"This young one truly doesn't know."
Seeing that she wasn't lying, Xue Zining nodded. "Alright."
With that, she turned and left.
Inside the prison, one of the three, who was impersonating Wen Yuxi, said, "I seemed to catch a subtle fragrance just now. This should be a woman."
Kui Xiang tore off his human skin mask and said, "I also think it's a woman. When His Highness returns..."
Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly lost the ability to speak. He only felt a pain in his neck. He lowered his head and suddenly his head rolled off, falling into the water dungeon.
The other two shivered, watching the outside with vigilance, and shouted, "Stop hiding, come out..."
Only two heavy thuds were heard falling into the water. The dark water turned bloody, becoming even darker...
Shen Yunxi watched the room, still no sign of movement, and felt anxious. It had been the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and His Majesty had not returned yet?
Suddenly, he heard footsteps, and it seemed like more than one person. He quickly went to the door and whispered, "Your Majesty, have you returned?"
There was no sound from inside. Shen Yunxi frowned, watching the footsteps grow closer.
He thought for a moment and tried to push the door. It opened immediately, revealing an empty room. He quickly closed the door.
He picked out a hole in the door seam and saw a group of people walking over. Leading them was the Prince of Beijiang.
He couldn't help but murmur to himself, Your Majesty, why haven't you returned yet?
Looking at the closed door, the Prince of Beijiang said coldly, "Go and knock."
The guard beside the Prince of Beijiang stepped forward and knocked on the door.
Shen Yunxi remained silent.
The guard said, "Your Highness, no one is opening the door."
The Prince of Beijiang stepped forward and said, "Young Master Shen, are you inside?"
The door suddenly opened, and Shen Yunxi walked out, not forgetting to close it properly.
Seeing the Prince of Beijiang, he was taken aback. He quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands in a salute, and said in surprise, "Your Highness, why are you here?"
"Where is Miss Feng?" the Prince of Beijiang asked.
Shen Yunxi was stunned. He looked up and said, "Your Highness, that... is inappropriate. It would ruin Miss Feng's reputation."
The Prince of Beijiang said coldly, "My people have already seen Young Master Shen and Miss Feng in a clandestine rendezvous, consummating their affair inside."
"How... how is that possible? Your Highness, please discern. This cannot be spread. It will ruin Miss Feng's reputation. How could Miss Feng and I..." Shen Yunxi shook his head.
The Prince of Beijiang sneered, "Is that so? We'll know if we open the door and investigate."
With that, he signaled with his eyes, and a guard stepped forward to push the door.
Shen Yunxi quickly stepped forward to block the guard and said, "Your Highness, what do you mean by this?"
The Prince of Beijiang looked at him and said, "Since Young Master Shen says there is nothing between him and Miss Feng, I want to enter and see what the relationship is."
Shen Yunxi was stunned. He couldn't guarantee if His Majesty had returned yet, so he absolutely could not let anyone enter this room.
"Your Highness, do you not trust me?" Shen Yunxi looked up at the Prince of Beijiang.
The Prince of Beijiang smiled, "Young Master Shen, you worry too much. This entire manor belongs to me. I can enter whichever room I wish."
Shen Yunxi frowned.
The Prince of Beijiang said coldly, "Open the door."
The guard stepped forward, and Shen Yunxi retreated. Just as the situation became tense, the door behind them was opened.
The Prince of Beijiang sneered, "Miss Feng, you finally..."
But halfway through his sentence, the Prince of Beijiang was stunned, because the person standing at the door was not Miss Feng, but...
"Young Master Yan..." Jiang Yuli covered her mouth, utterly astonished.
Shen Yunxi was also taken aback. He never expected Yan Jinchaos to be in the room.
Yan Jinchaos said indifferently, "Your Highness, do you need something?"
The Prince of Beijiang frowned and said, "Young Master Yan, why are you here?"
Yan Jinchaos cast a cold glance at Shen Yunxi and said softly, "I wish to know the relationship between Young Master Shen and Miss Feng."
Shen Yunxi also spoke, "There is no other relationship between Miss Feng and me. I have already explained."
Yan Jinchaos said indifferently, "I don't believe it. I came specifically to ask Miss Feng."
The Prince of Beijiang heard this and said, "Is Miss Feng also inside?"
Yan Jinchaos moved aside. The Prince of Beijiang entered the room first. Shen Yunxi quickly stepped forward to look at him, seeing that he had a blank expression as he entered the room.
"Your Highness..."
Xue Zining curtsied.
Seeing Xue Zining, Shen Yunxi's heart relaxed. However, he was soon filled with confusion. Why were His Majesty and Yan Jinchaos appearing in the room together?
Jiang Yuli couldn't believe it. She took a step back and shook her head. "How..."
"Yuli, let's go..." The Prince of Beijiang turned to walk outside. Halfway, he suddenly stopped and said, "From now on, there's no need to be so secretive about things."
"Yes, Your Highness," Yan Jinchaos said indifferently.
Jiang Yuli was unwilling to leave and was pulled away by the Prince of Beijiang.
Seeing everyone leave, Shen Yunxi quickly closed the door and looked at Yan Jinchaos, then at the Empress, and said, "This..."
Xue Zining looked at Yan Jinchaos and said, "Thank you today, Young Master Yan."
Yan Jinchaos hummed in response and then walked towards the door. As he reached the door, a sentence drifted back, "Perhaps there won't be a next time. Miss Feng, you must fend for yourself."
Xue Zining's eyes flickered slightly. She looked up at the receding figure and, after a long moment, withdrew her gaze.
Shen Yunxi couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, what exactly is going on?"
Xue Zining said, "It's a long story. We'll discuss it when we get back."
Shen Yunxi nodded. "Alright." This was not the place to talk.
"Young Master Yan..." Jiang Yuli waited for Yan Jinchaos to come out into the courtyard before appearing.
"Miss Jiang, is there something?" Yan Jinchaos asked coldly.
Jiang Yuli looked up and boldly asked, "Was Young Master Yan in the room just now?"
"This has nothing to do with Miss Jiang," Yan Jinchaos replied. After speaking, he started to leave.
"But you clearly said you were returning to your manor just now," Jiang Yuli asked, unwilling to give up.
"Miss Jiang, I do not need to report to you where I am going." Yan Jinchaos left.
Jiang Yuli bit her lower lip, tears streaming down her face. She couldn't help but cry and ask, "Why? Why can't you see my goodness?"
Back at the Prince of Beijiang's manor, the Prince of Beijiang had a dark expression. In just one outing, three people had died.
Clearly, someone thought his departure was a good opportunity for rescue, not realizing he had already made preparations.
However, his gaze lit up slightly. Perhaps he could repeat the same trick.
"Someone..."
A guard walked in. "Your Highness, what are your orders?"
"The day after tomorrow is the City Day of Beijiang City. Announce that on that day, I will be holding a grand celebration."
The guard was taken aback. "Your Highness..."
"Issue the orders, then summon everyone. I need to make deployment plans," the Prince of Beijiang said.
"Your Highness, do Shen Gongzi and Yan Gongzi need to be notified?"
"No need," the Prince of Beijiang said.
The guard nodded. "Yes, I will arrange it immediately."