Murong Qingyan waited in the Xuan Manor for a long time, but Chu Hengyuan never appeared. After her fruitless wait, she took Chuntao and returned to her own estate. Once Leng Yi had finished reporting the day's events, he and Leng Qi withdrew from the bedchamber.
"Two years ago, to save the Prince who had fallen into a coma from poisoning, Xiao Jiu braved the Qilian Mountains all by herself, risking her life to find the Nine-Star Red Wood Grass. On her way back, she grew too weak to go on and happened to encounter Murong Xun’s legitimate daughter, Murong Qingyan, who was returning to the Capital. Xiao Jiu entrusted her to deliver the medicinal herb to Xuan Manor. Murong Qingyan saw an opportunity and used that herb to get close to the Prince, positioning herself as his savior. Now, she is doing everything in her power to target Xiao Jiu. She’s trying to drive her to her death," Leng Qi said, looking at Leng Yi.
"Xiao Jiu has requested to head to the Northwest to replace the Third Prince. I will propose to the Prince that she be allowed to go. Do not speak of these things in front of the Prince; loose lips will only bring trouble. You’ll end up harming Xiao Jiu instead," Leng Yi replied. He was well aware of the injustices Xiao Jiu had suffered, but the Prince’s heart was biased toward Murong Qingyan.
They all knew that Xiao Jiu had fallen for the Prince. Back then, they had warned her to mind her station and not to harbor delusions, and Xiao Jiu had hidden her feelings deep inside. It wasn't until the Prince was poisoned after being framed by the Third Prince, Chu Henguan, that Xiao Jiu risked her life scouring the world to find a cure for him.
Murong Qingyan took the herb Xiao Jiu had entrusted to her and claimed she had found the Nine-Star Red Wood Grass by chance. Upon hearing the Prince was in critical condition, she offered the herb to resolve the crisis. By the time the Prince’s poison was cured, Xiao Jiu had finally returned to the Capital, but by then, the Prince and Murong Qingyan had already become a couple.
When Xiao Jiu explained to the Prince that it was she who had found the herb, Murong Qingyan, standing by the Prince’s side, mocked her, saying she was suffering from delusions. The Prince didn't believe Xiao Jiu either; he scolded her and threatened that if she continued to cause trouble, he would throw her into the Heimu Forest to be "remade." That was the place where Leng Yi and the others had been trained—a living hell where one would barely survive even if they didn't die.
They all believed Xiao Jiu; she wasn't a liar. They had even pleaded on her behalf, but the Prince had flown into a rage and threatened to punish them all along with her. How could Aran bear to see innocent people punished for her sake? She had confessed to the "wrongdoing" on the spot and was sentenced to fifty lashes. Leng Yi stood beside Leng Qi, lost in these memories.
"This is the only way. Xiao Jiu will certainly be heartbroken to leave the Prince, but no matter how much it hurts, it’s better than waiting for the Prince to marry the eldest daughter of the Murong family and ending up bullied to the point where not even her bones are left! Xiao Jiu has martial arts skills, but she can’t lay a finger on that woman! Brother, you must send Xiao Jiu away!" Leng Qi, impulsive and outspoken, felt he would burst if he didn't vent his frustrations.
"Since when did my Xuan Manor become a wolf’s den that devours people without spitting out the bones? Not even her bones left?" Chu Hengyuan’s voice suddenly rang out behind Leng Yi and Leng Qi.
"Your Highness, this subordinate deserves to die!" Leng Yi and Leng Qi dropped to their knees immediately upon hearing his voice. Discussing their master behind his back was a grave taboo.
"Send Aran away? Send her where?" Chu Hengyuan’s voice grew several degrees colder. If it weren't for the fact that he knew these two had been fiercely loyal to him in his past life, he would have snapped their necks right then and there.
"Aran is going nowhere. And this Prince will not marry Murong Qingyan. Put away your ideas!" With that, Chu Hengyuan headed toward the study.
Leng Yi and Leng Qi were left stunned by the last two things Chu Hengyuan had thrown at them. They exchanged looks, both trying to decipher the true meaning behind the Prince’s words.
Inside a hidden compartment lay some medicinal golden powder offered as tribute. Had he not been retrieving it, he would never have known that his subordinates had harbored such thoughts. Send her away? They should ask him, Chu Hengyuan, if he would ever agree to it.
Ranran, you aren't going anywhere in this lifetime. Just stay obediently by my side!