He Yue was puzzled by the Fourth Prince's silence, but she didn't press him further and kept his last words to herself.
I wonder who this person he's referring to is? Could it be that the person serving her has ulterior motives?
If that's the case, Heyue will never let that person go.
She didn't care what the other party's purpose was, but since they had schemed against her, He Yue would not let it go.
"Why did you bring me here, Fourth Prince?" This is, after all, the Fourth Prince's study. A man and a woman alone together for so long are bound to attract gossip. The Fourth Prince is not such a careless person.
The Fourth Prince glanced at her meaningfully: "Since the other party used your handwriting to lure me there, it must be targeting both of us, or perhaps also the Thirteenth Prince. You are the Thirteenth Prince's wife, and the one he loves. If you and I have an affair, the Thirteenth Prince will not let this matter rest, and it will cause a rift between you and him. I'm telling you this so that you know that you are the Thirteenth Prince's wife. Some things cannot be done solely based on your own feelings; you must consider the Thirteenth Prince's well-being."
"Although you are unharmed today, the fact that I personally carried you out while you were unconscious means that news of your secret meeting with me will surely reach the ears of my thirteenth brother. Even if we are innocent, do you think he will believe us? In this way, they will have achieved their goal. The reason I kept you here was merely to play along and fulfill their wishes. As for how you will clear up the misunderstanding between you and my thirteenth brother after he returns to the capital, that will depend on you."
The last sentence had a hint of sarcasm in it.
He Yue opened her mouth, but was speechless.
Since the Fourth Prince has already gone this far, what else can she say?
She was quite unhappy with his teasing and retorted, "Since Fourth Brother is so smart, he should have seen that something was wrong, so why did he fall for it?"
"Firstly, I know that with your temperament, you will inevitably be plotted against. After all, you are the wife of the thirteenth brother, a royal family member. Who knows what the other party might do to you? Even if I discover something amiss, I cannot turn a blind eye. Secondly, before the thirteenth brother left, he asked me to take good care of you. If something happens to you under my watchful eye, the thirteenth brother might fight to the death. I will certainly not allow anything to happen to the thirteenth brother."
The Fourth Prince's calm thinking was truly impressive, and Heyue was completely convinced by his words.
Suddenly, he sensed something was wrong. After a moment of silence, something flashed through his mind. He pointed his right hand at the Fourth Prince and exclaimed, "You...you carried me out?!"
The Fourth Prince glanced at her with his calm, dark eyes and scoffed, "You're unconscious. Do you think anyone but me can carry you away?"
He Yue: "..."
That seems to be true; it's just that she's making a fuss over nothing.
"You've already discovered something's wrong, yet you still insist on rushing headlong into it. After all these years, you're still so impulsive. All the lessons I taught you have been wasted." The tone became harsher, carrying a hint of reproach.
He Yue knew that if it weren't for her, the Fourth Prince wouldn't have been accused of coveting his younger siblings, so she could only lower her head and silently accept this lesson.
"Since you know you're wrong, copy the Surangama Sutra twice after you return to the manor to temper your temper." The Fourth Prince was still not satisfied with her obedient appearance and coldly ordered.
"Fourth Brother, is it really necessary to be so harsh?" Heyue was shocked and, disregarding her grievances, called out "Fourth Brother" in a flattering manner, intending to bargain with him: "I was careless this time. I will never do it again, okay? Fourth Brother, please forgive me this time."
The Fourth Prince's aura grew even colder: "If you dare to haggle again, copy it three more times!"
That left no room for negotiation, and Heyue dared not object any longer, cursing the Fourth Prince a thousand times in her heart.
However, Heyue was still grateful and guilty towards the Fourth Prince: "I wonder if today's events have affected Fourth Brother?" If the other party really spread this matter, it would inevitably have a negative impact on the Fourth Prince.
Thinking of this, Heyue suddenly felt that the Fourth Prince was still able to speak to her so kindly, and that punishing her by making her copy scriptures was already very merciful.
"You don't need to worry. If this matter gets out, you'll probably be facing your mother's questioning in the palace, not in my mansion. This matter won't be easily resolved, and you won't fare well either. Besides, I'm not so weak that I can't even control this little bit of rumor. Not many people know about this. After all, no one would expect that the dignified Thirteenth Princess Consort would faint in an inn and be carried out by someone. The person who harmed you wouldn't do something so foolish."
Hearing his words, Heyue was finally relieved.
"What about Hailan?" Heyue asked again. She remembered that she had fainted at the time and didn't know what happened to Hailan afterward or whether she had been wronged.
"Your maid also fainted beside you. She must have been drugged in the room, but she's alright." After reassuring Heyue, the Fourth Prince called someone in.
Hailan entered, greeted the Fourth Prince, and seeing that Heyue was awake, happily went to Heyue's side, bowed, and asked anxiously, "Princess Consort, are you alright?"
Seeing that Hailan was alright and in good spirits, Heyue had nothing to worry about and shook her head: "I'm fine."
With the matter now cleared up, Heyue could not linger any longer and took her leave of the Fourth Prince.
On the way back, Yue asked Hailan and learned that after she fainted, Hailan smelled a faint fragrance and then also fainted.
When she woke up again, she had already been brought back by the people from the Fourth Prince's mansion.
Meanwhile, a series of loud clanging and banging noises erupted from the Eighth Prince's wife's room. There were sounds of porcelain shattering and tables and chairs overturning. The maids stood outside the door, trembling with fear, their heads bowed and not daring to breathe.
The Eighth Prince stood helplessly at the door, gently comforting him, "Let's talk things out. Why get so angry? Be careful not to hurt yourself."
"Get out! I don't want to see you!" A sharp sound came from the doorway inside the house, as if something had been slammed against the door, followed by an angry shout.
The Eighth Prince showed no displeasure. He raised his hand and ordered the maids and servants to leave, then gently comforted them, "It was the Ninth and Tenth Brothers who were wrong in this matter. I have already taught them a lesson. Just consider them as young and ignorant. Why bother arguing with them?"
"I'm fussing? I've been patient enough with them. I've already been very polite by not giving them a sword on the spot. If you hadn't stopped them, they wouldn't have been able to leave the Eighth Prince's mansion today!" The voice inside the room didn't soften; instead, it grew even angrier, making the Eighth Prince's ears ring.
"I'm telling you, Yinzhi! If they dare to come to our door again in the next few days, I will beat them every time I see them, without any mercy! You warn them!"
The Eighth Prince rubbed his temples, looking quite troubled: "They are, after all, my brothers..."
Before he could finish speaking, the door was suddenly opened, and the Eighth Prince's wife, looking furious, came into view.
Before the Eighth Prince could even rejoice, a bucket of cold water was poured over his head: "Don't think I don't know you were behind this. I told you not to touch her, not to touch her, but you wouldn't listen. Did you think I was joking? Since that's the case, I'll warn you one more time today: if she loses a single hair, I won't be standing here saying a word to you! Remember that, don't test my patience!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the door slammed shut again. The Eighth Prince tried to follow him in but nearly bumped his nose, looking annoyed and embarrassed.
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