Gu Pan'er said, "Your Highness, why do you treat that woman so well?"
She didn't deserve it at all!
Xiao Wangye looked at her coldly. "My affairs have nothing to do with you. Have you said enough? Now, get out. You are forbidden to set foot in the Prince's manor again."
Since his original objective had been achieved, he no longer needed to deal with this woman.
What troubled and made him feel helpless now was only the person who had escaped.
"Young master, what business do you have with our young lady?"
At the entrance of the Gu manor, an old servant bowed and asked.
Shangguan Hong held a folding fan, a spring breeze on his face.
The corners of his lips curved upwards in a faint smile. "I am Shangguan Hong, an advisor to the Crown Prince, and I was once good friends with your Marquis of Dingyuan. This time, I have come specifically to see my dear friend's sister and to deliver something important."
The old servant was about to refuse him. After all, their capricious young lady, Gu Pan'er, had returned in a fury and ordered that no one be seen.
He was at a loss for how to handle this young lady, so even if he claimed to be the Marquis's friend, he couldn't let him in.
"Old man, look into my eyes. How is it?" Shangguan Hong asked with a smile.
"Your eyes?" The old servant was taken aback and instinctively met Shangguan Hong's gaze.
Shangguan Hong said, "Take me to see your young lady. Do not deviate."
The old servant blinked and nodded. "Yes!"
On the day Ye Qingcheng prepared to assassinate Xiao Wangye, he was hidden in the shadows. He saw the barrier shatter and Bi Xi turn to dust. He seized the opportunity and absorbed all those souls into his body.
With the operation of the golden core within him, he gained a more powerful strength than ever before.
With such power, he could now accomplish many things that were previously impossible.
For example, even if Bi Xi had told Ye Qingcheng the truth, he could have used schemes from the shadows to make her forget the truth and remember what he had told her.
Another example, when someone defied his will, he could alter that person's will and make them obey him.
Shangguan Hong, with a smug smile, followed the old servant to Gu Pan'er's separate courtyard.
"Alright, you can go now." Shangguan Hong met the old servant's eyes again. "Forget everything that happened regarding me today."
"Yes." The old servant complied and left without looking back.
Shangguan Hong then turned towards the courtyard.
"You two wretched girls, what was your plan? Didn't you say there would be assassins? How is that detestable Ye Qingcheng still alive?"
It was Gu Pan'er's voice.
"Miss, please calm down. We did arrange for assassins to ambush her."
"Did you arrange for them? You two useless good-for-nothings, do you believe I'll make you die in place of that Ye Qingcheng?"
"Miss, spare us!"
"Spare you? You know to beg for mercy now? Weren't you the ones who confidently told me you would complete the task? And now, Ye Qingcheng is safe and sound, and the Regent has assigned more guards to protect her. What, do you think you still have the right to live?"
At this point, Shangguan Hong had basically achieved his goal.
Feeling pleased, Shangguan Hong flew away from the Gu manor and entered the mountain forest on the outskirts of the capital.
Shangguan Hong chose a secluded spot, sat down cross-legged, and guided the resentment into his body. As expected, Shangguan Hong felt his strength grow, but at the same time, he could feel discomfort within him.
Shangguan Hong's chest felt a dull ache, forcing him to circulate his energy to suppress the discomfort.
However, as he circulated his energy, something unknown escaped from his chest.
Shangguan Hong reached out to grasp it, but he couldn't catch it. The thing moved too quickly and agilely.
He frowned, decided to ignore it for the moment, sat down firmly again, and began to recuperate.
After Shangguan Hong left, Gu Pan'er's separate courtyard remained bustling.
The two young maids kneeling before Gu Pan'er were Lushui and Lanyan, who had advised her earlier. They now lowered their heads, their eyes filled with tears, their cheeks flushed red.
That was from the slaps Gu Pan'er had given them.
"What, do you have anything else to say?" Gu Pan'er asked lazily from her lounge chair.
"Reporting to Miss, this servant admits her mistake, but I implore Miss to spare my life!" Lushui said tremblingly.
Gu Pan'er let out a cold laugh, remaining silent. Instead, she turned to Lanyan on the side. "You tell me, do you know you were wrong?"
Lanyan said, "Miss, this servant naturally knows her mistake, but this servant does not fear death."
"Oh? You're not afraid? Very well, guards! Drag Lanyan out and give her eighty strokes. I want to see if you're truly not afraid."
Gu Pan'er was extremely annoyed. The words Xiao Wangye had reprimanded her with at the Regent's manor still echoed in her ears.
She wished she could kill that Ye Qingcheng right now.
If it weren't for Ye Qingcheng, would she have lost so much face?
Lanyan said, "Miss, this servant's life is cheap and not worth mourning. However, before I die, I cannot help but worry about you, Miss!"
"What is there to worry about regarding me?" Gu Pan'er asked.
"Reporting to Miss, that Ye Qingcheng has escaped. She has always had a bad relationship with you, Miss. If the Regent finds her first, and she reconciles with the Regent, won't you be in great danger?" Lanyan said.
Gu Pan'er froze. "Now that you mention it, that does make some sense!"
She shifted her position on the lounge chair and asked, "Then tell me, what should I do?"
Lanyan endured the pain and said, "Miss, although the assassins we arranged earlier failed to intercept Ye Qingcheng on the road, Ye Qingcheng is currently somewhere in the capital and has not yet been found by the Regent. If you want to kill her, this is the best time!"
"Are you saying we should send those assassins to pursue her again?" Gu Pan'er asked.
"Miss is intelligent!" Lanyan bowed.
Gu Pan'er frowned, hesitated for a moment, then stood up. "Fine, I will trust you one more time!"
After a pause, Gu Pan'er loudly ordered, "Guards! Please invite Young Master Leng who is in the manor! I need him and his subordinates to help me with something."
Shortly after Ye Qingcheng left the Regent's manor, she soon sensed something was amiss.
Previously, she could still sense that the aura around her was not malicious. She vaguely knew that those people were sent by Xiao Wangye to protect her.
However, after a while, those familiar auras completely disappeared.
What followed was a killing intent.
Ye Qingcheng's expression remained unchanged, and she quickened her pace.
The assassin leading the group was not foolish. Seeing Ye Qingcheng quicken her steps, he knew their whereabouts had been completely exposed. But she was just a weak woman, and the people who had come to protect her were all killed. Where could she possibly escape to?