"A bunch of useless trash! You let someone break into the courtyard and found nothing. Now they've taken everyone away and we can't even get them back. What use are you to me, the prince?"
Zhou Wenli smashed everything on the table. He had brought Zhou Chenguang specifically to threaten Xu Yanyan, but now that Zhou Chenguang had been kidnapped by the men in black, he had no more bargaining chips.
Moreover, Zhou Chenguang still has Gu poison in his body. Although he has taken the antidote today, if he cannot be found in three days, Zhou Chenguang will definitely be in mortal danger.
It wasn't that he was heartbroken over Zhou Chenguang's death; it was just that with Zhou Chenguang dead, he would lose his leverage over Xu Yanyan.
The most urgent task now is to keep it a secret from Xu Yanyan. Xu Yanyan must not know about Zhou Chenguang's disappearance. He has something to instruct Xu Yanyan to do at the palace banquet in two days.
"This matter must not be leaked. You two, go to Princess Anping's residence immediately and carefully monitor every move around you. If you find anyone suspicious, arrest them immediately and bring them here."
"Yes." The two people who were pointed at quickly bowed and replied.
"If I, the prince, find out that someone passed on the news of Zhou Chenguang's disappearance to Xu Yanyan right under your noses, you won't need to come back alive." Zhou Wenli coldly glanced at the two people in front of him.
"Yes, your subordinates will not let any news slip by." The two quickly assured him, then turned and left.
After the others left, Zhou Wenli looked at the rest of the people kneeling on the ground and said, "You can't even handle such a simple thing. Go down and receive your punishment. Twenty strokes of the cane. Also, don't give us any of this month's antidote."
Everyone shuddered. They could easily withstand twenty strokes of the cane, but if they didn't receive the antidote this month, they would feel like they were dying.
"roll."
Everyone left. Zhou Wenli sat in a chair, closed his eyes, and thought to himself that he had really lost everything today. He hadn't managed to kill Xu Xingfeng, he had been injured, and Zhou Chenguang had been kidnapped. He was having a really bad year.
Zhou Wenli's wound was aching from anger, and he was just about to rest when someone outside called out, "Your Highness, news has come from Princess Anping's residence."
"Come in." Zhou Wenli lowered his hand that was covering his wound.
"Your Highness, this is a message." The person bowed his head and presented the letter with both hands.
Zhou Wenli picked up the letter, which contained what Xu Yanyan had written: The Princess Consort of Nanqing has sent an invitation, tomorrow afternoon.
The fact that Qu Qingxi posted the message means that Qu Qingxi has succeeded!
Upon seeing this news, Zhou Wenli's irritable mood finally calmed down a bit. Good, it seems that Qu Qingxi is indeed a capable person.
He thought Qu Qingxi was just a beautiful woman, but this also shows that He Liufeng treated Qu Qingxi very well; at least, He Liufeng trusted Qu Qingxi.
It seems the rumors are true; the Prince of Nanqing is quite satisfied with his wife, whom he married to bring good fortune.
At Princess Anping's residence, Xu Yanyan instructed Zhiyuan to pour her a cup of hot tea. She then sat by the window, quietly reading a book in her hands, creating a peaceful scene.
Xu Yanyan looked at it for a long time, but she couldn't absorb anything and didn't even turn the page.
Zhiyuan stood behind Xu Yanyan and, seeing her absent-minded look, asked gently, "Miss, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing, I just feel inexplicably uneasy. I wonder if Chen'er has been eating properly lately." Xu Yanyan said, closing the book in her hand and looking outside.
"Don't worry, Miss, His Highness the Fifth Prince will definitely take good care of the young master." Zhiyuan looked at Xu Yanyan's sad appearance, and a trace of heartache appeared on her face.
However, neither of them believed what Zhiyuan said. If Zhou Wenli really took good care of Zhou Chenguang, he wouldn't have threatened Xu Yanyan like that.
"Miss, didn't the Fifth Prince already promise you that he would let the young master go after this matter is over? You really don't need to worry too much."
"Hmm, I hope so," Xu Yanyan replied perfunctorily. She hoped Zhou Wenli would really keep his word.
Xu Yanyan was unaware that her son had suffered greatly at Zhou Wenli's hands, and that Zhou Chenguang had been poisoned with Gu worms.
Noticing that Xu Yanyan still looked worried, Zhiyuan quickly changed the subject, "Miss, the Princess Consort of Nanqing is coming this afternoon. Will she really listen to the Fifth Prince's orders?"
As a woman who follows her husband after marriage, was Princess Nanqing truly willing to betray her husband in order to obtain the truth?
If the Prince of Nanqing finds out about this, he probably won't let the Princess of Nanqing off the hook.
"I don't know." Xu Yanyan shook her head slightly. All she knew was that Qu Qingxi was a smart girl and knew how to handle things.
Time flew by and it was already afternoon. The weather was lovely today, with the warm sunlight shining all around, but the temperature was still quite low.
Qu Qingxi led Qingdai into Princess Anping's residence, and soon a maid led them toward their destination.
When Qu Qingxi arrived, Zhou Wenli was not there; only Xu Yanyan was sitting in the room. Upon seeing Qu Qingxi enter, Xu Yanyan immediately stood up and bowed to Qu Qingxi, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness."
"Princess Anping, there's no need for such politeness." Qu Qingxi chuckled, helping Xu Yanyan up with both hands. At the same time, she subtly revealed something from her sleeve, flashing it in front of Xu Yanyan.
When Xu Yanyan noticed what Qu Qingxi was holding, her face was full of shock. Then, seeing Qu Qingxi staring at her with a smile, she quickly composed herself.
How did she come to have Chen'er's personal jade pendant?
Did she deliberately reveal the jade pendant at this moment to tell me that Chen'er was in their hands?
Xu Yanyan was inwardly turbulent, but she remained calm on the surface, chatting casually with Qu Qingxi with a smile. She couldn't show anything unusual.
Zhou Wenli's men are everywhere here. If he notices anything unusual about me, he will definitely investigate.
"This room isn't warm enough. I noticed the princess's face looks a bit pale," Qu Qingxi said teasingly, glancing at Xu Yanyan.
Sure enough, a mother would only lose her composure like this when she received news of her child. Although Xu Yanyan was trying to hide it, her face was still a little pale, so Qu Qingxi had to find an excuse for her herself.
"Zhiyuan, tell someone to add more firewood to the stove. The room is indeed not warm enough." Xu Yanyan was slightly taken aback, but quickly understood what Qu Qingxi meant, so she glanced at Zhiyuan beside her.
Zhiyuan didn't notice anything unusual. When she saw that Xu Yanyan's face was indeed a little pale, she quickly went outside and gave an order.
"When is he coming?" Qu Qingxi glanced at the hot tea on the table but did not reach for it.
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