"Miss Rou, Miss Rou... something terrible has happened!"
Zhen Rou’s personal maid Huanhuan rushed into the Shuixin Pavilion, her face full of urgency, completely forgetting basic etiquette.
Zhen Rou was still lying on the bed, her face pale, looking as fragile as a delicate peony beaten by the rain.
"What’s the matter, why are you yelling? It’s so improper." Zhen Rou, annoyed by the disturbance, chastised Huanhuan.
Huanhuan took a breath: "Miss Rou... Yun Xiang, she..."
"What’s wrong with her?" Zhen Rou clearly didn’t care about Yun Xiang, asking indifferently.
Huanhuan: "Yun Xiang, she’s betrayed."
"What!"
Zhen Rou sat up suddenly, her face full of disbelief.
"How could she betray?"
Huanhuan continued: "Just now, I heard the news... Yun Xiang told Your Highness everything, and now His Highness is coming to Shuixin Pavilion."
Zhen Rou’s heart thundered; how could Yun Xiang betray?
She had clearly agreed with her...
Zhen Rou grabbed Huanhuan’s arm: "Did Yann Chuzheng see her?"
"No... no. I’ve been watching Jinxiu Pavilion, that one hasn’t come out, nor have her people seen Yun Xiang."
"Then why would she betray?" Zhen Rou gripped Huanhuan’s hand harder, her nails digging into the flesh.
Huanhuan, in pain, had tears welling up in her eyes but could only bear it and shake her head.
"His Highness has arrived—"
Upon hearing this voice, Zhen Rou suddenly released Huanhuan, turned urgently, and finally flipped the quilt, lying back on the bed, urgently giving Huanhuan two orders.
-
When Changsun Hang came in with his people, he saw Huanhuan by the bedside, continuously shedding tears.
Changsun Hang felt a sudden tightness in his heart seeing this scene.
"What happened?"
"Your... Your Highness." Huanhuan jumped in fright, panic-stricken, and knelt to the ground.
"Miss Rou suddenly fell unconscious..."
Changsun Hang sat nervously by the bedside: "Have you called for a doctor?"
Huanhuan stammered in reply: "Called... called, but the doctor hasn’t arrived yet."
Changsun Hang touched Zhen Rou’s forehead, looking here and there, anxiousness displayed on his face, completely forgetting his original purpose of coming.
"The Prince’s Consort has arrived—"
Just as Changsun Hang was about to furiously ask why the doctor hadn’t arrived, a voice came from outside.
A woman in elegant palace clothing entered the door with her attendants, her exquisite features seemingly carved with meticulous care, each part just right in its beauty.
Changsun Hang was somewhat dazed; he hadn’t realized his Prince’s Consort was so beautiful.
It wasn’t the kind of beauty of a delicate small-town woman, but a grace that exuded elegant dignity, possessing the aura a Prince’s Consort should have.
"Third Prince." Chuzheng called out blandly.
The cool voice immediately pulled Changsun Hang’s thoughts back, his face turning cold: "Why are you here?"
No matter how beautiful, she was still a woman he didn’t like.
"I’ve heard Yun Xiang confessed?" Chuzheng’s tone was indifferent, as if discussing someone else’s affair: "Shouldn’t I, as the involved party, be here?"
Changsun Hang sneered: "You’re very well-informed."
"Not too bad." Chuzheng responded modestly.
Changsun Hang: "..."
Initially, Changsun Hang didn’t believe this, of course.
But Yun Xiang claimed she had evidence; Zhen Rou instructed her to do it and offered her many benefits.
Those items could be traced—they were gifted by Changsun Hang to Zhen Rou.
If not given by Zhen Rou, Yun Xiang couldn’t have obtained them.
However, now the other involved party is unconscious...
Chuzheng’s finger subtly flicked beneath her sleeve, a silver glow unnoticed by everyone swiftly approached the bed along the ground and entered the quilt.
"Ah!"
Zhen Rou suddenly screamed, sitting up from the bed, tumbling down.
"Rou Rou? Rou Rou?" Changsun Hang was startled.
"There’s something!! There’s something!!" Zhen Rou pointed at the quilt.
Changsun Hang looked at the quilt, extended his hand, and lifted it. There was nothing on the bed.
"There must be something, there must be!" Zhen Rou pointed at the bed, yelling and screaming without any grace.
"Rou Rou, there’s nothing on top, maybe you had a nightmare?" Changsun Hang embraced Zhen Rou comfortingly.
Zhen Rou’s body was shaking fiercely, her eyes still showing signs of fear.
She truly felt it...
She was awake just now; how could she have had a nightmare?
"Since you’re awake, let’s discuss the matter." A cold voice interrupted, Zhen Rou sharply turned her head towards the source of the sound.
At some point, Chuzheng had pulled a chair over and sat down, propping her chin, looking at her expressionlessly.
A flash of resentment flickered in Zhen Rou’s eyes.
Could it be her playing tricks just now?
Thinking so, Zhen Rou turned and buried herself in Changsun Hang’s embrace, softly and weakly starting to cry: "Your... Your Highness, my head hurts terribly..."
Once Zhen Rou cried, Changsun Hang lost all principles: "Prince’s Consort, Rou Rou is unwell, this matter..."
Chuzheng gave a response, as Changsun Hang believed Chuzheng would temporarily relent, she slowly continued: "Is Third Prince considering my innocence as inferior to hers?"
Changsun Hang: "!!!"
What’s the matter with this woman?
Suddenly becoming so unreasonable.
"Ying Xiang, go to Yann Residence and invite my brother." Chuzheng ordered Ying Xiang: "If Third Prince won’t make a decision, we can find someone else."
Ying Xiang, coming from Yann Residence, naturally sided with Chuzheng.
As soon as Chuzheng spoke, Ying Xiang went towards the door.
Changsun Hang shouted sternly: "Stop!"
Ying Xiang glanced at Chuzheng, seeing she hadn’t indicated to continue, she had to stop in place.
Changsun Hang gritted his teeth: "This is a family matter, no need to trouble Minister of Appointments."
Chuzheng opened her hand, making a gesture of invitation.
Then start your performance!
Changsun Hang glared at Chuzheng.
"Your Highness?" Zhen Rou, internally flustered, outwardly had to feign confusion: "Has... something happened?"
Changsun Hang frowned, supporting Zhen Rou to sit.
If he didn’t speak, Zhen Rou felt less resolved, increasingly clenching her dress hem, her palms full of cold sweat.
Changsun Hang: "Bring Yun Xiang in."
Currently, Yun Xiang looked particularly miserable, her clothes dirty, hair dull, face haggard, and significantly thinner.
Yun Xiang crawled on the ground, her voice hoarse: "Miss Rou, I’m sorry... His Highness knows everything."
"What... what are you talking about?"
Zhen Rou dared not admit it at this moment, forced to feign innocence.
"Miss Rou, I’ve told His Highness everything... it’s... it’s you who took the medicine yourself and instructed me to accuse the Prince’s Consort..."
"Nonsense!"
Zhen Rou scolded energetically, with her full strength, neither weak nor head aching anymore.
"I didn’t..."
Even though Yun Xiang was vile, she cared about her own mother.