The newcomer was indeed Wan Shi. After Xianyue left, she felt somewhat uneasy and came out to check. Who would have thought she would actually see Xianyue blocked here by Yin Shi and the other? Hmph, what a coincidence meeting – they probably got wind of something somewhere and deliberately blocked her here to prevent Xianyue from leaving.

“Since you’ve promised someone, you cannot break your word. Go quickly. As for the fabrics, Virtue Consort has always been generous and will surely keep some fine fabrics for you. You can come get them next time you enter the palace. Also, the rouge and powder you brought this time is quite good. Next time bring some for Virtue Consort and Consort Zhao – they’ll surely like it.”

Xianyue knew she was helping her out of the predicament and quickly followed her words: “Yes, I’ll go right away.”

After Xianyue left, Wan Shi looked at Yin Shi and the other, smiling: “I’ve arranged it this way – Virtue Consort and Consort Zhao have no objections, right?”

Yin Shi laughed lightly: “Your Ladyship’s arrangements naturally have no objections.”

Wan Shi smiled and turned her gaze to Zhang Shi: “Why doesn’t Consort Zhao speak? Are you dissatisfied?”

Zhang Shi forced a slight smile: “Your Ladyship arranged it so properly – how could this subject-consort be dissatisfied?”

“That’s good then.” After saying this, Wan Shi took her maid’s hand and turned to leave. After she walked away, Zhang Shi’s face fell as she said coldly: “She clearly came on purpose to help Wang Xianyue out of the predicament. Hmph, there’s definitely something wrong here.”

“Whatever the problem is, it revolves around the Prince of Qin’s mansion, so she will definitely go to the Prince of Qin’s mansion.” Saying this, Yin Shi called over a palace servant: “Immediately notify the Crown Prince not to let Wang Xianyue see the Prince of Qin – tell him to act quickly! Also, I remember you can ride horses, right?”

“This slave knows a little horsemanship.” As soon as the palace servant finished speaking, Yin Shi said: “Very good. Go to the Imperial Stables and get a horse, ride there. If they ask, say it’s my order.”

After the palace servant left acknowledging the order, Yin Shi’s face showed a sinister smile: “This time, no one can save the Prince of Qin, including Wan Shi!”

It could be said this was a contest of life and death – whoever moved faster would win and could obtain this great territory bought with countless lives.

After Xianyue left the palace gates, she immediately boarded the carriage waiting there and had the driver go to the Prince of Qin’s mansion immediately. Rushing all the way, after about half an hour, the carriage stopped abruptly. Xianyue’s body involuntarily lurched forward. After steadying herself, she asked: “Have we reached the Prince of Qin’s mansion?”

The driver lifted the curtain with a strange expression: “Young Madam, we’re still some distance from the Prince of Qin’s mansion.”

Xianyue frowned, displeased: “If we haven’t arrived, why did you stop? Hurry up and continue.”

The driver looked back and said with difficulty: “But the Crown Prince and Prince of Qi have come.”

“The Crown Prince?” Xianyue’s heart jumped. She had been blocked by Yin Shi and others in the palace earlier, and now encountered Li Jiancheng after leaving – this was too coincidental. It was probably Yin Shi who sent word, but she hadn’t expected them to act so quickly. Since Li Jiancheng was blocking here, he definitely wouldn’t easily let her go to the Prince of Qin’s mansion.

Xianyue took the driver’s hand and got off the carriage, walking to Li Jiancheng who stood in front of the carriage. She curtsied: “I didn’t expect to meet the Crown Prince and Prince of Qi here – what a coincidence.”

Li Jiancheng smiled: “I saw it looked like Deputy General Du’s carriage and thought he was inside. I didn’t expect it to be Young Madam – truly impolite of me.” Though Xianyue had hurried, how could a carriage’s speed compare to racing on horseback?

Xianyue lowered her eyes: “My husband is at the mansion today. If the Crown Prince seeks him, you could send someone to summon him.”

“No need – it’s nothing urgent.” After pausing, Li Jiancheng said: “But where is Young Madam going? This doesn’t seem like the road back to the Du mansion.”

“I…” Xianyue’s eyes turned as she said: “Seeing the hour was still early and having nothing to do, I thought I’d walk around – I’ve made the Crown Prince laugh at me.”

Li Yuanji laughed coldly: “Walk around? You’re probably going to the Prince of Qin’s mansion.”

Xianyue’s face paled as she said uncomfortably: “Prince of Qi jests.” Saying this, she continued: “If the Crown Prince and Prince of Qi have nothing else, I’ll take my leave first.”

“No rush.” Li Jiancheng stepped forward, blocking Xianyue’s path, and said in a low voice: “The place you want to go – we both know. I advise Young Madam not to go.”

Xianyue forced an extremely unnatural smile: “I don’t understand what the Crown Prince is saying. Please let me pass.”

Li Jiancheng didn’t step aside and put away what little smile remained on his face: “My meaning couldn’t be clearer. Wang Xianyue, this matter isn’t something you or Du Ruhui can interfere with. If you take one more step forward today, I guarantee the Du and Wang families will be completely exterminated!”

Xianyue hadn’t expected him to say such words and angrily said: “The Crown Prince is threatening me?”

Li Yuanji stepped forward and said coldly: “Elder brother is just telling you the facts. Wang Xianyue, think it through clearly!”

Though Xianyue didn’t interact much with Li Jiancheng and others, she had heard Du Ruhui speak of them often and knew they were all ruthless people. Since they had spoken, they would certainly do it. Even if she ignored the threat, they absolutely wouldn’t let her take another step forward and wouldn’t hesitate to kill her to silence her. To them, one human life really meant nothing.

Xianyue was both angry and hateful, scolding: “Your perverse actions will sooner or later be intolerable to Heaven’s justice.”

Li Yuanji smiled without warmth: “This matter doesn’t require your concern. Go back.”

Xianyue’s mind raced. In the current situation, confronting them head-on would be like an egg hitting a stone – no chance of winning. Thinking it over, the only option now was to first pretend to submit, then after seeing Ruhui, discuss it with him. However…

Thinking this way, Xianyue said: “If I go back now, you won’t harm the Du and Wang families?”

“Of course – it depends on Young Madam’s choice!” Du Ruhui was Li Shimin’s man – how could Li Jiancheng possibly spare him? But this thought naturally wouldn’t be spoken now.

“Fine, I’ll return to the mansion!” Throwing down these words, Xianyue returned to the carriage and had the driver turn the horse around toward the Du mansion. However, as soon as she got off the carriage, she knew she had thought Li Jiancheng too simple. At some point, many people of unknown identity had appeared around the Du mansion. When she asked the gatekeeper, they said they didn’t know who these people were, only that they had suddenly appeared shortly before Xianyue returned. Seeing these people all carried swords and knives, he dared not drive them away and reported the matter to Du Ruhui. The latter came out to drive them away, but these people turned a deaf ear and just stood there motionless, as if guarding this residence, or perhaps… monitoring!

In his anger, Du Ruhui had fought with them. These people were all skilled in martial arts, and in one-on-one situations, Du Ruhui couldn’t gain the upper hand and had to retreat.