That wasn't a question, but an affirmation.

Actually, Xie Jin Yan had noticed something that day in the East Palace, but Liang Xiu Yuan hadn't overstepped, and his Senior Sister hadn't said much either. Plus, he had been busy dealing with the Xu family, so he hadn't pried too much.

But today, that Liang Xiu Yuan had actually dared to visit, which meant he didn't take him seriously at all.

A trace of cold light flickered in his dark eyes. It was clearly spring, but Yu Qing Wu felt a chill run down her spine from his gaze.

She straightened her body, took a step back, and looked at Xie Jin Yan with forced composure, not answering but instead asking him in a low voice, "Wasn't Your Highness going to the Jingzhao Prefectural Office? Why are you back so early?"

"What? You don't want me to come back?" Xie Jin Yan raised an eyebrow slightly, a cool look appearing in his phoenix eyes. The corners of his lips, however, lifted slightly as he smiled and said, "Regarding Liang Xiu Yuan, does Senior Sister have nothing to explain to me?"

His expression turned cold as he steered the topic back to where it started.

Yu Qing Wu hadn't intended to hide anything from Xie Jin Yan in the first place. After all, with Xun Momo around, Xie Jin Yan would be informed of her every move, and that would naturally include her private meetings with men.

So, from the very beginning, she hadn't planned to keep it from Xie Jin Yan.

It was just that his sudden appearance caught her off guard.

Especially the way he was looking at her, with that sharp, questioning gaze, vaguely reminiscent of when he suspected her of still harboring feelings for Senior Brother Xiao.

However, Yu Qing Wu had long since grown accustomed to Xie Jin Yan's paranoid nature.

She took a deep breath and quickly calmed down, looking at the man with a penetrating gaze, and calmly replied, "Is Your Highness reacting this way because you suspect me of having an affair with Liang Xiu Yuan again?"

"Are you overestimating me, or underestimating yourself?"

Her crimson lips lifted, a hint of a smile appearing in her eyes. Her clear, beautiful peach blossom eyes curved like crescent moons as she took the initiative to move closer to him, softly calling his name, "Xie Jin Yan, aren't you being too insecure? You are the crown prince of a nation, and you possess the looks of Pan An, and your talent is extraordinary. I just don't understand why you always suspect me of having something going on with other people."

"Besides, that person is the eldest grandson of the Prince of Ning, the grandson of my enemy..."

Yu Qing Wu frowned slightly. As she spoke, the initial fluster completely disappeared, replaced by a look of confusion and amusement.

Hearing this, the crown prince, who had been full of stern questioning just a moment ago, suddenly felt somewhat awkward.

"I was just asking, I didn't mean anything by it."

Xie Jin Yan coughed lightly and replied in a very unnatural tone.

As he spoke, he glanced outside, pretending to add, "Besides, Liang Xiu Yuan is, after all, the eldest grandson of Liang Jian Ye. Although his reputation outside is completely opposite to Liang Jian Ye's, he still has the blood of the Liang family in his bones. I'm just... afraid he might be detrimental to you, right?"

Afraid that Liang Xiu Yuan would be detrimental to her?

Was that how he looked, with such jealousy, as if he was afraid she would be harmed?

It was clear that he was afraid she had something going on with Liang Xiu Yuan.

In the past, Yu Qing Wu would have been terrified by Xie Jin Yan's constant questioning.

But now, she was used to it.

Even if she had been flustered for a moment, she quickly calmed down.

Seeing Xie Jin Yan trying his best to hide his embarrassment, Yu Qing Wu didn't expose him, but gently took his arm and sighed, "Yes, that's exactly what I think, so even though Liang Xiu Yuan once treated me well, I'm determined to turn against him."

"Back then, I was around eight years old, not yet nine. After the Yu family was exterminated, the family property was taken by the Rongguo Duke's Mansion and those corrupt officials, and my mother was sent by the Shen family to the Prince of Ning to be a concubine. Perhaps to eliminate any future troubles, they sent me along with my mother to the Prince of Ning's residence."

"The Prince of Ning was a psychologically twisted pervert who tortured my mother in every way possible, and the Prince of Ning's Consort was a jealous woman. Even though she knew that all of this was her husband's fault, she always vented her anger on my mother and me. Not only the Prince of Ning's Consort, but also the Prince of Ning's eldest daughter, Liang Ruo Wei, was the same. At that time, she had been married for more than ten years, but she would still occasionally return to the Prince of Ning's residence to abuse my mother and me."

"Later, it was Liang Xiu Yuan who helped me. At that time, I was beaten half to death, and he was the one who found medicine for me, and he was the one who repeatedly protected me. At that time, I was just over eight years old, and Liang Xiu Yuan was five years older than me. He was already a thirteen-year-old boy, and he could be said to be second only to one person in the Prince of Ning's residence, so he had some say. With his protection, my life was somewhat better."

"As for the reason he protected me, firstly, he probably felt sorry for me. Secondly, it was because he originally had a younger sister, but that sister later died of illness, and his mother was traumatized by it and often became mentally unstable. His father had countless concubines, and seeing his mother's madness, he gradually became indifferent. He would occasionally take me to see his mother, and his mother's condition would improve slightly. So, perhaps for his mother's sake, or perhaps because he regarded me as his deceased sister, Liang Xiu Yuan would always protect me at that time."

"The two of us, one without an older brother, and one without a younger sister, both considered it a form of emotional support."

"But later, my mother died, she died in the winter night, she died at the hands of his grandfather. As the years passed, Liang Xiu Yuan looked more and more like his grandfather and his aunt. When I looked at him, it was like seeing his grandfather. So, when I left, I didn't tell him, nor did I meet with him..."

"Because as soon as I saw his face, I would think of my mother, I would remember that my mother was killed by their Liang family..."

Yu Qing Wu had originally wanted to hold back, but in the end, her eyes still turned red against her will.

She raised her head, tears welling up in her eyes, looking extremely pitiful, and even more heartbreaking.

Xie Jin Yan had been full of jealousy, but at this moment, seeing Yu Qing Wu's expression, he felt a pang of guilt in his heart.

"I'm sorry, A Wu, maybe I shouldn't have asked."

After a moment's pause, Xie Jin Yan spoke softly.

Then, he reached out and pulled the woman into his arms, kissing her hair and saying, "Don't worry, I will never let that Liang Xiu Yuan appear in front of you again. If he dares to come to the East Palace again, I will have his legs broken."

This man, his face changed faster than flipping a book.

However, Xie Jin Yan's reaction made Yu Qing Wu feel much more comfortable, and also a little surprised. You know, in the past, if he saw her meeting alone with other men, especially some old acquaintances, he would definitely be angry for a long time, but now, he was instead showing her affection.

Thinking of this, the bitterness in Yu Qing Wu's heart dissipated a lot, and she looked up at the man and smiled, "There's no need for that. Just don't always suspect me, Your Highness. I just don't understand why you suspect Senior Brother Xiao, but you also suspect Liang Xiu Yuan?"

"The way he looked at you that day in the East Palace was a little strange." Xie Jin Yan took a deep look at her, lowered his voice, and replied to her in a low voice, with a hint of concealment in his tone, "The way he looked at you reminded me of... the Prince of Ning."