Chapter 142: To Stay or To Leave

To Stay or To Leave

The one who came to deliver the message was the Chief Steward Gu Hong. At this moment, upon hearing that Nie Wenhao had arrived, Nie Jinxuan and Yin Fengzhan, who were currently making a scene in the room, were stunned almost simultaneously. Then, with a tacit understanding, they both turned their heads to look at the door. After a brief moment of shock, Nie Jinxuan finally shook off Yin Fengzhan and straightened her dress.

"My father is here, move aside!"

As she spoke, Nie Jinxuan looked up at Yin Fengzhan, waiting for him to move aside so she could pass. But at this moment, hearing this, Yin Fengzhan just looked at her quietly, without speaking or moving!

Seeing this situation, Nie Jinxuan's brows furrowed instantly, and without wasting words with him, she made a move to bypass him and walk out... But just as Nie Jinxuan moved, Yin Fengzhan followed with a step, and then when Nie Jinxuan moved to the other side, Yin Fengzhan blocked her again!

Yin Fengzhan didn't speak, but he wouldn't let Nie Jinxuan pass. This time, Nie Jinxuan was truly furious. But before Nie Jinxuan could say anything, she heard Yin Fengzhan take the lead and say in a deep voice:

"Stay here, you are not allowed to go out!"

As he spoke, Yin Fengzhan didn't care whether Nie Jinxuan agreed or not, and turned and walked out.

Walking out of Ningxiang Yuan, Yin Fengzhan headed straight for the front hall. When Yin Fengzhan arrived at the front hall, he saw that Senior Minister Nie Wenhao was already waiting inside.

However, at this moment, Senior Minister Nie no longer had his usual kindness and benevolence... His tightly furrowed brows, slightly pursed lips, and frequent sighing clearly showed he was troubled by something!

Seeing this situation, Yin Fengzhan pursed his thin lips slightly and walked in directly. At this moment, seeing Yin Fengzhan arrive, Senior Minister Nie hurriedly stood up.

"His Highness Prince Chen..."

"Senior Minister Nie, please sit."

Yin Fengzhan was still quite polite toward Senior Minister Nie. But after a few simple words, Yin Fengzhan's gaze turned sharp.

"I wonder what important matter brings Senior Minister Nie to the residence today?"

Yin Fengzhan always spoke directly and concisely. At this moment, hearing this, Senior Minister Nie's expression darkened, and after hesitating for a moment, he slowly raised his head to look at Yin Fengzhan and said:

"Sigh, Your Highness Prince Chen, to tell you the truth, I have come to your residence today actually for... the matter of my daughter Jinxuan."

It was evident that Senior Minister Nie's expression was conflicted as he said these words. Upon hearing this, Yin Fengzhan just looked at him with an unmoved expression, but then he waved his hand, dismissing the servants who were attending in the room.

In the blink of an eye, only Yin Fengzhan and Senior Minister Nie were left in the large front hall. Seeing this, Senior Minister Nie pursed his lips slightly and continued:

"Late last night, Your Highness sent someone to pass a message saying that Jinxuan stayed overnight at Chen Wangfu... At that time, in the middle of the night, I naturally couldn't say anything. But Your Highness Prince Chen, if you hadn't divorced my daughter back then, this matter would naturally be no problem. But now, Your Highness has already divorced my daughter, and for her to stay overnight at the Prince's residence again is truly inappropriate!"

"Of course, my daughter has a stubborn temperament, and I feel deeply ashamed, so when Your Highness divorced her back then, I couldn't ask for the reason. But now that you are no longer together, for my daughter to stay here, wouldn't it give people something to talk about? And Your Highness, you also know that recently, because of this divorce, the whole city is in an uproar. If people find out about last night, regardless of the reason, it will surely cause more trouble!"

With furrowed brows, Senior Minister Nie spoke with helplessness and difficulty. But as soon as he finished speaking, Yin Fengzhan's gaze narrowed instantly.

"Then may I ask Senior Minister Nie, do you want your daughter's reputation, or do you want her life?"

Yin Fengzhan finally spoke. But as soon as these words came out, Senior Minister Nie was shocked.

"... What does Your Highness Prince Chen mean by this?"

"Last night, your daughter was intercepted and killed on her way back to the residence!"

Yin Fengzhan's words were as concise as ever. But as soon as he finished speaking, Senior Minister Nie's body swayed, and he stood up without thinking to ask:

"Then, then what about Jinxuan? How is Jinxuan now? Is she injured?"

"She is not injured!"

"Oh... then, that's good, that's good..."

Muttering to himself, Senior Minister Nie let out a slight sigh of relief and collapsed back into his chair!

Clearly, Senior Minister Nie had not expected Nie Jinxuan's attack last night at all. But having spent so many years in the imperial court, after a brief moment of calm, he immediately composed himself and his expression turned stern.

"Then may I ask Your Highness Prince Chen, do you know who the other party is?"

At this moment, Senior Minister Nie clearly showed signs of anger, and even his usually kind and benevolent expression revealed a rare hint of fury and gloom.

Seeing Senior Minister Nie's reaction, Yin Fengzhan pursed his thin lips slightly.

"Recently, your daughter has been ordered to thoroughly investigate a bloody case in the capital. I think it must have been done by the true culprit!"

"A bloody case? Could Your Highness Prince Chen be referring to... the recent events in the city..."

"Exactly!"

Yin Fengzhan nodded directly. Seeing this, Senior Minister Nie's brows moved slightly, and he began to ponder.

For a time, the front hall fell silent again. Yin Fengzhan didn't speak, and Senior Minister Nie was also silent... Finally, after a long while, Senior Minister Nie sighed slightly and said:

"So that's it. Since it was entrusted by the Emperor, I have nothing to say... Moreover, recently, homicides have occurred one after another in the capital, causing panic, and even in the court, there is increasing debate about this matter. Therefore, solving the case as soon as possible is the top priority!"

"As for what Your Highness Prince Chen said just now, I understand. But I also hope that Your Highness Prince Chen can understand my feelings as a father. Nowadays, rumors are flying in the city, which is truly damaging to my daughter. I cannot stop the mouths of the people, and I already feel deeply guilty. But at this critical juncture, for Your Highness Prince Chen to bring my daughter back to the Prince's residence, wouldn't it cause even more gossip? Of course, I also know that Your Highness Prince Chen is doing this for my daughter's own good, but I feel that this matter..."

Nowadays, the rumors about Nie Jinxuan have not stopped, and if the matter of her staying at Chen Wangfu were to get out, who knows what ugly things would be spread! Therefore, although he was worried about Nie Jinxuan's safety, as a father, Senior Minister Nie naturally worried about her reputation. After all, in this era where men are superior to women, a woman's reputation is sometimes more important than life itself!

Senior Minister Nie had his own considerations. But just then, before Senior Minister Nie could finish his sentence, he was instantly interrupted by Yin Fengzhan.

"So, are you saying that Senior Minister Nie does not want your daughter's life?"

"Uh... of course I don't mean that! But Your Highness Prince Chen, you cannot ignore my daughter's reputation! Furthermore, even if my daughter stays at your residence, do you have a ten-percent certainty of protecting my daughter's life?"

"At least it's better than the Nie residence!"

"But if that's the case, then I would rather go to the palace to see the Emperor and beg the Emperor to order my daughter to withdraw from this case!"

As a Prime Minister of the country and a first-rank official, Nie Wenhao, although kind, was definitely not weak! So, as soon as he finished speaking, Senior Minister Nie stood up directly and turned to walk out. Seeing this, Yin Fengzhan also stood up instantly and took a large stride to block Senior Minister Nie's path.

"Does Senior Minister Nie think that everything will be fine just by letting your daughter withdraw from the case now?"

"What does Your Highness Prince Chen mean?"

"Senior Minister Nie should know that it is already too late!"

Yes, it was too late!

The murderer had already taken action against Nie Jinxuan. That is to say, the murderer knew that Nie Jinxuan was a key figure in this case. Therefore, even if Nie Jinxuan stopped investigating this case, the murderer might still find an opportunity to kill Nie Jinxuan to silence her. Because she knew too much!

This logic was obvious. Reminded by Yin Fengzhan, Senior Minister Nie also understood instantly, and his expression stiffened.

Senior Minister Nie was caught in a dilemma. But after pondering for a moment, he said with a stern expression:

"Since that's the case, then I cannot let my daughter take risks! I will go to the palace to see the Emperor first, and then immediately strengthen the security within the residence. In any case, she must absolutely not stay at Your Highness's residence!"

Senior Minister Nie's words were firm. Upon hearing this, Yin Fengzhan, who already had a cold expression, had his face darken instantly... But before he could say anything, he was interrupted by a voice from outside the front hall.

"Father, please wait, please listen to Jinxuan first!"

As the voice fell, Nie Jinxuan was seen walking in.

……

It turned out that ever since Yin Fengzhan left, although he had said not to let Nie Jinxuan run around, how could Nie Jinxuan obediently listen to him?! And Senior Minister Nie coming to the residence in person must mean something was up. So, after a little bit of thinking, Nie Jinxuan followed him out.

Only when she arrived at the front hall did Nie Jinxuan not enter immediately, but listened for a while outside. Only when she heard her father say he was going to ask the Emperor to order her to withdraw from the case did Nie Jinxuan walk out directly.

At this moment, seeing Nie Jinxuan come out, Yin Fengzhan's gaze turned sharp, but he didn't say anything. Senior Minister Nie, after a brief moment of shock, immediately asked with concern:

"Jinxuan, are you alright? I heard you encountered bandits last night... How are you? Are you injured?"

"Father, Jinxuan is fine, and I am not injured."

Speaking slowly, Nie Jinxuan raised her eyes and cast a glance at Yin Fengzhan, but then she turned her gaze back to Senior Minister Nie.

"Moreover, I heard the conversation between Father and His Highness Prince Chen just now. I understand Father's concern. But this case is currently at its most critical period, so Jinxuan does not want Father to go to the palace and tell the Emperor to let Jinxuan withdraw from this case!"

In front of Yin Fengzhan, Nie Jinxuan stated her thoughts. Although Nie Jinxuan knew that the murderer was already targeting her, if she withdrew because of fear, that would not be her style. Otherwise, she wouldn't have gotten involved in the first place.

Nie Jinxuan's words were firm. Upon hearing this, Senior Minister Nie frowned as a matter of course.

"But Jinxuan, I know your intentions. But have you thought about your current situation? Not to mention the worry for your life, even the gossip in and out of the city..."

Senior Minister Nie didn't continue, but his wrinkled eyes became increasingly worried. Seeing this, Nie Jinxuan pursed her lips slightly, then stepped forward and grabbed Senior Minister Nie's hand.

"Father, don't worry, your daughter is fine! Didn't Father just say it was just gossip? Since it's just gossip, why bother caring about it?"

"But..."

"Besides, there are already clues to the case now, so Father doesn't need to worry about the murderer harming your daughter! And last night's incident was just an accident. Staying at the Prince's residence is only temporary, and your daughter will go back tonight..."

With a smile, Nie Jinxuan earnestly tried to persuade Senior Minister Nie, but just as she reached this point, she was instantly interrupted by Yin Fengzhan.

"Who told you to go back tonight? Didn't I just say you were staying here?"

Yin Fengzhan's sudden opening startled Senior Minister Nie. At this moment, Nie Jinxuan's expression stiffened slightly, and after calming down for a moment with her eyes lowered, she slowly turned to look at Yin Fengzhan.

"And who said I was staying here?"

"Nie Jinxuan, you..."

"What about me?"

Taking the lead to block Yin Fengzhan's words, Nie Jinxuan narrowed her beautiful eyes instantly.

"His Highness Prince Chen, you and I are no longer husband and wife, and the reason I am standing here now is only to solve the case, nothing more!"

Nie Jinxuan said in a low voice, but at this moment, hearing this, Yin Fengzhan's expression darkened instantly, and after a moment, he finally said coldly:

"Fine! Suit yourself! But Nie Jinxuan, I will also tell you this: if you want to return to the Nie residence, you can. But as long as you take one step out of this Chen Wangfu, I will immediately go to the palace and ask the Emperor to relieve you of your duties! After all, I don't want to risk the huge blame of the Prime Minister's daughter being harmed just to continue working on this case with you!"

After speaking, Yin Fengzhan looked at Nie Jinxuan sternly, and without waiting for Nie Jinxuan to speak, he turned and walked out.

……

Leaving behind those words, Yin Fengzhan walked away directly. In the end, Nie Jinxuan stayed behind. Because she knew that Yin Fengzhan was definitely not joking with her, so once she returned to the residence at night, Yin Fengzhan would definitely go to the palace the next day to explain the situation to the Emperor. Given the Emperor's temperament, plus considering her father's prestige in the court, he would definitely not let her interfere with this case again!

Therefore, having no other choice, Nie Jinxuan had to compromise. Understanding Nie Jinxuan's intentions, and, in all fairness, Chen Wangfu was indeed safer than the Nie residence, Senior Minister Nie didn't say anything more. After saying some comforting and concerned words, Senior Minister Nie also left.

Just like that, Nie Jinxuan stayed at Chen Wangfu completely. Then, for the entire morning, Nie Jinxuan didn't take a single step out of her Ningxiang Yuan, and Yin Fengzhan didn't appear again!

Subsequently, in the blink of an eye, it was afternoon, and Nie Jinxuan was feeling a bit drowsy. But just then, a knock on the door came from outside the room, and before Nie Jinxuan could recover, she saw the door being pushed open from the outside, and then a slender, graceful figure walked in slowly.

"Yo~, look who this is? Isn't this our Princess Consort? Why, how does the Princess Consort have so much free time today to think about coming to visit our Chen Wangfu~!"

A somewhat sharp voice, a tone that couldn't be more familiar. Nie Jinxuan didn't need to look up to know who it was. So, Nie Jinxuan, who had originally wanted to sit up from the couch immediately, couldn't help but pause, then raised her eyebrows leisurely, and only then did she slowly sit up straight.

Nie Jinxuan's movements were lazy and casual, and after a long while, she raised her eyes slightly and looked at Qin Yuxia in front of her.

"So it's Miss Qin. It's been many days, I hope you've been well~!"

"Well said, well said~!"

Responding casually, Qin Yuxia turned to the side and sat on the chair next to her.

"This morning I heard from the people below that the Princess Consort sister had returned. At first, I didn't believe it, after all, the matter of the Prince divorcing the Princess Consort sister with a divorce document caused an uproar in the whole city, and a divorced woman is like spilled water, so, given the Princess Consort sister's temperament, how could she still come back? This is truly incredible... But unfortunately, the people below were so insistent that I had no choice but to come and take a look, but I didn't expect that it turned out..."

As she spoke, Qin Yuxia covered her mouth with a silk handkerchief and smiled, then glanced at Nie Jinxuan.

The purpose of Qin Yuxia's visit was obvious. So, hearing this, Nie Jinxuan was neither angry nor annoyed, but just glanced at her lightly. But before Nie Jinxuan could speak, a voice suddenly came from the doorway.

"Sister? May I ask who this young lady is? There are three sisters in our Nie family, and my younger sister Jinxuan is the youngest, with no younger siblings below. But now, how has a sister appeared out of nowhere?"

The voice was pleasant and crisp. Hearing this, Nie Jinxuan in the room was stunned, then turned her head instantly, only to find that the person who had arrived was her own second sister, Nie Jinhui, and accompanying her was her eldest sister, Nie Jinlan, who was already married and whom she had only met once before!

At this moment, as the voice fell, Nie Jinlan and Nie Jinhui walked in one after another. Nie Jinlan sat directly next to Nie Jinxuan, while Nie Jinhui sat directly on the chair next to her, and looking at Qin Yuxia in front of her, she spoke again:

"I am Nie Jinhui, and this is my elder sister Nie Jinlan. I wonder who this young lady is? Oh, that's right, could it be that you are the Han Concubine of Chen Wangfu?"

Nie Jinhui's expression was gentle, but the words she spoke instantly made Qin Yuxia's expression look terrible. Qin Yuxia stood up abruptly, but just as she was about to speak, the maid Xiao Lian behind her pulled her in time.

Subsequently, Qin Yuxia paused slightly, swallowed the words that were already at her throat, pursed her lips, and composed herself.

"Oh, so it's the eldest and second miss of the Nie family~! It's truly rude of me. I am the concubine of Chen Wangfu, surnamed Qin. I heard the Princess Consort had come today, so I came to take a look~!"

"Is that so~! So it's Miss Qin, then thank you for your trouble~! I thought it was the Han Concubine~! Sigh, there's no helping it, before this, I only heard that there was a Han Concubine in Chen Wangfu, but I didn't know that there was such a wonderful person as Miss Qin in the backyard of Chen Wangfu~!"

Nie Jinhui raised her eyebrows and said with a smile. Upon hearing this, Qin Yuxia's face turned ashen instantly, but she still gritted her teeth and said:

"Is that so, likewise. Earlier, I only heard that there was an unmarried second miss in the Nie residence, and seeing you today, it is indeed extraordinary~!"

Qin Yuxia always spoke with a sharp tongue. And Nie Jinhui's marriage to the Jin family was naturally not a secret. But at this moment, hearing this, Nie Jinhui, who had been smiling just a moment ago, had her eyes flash instantly. But before she could speak, Nie Jinlan, who had been sitting next to Nie Jinxuan without saying a word, spoke at this moment:

"Miss Qin, today my sisters and I came here just to see our third sister. And as for why our third sister has come to Chen Wangfu now, I think Miss Qin must know. But even knowing that, Miss Qin still says such things, so may I ask Miss Qin, are the people in your Chen Wangfu all so ignorant of the rules?! Or is it because Miss Qin is a concubine, so you don't know the rules?"

"You..."

"You?! Miss Qin, please mind your wording! Furthermore, I can tell you very seriously that our third sister came to Chen Wangfu today for official business entrusted by the Emperor. So, if you have any dissatisfaction, you can go directly to the palace and explain it to the Emperor, instead of playing some petty tricks here that cannot be brought to the table!"

"Of course, if Miss Qin just wants to play petty tricks, then that's not impossible. But at least wait until you become the mistress of Chen Wangfu!"

As the eldest daughter of the Nie family and the eldest young mistress of the General's residence, Nie Jinlan definitely had the demeanor of a mistress of a high-ranking family. So, being spoken to like this by Nie Jinlan, Qin Yuxia was so angry she couldn't say a word, and then she walked away angrily.

……

Qin Yuxia had originally intended to come and humiliate Nie Jinxuan today. But she didn't expect that instead of humiliating others, she became the object of humiliation herself. In the end, she could only leave in anger.

Subsequently, after Qin Yuxia left, the Nie sisters all smiled at the same time. After laughing, Nie Jinxuan remembered to ask for the reason, and upon asking, Nie Jinxuan learned that the two of them had been entrusted by Senior Minister Nie to bring her things and to come and see her!

And Senior Minister Nie having such an arrangement, besides these, also had some other meanings... But Nie Jinxuan didn't care much about these, but in any case, the arrival of the two made Nie Jinxuan feel very happy.

Of course, accompanying them was Xiao Xiu, whom Nie Jinxuan had often left behind recently. And this time, Xiao Xiu was different from her previous tearful self; instead, as soon as they met, she told Nie Jinxuan with determination that no matter where she went this time, she would follow Nie Jinxuan, so that even if an assassin came, there would be one more person to act as a cushion!

Being told this by Xiao Xiu, Nie Jinxuan was instantly amused. Then the three sisters talked about many things, while Xiao Xiu organized the things they had brought. But next, just as the three were talking most animatedly, they saw Mo Yujue walk in from outside with large strides, and as soon as he entered, he said in a low voice:

"There is a clue about Wang Fang!" ===== CHAPTER 143 =====