Chapter 126

Xiao Jingyuan is fully dressed in dark robe and jade crown, looking like a proper gentleman, yet on close inspection the folds on his robe's lapel are visible and his hairpin is slightly askew.

Xiao Jingyuan always keeps his attire immaculate, from hair tip to robe hem, leaving nothing to fault.

After pulling away from the intimate affair, his whole body again exudes a faint detachment, as if he has resumed the lofty, inscrutable aura of a court minister.

But when his gaze falls on the woman on the bed, this aloofness fades, and even his stern face softens slightly.

"The hour is still early; sleep a while longer, I will arrange everything."

He said softly: "Aheng should be at Prince Chen's; I will go myself to demand him. This time you have been wronged, I will not let him off."

At least Prince Chen's wish to leave the capital peacefully is utterly impossible.

Xiao Jingyuan sat beside the bed, as if to lean down and kiss her, but when he paused near her cheek, what came to mind was the sound she made when aroused, calling "Young Master Pei."

A dull ache in his chest.

It is a hundred times more painful than knowing she has feelings for Xie Lin, even intends to marry him.

In the end he did not kiss her; he merely turned his head to tuck the blanket corner for her and tidy her disheveled hair, not daring to voice the words hidden in his heart.

He wants a title, but she may not agree.

Shen Shuangning simply does not know what Xiao Jingyuan is thinking, or perhaps she is avoiding the thought; she just closes her eyes and wearily hums.

The clothes she wore yesterday are gone; even if she wanted to leave right now, she cannot.

Moreover, after being drugged her body is weak and feeble, and she does not know whether it is poisonous; she must see a doctor to confirm her body is unharmed before she can relax.

Xiao Jingyuan looked at her for a moment, saw her face full of fatigue, did not disturb her, and got up to leave.

In this life Shen Shuangning has just experienced rain and dew; it is more exhausting than in her previous life, when she and Xiao Jingyuan had intercourse, at least she had made preparations.

This time, however, it was a mix‑up, and she has become deeply entangled with him, not knowing whom to blame.

The person she wanted to see she did not meet, but instead she accidentally fell into a trap woven by others, dragging herself in as well.

Shen Shuangning suddenly feels an indescribable weariness, and for a moment cannot accept her present situation.

But the deed is done; she can only face the reality.

Xiao Jingyuan also never expected to "obtain" her in this life so easily; although carnal pleasure does make one sink, it is ultimately not what he wants.

What he wants is her willing consent, body and heart devoted to him, not her being forced to share a bed with him, even calling "husband" mistakenly!

Thus, when Xiao Jingyuan went to see Prince Chen, the hostility suppressed in his eyes surged up entirely; though his expression still appeared calm, giving no hint of it.

Prince Chen, on the other hand, had not yet left, showing no sign of avoiding attention for his misdeed, sitting grandly in the side chamber listening to his subordinate's report.

"Your Highness, Master Xiao has arrived."

Prince Chen raised his eyebrows, not at all surprised, even smiling as he said, "Let him in."

In Prince Chen's view, although he had schemed against Xiao Jingyuan quite well, the other had also enjoyed himself last night, suffering no loss.

Xiao Jingyuan ought to thank him instead.

Thus, when Prince Chen saw Xiao Jingyuan enter with a cold face, he put on an interested expression and asked, "Did you still enjoy yourself last night, Young Master?"

He truly stepped on a landmine.

Xiao Jingyuan smiled: "The Crown Prince just left from the minister's presence; Your Highness ought to give an explanation, shouldn't you?"

Even with a cold face, Xiao Jingyuan's conduct is proper and pleasing to the eye, not to mention the faint false smile on his face.

Prince Chen merely thought he was upset because he had been schemed against, which is only natural.

"You mean the Crown Prince? He just heard something from somewhere and even abandoned me, his royal uncle, to go find the Young Master." Prince Chen said without blushing or racing heart, "Right, what did the Crown Prince go to find you for?"

This is clearly a refusal to admit it.

Xiao Jingyuan gradually withdrew his smile, looked at him expressionlessly, and said, "This capital is my territory; Prince Chen, you have miscalculated your target."

Prince Chen's pupils contracted, and he sprang to his feet!

"You dare—"

Before the word "presumptuous" could leave his mouth, he met Xiao Jingyuan's deep, cold gaze, and Prince Chen inexplicably choked.

Since Xiao Jingyuan took charge of the Jinyiwei, he has served under Emperor Xuwen, both purging the court and realm for the emperor and removing the nails planted by rebel factions in the capital; if one were to list his merits, few in the court could surpass him, only he prefers to stay low‑key.

The emperor trusts him more than many others; most state affairs pass through his hands, and he is not blindly loyal—after the Song Zhang faction fell, over half of those promoted are connected to the Prince Yan's manor.

Apart from the emperor, no one has more right to say "the capital is my territory" than he does.

Under Xiao Jingyuan's stare, Prince Chen's expression gradually stiffened.

He considers himself a warrior who has weathered wind and sand at the frontier, emerged from the bloodbath of blades and swords; besides the person on the throne who makes him wary three points, there is nothing in the world that could make him wary, let alone this junior before him.

Yet this very junior, whom he never regarded, now sends a chill up his soles at this moment.

The air seems to have congealed, killing intent about to break the ice.

The guards flanking Prince Chen sensed the wrong atmosphere and had already drawn their sword hilts half an inch.

Xiao Jingyuan and Prince Chen are separated by only a table; Xiao Jingyuan wears a single set of deep‑colored patterned robes, his back straight, no sword at his side, clearly at a disadvantage yet bearing a composed demeanor.

Prince Chen suddenly realized he had overlooked one fact: Xiao Jingyuan is the son of Prince Yan, who commands three hundred thousand troops and controls a third of the empire's military power!

Xiao Jingyuan is no ordinary junior that he can push around at will.

After grasping the situation, Prince Chen gritted his teeth, stepped back, and actually poured tea for Xiao Jingyuan himself.

He softened his tone: "Little nephew, don't be so serious; you know that since I returned to the capital I have been restricted everywhere and feel wronged as well. Never mind, saying more is useless; if you are unhappy in your heart, I will apologize to you."

"If you still cannot let it go, I will hand those few people over to you for you to deal with as you wish."

Xiao Jingyuan accepted his tea, thereby giving him an out.

Everyone knows how to put on a show; once we leave this place, any covert contest will depend on each one's ability.

……

Shen Shuangning thought she would be too annoyed to sleep, but not long after Xiao Jingyuan left, her eyelids fluttered and she fell into a deep sleep, not even noticing when he returned.

Xiao Jingyuan had not been away long; he brought a set of fresh clothes and also a bottle of medicine.

When Shen Shuangning felt unwell and opened her eyes, she saw him sitting beside her, holding the medicine bottle, his head lowered as he focused on something.

She was dazed for a moment, until she felt a subtle coolness below, then she suddenly realized what he was doing, and her cheeks instantly flushed a peach-blossom red.

"What are you doing……"

She drew a soft breath, instinctively shrank back, but he easily held her down with one large hand.

"Don't move, it'll be fine soon." Xiao Jingyuan's voice was hoarse, he didn't even lift his eyelids, his fingertip dipped in the white ointment and he awkwardly smeared it on the wound.

Another wave of chill made Shen Shuangning's toes straighten, then curl up again, and she whispered, "Enough, don't do that anymore."

In her previous life, even after consummation, she had never been this considerate, so Shen Shuangning naturally couldn't get used to it.

But this person could be overbearing at times, giving her no room to refuse.

Xiao Jingyuan glanced at her and said, "It's my fault. Would this be more comfortable?"

His fingertip gently pressed, carrying the moisture of the ointment, and he rubbed lightly.

Though his face was as clear and cold as a deity's, with not a trace of lust, even a bit of guilty earnestness, it inexplicably made people flush.

Shen Shuangning's jade-white face and even her earlobes turned red; holding back her anger, she lifted her foot and kicked his chest, and Xiao Jingyuan didn't dodge, letting her vent her anger on him.

It seemed that even if she stabbed him with a knife right now, he would not resist in the slightest.

"Xiao Jingyuan, how can you be so bad!" she exclaimed angrily.

Xiao Jingyuan didn't know how to coax someone, so he could only lower his eyelids and say bitterly, "Right, how could I be so bad?"

If he were a little better, like Xie Lin's enthusiasm or Pei Zhi's gentleness, perhaps her heart wouldn't have gone to someone else.

Shen Shuangning suddenly found herself unable to speak.

After a long while, she finally asked, "What time is it?"

"Three quarters past the Chen hour."

"And A Heng?"

Xiao Jingyuan then scooped her foot into his embrace, his warm hand holding it, his eyes gazing at her flushed, angry expression as he soothingly said:

"Your maid was merely detained by Prince Chen's people, it's nothing serious; just that you didn't return all night, your family must be worried, so I let her go back first to send word—the Duke's Manor will only think you stayed overnight at the Su Manor."

"Prince Chen doesn't know you're here; as for those who seized you, I will handle it myself and won't give them a chance to spread rumors outside."

Shen Shuangning had doubted Xiao Jingyuan's character before, but she never doubted his ability to get things done.

Those who serve under the emperor act with extreme caution; behind his few words there must be more he's done, he just didn't elaborate.

Shen Shuangning didn't ask further, only pulling her feet back under the covers and asking, "Did you bring the clothes?"

She felt uncomfortable staying here and still wanted to return as soon as possible.

Xiao Jingyuan then neatly placed the woman's clothes beside the bed, wanting to help her dress, but he had never done such service before and didn't know where to start.

Seeing his earnestness, Shen Shuangning felt not sweet but rather uneasy, even developing a sense of wariness.

"I'll do it myself; I dare not trouble the heir apparent."

Shen Shuangning clutched the thin spring blanket with one hand and snatched the undergarment from his hand with the other, signaling him to step away with her gaze.

Xiao Jingyuan was naturally completely obedient to her at the moment, so he rose and left the bed.

As Shen Shuangning dressed, his calm voice came from afar.

"Besides Prince Chen, the instigator is also a young lady from the Wei manor; do you have a grudge against her?"

"A young lady from the Wei manor?"

Shen Shuangning's dressing motion paused, and she immediately thought of Wei Chun.

Indeed, I saw her enter the Cloud Pavilion last night, after which she vanished; I never expected the mastermind behind this to also have Wei Chun's share of "merit"!

A chill ran down Shen Shuangning's spine, shocked by Wei Chun's audacity and horrified by her venomous heart—how wicked must a person's thoughts be to devise such a vile plot to ruin someone's reputation?

Utterly despicable!

"Is that young lady from the Wei manor named Wei Chun?" Shen Shuangning still asked.

Xiao Jingyuan recalled that when Prince Chen scolded his subordinates, he seemed to have said that name, so he answered "Yes."

Having received Xiao Jingyuan's answer and thinking of Song Xizhi, Shen Shuangning could roughly guess the situation.

Wei Chun's target was likely Song Xizhi, not herself; after all, Wei Chun could never have predicted that she would appear at the Cloud Pavilion.

Speaking of last night, she had originally been waiting in the Cloud Pavilion's elegant room to see Xie Lin, but then Su Mu'er's personal guards came to report that they needed to leave the palace later for their appointment, asking her to wait a bit.

Bored from just sitting there, Shen Shuangning went downstairs to listen to the opera; the hall was nearly full, and she had intended to find a corner seat with A Heng.

Coincidentally, a seat in the front row opened up, and the attendant kindly invited them to sit, which she naturally didn't refuse.

Then two men suddenly appeared, snarling that she had taken their seats; she didn't want to argue with them, nor disturb the others' enjoyment of the opera, so she gave up the seat.

She also lost the desire to watch the opera, and walked back with A Heng; then, as if brushing past someone, she suddenly caught a whiff of medicinal fragrance and promptly lost consciousness.

There's no need to elaborate on what happened afterward; looking back now, it's truly terribly unlucky.

Shen Shuangning steadied herself and asked, "What about her?"