Chapter 168 She Wants to Help Him Too
Huo Yunzhan's gaze involuntarily darted to the side.
“I…” he denied in a dry voice, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
"Don't know?" Shen Qingci laughed upon hearing this, a laugh filled with endless mockery and contempt. "Huo Yunzhan, you're still the same as ever. Every time you lie, your eyes... always subconsciously look elsewhere."
She slowly stepped forward, and the icy aura emanating from her body made Huo Yunzhan involuntarily take a step back.
"Chu Jichen has absolutely no connection with that mother and daughter, right?" Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was like a knife. "What you said before was nothing but... a trick you used to sow discord!"
Huo Yunzhan felt flustered under her all-seeing gaze. He recalled the secrets he had heard from Liu Wenyuan about Shen Qingci's dissolute behavior and secret rendezvous with her lover in the palace. A twisted sense of pleasure and jealousy surged into his heart!
He couldn't help but sneer, his voice filled with malicious mockery: "Yes! I'm just talking nonsense! But so what?"
"Didn't you...believe it too?"
He wanted to make a few more sarcastic remarks to her, but when he thought of Liu Wenyuan's plan to completely ignite this matter at her birthday banquet and deliver a fatal blow to her, he forcibly swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
He just sneered, looking at her with an expression of amusement: "Aren't you the Regent's Consort now? What? Is this all the trust you have in the husband you chose so carefully?"
“Furthermore,” his gaze roamed over her unabashedly, “it’s common knowledge that Chu Jichen… he’s impotent. How could a useless man who can’t even be a man possibly have a child? Only you would believe that.”
Shen Qingci seemed to be completely enraged by his words!
She took a step forward abruptly, and without thinking, slapped Huo Yunzhan hard across the face!
"Smack—!"
"Shut up!" Her eyes were bloodshot, as if she had completely lost her mind, and her voice was trembling. "Isn't it all because of you that I've become so paranoid and can't trust anyone?"
"Even death can be faked, so why can't it be faked?"
She questioned hysterically, like a cornered beast: "But that child... that child was so close to Chu Jichen! Tell me! What is that woman's identity?"
Huo Yunzhan covered his face, which was still sore from the beating, and looked at the seemingly insane woman in front of him, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
He did intend to sow discord, but what he wanted to see was for Shen Qingci to return to his side after she was utterly disappointed in Chu Jichen.
Instead of...
Instead of losing control of her emotions for another man, and even resorting to violence against him!
She cared so much about that woman's identity, even resorting to this method to retaliate against Chu Jichen... Could it be... could it be that she really fell in love with Chu Jichen?
How could you do that?
Shen Qingci married Chu Jichen only for the title of "Regent's Consort," so how could she... how could she really fall in love with him?
An indescribable sense of jealousy and resentment instantly consumed Huo Yunzhan's heart!
He scoffed, his voice filled with sarcasm and malice: "That woman is Yun Yao, the daughter of the border general! She and Chu Jichen have known each other for years."
"It's just that she got married, had a daughter, and then her husband died. She had nowhere else to go, so she came to seek refuge with Chu Jichen."
“Think about it,” he looked at her maliciously, “why did you marry Chu Jichen? Wasn’t it because he was the regent and could bring you immense power?”
"If you can do that, other women... can certainly do it too!"
"You know better than anyone how attractive the position of 'Regent's Wife' is."
"Judging from Chu Jichen's fondness for that little girl, your position as princess consort... may not be so secure after all."
He slowly approached her, his voice like the spitting of a venomous snake: "Qingci, do you regret it? Do you regret leaving the Marquis's mansion so resolutely back then?"
“If you don’t leave, you will still be a member of the Huo family. Even if I inherit two branches of the family, I can still guarantee you a lifetime of wealth and honor. Most importantly…” His voice carried a hint of self-righteous affection, “I do have feelings for you.”
Shen Qingci quietly observed Huo Yunzhan's expression.
Seeing that he didn't seem to be faking it, I had already made my judgment.
It seems that Huo Yunzhan... truly doesn't know Yun Yao's real identity.
She sneered inwardly, too lazy to waste any more words on him, and turned to leave.
Once inside the carriage, Shen Qingci's brows furrowed tightly once more.
Based on the reasons for the war between the Northern You Kingdom and the Great Zhou Dynasty, as well as the scene she witnessed at Yunmeng Tower, she was able to deduce that "Yun Yao" was actually the Sixth Princess, Chu Yuening.
Those shrewd people like Liu Wenyuan and Huo Yunzhan might very well have guessed it.
If they really guessed it...
Therefore, as the trigger for this war between the two countries, the situation of Chu Yuening and her daughter will become...extremely dangerous!
Shen Qingci's heart sank suddenly.
She thought that since Chu Jichen was willing to take such a huge risk to bring Chu Yuening and her daughter back to the capital and settle them by his side, it was enough to show that he still had some brotherly affection for his only younger sister.
Since he was able to protect her in such a critical moment, she should reciprocate by protecting those he cares about.
Chu Jichen's abilities are beyond doubt.
But now, he is trapped in the deep palace, under the watchful eyes of Liu Wenyuan and his pack of wolves day and night, and may not be able to know what is happening outside the palace in a timely manner.
She had to get this message to him immediately!
Shen Qingci immediately stopped hesitating and called out in a cold voice, "Yuanbao!"
Yuanbao's figure appeared silently outside the carriage.
"princess!"
"Send a message immediately!" Shen Qingci's voice was filled with an unquestionable decisiveness. "Use the eunuchs we've placed by the Prince's side to report to the Prince that Huo Yunzhan and Liu Wenyuan may soon find out that the Sixth Princess and her daughter are Yun Yao and her daughter! Tell him to be extremely careful and protect them!"
Yuanbao's face showed a hint of difficulty: "Your Highness...should we do this now?"
"The sooner the better, of course!" Shen Qingci frowned.
“But…” Yuanbao’s brows furrowed tightly, “But that old fox Liu Wenyuan is… in the palace right now!”
With Chu Jichen trapped, Liu Wenyuan naturally stayed in the palace whenever he had the chance to prevent any unforeseen events.
A sharp, cold glint flashed in Shen Qingci's eyes!
She acted decisively and immediately came up with an idea.
"Prepare the carriage!" she coldly ordered the coachman, "Immediately...enter the palace!"
Yuanbao stared wide-eyed in astonishment.
Shen Qingci's voice remained calm and resolute as she continued, "I may not be able to see the Prince, and... I may not even be able to enter the Taiji Hall."
“But,” a cold smile slowly curved her lips, “if I go, Liu Wenyuan and his men will definitely focus all their attention on me.”
"This is... the best time for you to take action!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com