Chapter 497

Upon hearing Li Zhiwei's words, Xu Heming furrowed his brows. The thought of Zhou Yuxin returning at this moment was indeed a complication. However, he had never considered keeping her here.

For one, how had she survived?

At least, he wasn't foolish—why would she suddenly appear now?

Five years had passed. If she were alive, why hadn't she returned before?

Where had she been all these years?

She hadn't even shown up when the Zhou family fell from grace.

In fact, Xu Heming was more inclined to suspect whether this woman was a spy sent by some faction.

Or perhaps the Zhou family had always been problematic?

The thought of Zhou Yuxin having eloped with someone never crossed his mind.

Yet, ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‍Xu Heming's silence was misinterpreted by Li Zhiwei. She believed he intended to keep Zhou Yuxin around.

Thinking this, Li Zhiwei wanted a clear answer from Xu Heming: "Your Highness, is this question so hard to answer?"

Xu Heming snapped back to reality at the sound of Li Zhiwei's voice, realizing he had been so lost in thought that he had neglected her question.

"No, she cannot stay. Even if she is Xu Qingshi's mother, she is no longer relevant to me," Xu Heming said, looking firmly into Li Zhiwei's eyes.

"If she truly is your lawful wife, would you still abandon her, Your Highness?" Li Zhiwei looked at him, unwilling to believe that if this woman turned out to be the former princess, Xu Heming could be so cold and heartless.

If that happened, her own position would become even more awkward.

Li Zhiwei did not wish to place herself in such a predicament.

If Xu Heming truly intended to act that way, she would rather turn and leave gracefully.

After all, her past life had taught her enough; one such experience was sufficient.

Xu Heming naturally sensed the worry in Li Zhiwei's words.

He silently blamed himself, realizing that he had not provided her with enough security, and that his men had failed to discover the situation earlier, allowing that woman to disrupt their wedding.

"Zhiwei, I understand your concerns. Even if she is Xu Qingshi's mother, why did she not return during these five years? Why now, of all times? What is her motive? And where has she been all this time? I witnessed her burial with my own eyes—how is she still alive? There are too many unanswered questions," Xu Heming said gently, taking Li Zhiwei's hand in his own.

He then earnestly laid out his doubts for her.

"I know what you're worried about. Even if she truly is Zhou Yuxin, Xu Qingshi's mother, that has nothing to do with the Prince's residence. Rest assured, I have already sent people to investigate. I cannot believe that someone could die and then simply reappear out of thin air," he stated firmly.

Li Zhiwei, who had only been concerned before, now felt less certain. After all, was she not the best example herself?

She had been reborn.

What if Zhou Yuxin had also been reborn?

"Your Highness, do you think people in this world can be reborn?" Li Zhiwei carefully leaned her head on Xu Heming's shoulder and asked.

In her heart, she wondered—if Xu Heming knew she had been reborn, would he fear her?

And if Zhou Yuxin bore no fault and was simply reborn too, what should she do?

"Whether she was reborn or not, my connection with her has long ended," Xu Heming said. He had never felt much affection for Zhou Yuxin, and now, because Li Zhiwei was troubled by her, his dislike for Zhou Yuxin only deepened.

"She is Xu Qingshi's biological mother—that is something I cannot change. If Xu Qingshi wishes to see her, I will not stop it. But the meeting place will not be the residence. Would that bother you?" Although Xu Heming was uncertain of Zhou Yuxin's intentions, if she truly was Zhou Yuxin, he would not prevent Xu Qingshi from meeting her.

Still, he was unsure if Li Zhiwei would mind.

Li Zhiwei naturally could not say she would mind. After all, the child was given birth by someone else; she was merely the stepmother. How could she forbid a child from seeing its birth mother?

Besides, Xu Heming had already said the meeting would not take place at the residence.

If that woman would not come to bother her, why should she fuss over someone from the past?

"Will you see her then?" Li Zhiwei pondered for a moment and asked.

If they were to rekindle old feelings, she felt it would be better to step aside now.

"For now, I might have to meet her. But Zhiwei, rest assured—it will only be to interrogate her about how she came back from the dead and why she appeared in the bridal sedan. As for anything else, I will not see her. If I must, I will bring you along," Xu Heming quickly promised, afraid that Li Zhiwei might misunderstand.

"Your Highness—"

Before Li Zhiwei could say more, Rusong was heard requesting an audience outside the door. "Your Highness, your subordinate has urgent matters to report."

Rusong's tone was stiff.

As soon as he spoke, he instantly regretted it.

After all, tonight was the prince's wedding night. Whatever matter it was should have waited until tomorrow.

“Come in.” Xu Heming frowned, but he thought perhaps Rusong had news about Zhou Yuxin’s whereabouts. Otherwise, Rusong would not have been so reckless as to disturb him.

“Your humble subordinate greets the Prince and the Princess.” Rusong bowed nervously.

“Speak your mind,” Xu Heming said, his expression turning grim.

Rusong cast an uneasy glance at Li Zhiwei, worried that saying something inappropriate might displease the new princess.

“The princess is no outsider. Whatever you have to say, say it directly.” Xu Heming shot Rusong a glare.

He then glared at Rusong again, annoyed by the man’s lack of tact, and anxious not to give Li Zhiwei any reason for misunderstanding.

Rusong quickly grasped his lord’s intention.

“Your Highness, your subordinate has discovered that Miss Zhou has been living in Jinyang all these years with a man named Ding Chen. However, it appears they have returned to the capital together this time. They seem to have quarreled over money matters. When Miss Zhou learned of the Zhou family’s troubles and found herself unwelcome in the Ding household, she decided to seek you out,” Rusong reported in a low voice.

“So, you mean her supposed death from childbirth was a lie—a cover to elope with that man, Ding Chen?” For some reason, Xu Heming did not seem overly distressed by this revelation.

Beside him, Li Zhiwei’s eyes widened in surprise. She had not expected the matter to take such a turn.

To abandon her husband and child for a man—was Zhou Yuxin that foolish?

Li Zhiwei looked at Xu Heming, uncertain whether to sympathize with him or wonder if this man might have a violent streak.

“Based on current investigations, that appears to be the case. After all, the Ding and Zhou families lived right next to each other.” Rusong nodded.

Xu Heming tapped his fingers idly on his thigh.

If Zhou Yuxin and Ding Chen were childhood sweethearts, why hadn’t she simply married Ding Chen in the first place?