Chapter 83

Go back with me

Nie Jinxuan had not expected that the man she encountered by accident would be Prince Rui, Yin Fengxiang.

In the conversation that followed between him and Yin Fengzhan, she learned that although Yin Fengxiang's health had always been poor, he had happened to meet a famous doctor from the outside world by chance last year. Under the care of this famous doctor for over a year, Yin Fengxiang's body had improved significantly compared to before. That was why he had come to Zuixiashanzhuang this time to attend the Spring Sacrifice.

However, even though his health had improved quite a bit, Yin Fengxiang was still weaker than others. Therefore, to accommodate his health, their journey had been slower than others, and they did not arrive at the villa until the second day. Consequently, he had not attended the previous banquet and knew nothing about Nie Jinxuan being poisoned.

But while Yin Fengxiang did not know, Yin Fengzhan was well aware. So, after exchanging a few simple words with Prince Rui Yin Fengxiang, Yin Fengzhan pulled Nie Jinxuan and prepared to head back.

Yin Fengzhan was as overbearing as ever, and his gloomy expression made Nie Jinhui and Xiao Xiu, who had arrived later, not dare to ask a single question. But after a brief moment of shock, Nie Jinxuan directly shook him off.

"Yin Fengzhan, what exactly do you want to do! Let go of me!"

"Go back!"

"Why should I go back? This has nothing to do with you!"

"You are this Prince's woman!"

Grabbing Nie Jinxuan's wrist and pulling her in front of him, Yin Fengzhan said in a low voice, his angry tone instantly startling the birds in the surrounding forest into scattering.

Upon hearing this, Nie Jinxuan reflexively gave a cold laugh.

"Yin Fengzhan, it's a wonder you can even say such a thing!"

Nie Jinxuan's words were somewhat inexplicable, yet they made Yin Fengzhan's gaze sharpen instantly. Seeing him like this, Nie Jinxuan curled her lips in mockery again, then glanced at Xiao Xiu and Nie Jinhui, who were too scared to speak, and Prince Rui Yin Fengxiang, who did not know what was going on, before casting her gaze back to Yin Fengzhan.

"Yin Fengzhan, I already made the issues between you and me clear yesterday. So, I will not interfere in your affairs, and I ask that you do not ask about mine!"

This time, Nie Jinxuan deliberately lowered her voice. After speaking, she shook off Yin Fengzhan's hand again and turned to leave.

That night, in a side room in the front courtyard, a lamp flickered like a bean, and Yin Fengzhan sat alone in the corner of the room, eyes lowered in silence.

The dancing candlelight reflected his handsome, peerless profile, outlining intoxicating shadows, but the depth in his eyes was enough to make one feel fearful.

Yin Fengzhan sat there quietly, and the room was extremely still. After an unknown amount of time, a knock sounded at the door, and Zhongli pushed it open and walked in.

Zhongli was Yin Fengzhan's trusted guard. He was about the same age as Yin Fengzhan and possessed extraordinary skills. He rarely appeared in the Wangfu, but whenever Yin Fengzhan went out, Zhongli usually accompanied him.

Upon entering the room, Zhongli went straight to Yin Fengzhan and said in a low voice:

"Your Highness."

"Is everything arranged?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, everything is arranged!"

"Mm."

Responding with a slight sound, Yin Fengzhan waved his hand at Zhongli without raising his head. Seeing this, Zhongli nodded in understanding and quietly turned to leave...

But just as Zhongli had turned and taken two steps, Yin Fengzhan suddenly called out to stop him.

"Wait a moment."

"Yes, does Your Highness have any other instructions?"

"You..."

Returning to stand before Yin Fengzhan, Zhongli looked respectful. But Yin Fengzhan had just opened his mouth before stopping. He looked up at Zhongli, and after a long while, he said in a low voice:

"Do you... know why the Princess Consort went out of the villa today?"

Yin Fengzhan's question was somewhat subtle. Upon hearing this, Zhongli was stunned. He looked up at Yin Fengzhan, and after thinking for a moment, he answered directly:

"Reporting to Your Highness, this subordinate does not know the specific situation... However, according to the servants who attend to the Princess Consort, they said the Princess Consort was in a bad mood today, which is why she went out with the Second Miss Nie and the others."

"... And then what else?"

"Uh... this subordinate does not know... However, just now when I passed the door of the opposite side room, I heard a few servants saying that the Princess Consort encountered a snake in the Purple Maple Forest today."

"A snake?"

Hearing that Nie Jinxuan had encountered a snake in the forest, Yin Fengzhan's brows tightened instantly. Then he heard Zhongli continue:

"Yes. It is said that Prince Rui's wheelchair got stuck at the time, and it just so happened that there was a snake nearby, which bit Prince Rui's calf. Fortunately, the Princess Consort was catching fish in the creek opposite, so she stepped forward and threw the snake away, and even helped Prince Rui treat the wound..."

Although Zhongli was about the same age as Yin Fengzhan and usually appeared solemn, he was actually quite fond of excitement and gossip at heart. So, hearing Yin Fengzhan's follow-up questions, he opened the floodgates.

"So, just now when I passed by there, a few servants were talking about this matter, saying that the snake was as thick as a child's arm, and the Princess Consort actually caught it with her bare hands..."

Zhongli was quite detailed, relaying all the gossip he had heard outside. After a while, he noticed that Yin Fengzhan had remained silent. Seeing this, Zhongli immediately shut his mouth and said in a low voice:

"Uh... Your Highness, I have been too talkative."

"You may go."

"Yes!"

This time, Zhongli dared not say another word, responded respectfully, and quickly walked out. Once Zhongli had left, Yin Fengzhan, who was sitting in his seat, finally lifted his head slightly, sighed, and then stood up, pushed the door open, and walked out.

However, after leaving the room, Yin Fengzhan did not go anywhere else, but went straight to Nie Jinxuan's room opposite.

At this time, Nie Jinxuan and Xiao Xiu, who had been talking in the room, saw Yin Fengzhan arrive, and Xiao Xiu hurriedly and tactfully retreated. As soon as Xiao Xiu left, Nie Jinxuan, who was already lying on the bed, darkened her expression and looked up, saying:

"May I ask what business Your Highness has?"

Nie Jinxuan's expression was as calm as water, but the detachment was obvious. So, when Nie Jinxuan finished speaking, Yin Fengzhan frowned and sat down on the edge of the bed.

Yin Fengzhan did not speak, but seeing him sit down, Nie Jinxuan frowned in displeasure.

"Yin Fengzhan, what do you want to do again? Let me tell you, I have nothing to say to you about what happened during the day!"

"How is your body?"

"I tell you... uh? What?"

Nie Jinxuan was as defensive as a hedgehog, but she never expected that Yin Fengzhan would come over not to ask about the day's events, but to suddenly show concern for her health?!

So, upon hearing this, Nie Jinxuan was stunned, but then looked at Yin Fengzhan with suspicion and said:

"Yin Fengzhan, what do you want to do again?"

"This Prince just wanted to ask how your body is."

"Very well."

"That's good."

After a few simple exchanges, Yin Fengzhan fell silent again. Watching Yin Fengzhan sit by her bed without a word, Nie Jinxuan felt quite bewildered and couldn't help but ask in a low voice:

"Yin Fengzhan, what exactly is your business?"

Yin Fengzhan had always glared at her, so his sudden kindness and silence made Nie Jinxuan feel it was rather strange. But the more Nie Jinxuan pressed him, the more Yin Fengzhan refused to speak; his silent, lowered-gaze demeanor made Nie Jinxuan quite angry.

But then, after an unknown amount of time—long enough that Nie Jinxuan was thinking of chasing him away to rest—Yin Fengzhan's expression shifted slightly, and he looked up at Nie Jinxuan.

"This Prince..."

Yin Fengzhan finally spoke. But just as he started, a faint shouting sound came from outside.

The sound was not loud, but it sounded vaguely like a woman's, and somewhat familiar. So, in an instant, both Nie Jinxuan and Yin Fengzhan in the room frowned. Nie Jinxuan first made a move to roll off the bed, but was immediately pressed down by Yin Fengzhan.

"You stay in the room, this Prince will go out and take a look!"

As he spoke, Yin Fengzhan did not wait for Nie Jinxuan to retort and walked out. But seeing Yin Fengzhan leave, how could Nie Jinxuan sit still and wait?! So, as soon as Yin Fengzhan went out, Nie Jinxuan got off the bed, threw on an outer garment, and followed quickly...

The sound came from the path beside the courtyard. When Yin Fengzhan followed the sound, he couldn't help but widen his eyes.

It turned out that the person shouting was none other than Nie Jinhui. And at this moment, she was being forcibly held and molested by a man.

Seeing this, Yin Fengzhan did not hesitate, stepped forward, pulled the crying and struggling Nie Jinhui out, and punched the audacious man to the ground!

At this time, Nie Jinxuan, who had followed Yin Fengzhan out, also arrived. Seeing it was Nie Jinhui, Nie Jinxuan hurriedly stepped forward to pull her over, let Xiao Xiu, who had run over, comfort her, and then turned to look at the man Yin Fengzhan had knocked to the ground.

"Audacious scoundrel! This is the Imperial Zuixiashanzhuang. How dare you come here to molest a relative of the Imperial family? Are you not afraid of losing your head?!"

Nie Jinxuan spoke righteously, her usually calm face flushed with erupting anger. But just as Nie Jinxuan wanted to step forward to question the man again and call for someone to arrest him, Yin Fengzhan, who was standing in front of her, blocked her.

"Yin Fengzhan, what are you doing?!"

Nie Jinxuan did not understand why Yin Fengzhan was doing this. But upon hearing her, Yin Fengzhan only signaled to her with his eyes. Nie Jinxuan was stunned for a moment, then understood and cast her gaze back onto the man... But at that very moment, the instant she saw the man's face clearly, she was so shocked that her eyes widened!

It turned out that the man knocked to the ground by Yin Fengzhan's punch was none other than the Crown Prince, Yin Fenghan!