Mingyue belatedly realized what was happening, abruptly closed her mouth, and said crisply, "This servant obeys!" With that, she turned and ran out, and the room fell silent once more—an eerie silence…
Chapter Ninety-One: White Bones
An Xin turned her back and casually winked at An Wan. Although An Wan's personality wasn't very likable, she could be quite clever in crucial moments. Upon seeing An Xin's wink, her eyes immediately reddened, and she said aggrievedly, "Miss Zhou, you didn't reveal your identity when you came. How would I, an outsider, know you were a young lady? Besides, you burned yourself. What are you trying to do by framing me? The magistrate let me stay at the Prime Minister's residence because of the headless corpse case, and I am an important witness in the case. The magistrate's actions are for the sake of the country and the family. Why are you causing this trouble? Are you afraid of something...?"
Although An Xin had anticipated that An Wan was somewhat clever, she hadn't expected her to be far too clever, even bringing up the headless corpse case and accusing Zhou Xiruo of something serious. An Xin's lips twitched slightly, but she didn't say anything to stop her.
Upon hearing An Wan's words, Zhou Xiruo's face turned deathly pale. She cried out in a panic, "I...I didn't...you're framing me!"
An Wan put on an even more aggrieved and pale expression than Zhou Xiruo and said, "I'm accusing you? Miss Zhou, everyone is here. My sister just said that your injury was clearly self-inflicted, but you're blaming me. Besides, your injury was caused by scalding yourself while preparing medicine for Madam. Are you doing this because you have a grudge against Madam?"
Zhou Xiruo trembled violently, whether from anger or shame, her eyes filled with tears as she pitifully said, "My love for my mother is as clear as the sun and moon. Besides, if someone wants to frame me, they can always find a reason. I have no way to defend myself, so I can only prove my innocence with my death!" Before she finished speaking, she had already thrown herself against the wall. Her tragic act greatly surprised everyone, leaving them stunned for a moment.
An Xin suddenly narrowed her eyes. Zhou Xiruo's tolerance was too low. Using death to prove her will was an extreme way to do so, but in her opinion, it was even more despicable than what she had done!
Ye Qingcheng exclaimed in surprise: "Xi Ruo!"
The next moment, Yan Zhen had already rushed in front of Zhou Xiruo, and Zhou Xiruo, who rushed forward without regard for anything, crashed headfirst into Yan Zhen's arms.
Yan Zhen frowned and said in a low voice, "Xi Ruo, why are you like this?"
Zhou Xiruo, tears streaming down her face, raised her tear-streaked eyes and sobbed, "How could I have such a vicious thought... Since you don't believe me, what's the point of my life?"
Ye Qingcheng grabbed Zhou Xiruo's arm and said with heartache, "Others may not believe you, but your mother does! Silly child, your life is your own. If you don't cherish it, how can you expect others to?"
Zhou Xiruo's tears fell like broken beads, and she said in a sorrowful voice, "Mother, Xiruo has no father or mother. You and Yanzhen are the closest people to me. Three years ago, I could die for Yanzhen and for you. Three years later, I can still do so. How could Xiruo have any other thoughts about you?"
Ye Qingcheng felt most guilty about everything Xiruo had done over the past three years. The mere mention of it made her heart ache even more for the girl before her. Recalling the past three years and seeing Zhou Xiruo's tearful face, she was instantly enraged. She glared at An Xin and coldly shouted, "What a load of nonsense, what a brat! Guards, expel these two girls from the Right Prime Minister's residence! From this day forward, neither of them is to be allowed to set foot here again!"
An Wan's expression suddenly changed drastically, and she subconsciously moved behind An Xin.
An Xin's expression remained indifferent, revealing no emotion. Ye Qingcheng was clearly protecting her own; even if everything she said was true, someone needed to believe it.
Yan Zhen frowned almost imperceptibly, and Zhou Xiruo nestled in his arms, shrinking back, and said, "Yan Zhen, I didn't do it. You have to believe me, you have to believe me."
Yan Zhen lowered her eyelashes and said calmly, "Xi Ruo, no matter what happens, I will not punish you, but don't try to prove your innocence by dying in the future. Mother is not well, so don't frighten her."
Zhou Xiruo's eyes trembled slightly, then she nodded shyly.
Yan Zhen then looked at Ye Qingcheng, who had a fierce expression on her face, and said, "Mother, please don't be so angry. Now that things are clear, why cause unnecessary trouble? An Wan is right. She is an important clue and witness in the headless corpse case. Once she loses her protection, she will be assassinated. For both reason and emotion, she cannot leave."
Ye Qingcheng was furious. She could have driven them away for a normal reason, but once the royal family was involved, everything would inevitably become complicated!
Ye Qi rushed over and immediately sensed the unusual smell in the room. He felt a headache coming on, but still forced a smile and said, "Prime Minister, the Emperor has sent a letter saying that An Xin is to assist you in solving the headless corpse case as soon as possible. If you fail to solve it, he will bring his head to me."
Yan Zhen's expression suddenly changed, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Is this true?!"
Ye Qi hurriedly pulled out a letter and handed it to him. Yan Zhen opened it casually, his expression growing increasingly grave. His gaze then fell on An Xin, and he said, "Xin'er, come with me to the hot spring pavilion and find clues as soon as possible today."
An Xin replied indifferently, her face expressionless, "Oh."
Yan Zhen said calmly, "Ye Qi, treat Xi Ruo's wounds. Ming He, find someone to protect An Wan closely. No one is allowed to approach her without my permission! Xin'er, let's go!" With that, she darted away, even using her lightness skill, and disappeared with An Xin.
Minghe thought to herself, "My lord, your ability to escape while maintaining a righteous facade is truly unparalleled!"
****
An Xin was held in Yan Zhen's arms. She casually pulled the letter out of his arms and read it indifferently: "Five qian of dried tangerine peel, three qian of astragalus, two liang of lily bulbs... When did Your Majesty become knowledgeable in medicine?"
Yan Zhen raised the corners of her lips and said with a smile, "I knew I couldn't hide it from you."
An Xin paused and said, "If all else fails, we can send An Wan out of the manor. She doesn't necessarily have to stay in the Right Prime Minister's residence." If she has to deal with all this messy troubles every day, she won't have anything else to do!
Yan Zhen leaned down and kissed her lips, saying, "Although your mother has a sharp tongue, she has a kind heart. Spend more time with her, and perhaps she will change her opinion of you."
An Xin shifted her gaze to the side and said calmly, "Zhou Xiruo is, after all, your fiancée, and she took care of your mother wholeheartedly for three years. When they disappeared, Zhou Xiruo may have even saved your mother's life. Moreover, she suffered those hardships for your sake. These are things that I can never compare to. I understand that your mother is biased towards her."
Yan Zhen's lips tightened slightly, and after a long while, she said, "How do you know about what happened three years ago?"
An Xin said slowly, "That's what the Empress Dowager said."
Yan Zhen's eyes narrowed slightly, and she said in a low voice, "You knew about Xi Ruo's existence all along?"
An Xin nodded. She had nothing to hide, especially from Yan Zhen.
Yan Zhen paused for a moment and said, "Yes, if it weren't for Xi Ruo, Mother would probably not have survived. To put it grandly, she saved both Mother and me; to put it less grandly, she had a preconceived notion in Mother's eyes and had many advantages over you, but..."
An Xin listened calmly, but she couldn't help feeling a pang of sadness in her heart. However, what Yan Zhen said was true.
“However, kindness is kindness, and affection is affection; I will not confuse the two,” Yan Zhen said to An Xin, enunciating each word clearly.
An Xin did not hesitate and said calmly, "I believe you."
Yan Zhen pursed his lips, then leaned down to kiss her. An Xin was a little breathless from his kiss and pushed him away, saying, "I'm suffocating."
Yan Zhen smiled and said, "You trust me, how could I let you down? Don't take anything your mother says to heart, I will find a way to make her accept you."
An Xin smiled, a rare occurrence for her: "I said I believe you, but I didn't say I would always believe you. Besides, what's wrong with Xi Ruo? She's gentler and more obedient than me. Isn't that the kind of person adults love?"
Yan Zhen chuckled softly, "Though the beauty is lovely, she is not the one for me. I, Yan Zhen, will love only you in this life."
An Xin's eyes trembled as she looked into his eyes. Never before had her heart softened so terribly. She had always been stubborn, cold, and hard, but at this moment, she melted into a puddle of water. Her eyes suddenly welled up with tears, but she turned her head and smiled, saying, "I'm not used to this flowery and mushy stuff. It's giving me goosebumps."
Yan Zhen raised her eyelashes and smiled, "You get used to it after a while."
An Xin bit her lower lip and laughed, "A villain like you will be infamous in the future. I'll be dragged down by you. Where do we go now?"
Yan Zhen pecked her lips and said, "At the Hot Spring Pavilion, dozens of skeletons were discovered in one of the hot springs there."