“This subject’s wife, Yu Zhi, greets His Highness the Crown Prince.” Yu Zhi raised her voice, cutting Xiao Cheng off. “Your Highness, my husband was struck in the head by an intruder a few days ago and has not been himself since. He often says things that reflect poorly on this subject. Your Highness surely knows how well my husband has always treated this subject.”

“This subject could never bring herself to harm her husband. I ask that Your Highness not hold my husband’s ramblings against him.”

Tears welled in Yu Zhi’s eyes, and she placed deliberate emphasis on the words, “how well.”

A glimmer passed through Xuan Yanyu’s gaze. He smiled with the air of someone watching a very entertaining performance. “Think nothing of it. This prince does not intend to take the Grand Commandant’s words to heart.”

“This subject thanks Your Highness for his understanding.” Yu Zhi raised her handkerchief to cover her face, hiding the smile that had crept into her eyes.

The false image Xiao Cheng had constructed — had it not now come back to bite him?

“Your Highness, do not listen to her nonsense. Those intruders were clearly sent by Yu Zhi herself. She deliberately…”

“My husband!” Yu Zhi dabbed at her tears and walked to the bedside, her voice catching with quiet sobs. “You have treated me so well — why would I do such a thing deliberately? My husband, you may not remember this now that your mind has been — hurt — but before that, you spoiled me so dearly. The whole city knew it.”

The fury lodged in Xiao Cheng’s chest rose into his throat, choking him. He could not form a single word in rebuttal.

“My husband, you will recover. I will find the very best physician to restore your mind.” Yu Zhi turned her back to Xuan Yanyu and smiled thinly at Xiao Cheng. “My husband, I have not told you this, for fear of causing you distress — but Jiajia… Jiajia was already with child before she entered this household…”

“Yu Zhi, what are you saying?” Xiao Cheng’s face drained of color. His eyes widened, the red veins in them stark and alarming.

Ye Chen quietly stepped back two paces, positioning himself behind Ye’an. Ye’an shot him a look and sidled away to the left.

Ye Chen: “……?”

“My husband, it is true. The child was never born. Jiajia’s health was damaged by it — that is why she failed to conceive after entering the household. And Jiajia even deliberately framed me, letting you believe it was I who gave her a tonic to prevent pregnancy.”

Yu Zhi suppressed her smile and adopted an expression of sorrow. “Seeing how carefully Jiajia worked to conceal this from you, I chose not to bring it to your attention.”

Despair crept across Xiao Cheng’s stupefied face. He bit down on the thin blanket, and blood welled up in his throat.

“And now you are reduced to this state — you will not be able to have any more children.” Yu Zhi rested a hand on her abdomen and smiled, a faint curl at the corner of her lips.

This was justice for the child she had lost.

From now on, she would make him pay it back, piece by piece, a hundred times over.

Xiao Cheng watched the gesture of Yu Zhi’s hand resting on her abdomen. A ringing filled his ears. The blood in his throat could no longer be held back and poured out.

The bedding was stained crimson. Yu Zhi stepped back, covering her nose and mouth with her handkerchief with a trace of distaste.

“You’re lying. You are lying!!” Xiao Cheng rasped in a low snarl. He grabbed the curtain hanging by the bedside with all his strength and tried to push himself upright. The sight of Yu Zhi’s smiling expression sent fury crashing through him. The arm clutching the bed curtain was rigid, the veins standing out sharply beneath the skin.

Yu Zhi’s smile was thin and cold.

Xiao Cheng’s hand trembled violently. Each breath dragged at his chest, sending waves of pain through it. He was so overwhelmed by his rage that he lost consciousness.

“Your Highness, my husband is in this condition — I fear he may never be able to attend court again.” Yu Zhi sniffled, her voice edged with sorrow.

“Think nothing of it. The title of Grand Commandant is a dispensable one — nothing more than an empty honorific.” The man, having had his fill of the spectacle, found himself a seat.

Yu Zhi: “……”

Xuan Yanyu raised an eyebrow. “Intruders broke into the residence — are you unhurt?”

“Unhurt. My husband shielded me throughout. This subject came to no harm.” Yu Zhi poured a clean cup of tea and offered it to Xuan Yanyu, then asked with quiet trepidation, “Your Highness the Crown Prince, have you come to the residence today looking for Elder Miss Yan?”

“Where is Lu Jin’an? Have her brought here to see this prince. This prince has questions for her.” Xuan Yanyu said directly.

Yu Zhi furrowed her brow and called for a maidservant to go and fetch Lu Jin’an.

A quarter of an hour later, Lu Jin’an followed the maidservant into the side chamber. When she saw the man seated upright in the wooden chair and noticed the absence of Yan Yunning, Lu Jin’an’s pupils contracted. There was no time to think. She sank to her knees without delay and bowed in greeting. “This subject greets His Highness the Crown Prince.”

The little maidservant behind her was startled but followed suit, kneeling as well. “This subject greets His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“You may leave.” Yu Zhi’s voice carried a certain heaviness.

The maidservant did not dare linger. She scrambled to her feet, hurried out, and, with commendable presence of mind, pulled the wooden door closed behind her.

Kneeling on the ground, Lu Jin’an felt a knot of unease tightening in her chest.

How had His Highness the Crown Prince come to know that she was unharmed?

And how had he traced her to the Grand Commandant’s residence?

Now that the Elder Miss had taken charge of the household, Lu Jin’an had planned to conceal herself here and never show her face again. Framing His Highness the Crown Prince was a grave offense.

“How did you come to be in Xuanzhao? And how did you end up at the Grand Commandant’s residence?” The man paused deliberately for a few seconds, his tone taking on a slight edge of displeasure. “Why did you point the blame at this prince before leaving the Chancellor’s residence?”

Lu Jin’an said nothing. She understood clearly enough — if Xuan Yanyu had tracked her down, it meant he had most likely pieced it all together. He simply wasn’t certain, and so he had come to confirm it in person.

Xuan Yanyu was far sharper than she had given him credit for.

Lu Jin’an remained silent. Xuan Yanyu was in no hurry. He leaned back in the wooden chair. Ye’an moved behind him and began kneading his shoulders; Ye Chen, not to be outdone, crouched at his feet and began working at his legs.

The man propped his chin leisurely on one hand and made no move to speak. It didn’t matter — he had all the time in the world today.

“Your Highness, perhaps there has been some misunderstanding…” Catching the flicker of impatience crossing the man’s face, Yu Zhi swallowed and closed her mouth.

Lu Jin’an wavered. If she told the truth, and Xuan Yanyu made Little Ningning’s identity public, what would become of Ruijing? Qilan’s Chancellor had raised Xuanzhao’s Crown Princess as his own daughter for twenty years — how would the Qi Emperor deal with Ruijing once the truth came out?

Little Ningning had only just been brought back, and in the brief time since, she had been running around with Xuan Yanyu and Yan Shiyao constantly. She had likely formed little attachment to Ruijing as a father. And upon learning she was not Ruijing’s biological daughter, would she still care to intervene on his behalf?

If the Qi Emperor moved to punish Ruijing, and Little Ningning stepped forward to plead for his release, would the Qi Emperor simply let him go?

Little Ningning now represented Xuanzhao. Would the Prince of Xuan permit her to act so carelessly?

The man who had declared, just moments ago, that he had all the time in the world, ran out of patience almost immediately. He instructed Ye Chen in an icy tone, “Take her to the Imperial Prison. Have her interrogated there.”

“Huh?” Ye Chen’s mind went blank for a moment. His gaze fell on Lu Jin’an kneeling on the ground — slight, thin, fragile-looking. Interrogate her? In the Imperial Prison?

Would she even come out of the Imperial Prison alive?

Had His Highness lost his mind?! Was he not worried that the Crown Princess would throw him out of the inner chambers again?!

Before Ye Chen could collect himself, Yu Zhi dropped to her knees with a thud, her gentle voice shot through with urgency. “Your Highness, Nanny Lu is of advanced age — the Imperial Prison is no place for her.”

Ye’an stood with a smile curling at his lips. “Madam, if the Imperial Prison is no place for her, then she must answer His Highness the Crown Prince’s questions.”

“Nanny.” Yu Zhi shook Lu Jin’an’s arm, her voice climbing in pitch with anxiety.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince…”

Lu Jin’an had barely uttered the words “Your Highness the Crown Prince” before the man cut her off, his mood distinctly poor. “Deceiving this prince is a crime compounded upon crime.”

Lu Jin’an went rigid, her hands balling into fists.