“No, it won’t happen. Don’t worry. Just remember this—if Prince Yi comes, tell him I’m staying at the inn, understood? Whatever you do, don’t forget.”
“I understand, Miss. Please be careful yourself,” Cui’er replied.
“Mm.”
Yin Qingyue took her hand and said, “Miss Hai, hurry, let’s go. We can’t let anyone discover us. We must leave through the back door.”
“All right, let’s go.”
Yin Qingyue quickly led Hai Qingshuang out of the Hai residence. Guards were stationed at the back gate as well. Once they got into the carriage, Hai Qingshuang asked, “Miss Yin, where are we going now?”
“To the secondary residence first. Shangguan Jiaoran’s side should already have been notified.”
Hai Qingshuang remained silent. If Prince Yi could be caught tonight and taught a harsh lesson, it would finally avenge the humiliation she had suffered last time.
On the other side, at the Shangguan residence, Shangguan Jiaoran was still seething with anger. As soon as she returned to her room, she began smashing things, throwing everything into chaos.
At that moment, a servant hurried in and said, “Miss, someone left a note for you at the back door.”
“For me?” Shangguan Jiaoran took it in confusion. When she opened it, she saw that it was written in Prince Yi’s handwriting—actually imitated by Yin Qingyue.
“Prince Yi asked to meet me?” She believed it completely. When she saw the line ‘I will definitely not marry you,’ her heart stirred. She instructed Yun’er, “Yun’er, I’m going out for a while. Don’t tell anyone, understand?”
“I understand, Miss, but where are you going? It’s almost dark.”
“Why are you asking so many questions?” Shangguan Jiaoran shot her a glare. Yun’er immediately fell silent.
Holding the note, Shangguan Jiaoran hurried to the place mentioned.
Everything unfolded just as Yin Qingyue had anticipated. That night, Prince Yi really did sneak into the Hai residence.
But when he entered the room, it was completely empty.
Where could Hai Qingshuang have gone so late? He intended to search around, but just then he ran into Cui’er, who had been waiting in the courtyard exactly as her mistress had instructed.
As soon as Chu Yifeng saw the little maid, he stepped forward and asked, “Where did your lady go?”
“Miss, she…”
“Speak! Where exactly did she go?” Chu Yifeng urged anxiously.
Although Cui’er was frightened, she still answered, “Miss went to the Tian Room at Shuitian Inn.”
“If you dare lie to me, I’ll kill you right now,” Chu Yifeng threatened.
“I wouldn’t dare. Miss really went there,” Cui’er said, her voice trembling.
After learning Hai Qingshuang’s whereabouts, Chu Yifeng immediately left the Hai residence and rushed to Shuitian Inn, heading straight for the Tian Room.
Shangguan Jiaoran had already been waiting inside for a long time, but Prince Yi still hadn’t arrived. Seeing that it was already dark, she thought of leaving. Just as she stood up, the door behind her was pushed open.
When Chu Yifeng entered, he saw Shangguan Jiaoran. But because Yin Qingyue had drugged him, he mistook her for Hai Qingshuang. At that very moment, the drug took full effect.
Seeing how late he had arrived, Shangguan Jiaoran said angrily, “Prince Yi, do you really have no sincerity at all? You asked me here, yet made me wait so long?”
“When did I ever ask you here?” Chu Yifeng sneered. “But since you came on your own, it saves me the trouble.”
He slammed the door shut and walked toward her step by step.
Sensing that something was wrong, Shangguan Jiaoran backed away, staring at him in shock. “What are you trying to do?”
“What am I trying to do?” Chu Yifeng said coldly. “I’m going to make this a done deal and see how you escape then.”
“What did you say? You’re a beast! If you dare touch me, I’ll kill you!”
“That depends on whether you have the ability,” he replied.
In truth, Chu Yifeng’s martial skills were far superior to Shangguan Jiaoran’s—something she knew all too well.
As he closed in, she retreated again, grabbed a vase, and hurled it at him. He caught it firmly.
The next moment, Chu Yifeng rushed forward and pulled her into his arms.
“Chu Yifeng! I’ll kill you! If you dare touch me, I’ll take your life!”
He ignored her threats, threw her onto the bed, and pulled down the bed curtains…
Shangguan Jiaoran screamed and cried. This time, she was truly forced by Prince Yi.
She had no idea that Chu Yifeng had mistaken her for Hai Qingshuang. If he had known she was Shangguan Jiaoran, even with a knife at his throat, he would never have forced her.
While Prince Yi and Shangguan Jiaoran were entangled in the Tian Room, they had no idea that Chu Jingcheng had already been waiting outside the inn.
Checking the time, he knew that everything was already done. At that moment, he rushed into the inn under the pretense of looking for Prince Yi.
As soon as the attendant saw him, he stepped forward. “Prince Jing? What brings you here?”
“Is Prince Yi here?”
“Yes, he’s in the Tian Room.”
Chu Jingcheng curled his lips into a smile and led his guards upstairs. Outside the Tian Room, he ordered, “You stay here. Don’t go in.”
“Yes.”
Chu Jingcheng pushed the door open and entered. Prince Yi and Shangguan Jiaoran had already finished.
Shangguan Jiaoran was dressed again, crying as she covered her chest. Chu Yifeng stood to the side, filled with regret—he had never expected it to be her.
Seeing Prince Jing enter, Shangguan Jiaoran was utterly shocked. Her eyes widened in disbelief—this scene had been witnessed by Chu Jingcheng.
“Prince Jing? I…” She choked on her sobs, glanced at Prince Yi, and couldn’t say another word before running out of the room.
Chu Jingcheng pretended to know nothing and asked, “Imperial Brother, what were you and Miss Shangguan doing?”
“Why did you suddenly come here?” Chu Yifeng asked suspiciously.
Unfazed, Chu Jingcheng replied, “I wanted to have a drink with you. When you weren’t at the Prince Yi residence, I came looking for you. I never expected… tsk, tsk.”
Chu Yifeng’s face darkened. He looked at Chu Jingcheng with a hint of killing intent, unaware that Prince Jing’s guards were waiting outside.
“Second Brother,” Chu Yifeng said, “you’d better not tell anyone about this.”
“I’m afraid it’s too late. Many people already know.”
Chu Yifeng should have realized earlier—why would Chu Jingcheng suddenly come looking for him here? There had to be something fishy.
He collapsed weakly into a chair, head lowered. Now, he had truly lost—lost completely. He didn’t even know who had set him up. Turning things around would be extremely difficult.
“Prince Yi, you can’t blame anyone else for this. In the end, it was your own doing. Since you’re going to marry Shangguan Jiaoran anyway, you’ve merely consummated the marriage early. But the consequences may not be so simple,” Chu Jingcheng said.
Chu Yifeng remained silent.
For years, he had acted cautiously, never allowing anyone to catch hold of any leverage against him. Yet this single move had cost him the entire game.
The news spread from the inn, and soon the entire capital was talking about Prince Yi.
People gossiped endlessly, saying Prince Yi was worse than a beast—forcing himself upon an unmarried noble lady. Even though Shangguan Jiaoran had not yet become Princess Yi, such an act was still outrageous and unforgivable.
When the Emperor heard of it, he was furious. He flung the memorial in his hand to the ground.
Eunuch Sun quickly stepped back and said, “Your Majesty, please don’t harm your health.”
“How can I not be angry?” the Emperor thundered. “That useless thing is trying to anger me to death!” Chu Helian slammed the table hard.
“Your Majesty, the matter has already spread throughout the capital. Prince Yi’s reputation is likely beyond saving.”
Veins bulging on his forehead, Chu Helian shouted, “Issue my order at once—stop all discussion of this matter. Anyone who dares speak of it again will be beheaded!”
“But I fear the situation has already gotten out of control. It can no longer be stopped,” Eunuch Sun said softly.
Chu Helian was deeply troubled. Prince Yi had already become a laughingstock. No matter what he did, he couldn’t control the people’s tongues. Royal scandals could never truly be hidden.
Thinking carefully, Chu Helian felt utterly disappointed in Prince Yi’s actions. Pressing a hand to his forehead, he realized that without a proper solution, the matter would implicate the entire royal family.
Unable to decide, he fell silent.
After a long while, Chu Helian raised his eyes and said slowly, “Eunuch Sun, it seems I can’t continue indulging Prince Yi like this.”
“Your Majesty means…?”
“Convey my decree: five days from now, after Prince Yi and Shangguan Jiaoran are married, transfer Prince Yi to a remote county to reflect on his actions. Shangguan Jiaoran will accompany him.”
“Your Majesty is wise.”
“I simply don’t want this matter to continue spreading. Only then can we stabilize the people. Once time passes and the matter is forgotten, I will make further plans for Prince Yi,” Chu Helian said wearily. This affair had brought him endless trouble.
Prince Yi had to leave the capital. Only after the matter faded from memory could he possibly return.
After the imperial decree was issued, Shangguan Jiaoran stayed in her room, going nowhere. Unlike before, she didn’t cause a scene.
She locked herself inside, sitting quietly in a daze, saying nothing for a long time.
This time, she really was going to marry Prince Yi…
With the deed already done, no matter how unwilling she was, for the sake of her reputation, Shangguan Jiaoran had no choice but to marry him.
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