When Zhu Wanqing returned to Cangyue Tower, she didn't rush to mention the matter to the Fourteenth Prince. It wasn't until dinner that she casually instructed her maid to go to the cave to prepare food for the pirates.
The Fourteenth Prince's hand, holding the bowl, froze in mid-air. He glanced warily at Zhu Wanqing, and seeing that she continued eating as if nothing had happened, he asked in a deliberately soft voice, "Pirates? There are pirates on this island? I've never heard of them before."
Zhu Wanqing served some food to the Fourteenth Prince and said with a smile, "Your Highness knows that I have always been doing legitimate business. How could I possibly deal with islands? It's just that I caught a few men of unknown origin on the shore today!"
The Fourteenth Prince's heart tightened, and he asked, "A man?"
Zhu Wanqing nodded, continued eating her meal, and smiled, "Yes, they say they are pirates... As for their true identities, I'm not particularly curious!" The Fourteenth Prince was quite surprised, recalling the fire he had set in the forest a few days ago, and his heart pounded with anxiety. However, he didn't show any outward sign of distress, taking a bite of food with a listless expression.
"What do you plan to do with them?" the Fourteenth Prince asked.
Zhu Wanqing put down her bowl, took the towel handed to her by the maid behind her, gently wiped her mouth, a hint of ferocity flashing in her eyes, and said coldly, "I don't care who they are. Since they've trespassed onto this island, they can't possibly leave alive!"
Fourteenth Prince also put down his chopsticks, his heart pounding, his mind blank. He gave Zhu Wanqing an awkward smile and said, "Yes, they deserved it!"
Zhu Wanqing got up and walked to the Fourteenth Prince's side. The Fourteenth Prince quickly stood up and helped Zhu Wanqing. The two walked together to the soft couch. Zhu Wanqing touched her belly and said slowly, "Child, your mother doesn't want to see blood, but once these people are released, our whereabouts will be exposed."
Zhu Wanqing gently patted the Fourteenth Prince's hand, looked at him tenderly, and said, "Your father's grand plan has not yet been realized. The island is our only hiding place, and we cannot let outsiders know about this place! Therefore, your mother has no other choice but to nip it in the bud..."
The Fourteenth Prince trembled slightly, understanding the meaning behind Zhu Wanqing's words: if innocent people were harmed, it would be the Fourteenth Prince's fault. Looking at the woman before him, so familiar yet suddenly seeming strange and terrifying, the Fourteenth Prince realized she was ruthless and merciless, killing without blinking an eye, and who knew how many secrets she harbored. He suddenly regretted not seeing through Zhu Wanqing's true nature sooner.
"Master! What are you thinking about?" Zhu Wanqing gently nudged the Fourteenth Prince, pulling him back from his wandering thoughts. The Fourteenth Prince was startled, then chuckled, trying to cover it up, "Nothing...nothing...you're right, they should be killed!"
Zhu Wanqing smiled faintly and nestled in the Fourteenth Prince's arms. Her gentle and quiet expression vanished instantly, leaving behind an inscrutable smirk.
Zhu Wanqing said no more. As night deepened, the two soon fell asleep in each other's arms.
The Fourteenth Prince lay in bed until Zhu Wanqing beside him was still before he dared to slowly get up. The Fourteenth Prince was always unpredictable; although he wasn't sure if those arrested today were the Thirteenth and Seventeenth Princes' men, he still felt uneasy.
Fourteenth Prince tiptoed away from Cangyue Tower. He had to go to the cave to check on them. If they really were Thirteenth Prince and Seventeenth Prince's men, Fourteenth Prince was determined to save them!
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