"Indeed, if Qin were sent to the estate, not only would there be no one to care for you, but the Qin family probably wouldn't agree either."

Yu Qingwu sighed, her gaze slowly falling upon the inner chamber—the bedroom where Qiu resided. She said in a deep voice, "In that case, let Qin be punished with a hundred slaps to the face, and let her serve Grandmother day and night until Grandmother recovers. That way, it can be considered her atonement for injuring Grandmother."

As she finished speaking, Yu Qingwu's expression gradually softened.

These words sounded flawless, even appearing kind and filial.

However, Qin Yiliu's face became even more unsightly. A hundred slaps to the face would likely swell her face into that of a pig.

Making her care for Qiu was an indirect form of torture.

Just from the fierce glare Qiu had given her earlier, she knew without a doubt what her fate would be in Qiu's hands.

But compared to being sent back to her old home, this was undoubtedly the better choice.

Even with ten thousand grievances, Qin Yiliu had no choice but to kowtow and express her gratitude.

Afterward, she was dragged away by several old women to be slapped…

When Yu Qingwu emerged from the Rongguo Duke's residence, she clearly heard Qin Yiliu's shrill screams.

This beating would surely break the hearts of the Shen brothers.

Thinking of this, Yu Qingwu couldn't help but recall the way Qin Yiliu had looked at Xie Jinyan earlier.

Resentful, pitiful, unwilling, incredulous…

"Your Highness, don't you feel any pity at all?" Stepping onto the carriage, she suddenly looked up and asked Xie Jinyan with a smile.

Hearing this, Xie Jinyan was taken aback.

He stared at the woman's intriguing eyes for a moment before realizing what she meant.

He curved his lips into a smile, reached out to pull her into his embrace, leaned close to her ear, and asked in an ambiguous tone, "What, does Shijie want me to feel pity?"

"That's not it. I'm just curious, what exactly did Your Highness do and say to that Qin, to make her so 'deeply in love' with you?" Yu Qingwu raised her hand, her slender white fingers tapping between the man's lips. A hint of coquettish displeasure flickered in her charming eyes as she huffed, "I don't believe you just said a few sweet words to her."

"Qin was able to make both Shen Lin and Shen Ke lose their minds over her. She's definitely not a stupid person, so how could she be coaxed into giving you the white jade earrings as a token of love with just a few words?"

Qingwu wasn't just speculating.

The reason Qin Yiliu fell for her trick today was purely because of the immense hatred in her heart.

Although Yu Qingwu didn't know why Qin Yiliu hated her so much, she was certain that Qin Yiliu hated her to the point of wanting her dead, hated her so much that she would lose her mind with the slightest provocation.

Therefore, it was highly unlikely that Xie Jinyan had tricked Qin Yiliu with just a few words.

Thinking of this, Qingwu's eyes became even sharper.

Their eyes met, and Xie Jinyan seemed a little guilty. He paused and deliberately avoided her gaze.

"I… had marital relations with her."

Yu Qingwu was shocked, a hint of anger flickering in her eyes.

"Shijie, I haven't finished speaking yet, why are you already getting angry?"

Before she could speak, Xie Jinyan chuckled softly, a look of understanding in his eyes. He grabbed her fair hand and continued, "I did indeed have intimate contact with Qin, but that's just what Qin thought. After the lights were turned off that day, I found someone else to take my place…"

That's possible?

Yu Qingwu's expression softened a little, but thinking of Xie Jinyan's consistently dissolute and depraved behavior, she couldn't help but doubt him. She questioned him again, extremely disbelieving, "Is what Your Highness says true?"

"Why would I lie to you about something like this?" Xie Jinyan was a little unhappy. He played with Qingwu's hand and complained aggrievedly, "If it weren't for retrieving those white jade earrings for Shijie, I wouldn't have approached that Qin."

"Now it's all turned around. Not only are you not grateful, but you're even doubting me."

With his lecherous behavior, it was hard not to be suspicious, okay?

"Forget it, whatever Your Highness says is fine. Anyway, I'm not interested in what you and she did. I just hope you don't make a scene in front of Empress, so I won't be implicated."

Yu Qingwu mocked inwardly, but didn't continue to press the issue.

Changing the subject, she asked Xie Jinyan, "By the way, Your Highness, there's something else I've always wanted to ask you. Do you know why Liang Ruowei became Shen Zongyuan's concubine?"

"Why? Naturally because they had an affair long ago. I don't know how Liang Ruowei's husband died." Xie Jinyan snorted coldly. As he spoke, he looked deeply at Yu Qingwu, as if seeing through something. He put his arm around her shoulder, as if explaining to her, and whispered back, "Shijie, I have only ever had you as a woman…"

His eyebrows drooped slightly, and his voice gradually faded at the end.

A layer of blush appeared on his handsome face, his shy appearance completely different from his usual frivolousness.

Hearing this, Yu Qingwu was stunned for a moment. She was dazed for a long time before slowly coming back to her senses.

For some reason, she felt a faint sense of joy in her heart.

She bit her lip, avoided Xie Jinyan's eyes, and stammered back to him, "I don't believe it. That day in the bathroom, you were clearly…"

"Clearly what? Clearly very skilled, right?" Yu Qingwu's face was red, and she didn't know how to continue. The next moment, the man's low, wicked voice poured into her ears.

"Shijie, don't you know that men are always self-taught?"

The man's expression was still shy, but he was obviously much better than her.

As he spoke, he kissed her ear again, his hot, ambiguous breath spraying on her neck, carrying a hint of seduction. He called her name, "A'Wu, after that night, I relived that night of passion in my dreams every night. In my dreams, you're like a celestial fairy from beyond the heavens, and like a delicate peony, bewitching me to the point of losing my soul, making me…"

"Xie Jinyan, aren't you disgusted?" Before Xie Jinyan could finish speaking, Yu Qingwu pushed him away, glared at him fiercely, and goosebumps rose all over her body. "You're so young, where did you learn all these greasy words from?"

Xie Jinyan smiled, didn't answer, and wore an expression of 'what can you do to me?'

Unknowingly, the carriage had arrived at the Crown Prince's residence.

As the wooden door was pushed open, a gust of cold wind rushed in.

Along with the cold wind, an uninvited guest also appeared outside the door.

"Your Highness, I've been waiting for you for a long time." Yu Qingwu followed Xie Jinyan out of the carriage, and a familiar and disgusting old face came into view.

The Old Ning Wang had a smile on his face. As he spoke, he stepped forward to pull Xie Jinyan, a look of confidence on his face as he called out to him, "Your Highness, I want to make a deal with you. I can give you what you wanted before, but…"

He twitched his lips and looked meaningfully at Yu Qingwu.