Chapter 182: Indecision and Self-Deception
Late at night, Xiao Qinggu came out of Prince Qi's mansion in broad daylight, looking a little frightened and panicked.
Emperor Chengming's secret guards were watching from a distance, wondering why their men couldn't get into Prince Qi's mansion, and even the spies inside had no news.
Xiao Qinggu looked around after coming out, as if she was afraid someone would see her here. But if she really didn't want anyone to discover her connection with Prince Qi, why did she come out through the main gate? Prince Qi had invited her into the palace openly outside the palace gate.
Could it be that what she feared was not the prying eyes of outsiders, but something that appeared inside... something that frightened her more than prying eyes and being followed, or perhaps, a person?
The secret guard frowned as he watched Xiao Qinggu get on the carriage—was it Shang Yuwan? What had Shang Yuwan done to terrify the princess so?
Emperor Chengming was reviewing memorials at that time, and he did not even raise his head after listening to the report from the secret guard.
"Let her be."
He no longer had the anger he had previously felt because Yao Lao had been cut off from contact with him. He was completely buried in the pile of memorials, and Emperor Chengming felt even calmer in his heart.
No matter what Shang Yuwan wants to do, it is nothing more than taking the initiative to attack in revenge.
Ever since Shang Yuwan recognized Xiao Qinggu, she'd been incredibly ruthless towards them, wary of his experience and temperament, and aware of Emperor Chengming's surreptitious surveillance and stalking. This was partly due to a deep fear of imperial power, and partly because she didn't want to change Xiao Qinggu too drastically or too quickly. She hoped to influence him subtly, rather than forcing him to grow.
Emperor Chengming could see this characteristic of Shang Yuwan in the dead maid. What was her name? Xiaoman?
It is only natural for her to take action now. If Yang Qianmo died without any movement, Emperor Chengming would have become suspicious of her identity.
For some unknown reason, Emperor Chengming suddenly stopped writing.
Wan'er cut off his connection with Yao Lao so quickly, probably because she had already noticed the clues. Was it because of Xiao Qingxu that she kept it to herself?
In Prince Qi's mansion, Ji Suxian kicked open the door of Xiao Qingxu's study.
"Shang Yuwan!"
Shang Yuwan held the letter in his hand, raised his eyes and asked calmly, "Hmm."
Xiao Qingxu also glanced at him indifferently.
The words Ji Suxian was about to say suddenly got stuck in her throat, and she couldn't spit them out or swallow them.
Her fingers unconsciously twirled the corners of her clothes. "You, no matter what my master did, he helped us, right? That person..."
Shang Yuwan retracted her gaze: "Is there anything else?"
The implication is that there is no room for negotiation.
Ji Su paused for a moment, then nodded, "Of course!"
"explain."
Ji Suxian's tone was slightly flattering: "Would you like to have a midnight snack?"
Shang Yuwan: “…”
Xiao Qingxu: "......"
"Hey, do you want to eat?" Ji Suxian puffed out his cheeks.
After a moment, Shang Yuwan lowered his eyes and said, "Eat."
Ji Suxian immediately asked, "What do you want to eat?"
"...a midnight snack."
"...Oh. Then I'll do it for you right now!"
Ji Suxian left happily.
The guest came forward and closed the door. Xiao Qingxu turned his head to look at Shang Yuwan and saw that she was staring at the letter as if nothing had happened.
"Since Yao Lao is already under house arrest, if you give her another chance, she'll think you're soft-hearted."
Shang Yuwan said indifferently, "I gave you chances, many chances. I thought you would soften your heart."
She had sensed something was amiss ever since Yao Lao had sent the old items from Yanmen to Emperor Chengming. Could Emperor Chengming be someone who was doing a losing business? But Xiao Qingxu, along with others who might have known the truth, said nothing.
And then there's Yi Buyuan. What's the identity of the "Achan" he calls her? Who else in Qu Qiguo is related to "Achan"? Shang Yuwan privately asked Yi Buyuan about this, and he confessed everything. It was obvious, impossible to hide, but Xiao Qingxu chose to play blind and remain silent.
Being indecisive is self-deception.
Shang Yuwan smiled faintly.
What right did she have to criticize Xiao Qingxu? Hadn't she herself been indecisive and self-deceiving in the past?
Xiao Qingxu knew he was in the wrong and whispered, "I'm sorry."
Shang Yuwan just came back to his senses and looked over when he heard the voice: "Huh?"
The voice was too soft and she didn't hear clearly what Xiao Qingxu said.
Xiao Qingxu lowered his head slightly, glanced at her quickly, and then immediately retracted his gaze.
Suddenly, his voice suddenly became louder: "I'm sorry!!!"
"......?" Shang Yuwan was deafened for a moment by the sound.
The guest waiting outside: “?”
The OP was beaten by Lord Shang? He even cried like this.
Guest A nudged Guest B next to him and asked, "Should we ask the deputy host and the others to come and persuade them?"
The host of this post is weak and cannot withstand a punch from Lord Shang.
Guest B thought for a moment and shook his head.
"You don't understand." His eyes were ambiguous and he pretended to be mysterious.
Guest A: “?”
Guest B slapped him on the shoulder and said, "This is a unique way for the host and the monk to enhance their relationship. Why are you, a bachelor, getting involved?"
"Doesn't the host like the princess?" Guest A frowned in confusion, "The body is still buried in his own yard."
Ever since Shang Yuwan was reborn and returned to Prince Qi's Mansion, except for discussing matters in Xiao Qingxu's study, she had never stayed in Xiao Qingxu's private area and had never set foot in Xiao Qingxu's bedroom - after all, she was not someone who was completely fearless of ghosts and gods, and no one would like to see their own grave in the courtyard of their lover's bedroom.
Guest B slapped him lightly on the back of the head, "Silly boy! Who is the host? How could he live his whole life for a dead person..."
"You two."
A low whisper came from behind Guest A and Guest B, and they felt a chill in their hearts.
The two men turned around and saw that it was Manager Li. They hurried down and tried to persuade the old man not to tell anyone.
Unexpectedly, as soon as the two men got in front of Manager Li, they were slapped down by his rough old palm.
Steward Li is from the Xu family and has been with Xiao Qingxu for many years. Not only is he loyal, but he is also a skilled martial artist.
The reason he could become the steward of Prince Qi's Mansion was not just because of the Xu family's background. His methods of governing people were not simple. How could he be the kind of person who could be softened by being coaxed?
The two men knew that their words could cause trouble, so they quickly knelt on one knee in front of Manager Li, bowed their heads deeply, and did not even dare to say a word to defend themselves.
"Fifty sticks, go and get them yourself."
Guest A and Guest B said in unison, "Yes."
"Go down, you won't have to come here again."
"......yes."
After the others left, Manager Li turned his gaze to the study where the two figures were visible.
There was a faint sound of voices coming from the study, and Manager Li frowned unconsciously.
Who was this person with the same name and surname as the princess? The Xu family couldn't find any information about him.
Judging from the current situation, this "Shang Yuwan" seems to be a blessing rather than a curse for the author of the post?
Manager Li stood there and watched for a while, then turned and left.
In the study, Shang Yuwan was speechless for a moment, then said, "You, you don't have to..."
Xiao Qingxu raised his head and looked straight at her.
“It’s very necessary!”
"......" Shang Yuwan's brows twitched.
She was speechless.
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