Lin Yunnan smiled and said, "Young Master Yan, it's not that I'm lying without proof. Everyone saw it."
After Lin Yunnan finished speaking, he felt Yan Jin Chao look at him indifferently, his expression cold and stern. For a moment, he felt as if he couldn't utter a single word, as if an immense pressure was forcing him into silence.
He had felt this sensation from the King of Bei Jiang, but Yan Jin Chao seemed even more so.
At this moment, he couldn't even lift his head.
Yan Jin Chao let out a light scoff and looked up at the crowd, sneering, "My clothes are clean and neat. You say I took liberties with Miss Jiang, did I really?"
Lin Yunnan, bracing himself, said, "One can speak if one cannot act."
"In that case, I indeed have no possibility of acting. Then I must ask Miss Jiang, did you take off your own clothes?"
Jiang Yu Li trembled all over. She hadn't expected that Yan Jin Chao, who was always cold and distant in his speech, would be unable to say such things. But she was wrong.
Subconsciously, she looked up and saw the incredulous gazes of the crowd.
She was filled with shame and indignation, wishing only to find a place to hide.
"Yan Jin Chao, what are you saying?" the King of Bei Jiang asked coldly, frowning.
"If the King and everyone else do not believe me, then I can only prove my innocence," Yan Jin Chao said indifferently.
"Do you know what impact your words just now will have on my sister's future?"
Yan Jin Chao said calmly, "What does Miss Jiang do with her life have to do with me? When the King spoke just now, did he not consider the impact those words had on me? If I were to fall in love with a girl, and that girl heard such words, would she misunderstand me?"
The King of Bei Jiang's expression turned cold. "Yan Jin Chao, you refuse to take responsibility?"
"If I did not do it, why should I take responsibility?"
The King of Bei Jiang's expression completely chilled.
Instantly, the atmosphere became tense. The sensible Lin Yunnan signaled the others to leave.
Now, only the King of Bei Jiang, Yan Jin Chao, and Jiang Yu Li remained.
The King of Bei Jiang looked at Jiang Yu Li and said, "Yu Li, you should return to your room first." Without waiting for Jiang Yu Li's reply, he ordered someone to escort her back.
Only the King of Bei Jiang and Yan Jin Chao were left.
The King of Bei Jiang stood with his hands behind his back, and after a long silence, he said, "Yan Jin Chao, do you know that I genuinely wished to keep you?"
"The King values talent, I know that. I also have no intention of leaving Bei Jiang. The King truly does not need to test me with Miss Jiang."
"Yan Jin Chao, I am not testing you. Yu Li truly likes you. She is new here and has never asked me for anything. But I know she likes you. As an elder brother, I also wish to do something for her. Yu Li has good looks, a good disposition, and me as her backing. Yan Jin Chao, what more could you be dissatisfied with?"
"Your Highness, Miss Jiang is very good, I know. But I do not like Miss Jiang. I once said that I must marry someone I love, and I will not lose my true self for any reason. I do not like Miss Jiang, so I will not agree to marry her just because of what Your Highness has promised or the conditions attached. This would be irresponsible to myself, and it would also be a disservice to Miss Jiang.
Marriage should be about mutual liking, not mutual dislike. I ask for Your Highness's understanding."
The King of Bei Jiang sighed. "It seems you will not agree no matter what."
"Yes," Yan Jin Chao replied crisply and resolutely.
The King of Bei Jiang nodded. "You may go!"
"Thank you for Your Highness's understanding," Yan Jin Chao said, cupping his hands in a salute.
Watching Yan Jin Chao's retreating back, the King of Bei Jiang's gaze turned cold. With a look, someone quietly followed behind Yan Jin Chao, preparing to act.
Just then, Yan Jin Chao suddenly turned around. The guard's hand remained suspended in mid-air, as the guard had not expected anyone to turn back without warning.
"What is this you're doing..." Yan Jin Chao looked at the guard with confusion.
The King of Bei Jiang said, "Let him take my place to loosen you up a bit."
"Thank you, Your Highness, but there's no need. I don't like people following me." With that, Yan Jin Chao left.
The guard returned and knelt, saying, "It is my incompetence."
The King of Bei Jiang extended his hand to help the guard up. "It's not your fault. He already saw."
The guard still appeared somewhat apprehensive. The King of Bei Jiang continued, "Do you think Yan Jin Chao has any skill?"
The guard was startled. "Does Your Highness suspect Young Master Yan?"
"Never mind, you may go down." The King of Bei Jiang said.
The guard retreated, and the King of Bei Jiang frowned. Although Xue Jing Yun had lost his memory, the things within his body and mind seemed to prevent him from making any decisions.
He had thought that Jiang Yu Li could make Yan Jin Chao forget everything, but he found it impossible. The things imprinted on Xue Jing Yun's body seemed indelible.
He truly valued talent, and admired Xue Jing Yun's abilities.
How wonderful it would be if he could truly be used by him!
"Have there been no recent reports from the capital?" the King of Bei Jiang murmured.
"Reporting to Your Highness, there have been none." A voice replied.
The King of Bei Jiang fiddled with his prayer beads. Something was not right. There should have been news from the capital by now.
It was not possible that there had been no news for so long. He didn't even know what was happening in the capital. This matter could not be delayed.
"You immediately send someone to the capital to investigate what has happened!"
"Yes, Your Highness."
The King of Bei Jiang gazed into the distance. He knew his ambitions were too great, and this place could no longer contain them.
"Your Highness, something bad has happened! Someone has entered the water prison," a guard hurried over and said in a low voice.
The King of Bei Jiang's eyes turned cold, and he said sternly, "Take men and escort me to the water prison."
Xue Zi Ning never imagined that she would see not only Wen Yu Xi and Kui Xiang, but also Xue Zi Xuan.
"Who is that King of Bei Jiang outside?" she couldn't help but ask.
Wen Yu Xi stopped her from asking further. "Your Majesty, let's leave here first. This is a long story."
Xue Zi Ning then remembered that they were still in the King of Bei Jiang's water prison and nodded. "Hurry, come out with me."
Kui Xiang had just entered the water prison and could still walk on her own, but Wen Yu Xi and Xue Zi Xuan had been in the water prison for more than half a year. They were so soaked in the water that they could no longer walk independently.
At the same time, voices were heard from outside. Wen Yu Xi said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, you go first. We can't leave."
"No, I finally managed to rescue you. How can I give up?" Xue Zi Ning disagreed.
"Your Majesty, hurry and go. We are not in immediate danger," Kui Xiang said.
Xue Zi Ning shook her head. "This is the only chance." She didn't want to know what the future held.
Suddenly, a hand grasped hers, and a hoarse voice said, "Your Majesty, let's go!"
Xue Zi Ning trembled all over and looked up to see a pair of calm, deep eyes on a handsome face.
"Zi Xuan..."
"This commoner does not know if I can still call you Sister..."