The men of the Murong family are all exceptionally handsome, but compared to the person in front of him, even the most outstanding ones cant compare. The elegance and demeanor on Nan Chengyaos body is enough to make people remember for a lifetime with just one glance.

  I watched him step by step, walking leisurely towards me. I had to admit that he had a face that was too handsome, with the lines between his eyebrows and eyes shining like cold moonlight, and the faint smile on his lips seemed forever carefree, as if there was no one or nothing in the world worth his attention.

  But this person has a pair of eyes that are all the more indifferent the more they smile.

  I dont know if its because of what I heard from my mother during the day, but in my heart, there was a sudden, almost imperceptible pang.

  "Thats enough for so long." I noticed that the smile on his lips, in the moment when our eyes met, slightly solidified, and then it was an insignificant arc again. His low, magnetic voice sounded lazily once more: "Can I ask how much youve heard?"

  "Everything." My body couldnt move, but my eyes didnt dodge his cold gaze. I spoke clearly and calmly, word by word: "I heard that you have been overly familiar with the palace concubines, and that someone has been putting poison in the Emperors food."

  His dark eyes were unfathomable, seeming to tremble slightly, yet also hinting at surprise and killing intent, flashing by in an instant. After a long while, he finally spoke again, his voice still lazy and smiling: "Very frank, and very brave."

  I lowered my eyes, gave a faint smile, and opened my mouth with some helplessness: "Do you believe me when I say I didnt hear anything? Do you believe me when I say I didnt understand anything? I was here first, besides, I wanted to avoid you, but you didnt give me the chance."

  He smiled at the corner of his lips, looking delighted, but that smile had yet to reach his eyes. He smiled and said, "Its really interesting. But some things, once you know them, you just know them, no matter how you found out."

  He waved his hand and opened up my acupoints. His voice was light and scattered in the wind: "Its just a pity about such a beautiful pair of eyes."

  Before his voice had fallen, a long sword appeared in his hand and was already pointing at my brow.

  His movements were too fast, I didnt have time to react at all. After the initial inevitable panic, I took a quick glance at his sword-wielding posture, felt a chill in my heart, and knew that there was no chance of winning whatsoever. So I simply gave up on the idea of escaping, and instead became more and more calm.

  He gazed at me with interest, a hint of lazy regret on his face: "Such an intelligent and clever person, unfortunately cant be kept, I will surely lose much pleasure in the future."

  Before I could even open my mouth, I heard a faint voice from not far away: "Miss, miss, where are you?"

  Nan Chengs eyes dimmed for a moment, and he slowly opened his mouth to say: "Murong Qing?"

  It was a question, but his calm expression on his face didnt need me to answer.

  I slightly hesitated, gazing into his cold eyes, and bowed elegantly: "Yes. Qinger has seen Your Highness."

  As expected, his eyes suddenly turned cold, but the smile on his lips remained carefree: "Oh? You still know my identity?"

  I smiled faintly: "Ive heard that Your Highness plays a wonderful flute, and Im fortunate enough to hear it today."

  "And then? I dont think you can be so certain just because of a flute sound."

  As the figure of Piao Ying drew closer, my heart grew anxious and I couldnt care about anything else. Taking a deep breath, I spoke word by word: "The person who can freely enter and exit the Imperial Palace, and has an intimate relationship with the palaces consorts... The one who dares to behave outrageously in the Third Princes residence... is probably only Your Highness himself. Moreover, the noble bearing and haughty air that you were born with cannot be deceived. Your Highness, Mu Rong Qing did not intentionally offend you, and is willing to accept your punishment. However, my maid is innocent, so please, Your Highness, show mercy and spare her, as this matter has nothing to do with her."

  I naturally dont want to die, yet Im also very clear about the situation Im in now.

  The person in front of me can personally force to death the woman he loves with all his heart, a peerless beauty.

  Although he was the most favored prince in the eyes of the world, he secretly had an affair with one of his fathers concubines and even poisoned his food.

  Then what cant he do in this world?

  I chose to say everything without reservation, just to show that I see through the situation, let him believe that I wont go so far as to reveal his secrets and seek death.

  This is a gamble, betting on his pride and confidence as the king, but the stakes are our lives, mine and Shuyings.

  Although I know the odds of winning are low, this is still my only chance.

  Nan Chengyaos long sword had never left his hand, the smile on his lips deepened, just as he was about to speak, a shrill cry accompanied by a slender blue shadow rushed straight over.

  The lantern in Shu Yings hand fell to the ground, she nervously hugged me and looked at Nan Chengyao: "Who are you? Do you know that this is the San Wang Fu? If you dont leave now, Ill call for someone!"

  I let out a faint sigh, after all, I still got her involved. Silently, I pulled her behind me and forced a gentle smile, trying to make my voice sound calm and peaceful: "Shuying, dont be rude, this is the prince, hurry up and pay your respects."

  Shu Ying was clearly shocked, her body trembling uncontrollably, yet she still managed to speak up against Nan Chengyao: "Your Highness, you cant harm my young mistress. Shes the daughter of Chancellor Murong. If you hurt her, how will you explain it to the Chancellor?"

  "Hmm? Her concerns are reasonable too, what do you think?" Still smiling lazily, Nan Chengyao looked straight into my eyes and asked.

  I smiled faintly: "Qingers luck was thin, and as soon as she arrived at the Wang Fu, she contracted a vicious disease and didnt get up. The prince treated her with various medicines, but it was still impossible to save her. Or perhaps, among the group of night raiders who attacked the Wang Fu, Qinger unfortunately became a lost soul under the sword of an assassin. Or maybe, in this maple forest, even a white tiger could take someones life. There are too many reasons like this. Father knows that the prince didnt have any motive to kill his daughter, and at the time of the incident, the prince was still serving the emperor in the palace. Even if father had doubts, he wouldnt act rashly. And the princes grand funeral for Qinger will also give the Murong family face."

  "Little, miss!" Xiao Ying was both shocked and frightened, clearly not expecting me to say such a thing.

  But I couldnt take my eyes off Nan Xiangyao, staring at him without blinking.

  His hand on the hilt of his sword did not relax, and a smile gradually gathered at the corner of his lips. After a pause, he opened his mouth lightly: "You just said that there is a white tiger in the forest?"

  I was somewhat perplexed, his words were bland, but I had a hunch that there must be something crucial hidden within, yet for the time being, I couldnt quite put my finger on it. So I cautiously opened my mouth and said: "This maple forest is vast and dense, if Your Highness were to raise animals within it for hunting pleasure, its not entirely impossible. Just now Qinger didnt think much of it, just a gut feeling that slipped out, if theres any offense, please forgive me, Your Highness."

  His lips curled up again with a smile, seemingly a faintly self-mocking thin arc, but his hand grasping the sword seemed to have relaxed slightly.

  I had just let out a slight sigh of relief when Shu Ying suddenly and unexpectedly summoned up a burst of courage, dashing to the front of me and opening her mouth without hesitation: "If Your Highness must take someones life, then let Shu Ying take it instead. Please spare my young mistress!"

  In the flash of electricity, I only saw Nan Chengyaos long sword flashing in his hand, and the next second, Shu Ying had fallen heavily to the ground.

  Her chest was bleeding profusely.

  Nan Chengyao sheathed his sword and smiled carelessly: "As you wish."

  "You, how can you, she doesnt know anything at all!"

  Facing this sudden change, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my chest, and for an instant, I felt a complete blank in my mind, unable to think at all.

  I tightly closed my eyes, slender fingers clenched into fists, and the pain of fingernails digging into my palm gradually brought me back to consciousness.

  Taking a deep breath, I didnt dare to hesitate any longer. I quickly took off the white cloak on my body and spread it on the ground, then carefully moved Shuying over and began to undo her clothes to examine her injuries.

  Her pale and delicate skin was exposed to the cool air, while Nan Chengyaos lazy voice echoed behind her: "Dont all women pay attention to their chastity? Your current behavior may not be appreciated by her."

  A faint, indifferent smile spread across my lips as I carefully adjusted Su Yings disheveled clothes and stood up to gaze directly into Nan Chengyaos eyes: "When our lives are at stake, whats the point of preserving this chaste reputation? Your Highness, Su Yings wound must be treated immediately; I wont be able to carry her back to our quarters without aggravating the injury."

  He smiled: "Are you implying that I should take care of it? But youve forgotten whose fault her injury is."

  "Your Highness, I dont have time to play riddles with you. Your swordsmanship is superb and can make her suffer internal injuries that will knock her out instantly without being fatal, but still leave her on the brink of death. Youre doing this just to give me a warning."

  Nan Chengyao gazed at me with interest and didnt say a word. I knew he was waiting for me to continue.

  I stabilized my emotions a bit and continued in my usual calm tone, "Your Highness, Murong Qing guarantees that tonight I went to bed early as usual, but unexpectedly encountered an assassins night raid. Pushe suffered injuries while protecting me, fortunately the guards in the mansion heard the noise and came to rescue us. Thats all there is to it."

  Looking at Nan Chengyao, I couldnt help but smile and remain silent. My heart was anxious and helpless, my tone also unconsciously became somewhat sharp: "Your Highness, now that Qinger has married into the Wang family, from now on, whether its good fortune or bad, we are destined to share the same fate. Tell me, what reason do I have to harm my husband and suffer the consequences of being implicated? When a tree falls, the monkeys scatter, can any eggs remain unbroken under a fallen nest? This simple logic Qinger understands. Therefore, I implore you, send Shuying back to her room. Her body has suffered greatly before, if she loses too much blood, I fear it will be impossible to save her."

  Nan Xiangyao looked at me for a while, and finally smiled: "I hope you wont disappoint me."