Chapter 48: Has My Beloved Wife Fallen for Another?

  In a quiet boudoir.

  Han Jin Xiu sat at the bedside, her face full of confusion and unease.

  Such an expression was rarely seen on her.

  She was still contemplating matters regarding Su Qing.

  When he interacted with her, he never seemed to inquire about her secrets.

  Did he truly have no intelligence to gather and was simply lusting after her body?

  Or did he already know everything, making inquiries unnecessary?

  The princess frowned involuntarily.

  Strictly speaking, the two had not met many times, yet she felt that he was increasingly uncontrollable.

  She recalled every moment they had spent together, trying to discern his intentions.

  But no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't glean anything from his overly straightforward and direct style.

  The usually intelligent and resourceful princess now had no idea how to deal with the young man.

  She didn't even know what unexpected event might happen the next time they met.

  This sense of uncertainty made Han Jin Xiu feel somewhat irritable.

  She immediately raised her foot and kicked away the kneeling Prince Qi beneath her.

  That useless man who dared only polish her high heels but never dared to touch her feet!

  The princess only felt increasingly disgusted by him.

  Compared to that young man who made her kneel, this waste of a prince was far inferior.

  Prince Qi, who had been kicked without reason, felt somewhat wronged despite his usual servility.

  He instinctively looked up at the princess, and in that moment, he froze.

  Despite his incompetence in internal affairs, Prince Qi was well-practiced in maintaining appearances before outsiders.

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  He was no stranger to reading expressions.

  And this time, he vaguely saw something different in his beloved wife’s expression.

  That look... it clearly bore the signs of someone enamored with another!

  "Who is it? Who are you thinking about?!"

  Prince Qi’s face turned bright red as he angrily demanded an answer.

  He wanted to display his authority and possessiveness as a prince, declaring his bottom line!

  The next moment, Han Jin Xiu shot him a cold glare.

  Just as he was about to rise, he immediately slumped back down, his resolve vanishing in an instant.

  His fiery anger disappeared without a trace.

  "Useless waste."

  Han Jin Xiu’s tone carried a distinct sense of disdain as she ignored the pathetic prince.

  As a queen, she knew better than to let unnecessary emotions cloud her judgment.

  After regaining her composure, a trace of pride and confidence flickered in her eyes.

  Indeed, Su Qing had gathered a significant amount of intelligence through unknown means.

  But... it wasn’t complete!

  He thought everything was within his grasp, but that arrogance would be his downfall!

  What she didn’t know was that Su Qing thought the same about her.

  Arrogance was the easiest way to control a woman—especially someone like Han Jin Xiu.

  He was well aware of her desperate desire for the Imperial Jade Seal, willing to sacrifice anything for it.

  And in the coming events, controlling her was the key to maintaining dominance.

  After all, the plot had started to blur, and he couldn't remember the details precisely—only the major events.

  Like the assassination of a new protagonist or the life-and-death battle the Empress would soon face.

  He couldn’t recall the specifics, only the key players involved.

  But one thing was certain—Han Jin Xiu played a crucial role in all of it.

  So, acting preemptively was absolutely necessary.

  With that in mind, after leaving the princess, Su Qing headed straight for the rear courtyard of Prince Qi’s estate.

  He was going to meet another key player who could influence the upcoming events—

  The gentle heroine, Yun Rong!

  Not only was she a heroine, but also Prince Qi’s favored concubine and the young master of the divine sect’s junior martial aunt.

  So many layers of identity—it was quite interesting.

  Come to think of it... after today’s events, he was behaving more like Prince Qi than Prince Qi himself.

  Tending to the princess and then immediately seeking out the favored concubine, moving freely through the estate without obstruction…

  If he claimed it was all for serious business, no one would believe him.

  Su Qing arrived at Yun Rong’s courtyard and knocked on the door.

  With a creak, the door opened slightly.

  Yun Rong’s gentle, stunning face peeked out.

  Upon seeing Su Qing, she let out a soft "Oh?" before opening the door fully.

  "Aunt Yun, what are you up to? I hope I'm not disturbing you?"

  Su Qing smiled.

  Even at home, this gentle older sister dressed modestly.

  Yet, her ample figure was not diminished in the slightest by her conservative attire.

  In fact, her serene beauty combined with her modest dress made her all the more enticing.

  Sometimes, wearing clothes was far more alluring than wearing nothing at all.

  The blend of purity and maturity was a deadly temptation for any man.

  "I was just reading. Lord Su, what brings you here so suddenly? Is there something you need?"

  Yun Rong asked with a genuine smile.

  For some reason, seeing him always brought her joy.

  "Can’t I come visit you without a reason? I just thought the weather was nice today."

  "If Aunt Yun has no plans, I’d like to take you on a tour of the capital’s scenic spots."

  Su Qing extended his invitation.

  For this gentle older sister, he couldn’t use the same tactics he employed on the princess.

  A stroll together, gradually building affection, was the correct approach.

  That’s why he personally offered to be her guide, preparing to enjoy some quality time together.

  After a brief hesitation, Yun Rong nodded.

  Since he had made the effort to visit, rejecting him outright felt too heartless.

  Su Qing smiled.

  Today was going exceptionally well.

  A little while later—

  On the bustling streets, a striking pair drew everyone’s attention.

  A stunningly mature woman and a handsome young man—an eye-catching combination.

  Passersby and shopkeepers alike couldn’t help but steal glances.

  Many of those gazes lingered on their intertwined hands.

  Yet, none of the attention fazed the young man.

  Su Qing held Yun Rong’s soft, delicate hand without hesitation as he introduced the city's delicacies and landmarks.

  His words were casual, but nearly all his focus was on the sensation of her hand.

  The scenery? That was secondary.

  The velvety softness of her hand, combined with her gentle resistance, was far more captivating.

  Playing hard to get was always fun.

  Yun Rong’s gentle face bore a faint blush.

  She felt both shy and anxious, afraid that others might misunderstand their relationship.

  If not for the lack of gossip, she might have already fled.

  She wanted to pull away, but her strength was too weak—there was no escape.

  With no other choice, she let it be, yet she, too, paid little attention to the sights around her.