"How could it be him?"
Yi Shangyun was surprised to discover that Tuoba Ze had been leaving early and returning late these past few days.
Even when they occasionally bumped into each other, he would speak vaguely and unwilling to elaborate, appearing mysterious as if he had come here to see Mei Xiyuan.
But upon closer reflection, a question arose: "If he and Mei Xiyuan have no connection, how did they meet?"
"They seem so mysterious with each other, what exactly are they plotting?"
At this thought, just as she was about to get closer and learn more,
A guard suddenly strode out from inside.
Startled, Yi Shangyun quickly retreated and huddled in a corner in front of a door with a sign that read "Boiling Water Room," pulling her cloak tightly shut so as not to be discovered.
After the guard went out, he carefully looked around to make sure no one suspicious was approaching before finally standing still at the door and guarding it tightly.
Yi Shangyun let out a long sigh of relief, but still muttered to herself, "No, I have to know what they're trying to do."
Immediately afterwards, they began searching again for any gaps where they could hear the conversation between the two people inside.
But after searching for a long time, she found that the private room was as impenetrable as a copper wall and an iron wall, as if not even a fly could get in.
With a creaking sound, the door that had been tightly closed was suddenly opened from the inside once again.
Yi Shangyun quickly shifted her gaze to look at it and saw that it was Mei Xiyuan's maidservant who slowly walked out.
After the maid left, she went straight to the counter at the top of the stairs on the second floor and asked, "My mistress's hand warmer is a bit cold. May I ask where I can get some hot water here?"
On the counter, a shop assistant was arranging tea sets.
Hearing the sound, she looked up, stretched out a hand, pointed in the direction where Yi Shangyun was hiding, and guided the maid, saying, "The boiling water is in that corner over there, there's a boiling water room. There's a special stove inside for boiling water, or should I go and change it for you?"
As he spoke, the waiter hurriedly put down the teapot in his hand, walked around the counter, and came out.
The maid hurriedly stopped her, saying, "There's no need to trouble you. I can go by myself. My mistress doesn't like strangers touching her personal belongings!"
The waiter looked slightly embarrassed, but could only smile and finally reminded her, "Then please be careful and don't burn yourself."
"Okay, thank you!"
After thanking him, the maid turned and walked towards the boiling water room.
Unexpectedly, as soon as I entered the door, I felt as if I had been pricked by a needle somewhere on my back.
Before he could even react, he instantly lost consciousness.
In the private room.
Mei Xiyuan's conversation with Tuoba Ze today seemed to have gone rather poorly; she was seen with a dark expression, trying hard to suppress her emotions.
Seeing that the maid had just returned, she wanted to take the opportunity to say, "It was just changing a hand warmer, why did it take you so long?"
The maidservant approached with her head bowed, without saying a word.
Mei Xiyuan noticed that a face mask was inexplicably covering her face, and asked in confusion, "Why are you suddenly covering your face?"
The maid kept her head down, trying to avoid the attention of everyone present. She then handed the hand warmer to Mei Xiyuan before explaining.
"When I was in the boiling water room just now, I accidentally splashed some scalding hot water on my hands and face, so I went to ask the shopkeeper for some burn ointment to apply, which is why I came back a little late. Because the wounds on my face are already a bit red and swollen, I covered my face with a face towel!"
When Mei Xiyuan took the hand warmer, she did see that the maid's hands were scalded and severely red, which made her believe her explanation.
However, because of her conversation with Tuoba Ze, she was still very angry and said harshly, "I don't know what use you are to me. You can't even change a hand warmer properly!"
The maidservant apologized softly, "Princess, I'm sorry!"
Mei Xiyuan let out a sigh of relief and scolded, "Alright, you just wait over there. This princess doesn't need your service anymore. You really can't do anything right!"
"yes!"
At this point, the maid took a few steps back and stood quietly to the side, listening to the two continue their negotiations.
At this point, Tuoba Ze spoke first to continue the previous topic.
He continued, “Princess, don’t you think you’re being too greedy? You’ve already secured the fertile land south of Dongning City with Mei Zhixuan, as well as the bustling seaside region east of the city. Now you even want to ask me for three thousand fine horses. A woman dares to dream of competing with a man for the world. I advise you, Princess, that such greed is not necessarily a good thing for a woman!”
Having grown up together since childhood, how could Mei Xiyuan not understand Mei Zhixuan's tricks and plans?
She then curled her lips into a smile and said, "How could Mei Zhixuan possibly hand over the eastern and southern parts of the city willingly? I just want to test him and see his reaction. He thinks I don't know that he'll discard me after using me. We've been together for over a decade since childhood, what kind of person do you think I don't know?! I must prepare a foolproof plan and all the forces to oppose him in advance."
Originally thought to be just a pretty face, Tuoba Ze was truly astonished by her courage and resourcefulness, and exclaimed, "I never imagined that the princess, with her political acumen, would be so brave and resourceful. It seems that what Prince Qin, Xuanyuan Han, has lost is not just a queen!"
Women are indeed born weak, but that doesn't mean a woman's life should be lived in weakness.
Especially after a deep affection is betrayed and a sincere heart is blatantly abandoned.
Recalling her shameful past, Mei Xiyuan said softly, "That ill-fated relationship with Prince Qin, Xuanyuan Han, made me realize that in this world, relying on yourself is worse than relying on anyone else. At first, I did think that if he treated me sincerely, I would do my best to use the strength of my motherland to help him ascend the throne. But he neglected me time and time again for that bitch, ignoring my existence, and finally even drove me out of the Prince Qin's mansion, causing me to lose face. I will not rest in peace until I avenge this."
Recalling the humiliation she had suffered, Mei Xiyuan gritted her teeth in hatred.
Tuoba Ze seemed unsure of what was going on, yet remained hesitant. Mei Xiyuan noticed this and pressed him again: "If the Crown Prince is truly willing to cooperate, then there's no need for further discussion! Now, Crown Prince, just say it: do you agree or not?"
After a moment's thought, Tuoba Ze readily agreed, "Very well, since we share a common enemy, there's no reason not to cooperate. Then, as the princess said, if you can persuade Mei Zhixuan to wholeheartedly assist me in conquering Western Qin and reclaiming everything that rightfully belongs to me, I promise to spare nothing except for Prince Qin, Xuanyuan Han, and his woman who faked her death. Furthermore, I will personally present three thousand fine horses to you!"
"Clang..."
Just then, a sound suddenly came from the corner.
The maid, who had been standing in the corner, suddenly bumped into the flower stand next to her for some unknown reason.
A pot of plum blossoms suddenly fell to the ground, followed by the sound of porcelain shattering, attracting the attention of everyone present.
In an instant, the maidservant nervously apologized to everyone present.
"sorry!"
"sorry!"
As he spoke, he squatted down and hurriedly picked up the porcelain shards on the ground.
I accidentally cut my hand again, and bright red blood instantly seeped out.
"hiss……"
The maid gasped in pain and pulled her hand back to suck on her injured finger.
Mei Xiyuan noticed that she was clumsy and seemed dazed.
He frowned and shouted at him, "Idiot, get out of here! What are you doing clumsily standing here?"
"sorry!"
"sorry!"
...
Upon hearing this, the maid continued to apologize as she quickly retreated.
As soon as I stepped out, I went straight back into the boiling water room.
At this moment, King Xuanyuan Han of Qin had also come in, having followed the sound.
As he looked around, the shopkeeper at the counter on the first floor immediately greeted him with a smile: "How many guests are in your party?"
Xuanyuan Han still maintained his arrogant and domineering demeanor, cold as ice, and then took out his waist token and showed it to him.
The shopkeeper's smile vanished instantly, and he practically leaped out from behind the counter, preparing to kneel as he said, "This humble servant was blind and did not recognize Your Highness, the Prince of Qin, in your presence! This humble servant..."
Before he could finish speaking, Xuanyuan Han raised a hand to stop him and interrupted him, then asked, "No need to make a fuss. I'm asking you, did a young lady just come in here?"
When these words came from the mouth of the incomparably noble King of Qin, the shopkeeper was clearly puzzled: "Miss? There are indeed several young ladies upstairs right now. May I ask which young lady Your Highness is referring to? What are her clothes, appearance, or physical characteristics?"
"Oh no, I forgot to ask Yun'er about the characteristics of her clothes today..."
Then I thought to myself, and seeing that the shop was not only in a remote location but also looked small, I figured that the people who came here must be regulars, and there were quite a few customers today.
Xuan Yuanhan thought for a moment, then added, "It was the last one to come in; she's very beautiful. By the way, she must have come alone..."
The shopkeeper scratched his head, immediately trying to recall: "The last girl to arrive?"
While waiting, Xuanyuan Han looked around the store with a slightly anxious expression.
In an instant, the innkeeper finally remembered, pointing upstairs and saying, "I remember now, a young lady came in alone just now. When asked how many people were with her, she said there were already people upstairs..."
Before the shopkeeper could finish speaking, Xuan Yuanhan couldn't wait any longer and went upstairs by himself.
Just then, Yi Shangyun had changed back into her original attire and was about to flee the place.
Having just witnessed and heard everything that Tuoba Ze and Mei Xiyuan had secretly planned, he was still extremely nervous.
As I reached the stairwell, I suddenly saw a familiar figure approaching me step by step.
"That is..."
"Xuanyuan Han?!"
Why is he here?
There was no time to retreat, and in an instant, she could only hurriedly pull up the hood of her cloak.
She almost covered her entire face, leaving only her eyes showing.
He kept repeating to himself, "I absolutely cannot let him find out!"
Despite pulling her hood down as low as possible to conceal it, she was still noticed by Xuan Yuanhan the moment they brushed past each other.
Yi Shangyun felt as if her heart was about to jump out of her chest...
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