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"How dare you!" Xiao Yiqing suddenly flew into a rage upon hearing this, smashing the pink teacup beside her with her right hand. "How dare you threaten me?"
Jiang Yan hurriedly knelt on the ground, bowed her head, and explained, "Your Highness, you misunderstand. That's not what I meant. What I meant was..."
"Enough! No need for further words! Madam Wang's words are my will. Have you thought this through, Liu Ruyi? If you don't follow me, your father, your Liu family, and you will all be doomed!!"
Jiang Yan was in a daze and was about to say something when Xiao Yiqing interrupted her abruptly with disdain.
"Alright, I know what you mean. You're saying you have the Prince protecting you, right? Ha! How utterly ridiculous! Would the Prince care about you for the sake of the country's safety? Besides, what do you have that would make the Prince care? Stop dreaming!"
Jiang Yan said nothing more and slowly stood up.
Xiao Yiqing leisurely fiddled with her fingers again, and said dismissively without looking up, "If there's nothing else, go back. I have something to discuss with Madam Wang."
Jiang Yan bowed to her and slowly withdrew.
Huang Ying was waiting for her outside. When she saw Huang Ying come out with a worried look on her face, she quickly went up to her and asked her in a low voice.
"My lord, did the princess really make things difficult for you? Are you alright?"
Jiang Yan kept walking forward, absentmindedly replying, "I'm fine, I'm alright, I'm alright." Only after leaving Peach Blossom Village did she seem to snap out of her daze, hurriedly asking, "Is Liu Xiangyi on good terms with Prince Su?"
Huang Ying paused for a moment, then said, "Yes, Master used to often drink and compose poetry with Prince Su. What's wrong, Master?"
"This is terrible! You know what? We might be in deep trouble, could lose our lives!!!"
Huang Ying's face drained of color instantly, and she stammered in fright, "Losing...losing my head? Is it that serious?"
"Alas, I don't know whether Liu Xiangyi and Prince Su are plotting anything, but from Xiao Yiqing's words, it seems to involve treason."
"Treason?!" Huang Ying screamed in fright. Seeing Jiang Yan's serious expression, she quickly covered her mouth with both hands and mumbled, "Treason means the extermination of nine generations of your family!!!"
Jiang Yan seemed to be deep in thought, muttering to himself, "If we go to ask Liu Xiangyi, we definitely won't get any information out of him."
“Master, why don’t you give it a try? Perhaps once the master hears something of life-or-death importance, he will tell you everything.”
"What are you thinking? How could he possibly say that? Even if he did like your young lady, he wouldn't easily reveal such a confidential matter."
"Then what should we do?"
Jiang Yan was also completely baffled. After thinking for a long time, she still couldn't come up with a clue. So she told Huang Ying to calm down and not to panic, and to let her think about it more carefully.
As soon as Jiang Yan entered Pear Blossom Residence, Fuqu rushed over in a hurry.
"Master, you're finally back."
Why are you in such a hurry?
"My lord, the prince has been waiting for you for a long time."
"What?" Jiang Yan was so shocked that his jaw dropped. He exchanged a nervous glance with Huang Ying and hurriedly walked into the house.
The lights are already on, what is he still doing at her Pear Blossom Residence?
Jiang Yan took a deep breath, gently pushed the door open, and went inside.
Shangguan Zeyu sat peacefully on the soft couch by the window, reading a book. The dim candlelight softened his usual aloofness.
Jiang Yan's uneasy heart finally calmed down a little.
Shangguan Zeyu seemed unaware of Jiang Yan's approach and was still engrossed in his book. Jiang Yan hesitated for a moment, then gently called out, "Your Highness."
But Shangguan Zeyu seemed not to hear him and did not react at all, so Jiang Yan raised his voice and called out again: "Your Highness".
Shangguan Zeyu then glanced at her sideways.
His eyes were as calm as a stagnant pool, without a ripple, and his expression was indifferent, like a painting without ink.
Jiang Yan knew he was angry, although he didn't look angry, so she quickly softened her voice and tried to appease him.
"Your Highness, I am guilty and have kept you waiting."
Shangguan Zeyu remained expressionless, saying calmly, "Since Ruyi knows she is guilty, then tell me how I should punish her?"
Jiang Yan subconsciously felt that pleasing Shangguan Zeyu would be useful. After all, judging from her previous interactions with Shangguan Zeyu, he still had some affection for her. However, she did not expect that Shangguan Zeyu would ask such a question in accordance with her words, which left her momentarily stunned.
"Ruyi, do you know what you are supposed to do in this Prince Duan's mansion?"
What to do? Jiang Yan hadn't really thought about that question.
She was a concubine, always given food and clothes, and spent her days sitting or lying down. Did she have to do anything else she was supposed to do?
Jiang Yan glanced timidly at Shangguan Zeyu and asked cautiously, "Your Highness, am I to do the work like the other maids?"
Shangguan Zeyu's eyes suddenly filled with resentment, and his expression revealed sorrow: "Does Ruyi intend to lower herself to become a maid in this Prince Duan's mansion?"
Why is she getting angrier? Did she say something wrong?
Jiang Yan couldn't guess or figure out Shangguan Zeyu's thoughts. After thinking for a moment, she said softly, "Your Highness, whether I am a maid or your concubine, I will do my duty and share your burdens."
"Really? Then Ruyi, have you done your job well?"
Jiang Yan really couldn't figure out what Shangguan Zeyu wanted to know from her or what he wanted to ask. She couldn't figure it out no matter how hard she thought about it, so she cautiously said, "Your Highness, I have never dared to act recklessly. I have always been diligent and conscientious."
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Zeyu suddenly stood up, and was extremely angry.
"Is that so? Then tell me, as a concubine, what duties have you been fulfilling?!"
Jiang Yan stared blankly at Shangguan Zeyu's annoyed expression, then suddenly it dawned on him and he understood.
Does he want her to fulfill her duties as his woman? Does he want her to sleep with him?
Realizing this, Jiang Yanqing couldn't help but show the fear of seeing a flood or a ferocious beast, and even took a step back. Unexpectedly, her subconscious reaction angered Shangguan Zeyu.
"What's with your reaction?" Shangguan Zeyu strode up to Jiang Yan.
Jiang Yan was so frightened that she involuntarily tried to back away, but Shangguan Zeyu hugged her and kissed her like a storm.
Jiang Yan's mind went completely blank for a moment, and she felt nothing at all. When she finally regained some consciousness, she heard Shangguan Zeyu staring at her, saying something in pain and frustration.
"Ruyi, how could you treat me like this? Don't you understand my feelings for you? Why are you getting so close to Chen Run? Can't you forget him? Haven't you ever liked me, ever loved me?"
What... what is this all about?
How did Chen Run get involved again?
She has absolutely no connection with Chen Run!
Shangguan Zeyu hugged Jiang Yan tightly again, as if he wanted to merge Jiang Yan into his body and never separate them again.
"Ruyi, I don't care about the past. I only want you to have only me in your eyes from now on!"
What a domineering declaration!
Jiang Yan's heart started pounding uncontrollably once again.
In her more than twenty years of life, she had never had anyone, let alone a man, say such affectionate words to her. However, she was no longer an ignorant, love-struck girl; she already knew what was most important compared to love.
Moreover, she did not believe that loving someone could last a lifetime, especially in an era where men could have multiple wives and concubines.
She didn't want to deceive him, but in order to live well and leave this hellish dynasty as soon as possible, she decided to go against her conscience and say some affectionate words to him.
"Your Highness, you have misunderstood me. How could I not love you?"
"Then tell me, what's the deal with this Chen Run? Why have you gone out of the manor to look for him so many times these past few days?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan felt a sudden chill run down her spine. Had Shangguan Zeyu been having someone follow her all along?
What a terrifying person!
"Your Highness, please don't be angry. Let me explain. This Chen Run..." Jiang Yan suddenly remembered what Xiao Yiqing had just told her, so she said, "He often communicates with my father. I only met with him to try and find out more about my father from him. I was afraid Your Highness would blame me, so I didn't tell you. It was my fault."
Shangguan Zeyu's expression improved slightly.
"Why does Ruyi want to inquire about her father-in-law from him? Ruyi wants to return to the Liu residence, and I will take you back."
"Your Highness, I will not hide anything from you and will tell you the truth. Your Highness, I have heard that Prince Su is stationed outside the capital. I have also heard that my father... seems to be very close to Prince Su. I wanted to share Your Highness's burdens, so I took it upon myself to do these wrong things. Your Highness, I did not mean it, and I hope Your Highness will not blame me."
Upon hearing that Jiang Yan was doing this for him, Shangguan Zeyu's face suddenly lit up with a smile. He stopped holding Jiang Yan tightly and instead gently embraced her.
He gently and slowly stroked Jiang Yan's forehead with his chin and whispered, "Ruyi, don't worry, no matter what happens, I will make sure nothing happens to you."
Could it be that what Xiao Yiqing said is true?
Did Liu Ruyi's father really collude with Prince Su?
Jiang Yan was quite frightened and tentatively asked, "Your Highness, if my father really did something to make things difficult for you, I apologize to you." She was about to kneel down when Shangguan Zeyu stopped her in time.
"Ruyi, what you've heard might be false."
"Fake?" Jiang Yan couldn't figure out what was fake, and looked at Shangguan Zeyu in a daze.
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