She walked to the door, then slowly turned around, looked at Gu Wei'ang with deep affection, and smiled gently.
"It is Mulan's good fortune to have met you, Lord Marquis."
The sunlight shone on her, making her seem to be coated with a layer of light, and also made Gu Wei'ang clench his fists tightly.
He probably never imagined that this woman, whom he met by chance, would leave such a lasting and profound mark on his life over the years to come.
Chu Qianlan acted quickly, collecting ten beautiful women that very day and sending them, along with Qin Mulan, to Prince Rui's residence.
However, Prince Rui did not allow Chu Qianlan and Gu Wei'ang to enter, but instead let Qin Mulan and the ten beauties in.
Gu Wei'ang couldn't fathom Prince Rui's thoughts, so he could only return first.
Prince Rui's Mansion.
Prince Rui looked at Qin Mulan kneeling on the ground and snorted angrily.
"You, Marquis of Yong'an, dare to give me the same things you've used? Do you think I'm only worthy of using his junk?"
Qin Mulan slowly raised her eyes, presenting her most beautiful side to Prince Rui.
"Your Highness..."
She spoke slowly, and a tear fell instantly.
A beautiful woman sheds tears, and I feel pity for her.
Even Prince Rui felt a pang of pity and released his grip.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Qin Mulan knelt forward and threw herself onto Prince Rui, grabbing his leg tightly.
"Your Highness, I was forced into it."
Prince Rui raised an eyebrow.
"oh?"
"Then tell me, how did the Marquis of Yong'an force you to this?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Mulan took a step back, knelt on the ground with her body tilted to the side, and looked up at His Highness Prince Rui with tears in her eyes.
"That day, I had already seen Your Highness's graceful figure on the platform, and I was filled with longing for it."
"But I am just an ordinary woman. After seeing you, I thought of going up the mountain to burn incense and pray for a good marriage with you."
"However, I never expected that we would encounter an accident on the road, and the carriage would fall off a cliff."
“I was being chased by thieves. I had no idea who they were, so I fled all the way into the mountains.”
"It was the Marquis of Yong'an who happened to be passing by and rescued me."
"I then explained my identity to him and asked him to send me back."
However, he coveted my beauty, and despite my struggles, forcibly took me back to the Yong'an Marquis's residence and took advantage of me.
"At the time, I did not know your identity; I only said that you were of extraordinary status."
But he didn't take it seriously at all, saying that he didn't even respect Prince Rui, let alone an insignificant wealthy merchant.
Upon hearing this, Prince Rui immediately glared angrily at Qin Mulan.
"Are you serious?"
Qin Mulan nodded.
“Of course it’s true. At the time, I even asked him, saying that you are of noble status and deeply favored by His Majesty… but he immediately interrupted me, saying… saying…”
"What else is there to say?"
Qin Mulan closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and said the rest of her words.
He said you were ignorant, unambitious, arrogant and conceited. If it weren't for your mother's planning, he wouldn't even give you a second glance.
"presumptuous!"
He shouted angrily and kicked the table in front of him to the ground.
"Gu Wei'ang!"
Upon hearing this, Prince Rui gritted his teeth in anger. He pinched Qin Mulan's chin and asked her again.
"If you dare to utter a single lie, I will end your life immediately."
Qin Mulan immediately kowtowed to express her loyalty.
"I guarantee that every word I say is true, and there is not a single falsehood."
Upon hearing this, Prince Rui immediately stood up.
"Someone come here!"
He said, "Come with me to the Yong'an Marquis's residence, tie up Gu Wei'ang, and give him a good interrogation."
His subordinate, Qinglian, quickly stopped him.
"Your Highness, you must not! Marquis Yong'an is of utmost importance to us, and now is a critical moment. You absolutely cannot have a conflict with him."
As she spoke, she glanced at Qin Mulan on the ground without making a sound.
"Moreover, you should not blindly believe what others say, lest you fall into their trap."
Upon hearing this, Prince Rui immediately snorted coldly.
"You mean I can't even tell if someone is telling the truth or lying?"
Qinglian quickly bowed her head in greeting.
"Your subordinate wouldn't dare. Your subordinate only wanted you to consider this carefully. If the Imperial Concubine were to find out, she would surely..."
Upon hearing the words "Imperial Consort," Prince Rui became angry and immediately interrupted her.
"Shut up!"
"I must go to the Yong'an Marquis's residence now and make Gu Wei'ang kneel on the ground and beg for my mercy."
As he spoke, he looked at Qin Mulan on the ground and said, "Come here, I will personally take you to confront them."
Upon hearing this, Qin Mulan trembled slightly before slowly rising and following Prince Rui.
Prince Rui then looked at Qinglian.
"As for you, since you don't trust me, then stay here and reflect on your actions."
Qinglian watched Prince Rui's departing figure, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes, before she respectfully bowed.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Huian Palace.
Consort Hui was lying on the chaise longue, idly stroking the kitten beneath her.
"Has that guy named Gu Jingchun made any moves lately?"
Upon hearing this, Xingluo, who was watering the flowers, immediately put down what he was holding and said respectfully:
“Our people have been keeping a close eye on that area, and everything seems normal; there’s been no movement.”
Consort Hui chuckled softly.
"They went to such great lengths to send Gu Jingchun and that child to the palace; it must not be that simple."
Xingluo speculated, "He must have been terrified by the last assassination attempt, which is why he rushed into the palace, hoping to save his life under the heavy protection there."
"snort!"
"To save one's life in the palace?"
"That's wishful thinking. This is the most dangerous place. I'm afraid that Shen Hechuan is waiting for the right opportunity to reveal the child's identity to the public."
Consort Hui wanted this place, and couldn't help but squeeze the kitten's hand harder.
The kitten cried out in pain and ran away, keeping a safe distance from Consort Hui.
This is a new breed of cat that has just entered the palace in the small country of sweet potatoes, and Emperor Rongcheng bestowed it upon her.
It seemed like a unique honor, but it was actually meant for Jiang Xianhao. She didn't want it, so he gave it to her instead.
Unexpectedly, after so many years in the palace, her current status is even lower than that of Jiang Xianhao, who has been "dead" for many years.
Even the son who was favored by Emperor Rongcheng since childhood was no match for the stubborn and unruly Shen Hechuan.
How could she not hate that?
No, she absolutely cannot sit idly by and wait to die.
You must never let everything you have within your grasp slip away to others.
At this moment, the palace maid Xuanji rushed in.
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!"
Why are you shouting and yelling for no reason?
Consort Hui shouted angrily, but Xuanji did not back down at all, and continued:
"Your Highness, something terrible has happened! Qinglian, who serves Prince Rui, just came to report that His Highness is missing."
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