Jing Xuan was born into the Great Lin imperial family, with noble blood flowing through her veins.

In her every gesture and movement, there was naturally an extraordinary air about her.

Na Tuo had to admit that the woman before him was indeed gentle and beautiful.

She made one’s heart ache for her.

But he didn’t reveal his emotions. His words were cold and harsh. “Why did you send someone to bring me incense?”

Jing Xuan’s expression was calm as she replied, “I was just idle with nothing to do, so I made a few blocks of incense in my room. I made more than planned, and thinking that the prince needed to copy scriptures, I just had someone take it over. There was no other meaning.”

Compared to before, her tone when speaking to Na Tuo was obviously much gentler.

Not so stubborn anymore!

As if she had become a different person.

Na Tuo looked her up and down several times, always feeling something was strange.

Before, when he had gotten dead drunk in his room, she had run to tell the maid not to let him drink anymore. Now, out of nowhere, she was sending him spirit-refreshing incense. If this wasn’t strange, who would believe it?

Na Tuo took a step closer to her, not wanting to beat around the bush. Staring into her clear eyes, he said directly, “I personally supervised Gong Shilin’s execution and killed your lover. Shouldn’t you hate me to death? How can you still be good to me?”

His tone carried questioning.

To put it bluntly, he didn’t believe this woman would be this good to him.

This sudden concern instead caught people off guard.

He always felt she harbored ill intentions.

Had other schemes.

There must be deception in this!

Jing Xuan wasn’t stupid. She knew he was suspicious. Since she had married into the prince’s residence, when had she ever cared about him even a little?

Neglected here, even watched by countless pairs of eyes all day, unable to go anywhere, living here like a puppet for over a year.

A fate worse than death!

Days felt like years!

Add to this Gong Shilin’s death—she should hate him to death.

She should add poison to his meals.

Add arsenic to the cups he drank from.

She should have stabbed him to death that night when he was drunk.

But she hadn’t done any of that!

Jing Xuan looked at him and asked, “Does the prince still believe, even now, that Master Gong and I had an illicit affair?”

“The facts prove it so!”

“Facts, what facts?”

Na Tuo took a deep breath. “Even now, you still deny it! Forget it, the person is already dead. Why should I pursue it further?”

At this point, it also touched his own “wound.”

The pain of being betrayed by a brother still hadn’t “healed.”

He had always regarded Gong Shilin as his own blood brother, had even thought of giving up the throne to protect him. Who knew that his sincere devotion would be repaid with being cuckolded?

Any man would be unable to swallow this insult.

He finally understood that the so-called brotherhood in this world was complete nonsense.

Only the throne, only power, only wealth would never betray him.

And now, even if Jing Xuan had ten thousand mouths, she couldn’t clear her name.

After all, Gong Shilin was already dead!

Dead men tell no tales!

She said, “Whether the prince believes it or not, in any case, there was nothing between Master Gong and me. He was also the most upright and honorable person I’ve met since coming to Huyi.”

“The man is already dead, and you’re still speaking up for him!”

“Every word I speak is true.”

“Hmph, what fine words of truth! If this prince hadn’t promised Gong Shilin before his death that I wouldn’t take your life, otherwise, I would have already had you killed long ago!” Na Tuo’s viciousness was written all over his face.

Wh… what?

Gong Shilin had pleaded with him before his death to spare her?

Jing Xuan’s chest was suddenly struck by something.

As if her internal organs were being stirred upside down.

Bloody and mangled.

Yet even though her heart surged with tumultuous waves, she still endured the pain.

Her face remained calm.

Na Tuo pressed closer by one step, continuing, “Listen well. Although I promised him I wouldn’t kill you, if you play tricks, I can equally make you unable to live, unable to die! You’d better behave yourself and stop causing trouble for this prince. Only then can you ensure a lifetime of peace.”

Jing Xuan’s gaze lowered, scattered and lifeless.

These words—who knew if she had heard them?

Or if she hadn’t heard them?

She only wore a bitter smile at the corners of her mouth, saying faintly, “Whether I live or not is no longer important. If the prince firmly believes what’s in his heart, then I have nothing to say! As for me sending incense to the prince, it was simply to help the prince’s spirits improve.”

Completely sincere.

Na Tuo looked at the “little white rabbit” before him, then thought again—what could this woman scheme against him?

She was basically only half-alive now anyway.

A weak and delicate woman—he could strangle her with his bare hands.

For her to scheme against him was simply impossible.

“Hmph! That had better be so.”

Having said this, he turned to leave.

But his feet stopped at the door.

His originally sharp gaze suddenly gradually settled, and without turning his head, he said, “The incense you prepared is indeed useful. These past days, I have indeed felt much more energetic.”

His tone was much gentler.

Jing Xuan looked at his back, her hands tightly clasped together, saying, “As long as the prince likes it.”

Before she had even finished speaking, Na Tuo had already strode away.

Coming in a hurry.

Leaving in a hurry.

Every time Na Tuo came here, Jing Xuan would invariably be covered in injuries from head to toe.

But this time, Jing Xuan finally wasn’t battered and bruised again.

The trace of bitter smile originally hanging at the corners of her mouth gradually became sinister.

That pitiful, calm face also became much more savage.

Hatred!

The hatred in her heart!

The only conviction that kept her alive now was to watch Na Tuo lose everything and also taste that feeling of a fate worse than death.

As long as she still had a breath left!

She would go through fire and water.

At any cost!

The cold wind outside the window stirred the open window.

She turned to gaze at the large tree outside the window.

The leaves had long since withered, leaving only bare branches.

Just like stripping off one’s clothes.

She smiled slightly. “The long winter will eventually pass.”

…

The several maids in the courtyard, after Na Tuo left, began gathering together, discussing in low voices.

“What do you think is the situation between the prince and princess consort now?”

“Before, every time the prince came, he would beat the princess consort until she was covered in injuries. Now he doesn’t do anything. It’s really strange.”

“Isn’t that good? Do you hope the princess consort gets beaten?”

“Of course not! When the princess consort gets beaten, we don’t get any benefit from it.”

A slightly plump maid said, “Have you all noticed?”

“Noticed what?”

“Recently the princess consort’s temperament has changed greatly, and she’s especially concerned about the prince.”

Someone chimed in, “Right, I noticed too. Since the princess consort married here, she’s never once taken the initiative to show favor to the prince. Now she keeps having us send incense to the prince. I think… the princess consort must have come to her senses.”

“Oh my, if that’s really the case, then we’ll be blessed too. As long as the princess consort receives favor, the silver she rewards us will also increase.”

“Yes, yes!” The several maids were delighted beyond measure.