Chapter 58

The surroundings immediately filled with faint gasps.

This Third Young Master Pei actually dares to directly address Young Master Xiao by his name?!

Xiao Jingyuan's dark eyes sank slightly; he felt the other's words were very familiar, and then he realized——

What Pei Zhi said, Xie Lin had said something similar before.

That was when Shen Shuangning gave the Twin Boat Sword to Xie Lin, to whom she owed a life-saving debt; Xie Lin magnanimously wanted to "return" it to him, but he didn't care for it, so Xie Lin said not to regret it.

Xiao Jingyuan also truly had no regrets; it was just a Twin Boat Sword, he had better and more beautiful swords than that.

However, Pei Zhi's words "don't regret" carried deep meaning.

It seemed he ought to be responsible for Shen Shuangning......

Xiao Jingyuan then coldly laughed: "Whether she lives or dies has nothing to do with me; what is there for me to regret about her?"

Su Chen couldn't help but look at him.

Actually, right now is not the best time to capture the Third Prince.

Su Chen originally planned to have the Embroidered Uniform Guard make a round at the Drunken Cloud Pavilion; if Zhai Ji learned that the Embroidered Uniform Guard had arrived, he would surely be wary and flee, so that after Wang Huanzi rescued Shen Shuangning, he could smoothly take her away.

Who would have expected Xiao Jingyuan to directly lead people in and capture Zhai Ji?!

If it weren't for Fourth Miss Shen, Su Chen would not believe it in a million.

The Third Prince assumed they had no evidence, insisting they were merely here to meet Fourth Miss Shen for a tryst, that the gambling house had nothing to do with him, and he said some very unpleasant words.

How unpleasant were they?

If spread, it could ruin Fourth Miss Shen's reputation.

At that time, Zhai Ji sat arrogantly in the chair, his clothes somewhat disheveled, and said loudly: "I have already touched every part of Shen Shuangning's body; you don't know, she is soft as water, and she even said, no one is better than me......"

But before his words finished, Zhai Ji was kicked over, chair and all, onto the ground!

"Xiao Jingyuan, you dare hit me?!"

"I am a prince! I will definitely report to the father emperor when I return; you are simply lawless!"

Zhai Ji clutched his chest and crawled up from the ground, utterly enraged, while Xiao Jingyuan grabbed his collar and coldly said: "Prince or not, even facing the emperor, I would still strike."

"Third Prince, you'd better pray I don't hear these words elsewhere; otherwise, I'll shut down all your shady dealings in a day!"

It was the first time Zhai Ji had been threatened so blatantly; he was furious but dared not utter those disgusting words, feeling deeply wary.

Su Chen's heart jolted; he turned his head to look at Young Master Xiao, having agreed not to startle the snake!

Su Chen feared Xiao Jingyuan would do something else outrageous, so he half-dragged, half-pulled him away.

Everyone thought Xiao Jingyuan's loss of composure was because Shen Shuangning was Young Master Xie's beloved, and Xiao Jingyuan was venting anger for his good friend, thus he flew into a rage and injured the Third Prince.

But only Su Chen knew the truth; it was not so at all, yet he could only keep this secret to himself.

Su Chen felt for the first time that keeping someone else's secret was a painful thing.

Shen Shuangning had already been rescued by Wang Huanzi; they all knew Zhai Ji was just running off at the mouth, his words couldn't be trusted.

But why Shen Shuangning ended up staying with the Third Prince is indeed a question worth suspecting.

Now, seeing Pei Zhi say he came to rescue someone, Su Chen connected the dots and realized Zhai Ji must have used some means to force Shen Shuangning to see him, while Shen Shuangning had long been aware that Pei Zhi was the reinforcements she had summoned.

The Third Prince is truly despicable, wanting to ruin a woman's reputation when he can't have her!

But also because of Zhai Ji's remarks, Xiao Jingyuan's anger hadn't fully subsided; he likely still resented Shen Shuangning in his heart, his whole body exuding a chilling coldness, and Pei Zhi had indeed walked into the line of fire—how could he expect a kind word?

Pei Zhi was just a frail scholar, not as thick-skinned as the Third Prince; Su Chen feared he would again provoke Xiao Jingyuan's displeasure and possibly get killed with a single punch, so he promptly said:

"Pei Zhi, Fourth Miss Shen is already unharmed, no need to worry."

Although he hadn't yet had the chance to see Shen Shuangning, he knew she was still fine, currently staying elsewhere.

Upon hearing Shen Shuangning was unharmed, Pei Zhi's expression eased slightly: "Where is she?"

Su Chen was about to step forward to lead the way, but out of the corner of his eye he saw Xiao Jingyuan rise from his seat and pause.

He saw Xiao Jingyuan stride straight up to Pei Zhi.

"What capacity does Pei Zhi have to care for her?" he stared at Pei Zhi, his gaze extremely sharp.

Xiao Jingyuan was tall, and Pei Zhi was not short either; their heights were nearly equal.

What was shocking was that, even in aura, the seemingly frail Pei Zhi was not inferior to Young Master Xiao.

Su Chen hurried to stand beside them, watching closely, as another bead of cold sweat rolled down his forehead.

Pei Zhi stared at Xiao Jingyuan, smiling falsely: "I am a close confidant of Fourth Miss Shen; why shouldn't I care about her safety? I am not like Young Master Xiao, whose face is cold and heart also cold."

Xiao Jingyuan narrowed his eyes: "You've only just met, and already you're confidants?"

Pei Zhi's expression unchanged: "Naturally, it's love at first sight; someone like Young Master Xiao, who looks down on everyone, wouldn't understand."

"Ridiculous." Xiao Jingyuan let out a cold snort, brushed past his shoulder, and walked away.

Su Chen glanced at the direction he went and knew he was going to find Shen Shuangning; his eyelid twitched.

This was to prevent Pei Zhi from being alone with Fourth Miss Shen; he had to keep an eye on them.

Su Chen withdrew his gaze, then said to Pei Zhi beside him: "Pei Zhi, rest assured, Fourth Miss Shen is completely safe; the people below are taking good care of her."

Shen Shuangning was in another room; there was a chair beside her, but she could not sit, only stand, and her hands were still cuffed.

First she endured the Third Prince's threats and offenses, then this official before her treated her as a criminal; Shen Shuangning now felt no humiliation, only utter exhaustion of body and mind.

Standing too long, she could barely stay on her feet.

She barely steadied herself, drew a light breath, then looked at the man beside her and said: "I want to see Xiao Jingyuan."

Wang Huanzi was leisurely stirring his tea; hearing this, he lifted his eyes, displeased: "Impolite, how dare you directly address an adult's name? Stand properly."

Shen Shuangning's face turned pale, she bit her lip: "Is it him who told you to treat me this way?"

Wang Huanzi shifted to a more comfortable seated position, took a sip of tea, then glanced at her: "Young Master Xiao has always been just and stern, impartial; don't think that because you are a young lady he will be lenient with you."

Just now, a person from the Embroidered Uniform Guard came, saying he should look after Fourth Miss Shen well; he naturally would "look after her well"!

So he added a pair of handcuffs to her.

Shen Shuangning let out a self‑mocking laugh.

She had actually naively thought Xiao Jingyuan had come to rescue her; it turned out to be merely a coincidence.

Xiao Jingyuan, naturally suspicious and never trusting her, upon hearing she was in the gambling house, likely also suspected she had some ties to it, so he had someone keep an eye on her.

Shen Shuangning lowered her gaze, fixed on the shackles on her wrists, her heart filled with cold sneers.

Wang Huanzi glanced at her, full of suspicion: "You, a miss of a duke's manor, showing up in a gambling house for no reason—do you expect the prince to give you a room, pour you hot tea, bring a few plates of snacks, and coddle you?"

Shen Shuangning remained silent.

At that moment, the black‑armored guard at the door said: "Lord Wang, the prince has arrived."

Wang Huanzi's expression tightened; he immediately rose, gave Shen Shuangning another glance, and said triumphantly: "Look, the prince himself has come to interrogate you!"

Before Xiao Jingyuan even reached the door, Wang Huanzi hurried over, fawning, smiling: "Your Highness the Prince, you've arrived."

The black‑armored guards on either side lowered their heads and said: "Sir."

Xiao Jingyuan's face showed no expression; he merely gave a slight nod and kept walking forward.

Wang Huanzi noticed the white‑clad youth behind him, paused slightly, not recognizing him, withdrew his gaze, then flattered Xiao Jingyuan: "It's just a foul‑mouthed girl; why must the prince personally interrogate her? Just leave it to your subordinates."

Xiao Jingyuan halted, his icy gaze sweeping over him: "Who told you I came to interrogate her?"

Wang Huanzi staggered, stammering: "No, isn't it?"

Su Chen, seeing his reaction, suddenly sensed something amiss.

But someone reacted even faster and stepped forward first.

When Pei Zhi entered the room, he saw Shen Shuangning wearing shackles, her frail figure standing there, her face deathly pale.

Hearing the movement, Shen Shuangning lifted her eyes to look over.

She had thought it was Xiao Jingyuan, but it was Pei Zhi, so she gave him an awkward smile: "... Third Young Master."

Pei Zhi felt a pang in his chest, quickly took off his outer robe, walked over, and wrapped it around her.

Shen Shuangning's mind and body relaxed; she could no longer hold herself up, so she leaned into his embrace and whispered: "Third Young Master, may I lean on your shoulder for a moment?"

Pei Zhi put his arm around her shoulders, letting her rest securely against him, then said softly: "Sorry, I'm late."

Shen Shuangning gave a slight shake of her head.

The gambling house was already hidden, with layers of guards; the place Zhai Ji had taken her to was even harder to find, so she had never hoped Pei Zhi could locate her.

But Shen Shuangning had no strength left to say anything; she slowly closed her eyes.

As soon as Xiao Jingyuan entered, he saw the two leaning together, his expression darkened, and he was about to speak.

But then he noticed Shen Shuangning's appearance and was startled.

Pei Zhi lifted his gaze, stared coldly at him, and demanded: "Is this what you call 'taking good care of her'? Treating her like a prisoner?!"

Xiao Jingyuan said in a low voice: "Who put those shackles on her?"

Seeing this, Wang Huanzi realized he had made a grave mistake, deserving death, for he had misunderstood the prince's intention!

Wang Huanzi hurried forward, trembling as he produced a key to unlock the woman's shackles, saying: "I'm sorry, truly sorry, Fourth Miss, I didn't mean to..."

Shen Shuangning didn't even lift her eyelids.

Pei Zhi scooped her up in a horizontal hold and swept past Xiao Jingyuan's side without so much as a glance.

Xiao Jingyuan instinctively raised his hand; his fingertips brushed her loose hair, then froze mid‑air.

Behind him, Shen Shuangning gently tugged at Pei Zhi's chest lapel, signaling him to stop first.

Thus Xiao Jingyuan heard her voice, still gentle but somewhat weak.