The maiden's delicate face held eyes that were exceptionally clear, as if they could pierce through his body. Qi Yu Heng felt an inexplicable chill seep into his bones, like frost.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for saving my life. I am indebted to you. I, this Prince, am willing to..."
"Third Prince..."
Qi Yu Heng's words were interrupted by Xue Xing Yue.
Qi Yu Heng was slightly stunned, and Xue Xing Yue said, "It was because your guard held Xue Tian's skirt tightly. Seeing his loyalty touched me, and that is why I intervened. If the Third Prince wishes to express his gratitude, he should thank your guards. Without their desperate protection, the Third Prince might have met his end by now."
Qi Yu Heng: "..."
"The Third Prince appears to be unharmed. Since that is the case, please leave quickly. I prefer quiet," Xue Xing Yue said coldly.
Qi Yu Heng felt as if he had been slapped across the face, leaving him utterly mortified.
"Xue Tian, escort the guest out." Xue Xing Yue showed no courtesy to Qi Yu Heng, directly issuing an order to leave.
Xue Tian stood before Qi Yu Heng and said, "Your Highness the Third Prince, please!"
Qi Yu Heng offered no excuses to linger and left with his guards.
Outside Huguo Temple, Ah Da was filled with shame. Ignoring the pain in his body, he said with guilt, "It is all my fault for failing to complete Your Highness's mission. Punish me, Your Highness! I will have no complaints."
Qi Yu Heng helped Ah Da up, forcing a bitter smile. "Actually, the Empress was not wrong. Without your desperate protection, today might have been the end of this Prince's life."
Ah Da trembled, "Your Highness, those assassins were not the people I prepared."
Qi Yu Heng heard this and said, "This Prince knows. It is likely that someone replaced the people you found."
Ah Da was filled with guilt. "It is all due to my incompetence. Your Highness should still punish me, or I will not be at peace."
"You will be responsible for handling the aftermath of those people, and investigate who tampered with them."
Ah Da nodded. "Yes, Your Highness. I will investigate immediately."
In the evening, Qi Yu Heng received news that Ming Duan, who was by the Second Prince's side, had contacted those people.
Qi Yu Heng's expression darkened. He had not expected Qi Yu Ming to resort to such treachery; this was clearly an attempt on his life.
"Your Highness, the Second Prince is going too far!" If Ah Da hadn't been focused on relaying the news to His Highness, he would have gone to settle the score with Ming Duan.
The Second Prince was trying to force His Highness to his death. If it weren't for the Empress's intervention, it might have been His Highness's day of death.
How could the Second Prince be so cruel?
"It seems my Second Brother knows that I was responsible for the gardener incident," Qi Yu Heng opened his eyes, his gaze emitting a dark, cold light.
Ah Da was taken aback. "Your Highness, you mean the Second Prince knows?"
Qi Yu Heng nodded. "The gardener incident was not difficult to investigate; it was only a matter of time. However, I did not expect my Second Brother to be so ruthless."
"Your Highness..."
"This matter ends here. You are also not to cause trouble for Ming Duan. It is considered that this Prince was in the wrong first."
"Your Highness is just going to let it go?" Ah Da was somewhat indignant.
Qi Yu Heng smiled. "Otherwise? Mutual destruction? Ah Da, this Prince's goal is to catch the Empress's eye. There are no other objectives, so doing anything else would be futile."
Ah Da nodded. "Your subordinate understands, Your Highness."
"Go!"
Qi Yu Heng watched Ah Da leave, then walked to the doorway and said with a smile, "Since Your Highness the Prince of Nanping is here, why not come in for a sit?"
Qi Yu Ze was slightly stunned. Qi Yu Heng walked to the door and opened it. "Your Highness the Prince, please."
Qi Yu Ze walked in and bowed. "Third Highness."
Qi Yu Heng raised his hand to help him up. "Your Highness the Prince, why be so formal? After all, the Prince of Nanping is my Imperial Uncle. Your formality makes us seem distant."
"Your Highness..."
"Is it about Eunuch Zhang?"
Qi Yu Ze nodded. "Your Highness's calculations are divine. Indeed, it is about Eunuch Zhang."
Qi Yu Heng sighed. "This Prince has also heard about the matter. One can only say that my seventh sister has faced one misfortune after another. Not only was she foolish, but she also died mysteriously. My father was shocked and acted in haste. However, it is unlikely that he would vent his anger on Eunuch Zhang. Is it possible that Yu Ze has not told this Prince the truth?"
Qi Yu Ze was slightly stunned, then suddenly knelt on one knee. "Your Highness is wise. Indeed, there are unspoken difficulties that I have not told Your Highness."
"Yu Heng, you and I need not be so formal. Tell me, and then I can help you."
Qi Yu Ze explained the entire sequence of events to Qi Yu Heng. Upon hearing this, Qi Yu Heng said, "It seems my father has discovered the true cause of my seventh sister's death. Perhaps he knows that without Eunuch Zhang's betrayal to you, my seventh sister would not have died."
Qi Yu Ze frowned upon hearing this; he had also considered this.
"Yu Heng, Eunuch Zhang has served our father for decades. His bond with my father is incomparable. This Prince believes that my father is merely venting his emotions, and things will improve with time. Give my father some time to process his grief. Eunuch Zhang will likely face punishment, but death is unlikely."
"Thank you, Your Highness, for clarifying!" Qi Yu Ze said.
Qi Yu Heng looked at him and said, "This Prince has heard that Yu Ze once traveled with the Empress. Do you know what the Empress likes to eat?"
Qi Yu Ze paused upon hearing this and looked at Qi Yu Heng. Qi Yu Heng smiled, "This Prince is thinking of catering to her preferences."
Qi Yu Ze nodded. "I only know that the late Empress liked Peach Blossom Pastries."
Qi Yu Heng's eyes lit up. "Thank you, Yu Ze."
Xue Xing Yue looked at the invitation in her hand and asked Xue Tian, "Is it from the Third Prince?"
Xue Tian nodded. "Yes, it was delivered by a guard from the Third Prince. He said it was to thank Your Majesty for intervening and that he wished to invite Your Majesty for a drink."
"I'm not going." Xue Xing Yue tossed the invitation aside.
Xue Tian thought of the shy face of the guard and sighed.
Xue Xing Yue raised her eyes and looked at Xue Tian, asking, "Why are you sighing if I'm not going?"