return
Xiao Yiqing returned to the Prince's mansion and didn't sleep a wink all night. Outside, fireworks glittered in the darkness, but inside, it was desolate and lonely.
After a night of planning and scheming, she secretly gave Chunhua the order the next morning to find some people to kill Wang Qianqian, and to do so very discreetly.
Chunhua naturally did not disobey her orders and paid a large sum of money to hire assassins from the Xiao family to kill Wang Qianqian.
However, Xiao Yiqing did indeed overestimate herself and underestimate Wang Qianqian.
Since Wang Qianqian dared to reveal her plans to her, how could she not have left herself a backup plan?
When Chunhua learned that Wang Qianqian was not at Furong Tower and could not find her no matter how hard she looked, she panicked and told Xiao Yiqing the news.
"What did you say? Not here?" Xiao Yiqing was extremely surprised. "How could she not be here?" But after a moment, she understood. "This Wang Qianqian, I really underestimated her!"
Xiao Yiqing decided to wait for Wang Qianqian at the pavilion where she danced later, but time did not give her the opportunity, because Wang Qianqian returned to the palace with Shangguan Zeyu at noon.
Xiao Yiqing was surprised to discover this when Wang Qianqian came to greet her.
"...Why are you so surprised, sister?" Wang Qianqian was dressed in a well-fitting, gorgeous dress, which made her look even younger and more beautiful, while also making Xiao Yiqing look even more haggard and tired.
"You broke your promise!" Xiao Yiqing said, his face tense as he stared at her.
Wang Qianqian covered her mouth and scoffed, "Why do you say such unpleasant things, sister? It's clearly 'that kind of' thing, yet you have to say it like that."
Xiao Yiqing's hatred for her deepened: "Since you have already reached an agreement with me, then this agreement is probably invalid."
But Wang Qianqian quickly said, "No, no, no, sister, please don't say that."
Xiao Yiqing's eyes suddenly brightened: "What do you mean?"
Wang Qianqian smiled in that annoying way as ever: "Good sister, of course your sister is on your side."
Xiao Yiqing scoffed disdainfully, "You've already entered the Prince's residence and achieved your goal, yet you still try to deceive me? How laughable!!"
Wang Qianqian wasn't angry at all; instead, she looked smug and said, "Sister, you mean if we join forces, that bitch won't be able to return to the Prince's Mansion. But if we don't join forces, once that bitch returns to the Prince's Mansion, not only will I lose my status, but I'm afraid even I will lose my status, let alone my status in the Prince's heart."
Xiao Yiqing pretended to think for a moment, then asked, "What are your plans?"
"Sister, you'll find out soon enough if you help me out," Wang Qianqian said. Then she added, "Please forgive me, sister. I have to go see the prince and answer his questions, so I won't keep you company any longer." With that, she was helped away by a new-faced maid, and she left unsteadily.
Looking at her smug back, and recalling the way she had spoken just now, Xiao Yiqing gritted her teeth in anger and swept the small green teacup on her right to the ground.
"You vile woman! How dare you try to negotiate with me!!"
Chunhua glanced at her cautiously and said, "Master, Madam Wang is a slippery woman; you can't believe everything she says. You'll have to go and sound out the Prince yourself."
"Hmph! Of course I won't believe her! I'm going to see the Prince right now. I want to see what kind of ivory this vile woman can spout!"
When Wang Qianqian arrived at Yunxiao Pavilion, Shangguan Zeyu was already impatiently waiting.
She seemed to want to see Shangguan Zeyu running around in a panic, so she wasn't worried at all, and instead a smug smile appeared on her lips.
"Your Highness, Qianqian is late. Please forgive me."
Shangguan Zeyu glanced at her casually, walked past her, sat down at his desk, and said, "Speak."
Wang Qianqian was immediately filled with sorrow and pain, and covered her mouth and nose with the pink handkerchief in her right hand, sobbing softly.
However, Shangguan Zeyu remained unmoved and seemed quite impatient, urging again: "I have other important matters to attend to. If you don't want to speak, you can do so later." With that, he spread out the memorials in front of him, preparing to review them.
Seeing this, Wang Qianqian quickly stopped while she was ahead and tearfully said, "Your Highness, it's not that Qianqian didn't want to tell you, but she was afraid that Your Highness would be sad."
She glanced at Shangguan Zeyu and, seeing him looking at her, quickly averted her gaze and said, "Your Highness, when you suffered that day, Qianqian had no choice but to wander in the capital. She thought she would never see anyone from the Prince's Mansion again in her remaining years, but unexpectedly, she met Sister Ruyi."
"Sister Ruyi is still so young and beautiful, and... and..." At this point, she glanced timidly at Shangguan Zeyu before adding, "But perhaps Qianqian is mistaken."
Shangguan Zeyu was very impatient. He narrowed his eyes and said in a cold voice, "Wang Qianqian, I already know what happened in the past. Don't waste my time here!"
Wang Qianqian was shocked and quickly said seriously, "That woman should be Sister Ruyi, because I saw Huang Ying, who is Sister Ruyi's personal maid, following her. However, what puzzles me is, why is Sister Ruyi always seen with a young man, chatting and laughing together?"
"continue."
"Your Highness, it's strange. Didn't Sister Ruyi escape from the capital? How come she's at the Chen residence? I heard that the young man is Chen Run, the only son of the owner of Tianxia Cloth Shop, and he's even an official."
"Anything else?"
Wang Qianqian was very unhappy with Shangguan Zeyu's cold reaction, but she dared not show it. She only said, "Your Highness, if you think carefully about what Qianqian said, you might be able to find out where Ruyi is." She then added, "Actually, Your Highness, you have sent so many people to look for Ruyi but have not found her. Is it possible that Ruyi has never actually left the capital?"
Upon hearing her words, Shangguan Zeyu's expression became tense and even annoyed.
Wang Qianqian stared intently at him and slowly said, "Regardless of whether it's possible or not, it's clear that we need to confirm it in person before we can be certain. Your Highness, Young Master Chen definitely knows that Sister Ruyi is there. Even if he refuses to say it, as long as Sister Ruyi knows that he is suffering, she will definitely appear."
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Zeyu suddenly raised his eyes and glared at her, saying in a cold, hard voice, "You mean, he holds a lot of weight in Ruyi's heart?!"
Wang Qianqian pretended to realize she had misspoke and hurriedly apologized, saying, "Your Highness, please forgive me, I misspoke. What I meant was... I was just expressing what was on my mind, I didn't expect... Your Highness..."
"Alright!" Shangguan Zeyu interrupted her impatiently, saying, "I understand. You may leave."
A sinister glint suddenly appeared on Wang Qianqian's face, before she feigned a pitiful expression and said, "Qianqian thanks Your Highness for giving her a place to stay." Then she slowly withdrew from Yunxiao Pavilion.
Not long after Wang Qianqian left, Shangguan Zeyu also left.
Shangguan Zeyu didn't go anywhere else, but went straight to the Chen residence.
He placed Chen Run under house arrest in his residence and was going to interrogate him.
Chen Run was neither afraid nor flustered, and continued to live his life well within the limited conditions each day.
When Shangguan Zeyu saw him, he was standing with his hands behind his back by the withered lotus pond.
Shangguan Zeyu didn't beat around the bush and asked him directly, "Where exactly is Ruyi?"
A slight sneer appeared on Chen Run's lips as he slowly said, "Your Highness asks a good question, but unfortunately, I don't know."
Shangguan Zeyu panicked and took two quick steps toward him: "Do you really want me to torture you?"
Chen Runcai turned his head slightly to look at Shangguan Zeyu: "Your Highness, your question is really strange! Even if Your Highness were to kill me, I would still say the same thing: I don't know, I'm not clear."
"How could you not know? You clearly already..." Shangguan Zeyu blurted out in anger, only realizing he had said too much at this point.
Chen Run smiled bitterly and looked at the withered lotus flowers again: "Yes, I was really close to marrying Ruyi, but only a little bit."
Since he was safe, Shangguan Zeyu had been searching for Jiang Yan's whereabouts. When he learned that Jiang Yan was about to marry Chen Run, he was so angry that he couldn't eat or sleep. He moved up his march plan, which was originally scheduled to be carried out a month later, by half a month, just so that he could see Jiang Yan sooner.
But the result... Can anyone tell him which step went wrong?
Shangguan Zeyu was in great pain, yet helpless. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly opened them, calmly asking, "Ruyi... loves... you?"
Shangguan Zeyu had said this "love" a long time ago, and had said it to many people, but today, for some reason, he suddenly found it difficult to say it, and it was very bitter.
A bitter, sorrowful smile slowly returned to Chen Run's face: "It's enough that I love her."
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Zeyu regained his hope and laughed, "I knew it! Ruyi is not a fickle person! She is only devoted to me."
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