Speaking, Gao Minyue glanced at Yu Qingwu intentionally or unintentionally, seemingly wanting to see a hint of dissatisfaction on Yu Qingwu's face.

According to her plan, if Yu Qingwu refuted even one sentence, she would accuse Yu Qingwu of stealing credit.

Then, she would send the two maids, beaten black and blue, to her Shixiong, claiming that she had only managed to extract the truth from them after severe torture. Her Shixiong would surely believe her…

In this way, he would naturally despise Yu Qingwu, the bitch who stole her credit, and realize her own goodness…

Thinking of this, Gao Minyue felt even more smug.

She didn't notice that Xie Jinye's expression was becoming increasingly unsightly.

His gaze turned cold with visible speed, and he stared grimly at the two maids trembling on the ground, asking Gao Minyue in a cold voice, "A Yue, did you inflict all these injuries on them?"

"Yes, Shixiong, you don't know, these two bitches are very stubborn."

"I whipped them until they fainted three times before they admitted that they were sent by the First Prince."

Gao Minyue pouted, then looked at Yu Qingwu, asking her with a provocative tone, "Shijie, didn't I tell you to immediately invite Shixiong to Chunfang Pavilion? Why did you dawdle for so long? Forcing me to act myself."

The implication was that she had stolen her credit?

Meeting Gao Minyue's triumphant gaze, Yu Qingwu didn't answer.

She closed her eyes, trying to suppress her emotions, and asked her sternly, "A Yue, who taught you to do this?"

Hearing this, a trace of guilt flashed in Gao Minyue's eyes, and she stammered.

"Shijie, what… what are you talking about? What do you mean who taught me to do this?"

She avoided Yu Qingwu's gaze and looked at Xie Jinye with an obsequious expression, "Shixiong, these two bitches have already confessed. Later, we will send them to the palace to see His Majesty. If His Majesty knows that the First Prince is monitoring you, he will certainly not spare him!"

As long as the two maids were sent to the palace, the Emperor would definitely punish the First Prince.

At that time, Shixiong would know that she was more useful than Yu Qingwu.

Thinking of this, Gao Minyue felt even smarter. While speaking, she hurriedly stepped forward to pull Xie Jinye, already anticipating a future where she and Xie Jinye would live in conjugal harmony.

However, the next moment, the man pushed her away forcefully.

Before Gao Minyue could react, she was knocked to the ground.

Xie Jinye's stern voice came from beside her ear.

"Gao Minyue, I only thought you were foolish and willful before!"

"Now it seems! You are not only stupid! But also conceited! From today onward, you will stay obediently in Chunfang Pavilion and not step out of the door!"

His tone was sharp, and his eyes were filled with unprecedented gloom.

His handsome face was covered with dark clouds.

Gao Minyue originally thought she would be appreciated by Xie Jinye, but now she was stunned by Xie Jinye's scolding.

She stared blankly on the ground for a moment, looking at him in surprise and grievance, "Shixiong, why… why are you scolding me? I helped you identify the spies in the residence!"

"Get out!" Xie Jinye didn't say anything more to her, just pointed outside and ordered in a deep voice, "Someone, take Miss Gao back to Chunfang Pavilion. Without my permission, she is not allowed to step out of the door."

"Also! Pass down the order that everyone in the Crown Prince's residence is not allowed to go out. Before tonight, they must find the person who gave Miss Gao the idea."

After speaking, Xie Jinye summoned the residence physician and ordered people to carry the two maids down.

After dealing with everything, he returned to the room, leaned back on the soft couch, and said to Yu Qingwu helplessly, "I didn't expect A Yue to be so foolish."

"A Yue acts like this; it has nothing to do with being foolish. It's more because she still has thoughts about you."

The clear, cold voice came from beside him. Xie Jinye raised his head and saw Yu Qingwu sitting beside him, her red and swollen eyes looking at him deeply. She seemed to want to say something, but in the end, she said nothing, only rising to instruct the servants to prepare a meal.

"Shijie, what do you want to say?" Xie Jinye got up, walked slowly behind her, casually pulled the woman to sit at the table, and asked her, "Do you… have any ideas?"

Of course, she had ideas, but she was afraid that he… wouldn't bear to do it.

Yu Qingwu withdrew her hand, picked up a teacup, and took a light sip.

Then, she looked up at him, her delicate and beautiful face framing dark pupils as calm as still water.

It was as if she hadn't been the one crying in his arms earlier.

After a pause, she called him softly, "Your Highness, A Yue's personality, if things continue like this, will inevitably cause trouble. Today, it was just a small plan that was disrupted, but in the future… she may do things like selling official positions or other outrageous things to win your favor."

"So… what exactly do you want to say, Shijie?"

"I want to say, Your Highness, you should either send her back to the fishing village to let her give up completely, or take her in as a concubine and bestow your grace equally."

"Of course, I think the latter is more feasible."

Her voice was gentle, and every word was so rational, truly a virtuous imperial concubine!

Bestow your grace equally—she could even say it!

Which woman would be willing to share her husband with others?

In an instant, Xie Jinye felt extremely uncomfortable.

The soft light in his phoenix eyes suddenly froze, and even the ribbon on his clothes seemed to be covered with a layer of cold frost.

He stared at the woman silently for a moment, then couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

Seeing Xie Jinye's expression, Yu Qingwu also understood what he was thinking.

Heh, Xie Jinye was just like that, always protecting the treasure in his heart, yet he couldn't tolerate her magnanimity.

Yu Qingwu mocked in her heart, a hint of sarcasm also rising in her eyes. Before Xie Jinye could speak, she retorted, "Why does Your Highness have such a mocking look? Don't tell me you're willing to send A Yue back to the fishing village?"

"As a woman, I am naturally unwilling to share my husband with others, but if I say I am unwilling, will you abolish the six palaces for me? Or, if I am unhappy, can you really send A Yue away?"

Yu Qingwu curled her lips, smiling mockingly.

When she was crying in Xie Jinye's arms earlier, she had thought about wanting him to have only her in this life, but now that she was awake, she wouldn't have such unrealistic extravagant hopes.

Besides, he really cared about A Yue.

If he sent her away in a fit of anger today, if he regretted it in the future, he might blame her.

Thinking of this, Yu Qingwu's eyes couldn't help but become a little more desolate. She looked at Xie Jinye with a smile and said, "Besides, Your Highness, you are only angry right now. If you send A Yue away in a fit of anger, if you regret it after some time, you might even blame me. So… why bother?"

Hearing this, Xie Jinye didn't answer.

A pair of phoenix eyes looked at her silently, without any emotion, and she didn't know what he was thinking.

After a long time, he slowly opened his mouth and said in a deep voice, "Shijie, actually, to make A Yue give up on me, there is no need to send her back to the fishing village, or even take her as a concubine. There is another way." Xie Jinye chuckled, with a dangerous aura, his thin lips close to Qingwu's ear, and said coldly, "I will ask the Emperor for a decree tomorrow, betrothing A Yue to Shixiong Xiao. What does Shijie think?"