Upon hearing this, Xiao Xueying trembled violently. She broke free from the old woman's grip and scrambled forward, trying to grab Xue Shen's clothes, but was quickly subdued by the old woman who had reacted quickly.
She refused to yield, crying out, "Your Highness, I've been with you for ten years, ten years! When the Empress sent me to the Eastern Palace, she instructed me to take good care of you, and I've kept that in mind all these years, never making the slightest mistake. Why won't Your Highness even look at me?"
Xiao Xueying glared at Shen Youying with hatred: "Your Highness married her back then only for the power and status of the Shen family! Now that the great cause is not yet accomplished, how can you let a woman ruin your plans? If His Majesty and the Empress knew this from below, they would surely be heartbroken!"
Xiao Xueying had gone mad. At first, Xue Shen felt disgusted by her crazy talk, but when he heard that she even dared to sow discord between him and Zhaozhao and dragged in his deceased parents, Xue Shen's indifferent expression completely changed.
His face darkened, and he stared at Xiao Xueying with a gloomy expression before slowly standing up and walking towards her.
His sinister aura was so terrifying that it made one feel as if they were seeing the legendary, unpredictable, murderous, and insulting King Qin. Even Xiao Xueying, who was crying and screaming madly, was stunned. She stopped crying and stared at him blankly, instinctively shrinking back.
Xue Shen simply walked up to her, looked down at her, and said, "Those who betray their masters are executed for their transgressions without merit, while those who have merits and transgressions are punished according to their merits. I originally thought you were just confused for a moment and wanted to spare your life, but it seems I have been too lenient with you."
Xiao Xueying shook her head repeatedly, tears streaming down her face: "No, no, I just love you too much, Your Highness."
"Gag her. I don't want to hear her say another word," Xue Shen ordered his servants with disgust.
The old woman holding her down immediately went to find a cloth, rolled it up, and stuffed it into her mouth.
Xiao Xueying couldn't shout out, she could only plead for help with her eyes. She desperately opened her eyes wide, her eyes filled with tears, looking pleadingly at Wen Yao and the others.
But when the men saw her erratic behavior, they felt a chill run down their spines. Forget pleading for her; they were even instinctively taken a step back in fear. Even Wen Yao turned her head away.
Xiao Xueying stared wide-eyed, her eyeballs almost popping out of their sockets.
She couldn't understand why, after so many years of affection, the prince had treated her like trash. A surge of resentment and fear transformed into hatred within her. She roared like a madwoman, desperately turning her head to glare at Shen Youying with venom.
Shen Youying did not avoid the question, but looked directly into her eyes and said, "If the late Empress had known your true nature, she would never have sent you to serve the Prince. You have not only betrayed the late Empress's trust, but also destroyed the master-servant relationship between you and the Prince."
Xiao Xueying's eyes were bloodshot, her gentle and pretty face twisted into a terrifying grimace.
Xue Shen gave a signal, and a guard took over and quickly took the person away.
Xue Shen still felt displeased, recalling the resentment in Xiao Xueying's eyes earlier. His expression towards the other four was not much more friendly either: "Tomorrow, you will all move to the villa."
Xia He and the others were startled by his expression, thinking that they had been wronged by Xiao Xueying. They quickly knelt down and begged for forgiveness: "Please, Your Highness and Your Highness, we really did not know that Xiao Xueying had such wolfish ambitions."
Shen Youying knew what was bothering him and had no intention of taking it out on Xia He and the others. She gestured for Danzhu and Bailuo to help him up and said gently, "You have done nothing wrong. The Prince asked you to move to the villa not to punish you as a whole. He was just upset because of Xiao Xueying. You can stay at the villa for now. Once you've decided on your destination, just have someone there inform me. My promise to the Prince will not be broken."
Hearing her words, the four were no longer so panicked. They were then helped up by Danzhu and Bailuo.
After hearing the princess's explanation, Xia He vaguely guessed why the King of Qin wanted them to move to the villa. Therefore, after receiving the promise, she tactfully withdrew.
After everyone left, Shen Youying said, "It was just a small matter and didn't cause any trouble. Why did Your Highness get so angry? You scared Xia He and the others just now."
Xue Shen looked at her: "Did you already see through Xiao Xueying's thoughts?"
Shen Youying paused for a moment, then nodded.
Xue Shen frowned: "Why don't you tell me?"
Shen Youying explained, "She is an old servant left behind by the late Empress. I thought that there weren't many people left by the late Empress around you, and she has always been relatively well-behaved, so I didn't want to upset you."
As long as Xue Shen treats her consistently, Shen Youying never worries about others coveting her.
Those men who take concubines and keep mistresses are simply unable to keep themselves faithful; no matter how strictly their wives guard them, they cannot prevent their husbands from having affairs.
Therefore, she never regarded Xiao Xueying's existence as a threat.
Firstly, she knew that Xue Shen had never had such intentions. Secondly, Xiao Xueying was someone left behind by the late Empress. As long as she behaved herself and did not cause any trouble, even if she had some ulterior motives, she would not mind securing a good future for her in the future.
Unfortunately, human greed knows no bounds, and Xiao Xueying's heart was not as magnanimous as she appeared.
Xue Shen pulled her into his arms, kissed the top of her head, and said, "Sometimes Zhao Zhao doesn't need to be so sensible. I actually prefer you to be a little willful and reckless."
Shen Youying laughed: "The King of Qin even dismissed his harem for my sake, isn't that extravagant enough?"
Xue Shen stroked the back of her neck and said in a hoarse voice, "This doesn't count. This is what I wanted."
He thought of the resentment in Xiao Xueying's eyes and felt a lingering fear. If Xiao Xueying had chosen not to drug him, but instead secretly poisoned Shen Youying's food utensils, given her seniority in the Prince's mansion, she might have actually succeeded.
That's why he was in a hurry to send Xia He and the others to the villa.
Just thinking about that possibility made his heart stop for a moment, and the surge of anger made him want to deal with Xiao Xueying himself.
Shen Youying was unaware of his worries and assumed he was blaming himself. She nudged him and said, "Alright, everything's settled. I should go back now. If I don't, the women on the pleasure boat will start gossiping and speculating."
Xue Shen hugged her tightly one last time before reluctantly letting go: "Okay, you go play first, I'll go to the government office and be back soon."
Shen Youying hummed in agreement and had Danzhu tidy her hair and clothes again. After confirming that everything was in order, she took the maid to the garden.
The women on the painted boat chatted and listened to music. When they saw Shen Youying rowing over in a small boat, they all gathered around her.
They were all curious about what Princess Qin had gone to do in the middle of the journey, and while they were all guessing, someone suddenly noticed that Shen Youying had changed the color of her lip rouge. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed, "The prince and princess are indeed a young couple. Their deep affection is truly enviable."
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