“What?” Yu Qi paused, instantly shocked and puzzled.

That Gao Clan woman wanted his sister's life, so what was his silly sister thinking?

Suspicion flickered in his eyes as his dark pupils swept back and forth between his sister and the man who could tentatively be considered his brother-in-law. Yu Qi quickly understood…

It must be that the Crown Prince was making things difficult for Qingwu, forcing her to plead for mercy for that venomous woman.

She was being wronged to such an extent?

Thinking of this, Yu Qi’s expression became even more unsightly. A hint of sharpness, almost imperceptible, leaked from his eyes as he glared fiercely at Xie Jin Yan before swiftly returning to his usual solemn and respectful demeanor. Adopting an official tone, he shook his head at Yu Qingwu and explained gently, "Your Highness Crown Princess, it's not that this servant is unwilling to help, but the crimes committed by Gao Clan are truly heinous."

"Assassinating the Crown Princess, plotting against the royal bloodline – by law, even execution of nine generations wouldn't be excessive. Fortunately, Gao Clan has only her, so innocent people won't be implicated."

The implication was that Gao Minyue absolutely had to die?

Even though the murderous intent in Yu Qi’s eyes was quickly suppressed, Yu Qingwu still caught it with her keen senses.

Yu Qi was just an eunuch who had never interacted with Gao Minyue, so why was he so eager to kill her?

Could it be… that just as her cousin Yu Zhen and Ling'er suspected, the eunuch before her was…

Looking at the face that was so familiar yet unfamiliar, Yu Qingwu secretly glanced at his fingertips again. His fingertips didn't have the knife scar from his youth, nor any burns…

But if he wasn't, why did he look so much like him? And according to her cousin Yu Zhen, the meals he provided on their way to the capital were all her brother's favorite flavors. Besides that, even his little habits, like pursing his lips and propping up his chin when thinking, were extremely similar. If it were just these things, it wouldn't be enough to make one suspicious, but Yu Qi just so happened to have a face that was extremely similar to her brother, Yu Jinnian.

Moreover, from the first time she met him, Qingwu had felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, and she had inexplicably told him so many things she kept in her heart. At that time, she hadn't even thought about it, as there were many people in the world who looked alike.

Besides, more than a decade had passed, and her brother might not even look the same as he did when he was young…

Logically speaking, she shouldn't have such an absurd idea, but just now, after Xie Jin Yan left, her cousin Yu Zhen and Ling'er came and told her many details of their journey with Yu Qi.

Now, looking at Yu Qi's expression, which seemed to wish he could kill Gao Minyue…

Qingwu wavered, but she didn't show it too obviously. She only looked at Yu Qi with disappointment and said in a somewhat saddened tone, "Eunuch Yu is right, what A-Yue did deserves death. But the reason she acted that way was because I, as her senior sister, failed to discipline her properly. If that's the case, then I am also guilty…"

Guilty?

She was the victim, so how could she be guilty?

His sister had actually been wronged to such an extent…

The murderous intent in Yu Qi's eyes intensified, but this time, it was directed at Xie Jin Yan.

His expression was extremely similar to Yu Qingwu's when she was angry, causing Xie Jin Yan's back to feel a chill.

Of course, what worried him more at the moment was A-Wu's probing.

"Alright, A-Wu, don't make things difficult for Eunuch Yu anymore." Seeing that Yu Qi seemed about to speak, Xie Jin Yan jumped in first, took Yu Qingwu's hand, and gently stroked her pale face. In a reproaching tone, he said, "You're still injured. You should go back to your room and rest first. I will handle the other matters."

As he spoke, he gave Yu Qi a look.

Yu Qi cooperated this time, nodding slightly and gently persuading Yu Qingwu, "Yes, Your Highness Crown Princess, you're still injured. Your body is already weak, so you mustn't catch a cold."

A look of suppressed worry flashed in his eyes. After a pause, he added in a low voice, "Gao Clan was already losing the Emperor's favor, and now she has done such a thing. No matter who pleads for her, His Majesty and the Empress Consort will not easily forgive her. On the contrary… they will be even more critical."

"However… what cannot be done openly may be done in secret. At that time, this servant will see if I can arrange something…"

So, he had finally relented?

For the sake of his sister?

Yu Qingwu's fingers trembled slightly, and tears were about to spill from her eyes, but she ultimately held them back, gently nodding at Yu Qi. "Then I will trouble Eunuch Yu."

As she spoke, she gently tugged on Xie Jin Yan's sleeve, signaling him to let the maids in.

Seeing Yu Qingwu's reaction, Xie Jin Yan's mood became even more complicated. Had she… confirmed it?

Gently stroking her hair, he forced a smile and said, "Then you rest. I still have some matters to discuss with Eunuch Yu."

After saying that, Xie Jin Yan called Granny Xun and the maids into the room, and several people carefully helped Yu Qingwu into the room.

Watching the woman's frail figure gradually disappear into the inner chamber, Xie Jin Yan slowly regained his senses.

Yu Qi's respectful expression also instantly turned cold after Yu Qingwu entered the room. He sized up Xie Jin Yan with a gloomy look and coldly snorted, "So this is what Your Highness calls being good to A-Wu? It was clearly that Gao Clan woman who plotted against her, yet you made her plead for Gao Clan. Your Highness, you have quite the ability."

The implication was that he had forced A-Wu to plead?

What kind of person was his senior sister? Was she someone who could endure being wronged?

"Yu Qi, A-Wu…"

"A-Wu is in the room. Be careful she doesn't suddenly come out and see your true colors."

Xie Jin Yan had originally wanted to say that his senior sister was not someone who could be wronged, but seeing Yu Qi's expression, he felt that it was useless to say more. He might even provoke him to become more extreme, so he changed his words.

After all, although Yu Qi was just an eunuch, he was also a close confidant of the Emperor. Which palace woman who had committed a mistake wouldn't have to go through his hands? If he insisted on taking A-Yue's life, it wouldn't be easy for him to protect A-Yue.

Therefore, he simply stopped arguing with him and only reminded him in a faint voice, "Eunuch Yu, A-Wu already suspects you. You should think carefully about how to explain it to her. Why would her brother become an eunuch, and why has he ignored her for ten years? He didn't even inquire about her when her mother passed away. Do you think she won't resent you?"

"Your Highness, you don't need to worry about this servant. You should think about how you're going to explain things to her." Perhaps stung by Xie Jin Yan's words, Yu Qi retorted sarcastically, coldly scoffing, "After all, my sister wholeheartedly believes that Your Highness simply loves her as a person and is willing to do everything to avenge her family. But what if she finds out that you were only trying to win over her brother and that you didn't put much effort into the so-called revenge? What will she think?"

"Could it be that in the middle of the night, she'll put those killer red ants into Your Highness's bed?"

Yu Qi smiled softly, a smile that was vicious and deranged.

Xie Jin Yan's fake smile froze inch by inch under his smile, then turned gloomy. "Eunuch Yu, you're just an eunuch. Do you think I really can't do anything to you? If it weren't for A-Wu's sake, I wouldn't hesitate to kill you."