Actually, even if Pang Xiao hadn’t explained, Qin Yining wouldn’t have suspected him.

Since she knew what Li Qitian was scheming, how could she not see that this entire affair was suspicious from inside to out?

She was merely curious about what Li Helan was thinking this time to do such a thing. Had she truly stopped caring about Prince Consort Ji’s feelings?

Or perhaps Li Helan had grown tired of her current marriage?

Qin Yining found it hard to imagine there were such women in the world – not long after marriage, already seeking male companions behind her husband’s back, keeping one while pursuing another. Wasn’t she afraid of exhausting herself?

“Miss?” Seeing Qin Yining laugh and then hold the note while lost in thought again, Bingtang became increasingly worried.

Qin Yining snapped back to attention and smiled: “It’s nothing.” Then she said to Jingzhe: “Thank you for the trouble this time.”

Jingzhe quickly bowed: “This is this subordinate’s duty. If Miss has no other instructions, this subordinate takes leave.”

After Jingzhe left, Bingtang asked: “Was it a letter from His Highness?”

“Mm. With such rumors circulating outside, he specifically wrote a note to explain.”

Qin Yining put the letter back in the envelope. She initially wanted to burn it, but then thought that since Father had already tacitly approved her relationship with Pang Xiao, it would be a pity not to keep such an interesting letter as a memento.

Thinking thus, Qin Yining handed the letter to Bingtang: “Put it away for me, together with the jewelry we just bought.”

Bingtang couldn’t help but laugh: “Miss, aren’t you afraid of people knowing and spreading rumors about you and His Highness engaging in improper correspondence?”

Qin Yining innocently raised her eyebrows: “There are even worse rumors circulating outside. Someone has probably already made my abduction to Prince Zhongshun’s mansion into a storybook by now. What do I still care about improper correspondence?”

“Miss has given up completely.”

“Wrong. Miss calls this being free-spirited.”

The several maids joked playfully, causing Qin Yining to laugh along.

Seeing Qin Yining had no concerns, Ji Yun and Qian Yun secretly breathed sighs of relief, but thinking of Li Helan, they felt even more annoyed.

A dignified Princess Imperial, of noble blood and birth, already married to such an outstanding Prince Consort, yet Princess Imperial still didn’t know contentment. Not only did she flirt around constantly, she even set her sights on His Highness. Wasn’t this deliberately causing trouble for people?

Ji Yun and Qian Yun were both trained by Pang Xiao’s side, so naturally they hoped Pang Xiao and Qin Yining could be blissfully happy. With someone like Li Helan appearing, both felt quite frustrated.

Ji Yun was even fantasizing about how wonderful it would be if they could severely teach Li Helan a lesson.

At this moment, in front of the Prince Consort’s mansion, Li Helan wore a bright red front-opening embroidered wide-sleeved jacket, a goose-yellow eight-panel skirt below, and a bright red brocade cape with white fur collar, glaring at the gatekeeper blocking her path.

“Open your eyes wider and see who I am! I am Princess Imperial – you dare block even my path? Do you not want to live!”

“Princess Imperial, please calm your anger.” The gatekeeper was a tall man who stood straight. His short outfit made him look less like a gatekeeper and more like a soldier, and his words were quite direct.

“The Marquis has instructed us to refuse all visitors. Princess Imperial should return first. When the Marquis has leisure time, he will naturally seek you out.”

Li Helan’s eyes turned red with anger.

What words! What kind of words were these!

“I, a dignified Princess Imperial, am refused at my own Prince Consort’s door and must go back to wait until Prince Consort has free time to meet? Are you brain-damaged! Has there ever been such a rule since ancient times!”

Li Helan reached out to push the gatekeeper.

But the gatekeeper stepped back, still blocking the entrance, bowing his head: “Princess Imperial, please don’t blame me. This humble person is the Marquis’s servant and naturally must follow the Marquis’s orders. The Marquis said to see no one, so we see no one. Princess Imperial, please return.”

Li Helan finally understood clearly.

This person’s form of address for Ji Zeyu was “Marquis,” not “Prince Consort.” So this person was indeed Ji Zeyu’s confidant, possibly even brought back from the military!

Ji Zeyu was actually using a soldier to guard the entrance – could it be specifically to block her?

Li Helan’s tears swirled in her eyes as she immediately began crying.

The gatekeeper kept his head lowered, not looking at Li Helan, as if he couldn’t see her crying at all, standing there motionless like a wooden post.

Just then, the main gate of the Prince Consort’s mansion was pushed open.

Ji Zeyu appeared wearing white arrow-sleeved brocade robes with a gray squirrel fur-collared cloak draped over his shoulders, his lips slightly curved in a gentle smile as he turned back to say something.

Behind Ji Zeyu was Pang Xiao, dressed in purple python robes and wearing a jade crown, incomparably handsome.

Perhaps not expecting Li Helan to be blocked at the Prince Consort’s mansion entrance, Pang Xiao’s steps paused briefly before he stepped forward to bow.

“Paying respects to Princess Imperial.”

Ji Zeyu’s faint smile had now disappeared.

Looking at Li Helan, his eyes were calm and waveless, his refined features showing no expression whatsoever. Moving in unison with Pang Xiao, he bowed: “Paying respects to Princess Imperial.”

Because of the rampant rumors outside, Li Helan worried Ji Zeyu might misunderstand, so she had hurried here to explain clearly.

Who knew Pang Xiao’s actions were faster than hers.

Moreover, the Prince Consort’s mansion wouldn’t let her enter, yet Pang Xiao had swaggered out from inside!

Even though Li Helan knew Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu shared life-and-death friendship, she couldn’t help feeling angry at this moment.

She, a dignified Princess Imperial – was her status not even comparable to a prince of different surname?

“What does Prince Consort mean by this?” Li Helan demanded in a stern voice.

Ji Zeyu straightened up and replied neither humbly nor arrogantly: “What is Princess Imperial asking about?”

“The gatekeeper claims Prince Consort refuses to see any visitors. Why am I, your closest person, not allowed to enter, yet Prince Consort permits Prince Zhongshun into the mansion? Or is it that Prince Consort only instructed people to block me while anyone else can enter – you’re only targeting me alone!”

Upon hearing this, Ji Zeyu looked at Li Helan expressionlessly and said in a calm voice: “Why does Princess Imperial think this way? Does Princess Imperial believe I have reason to specifically refuse your entry?”

Li Helan’s throat caught, and the purpose she had just forgotten in her anger now came back to her.

Looking again at Pang Xiao standing behind Ji Zeyu, regarding her with disdainful eyes, Li Helan felt her ears burning and couldn’t help but start avoiding eye contact.

Ji Zeyu frowned and continued: “Could it be that the external rumors are true?”

Li Helan quickly said: “No, I…”

Ji Zeyu turned back to look at Pang Xiao: “Zhixi?”

Pang Xiao’s brow furrowed tightly: “Ah Lan, you should know my character.”

But Ji Zeyu looked at him with a darkened face: “I do know your character, but when similar incidents happen repeatedly, how can you expect me to trust you?”

“Ah Lan!” Pang Xiao’s sword-like eyebrows shot up, a sharp gleam flashing in his phoenix eyes. “You and I have been brothers for years – could I be the type to steal a brother’s woman?”

“If you’re not, why are there such rumors circulating? Could it be Princess Imperial’s fault instead?”

Ji Zeyu suddenly drew the soft sword coiled at his waist. With a shake of his hand, the blade suddenly snapped straight.

“Pang Zhixi, don’t you understand that a friend’s wife is not to be trifled with!”

“You know best what kind of person I am – how could I do such things?”

“If you didn’t initiate it, could it be that Princess Imperial seduced you instead? If a man does wrong, you must admit it. What kind of ability is dodging and evading!” Ji Zeyu seemed extremely angry as he thrust his sword forward.

Pang Xiao was startled by his sudden move and quickly dodged sideways.

The two actually began fighting right there in front of the Prince Consort’s mansion over a disagreement.

Li Helan watched in complete astonishment. How could she have imagined that Ji Zeyu would actually fight someone over her?

Usually Ji Zeyu treated her with such indifference, so cold that Li Helan had already lost confidence.

Now seeing Ji Zeyu so angry, he clearly still cared about her! Otherwise, given the brotherly bond between Ji Zeyu and Pang Xiao, how could they come to blows?

Li Helan felt sweet, satisfied, and a little proud, feeling her vanity satisfied like never before.

But then remembering Li Qitian’s instructions, Li Helan suddenly felt a chill run up her spine.

Watching the two fighting intensely, Li Helan had to admit that Imperial Brother’s scheme had succeeded.

At this moment, Ji Zeyu’s sword cut Pang Xiao’s arm, and blood immediately gushed out.

“Ji Lan! You bastard, you’re actually fighting for real! Are we still brothers or not!”

“Playing around with my wife – what kind of brother are you!”

“Bullshit!” Hearing this, Pang Xiao became furious and viciously kicked Ji Zeyu’s shoulder.

Ji Zeyu was kicked back two steps. He angrily threw down his soft sword and began wrestling with Pang Xiao with bare fists.

Both had extremely high martial arts skills, but now they fought without any technique, like two children fighting over candy!

The gatekeeper and Huzi both stepped forward to mediate and separate them. Hearing the commotion, servants from the Prince Consort’s mansion also hurried over to help resolve the conflict.

Such a chaotic scene attracted passersby to stop and watch the excitement.

The Prince Consort’s mansion was located in an area where high officials and nobility lived, so most passersby were servants from neighboring households.

Now seeing Princess Imperial trying to mediate while Prince Consort Ji and Prince Zhongshun wrestled bare-fisted, kicking and punching, everyone was shocked. They couldn’t help thinking the external rumors were probably true.

Li Helan anxiously circled around the two men, continuously shouting: “Stop! I command you to stop!”

But both completely ignored her.

It wasn’t until both their faces showed injuries – one with a bleeding, bruised mouth corner, the other with a red forehead – that they finally stopped. Held back by their respective servants, they glared at each other angrily, breathing heavily.

Pang Xiao wiped the blood from his mouth corner and turned to leave.

Ji Zeyu rubbed his reddened forehead, pursing his lips as he watched Pang Xiao mount his horse with his men and depart. Finally, he turned to enter his mansion.

“Prince Consort.” Li Helan stepped forward to take Ji Zeyu’s arm. “You’re injured. Let me apply medicine for you.”

Li Helan’s tone was unprecedentedly shy and tender.

But Ji Zeyu gently pushed her away and said coolly: “If Princess Imperial requires my service, you may speak to the nannies and formally summon me. The Prince Consort’s mansion is not where you should come. Please return.”

Having said this, he actually turned and entered the mansion. Ignoring that Li Helan still stood at the entrance, he closed the door with a “bang.”