanted to force Xiao Xuanyou to vomit something more to ensure her future safety.

To her surprise, Xiao Xuanyou's move left her speechless.

"I don't want this, or would you like my personal seal?" Xiao Xuanyou took out a small seal from his pouch and pushed it in front of her.

Jiang Zhi was truly stunned.

The Crown Prince's private seal represents the power and influence he holds, and is the key to his communication with his confidants. How could he dare to give away something like that?

She took the topaz thumb ring and said, "This one is quite good."

Being able to mobilize his bodyguards means I won't be afraid of being restricted in my movements in the future, which is much more useful than a private seal.

However, the jade thumb ring was too big, and it looked empty on his thumb.

I'll have to wait until I get back to find a rope, string it together, and hang it around my neck.

Jiang Zhi then remembered something else, "This jade thumb ring is so valuable, what if it gets lost in my hands?"

Xiao Xuanyou chuckled, “Don’t worry, this jade thumb ring is one of a kind in the world. Even if it’s lost, no one will dare to use it. They will only respectfully return it. I will not punish you.”

Jiang Zhi was finally completely relieved.

"Can you come back with me now?" He looked at her with a smile.

The stubborn and forceful crown prince of yesteryear seems to have vanished without a trace in him.

With her worries gone, Jiang Zhi nodded. "With His Highness the Crown Prince's guarantee, our cooperation is naturally effective."

"Next time, just tell me what you want. Do you think I'd be stingy and refuse you?" Xiao Xuanyou chuckled indulgently.

Jiang Zhi was somewhat unaccustomed to this kind of prince, and only vaguely agreed.

She didn't really intend to keep that jade thumb ring forever.

Once Xiao Yunheng's matter is resolved and Xiao Xuanyou no longer harbors such deep obsession with her, she will return it to its rightful owner.

The two came out of the room. Xie Qi looked at Jiang Zhi and then at Xiao Xuanyou. Seeing that both of them looked normal, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Zhizhi, did he promise you anything?" He bent down and whispered to her.

Jiang Zhi quickly waved the yellow jade thumb ring in front of him before tucking it into her clothes.

Xie Qi was also taken aback.

Having served as the Crown Prince's right-hand man for so long, how could he not know the significance of this thumb ring?

If the Crown Prince can send such a gift, then all the trouble I went through to bring Zhizhi out was worth it.

He wanted to say something more, but Xiao Xuanyou didn't give him a chance to get closer. He pulled Jiang Zhi into his arms, preventing her from taking the opportunity to get closer.

"Xie Qi, I will take Princess Qinghe away tonight. This time, I will spare your life because you helped my father quell the Northern Di. But if there is a next time, I will not be so lenient!"

“Oh right, and those marks,” Xiao Xuanyou lowered his voice, his eyes darkening, “you’ve got the wrong person.”

After saying that, he grabbed Jiang Zhi's shoulders without turning around and led her away from the villa in a coercive manner.

"What do you mean?" Xie Qi frowned and tried to chase after him, but Xiao Xuanyou's men rushed in and surrounded him.

Jiang Zhi turned to look at him, her face showing a worried and helpless expression. "General Xie, I'm afraid we are not destined to be together in this life. You should leave now and don't do anything impulsive because of me."

After saying that, she raised her sleeve and wiped away non-existent tear stains from her face.

Xiao Xuanyou, who was standing to the side, couldn't resist and pinched her cheek under the cover of her sleeve.

Jiang Zhi glared at him.

"I, Xie Qi, swear here today," Xie Qi gritted his teeth, "that I sever all ties with you, Xiao Xuanyou. Once we step out of this courtyard, we will be mortal enemies!"

Xiao Xuanyou snorted coldly, "Is that so? Then I'll play along to the end."

Xie Qi was locked in combat with Xiao Xuanyou's men, but ultimately he was outnumbered and was stabbed by a sword. He lay on the ground for a long time, unable to get up, and could only watch helplessly as Xiao Xuanyou reluctantly led Jiang Zhi onto the carriage.

The people in the villa quickly left, and everything returned to normal.

"Everyone's gone, aren't you getting up?" A pair of black boots appeared in front of Xie Qi, looking down at him with a cold and stern expression.

Xie Qi snorted and stood up briskly. "Zhizhi's already gone, why are you still here?"

He dusted himself off; the sword wound was just a superficial injury, at most drawing some blood, and wouldn't affect him at all.

"The show's over, it's time to go."

Just as Lu Yuan was about to leave, Xie Qi blocked his way with a sword.

"Did you leave the mark on Zhizhi's body?" He recalled Xiao Xuanyou's words from earlier.

Lu Yuan glanced at him coldly, "It's none of your business."

Is there anything Xie Qi doesn't understand now?

If those marks were left by the Crown Prince, why would Lu Yuan still have such a nonchalant attitude?

He gritted his teeth and was ready to fight Lu Yuan again.

But Lu Yuan didn't want to get entangled with him here, so he drew his Embroidered Spring Blade and retreated while defending.

“I promised Azhi I wouldn’t act impulsively again,” Lu Yuan said in a flat voice. “It would be unfair for me to win if you were injured. Farewell.”

The two were evenly matched, and Xie Qi couldn't stop Lu Yuan at all, so he could only watch him fly away.

"Ha," Xie Qi's cold laugh echoed in the quiet courtyard, "each and every one of them is utterly repulsive."

The Prince of Xiang's Mansion.

Shen Ci'an, dressed in a blue robe, was escorted into the mansion by servants who concealed his identity.

Xiao Yunheng sat at the head of the table, his posture not arrogant, and personally handed a teacup to Shen Ci'an, saying, "Lord Shen, please don't be anxious, there is news about Princess Qinghe."

Shen Ci'an, disregarding the formalities, asked anxiously, "Is she alright?"

"Don't worry, Lord Shen, Princess Qinghe is safe and sound," Xiao Yunheng said gently. "She was rescued by General Xie a couple of days ago, but was eventually captured by His Highness the Crown Prince. It's a real pity."

Shen Ci'an clenched his fists. "What does Your Highness think should be done about this?"

"I have already come up with a plan, but I still need Lord Shen's cooperation."

Shen Ci'an bowed solemnly, saying, "If there is anything I need to do, I will go through fire and water without hesitation."