Lu Heng turned around to close the door, meeting Qin Yining’s guarded and disgusted gaze, and his heart caught in his throat.

Qin Yining never used to look at him with such eyes. He had visited her secretly before, and back then she trusted him greatly, while her maidservants never regarded him with such wariness.

So she had misunderstood him after all.

She appeared much thinner these past days. Following the Empress in fasting and chanting, she probably had to endure people’s cold looks too. All of this arose because of him – no wonder she was angry.

“You need not be nervous. I won’t do anything.” Lu Heng smiled bitterly and raised both hands in a placating gesture. His bamboo hat and straw raincoat dripped continuously, forming a circle of water stains at his feet.

Qin Yining’s face turned cold. “Earl naturally wouldn’t do anything. With your noble status, there’s no need to lower yourself to deal with a mere woman.”

Hearing her speak this way, Lu Heng’s heart felt as if someone had seized it and squeezed out drops of blood.

“I didn’t!” Lu Heng’s tone was extremely urgent. “I never dealt with you! All of this was done by Bian Shi in private. I…”

“If Earl Zhongyi has any instructions, please speak directly. It’s already late, and it’s truly inappropriate for us to meet at this time and place. If anyone sees us, even with a mouth full of tongues I couldn’t explain myself clearly.”

Hearing her cold voice devoid of any emotion, Lu Heng sadly closed his eyes. “You resent me after all. This can’t be blamed on you. Even if everything was done by Bian Shi, in everyone’s eyes she’s still my wife. Do you think that everything she did to you was at my instigation behind the scenes?”

Suddenly stepping forward, Lu Heng wanted to get closer but was blocked by Ji Yun.

Lu Heng didn’t care that two maidservants were present, his gaze focused only on Qin Yining: “I didn’t! You’ve long known my feelings – how could I possibly harm you like this? You must believe me!”

Qin Yining frowned and pulled Bingtang and Ji Yun back several more steps.

“Could Earl Zhongyi be drunk again? If you have something to say, please speak directly. Otherwise, please leave.”

“You still won’t believe me…” Lu Heng sighed with disappointment, as if all the strength was being drained from his body.

On the roof watching everything, Pang Xiao was so angry he almost jumped down to drag Lu Heng out.

Qin Yining had repeatedly refused him, constantly asking what business he had and to speak directly if there was something, yet he acted deaf and kept babbling about his own matters! What was he saying to a married woman!

Seeing Pang Xiao’s hands trembling with rage, Mu Jinghu couldn’t help but gently touch him.

This wasn’t a good time to burst in. If Lu Heng saw them and they made a commotion, wouldn’t the separate courtyard where the Empress resided become a marketplace anyone could enter? Moreover, Lu Heng had at least used connections to get in, while Pang Xiao had come by scaling walls and roofs. What if he was accused of plotting against the Empress?

How could Pang Xiao not understand this logic?

But any man watching someone harbor ulterior motives toward his wife, even running to pour out his heart in the middle of the night when he wasn’t there – even if his wife clearly refused with firm principles – such feelings would never be pleasant.

Pang Xiao used perhaps the greatest restraint of his life to avoid jumping out and strangling Lu Heng directly.

Lu Heng didn’t know he was hovering on the edge of life and death. “You and I have at least shared life-and-death hardships together. You should understand my character. Though I find it hard to let you go, when have you seen me pester endlessly? When have I ever used despicable means against you? When the Emperor trapped you in the Empress Dowager’s palace and she truly intended to starve you to death, who do you think used palace connections to send you food?”

Qin Yining’s eyes widened in surprise.

The eunuch in Ci’an Palace had suddenly relaxed his surveillance of her – was that the result of Lu Heng’s behind-the-scenes maneuvering?

If this was true, combined with killing A’na Ri before, he had already saved her twice.

“I won’t forget your life-saving grace. But kindness is kindness, and other matters are other matters. I think you should understand my meaning. I am Prince Zhongshun’s consort, and this will never change. As for my reputation being slandered this time, you came specifically to explain, and I understand now. You truly aren’t that kind of despicable person, nor are you so brainless. I believe you – you had no hand in this matter.”

Qin Yining sighed and softened her tone slightly, though remaining polite and distant: “Please return, Earl. If you stay long, I fear incidents may arise that would be bad for both of us.”

How could Lu Heng have come only to explain?

He truly wanted to see Qin Yining. He missed her so much he was nearly going mad. He understood the pain of unfulfilled desire, yet an occasional meeting and indulgence was like drinking poison to quench thirst for him…

If not for Qin Yining’s serious and resolute manner making Lu Heng reconsider, he probably would have already rushed forward to embrace her. The more cold this woman was toward him, the more his feelings couldn’t be extinguished. Perhaps only when he could truly possess her would his constantly suspended heart be able to settle.

Lu Heng said nothing, only silently gazing at Qin Yining with focused eyes as if she were a rare treasure.

Qin Yining felt chilled being stared at like this and involuntarily stepped back two paces, no longer showing any courtesy: “Please leave, Earl.”

With that, she turned and walked toward the inner room.

Bingtang followed Qin Yining into the side chamber.

Ji Yun cautiously remained in place, her whole body tense and defensive as she watched Lu Heng, smiling without warmth: “Earl, our Princess Consort needs to rest.”

Lu Heng acted as if he hadn’t heard, standing dazedly in place, staring in the direction Qin Yining had left, looking as if he might charge over at any moment.

Ji Yun couldn’t help but say again: “Earl, please leave. Please don’t put this servant in a difficult position.”

Lu Heng slowly withdrew his gaze, as if only now noticing Ji Yun was still in the room.

“You… take good care of your mistress.” Lu Heng’s voice was hoarse.

Ji Yun’s face was grave: “No need for Earl to worry. Our Prince has already given instructions.”

Lu Heng’s expression instantly changed, but given his status, he couldn’t lose his temper with a mere maidservant and could only barely endure.

On the roof, Pang Xiao could see Lu Heng’s deflated appearance and couldn’t help feeling secretly pleased, inwardly praising Ji Yun with a “Well done!” Truly someone raised by his Yining – how satisfying her words were.

With Qin Yining having returned to the inner room and a maidservant standing guard like a door god, though Lu Heng wanted to force his way in, he couldn’t ignore his status. After all, the Empress and Imperial Consort were staying in this compound. If things got out of hand, it would damage his reputation.

Lu Heng could only swallow his anger, bow his head, turn around, and push open the door.

Ji Yun stood in place, too lazy to say even polite words, her eyes clearly containing disdain as she stared at Lu Heng’s retreating figure, making Lu Heng feel even more uncomfortable. His departing steps seemed increasingly flustered, even carrying a sense of fleeing in defeat.

Lu Heng’s mind was in chaos. He even somewhat regretted his earlier impulse. If he had been more careful with his words and not so eager to reveal his feelings, perhaps Qin Yining wouldn’t have been so coldly urgent in driving him away. Perhaps he could have spent more time with her.

But he still hadn’t controlled his temper.

In Qin Yining’s heart, his image was probably now no different from a lecher, wasn’t it? Perhaps he had even become a shameless scoundrel who dared act but not take responsibility – human scum who blamed his wife for everything when problems arose.

Lu Heng thought self-mockingly. His chest actually began to throb with dull pain, making him involuntarily slow his pace, cover his heart, and lean against a corridor pillar, bowing his head and taking several deep breaths before calming down.

A flash of lightning tore through the pitch-black night sky, illuminating Lu Heng’s figure in the covered walkway. The rumbling thunder covered the sound of footsteps, so when Lu Heng caught his breath and continued forward, he didn’t notice that behind him around a corner, the Empress and Nanny Sun stood together, both their faces extremely troubled.

Nanny Sun opened her mouth to speak but was silenced by the Empress gripping her wrist.

The two held umbrellas and stumbled back to the main courtyard bedroom. After carefully observing and seeing no one had followed them, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“Your Majesty, that was definitely Earl Zhongyi just now! What was he doing going to Prince Zhongshun’s consort’s room at this hour? Could they really be…”

The Empress’s expression was also extremely unpleasant.

“Don’t panic yet. It may not be what we’re thinking. Perhaps they had some matter to discuss.”

“But Your Majesty, this is the separate courtyard where you temporarily reside. Earl Zhongyi, as an outside minister, absolutely cannot enter the inner quarters without being summoned! Yet not only did he come, he went directly to the inner quarters and even to the west side courtyard. Who knows how long he stayed inside? If word of this spreads, I fear it would have extremely bad effects not only on Prince Zhongshun’s consort but also on Your Majesty!”

The Empress’s mind was in turmoil, momentarily at a loss.

She recalled Qin Yining’s every action and word in daily life, then thought of how Imperial Consort Zhuang and Bian Ruohan had tearfully complained to her that day.

She had waited two days before summoning Qin Yining, wanting to let things calm down while secretly observing. In Qin Yining’s first two days here, she often brought Nanny Sun to quietly walk around. Originally everything had been peaceful, but unexpectedly today such a thing really happened.

At this critical juncture, an affair between Prince Zhongshun’s consort and Earl Zhongyi absolutely could not be exposed. First, it would damage the court’s dignity – if word spread, even the Emperor would lose face. Second, these two people’s identities were truly too special. If this really blew up, the implications would be far-reaching. Given Prince Zhongshun’s temperament, once his temper exploded, even the Emperor might not be able to suppress him.

So why had she gotten involved in such messy affairs?

The Empress rubbed her forehead, feeling endless regret. She should have pretended not to hear Imperial Consort Zhuang’s complaints that day and let her live peacefully. Now she had been dragged into this.

“Your Majesty, how do you think this matter should be handled? Should we tell Prince Zhongshun?”

“No.” The Empress started, quickly shaking her head. “You mustn’t speak carelessly. This matter absolutely cannot be known by anyone, or the consequences would be unthinkable.”

“But such behavior truly compromises wifely virtue. Who would have thought that Prince Zhongshun’s consort, who appears so refined and proper, would be such a woman.” Nanny Sun pursed her lips.