"You think you can just let this philandering devil escort me back to my residence? You agree, but I don't!" Dongfang Yu'er glared fiercely at Nangong Xiao as he walked away, then turned to Prince An and Shen Lixue, her tone softening and her gaze dimming: "It's late, and I'm sleepy. I'll go back to my residence to rest first!"
Shen Lixue patted her shoulder and comforted her, "Yu'er, don't be so downcast. Nangong Xiao is a very good person too!"
Nangong Xiao is handsome, highly skilled in martial arts, and of noble status. If we ignore his womanizing and philandering ways, he would be a good candidate for a suitable husband.
Dongfang Yu'er said with a bitter face, "If he's so promiscuous and philandering, then there are no bad men in the world!"
"You have a lot of opinions about him?" Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow, thinking about how Dongfang Yu'er and Nangong Xiao always disliked each other whenever they met.
"We are sworn enemies!" Dongfang Yu'er said, enunciating each word clearly, and turned to the carriage with resentment. "I'm going back to the manor to settle accounts with my father!" He had unknowingly sold her out. This was intolerable!
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow. She suddenly realized that Dongfang Yu'er and Nangong Xiao were indeed, as the King of Yunnan had said, a pair of bickering lovers. Such a union might have unexpected results.
The following day, the imperial edict bestowing marriage upon Nangong Xiao and Dongfang Yu'er was read aloud, causing an uproar in the capital. The most fiery princess of Qingyan was marrying the most philandering prince of Qingyan; the news was truly explosive, and the streets and alleys were instantly abuzz with the news.
As Shen Lixue sat in the carriage, all sorts of comments drifted into her ears: "Dongfang Yu'er marrying Nangong Xiao, the Emperor and his wife are such a perfect match!"
"That's right, one is the most feisty and the other is the most womanizing and philandering, their marriage is sure to be full of excitement..."
"We ordinary people have no shortage of topics to discuss over tea..."
Shen Lixue picked up her teacup, took a small sip, lowered her eyelids, and gently shook her head. The common people didn't approve of their relationship, but she knew that although Nangong Xiao was a womanizer, he was responsible and wouldn't mistreat Dongfang Yu'er. Dongfang Yu'er was indeed feisty, but as long as Nangong Xiao didn't cause her trouble, she wouldn't provoke any. Even if they weren't affectionate after getting married, they would still treat each other with respect...
"Princess, we've arrived at the post station!" The coachman's voice rang out as the carriage came to a stop.
Shen Lixue put down her teacup, lifted the curtain, got off the carriage, and stood outside the gate. Looking up, she saw the two large gilded characters of "Post Station" on the plaque shining brightly in the sunlight.
Bai Ling'er has been held at the post station by Qin Ruoyan for several days without any news, so she came to check on Qin Ruoyan and see how far the interrogation had progressed.
Shen Lixue had been to the post station many times, and the guards almost all knew her. Without reporting her presence, they let her in directly. With light steps, she followed the familiar bluestone path to the courtyard where Qin Ruoyan was.
Qin Ruoyan always loved to make a grand display, with many maids guarding her inside and outside the courtyard. But Shen Lixue hardly encountered anyone along the way. Strange, where did all the servants go?
Puzzled, Shen Lixue was about to step into the courtyard when a familiar, playful voice reached her ears: "You're leaving so soon after arriving? You must be exhausted!"
Qin Ruoyan's coquettish and affected voice instantly gave everyone goosebumps.
Shen Lixue frowned, looking at the sun high in the sky. In broad daylight, Qin Ruoyan was openly flirting with someone in the courtyard. How...open! Who was the man? Mu Zhengnan, or someone else?
Driven by curiosity, Shen Lixue quietly looked into the courtyard. A man in blue was standing by a round table with his back to her, so she couldn't see his face. But why did his back look so familiar?
"I have other matters to attend to and cannot stay any longer!" The man's voice was cold and indifferent, yet strangely familiar.
Shen Lixue felt a sudden boom, and her clear, cold eyes narrowed instantly. That voice, that figure...
"You came in such a hurry, you must be exhausted. Take a rest before you go, and keep me company while you're at it..." Qin Ruoyan smiled sweetly, her small, beady eyes sparkling with lust, as if she had seen a top-quality man and couldn't bear to part with him. She reached out eagerly to grab the man's neck.
The man raised his hand, and with a whoosh, a folding fan was pressed against Qin Ruoyan's neck: "If you dare to be insolent again, I'll take your life!"
Qin Ruoyan felt the tip of the fan pressing tightly against her neck. It didn't feel like a fan; it felt more like a long sword, with a chilling aura and killing intent emanating from its tip. If she dared to move, the tip would pierce her throat and take her life.
Her arms hung awkwardly in mid-air, unsure whether to retract them or extend them, as she stared at the man in astonishment: "How do you possess such high-level martial arts skills?"
Shen Lixue frowned, a cold glint flashing deep in her eyes. She clearly remembered that when he first fought Qin Ruoyan, she had drugged him, leaving him powerless and unable to move. Judging from his current martial arts skills, he could subdue Qin Ruoyan in one move and wouldn't be fooled by her at all...
"What do you think?" the man asked in a cold voice, responding instead of answering.
"Are you hiding your strength?" Qin Ruoyan was a princess of the Southern Frontier, and with her extensive knowledge, she understood his purpose after a little thought.
"Don't let a third person know about this, otherwise..." The man pointed his sharp folding fan at Qin Ruoyan's throat.
A sharp pain shot through her throat. If it had been any harder, her throat would have been severed. A flicker of panic crossed Qin Ruoyan's eyes as she hurriedly raised her right hand: "I swear, I will not reveal a single word!" Although she was fond of men, she knew very well who she could offend and who she could not.
"The thing I asked you to investigate..." the man drawled, his tone carrying a hint of coercion and threat.
"I will give you a satisfactory answer within ten days!" Qin Ruoyan promised confidently, her face solemn, completely different from the lustful woman she had been just moments before.
"That's good!" the man said coldly, putting away his folding fan.
Qin Ruoyan touched her neck, secretly relieved. She raised her eyelids and secretly sized up the man. He had been hiding his true abilities all along; she had underestimated him…
Light footsteps approached, and Shen Lixue turned around to see two maids carrying cups and plates walking straight towards her from the end of the bluestone path.
Shen Lixue's gaze sharpened, and she quickly retreated five or six meters, pretending to have just arrived. She walked slowly forward and called out softly, "Princess Qin, Princess Qin, are you there?"
"It's Shen Lixue!" Qin Ruoyan cautiously reminded him, secretly glancing at the man's expression.
The man paused abruptly upon hearing Shen Lixue's voice, his gaze darkening. With a light step, his tall figure instantly reached the high wall, and his deliberately lowered voice clearly reached Qin Ruoyan's ears: "Ten days later, I will come to see the answer!"
The moment the man disappeared over the wall, Shen Lixue walked into the courtyard, looked at Qin Ruoyan and smiled: "Princess Qin!"
"Princess Lixue, what brings you to the inn to visit me?" Qin Ruoyan, now back to normal, greeted her with a teasing tone.
"Bai Ling'er, how's the interrogation going?" Shen Lixue didn't waste any words and went straight to the point.
Qin Ruoyan's smiling face instantly darkened, and a cold light flashed in her beady green eyes: "Don't even mention that bitch, she's so stubborn. I used every torture instrument on her, but she still wouldn't utter a word!"
"Is there anything in this world that you, Qin Ruoyan, can't handle?" Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow and walked towards the prison where Qin Ruoyan was holding people.
Qin Ruoyan snorted lightly: "I can't do anything about her for now, but one day I will find a way to make her talk!" In Qin Ruoyan's hands, there is no mouth that cannot be pried open.
The prison was dark and damp, filled with the smell of blood and mildew. A slender figure hung from hard iron rings, her hair hanging down in disarray, obscuring her stunningly beautiful face. Her tattered clothes were stained with blood, and patches of skin were exposed, covered with hideous scars.
"This is... Bai Ling'er?" Looking at the disheveled woman in front of her, Shen Lixue found it hard to connect her with the stunningly beautiful woman who had once captivated the nation.
Qin Ruoyan glared at the woman hatefully: "It's her! She's so stubborn. No matter how much I torture her, she just grits her teeth and holds on, refusing to say a word!"
Bai Ling'er is proud, stubborn, and doesn't easily admit defeat, so it's understandable that she would spit out her words.