Zhou Cangyan walked in and glanced at her.
"Your Highness!"
Song Xilan hurried forward. "Your Highness, Xilan has co to ask for a favor."
Zhou Cangyan sat down. "Is this about Zhang Yu?"
Since he had brought it up, Song Xilan had nothing left to hide. She moved to his side and said in a low voice, "I am deeply ashad of what my mother has done. But no matter how wrong she was, she is still my mother. If this gets out, not only will my father’s reputation be ruined, but I, her daughter, won’t be able to show my face in public..."
She said urgently, "Your Highness, I know you have him here. Can you hand him over to and pretend this never happened?"
Zhou Cangyan looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "Do you really... know nothing at all?"
Song Xilan froze, thinking he was referring to the child her mother was carrying. She quickly said, "I will take care of the child. As long as Your Highness can keep this a secret, I have a way to smooth things over!"
Zhou Cangyan calmly withdrew his gaze, hesitated for a mont, and said, "This man’s identity is questionable. He cannot be released yet."
Song Xilan hadn’t expected him to refuse and found it hard to accept. "You know what kind of impact this scandal will have on , yet you still intend to hand him over..."
Zhou Cangyan finally raised his eyes and looked at her again.
Song Xilan secretly pinched her thigh. The pain instantly reddened her eyes, and tears welled up.
"W-why are you being so cold to now?"
Zhou Cangyan faltered slightly.
’Cold?’
If Song Xilan hadn’t brought it up, he would have never even considered his attitude toward her.
Seeing this, Nanny Tian shot a look at Kong Qing, and the two of them quietly slipped out.
Who knew that as soon as they stepped outside, they would see the Shadow Guard, Manager Pang, and Xuan i standing by the door.
The three of them stared at the won expressionlessly, looking like door gods. Nanny Tian gave an awkward smile, bowed to them, and hurried away.
This was the Prince Qing Mansion, after all. She couldn’t act presumptuously.
As soon as Nanny Tian and Kong Qing left, the Shadow Guard rushed over, pressed his ear to the door, and listened intently.
Manager Pang also slowly approached, pulled a small glazed cup from his robes, and placed it directly against the door before leaning his ear against it.
Xuan i stood to the side with her arms crossed, looking rather disdainful of their behavior.
Inside the hall, seeing that Zhou Cangyan remained silent, Song Xilan’s tears finally fell.
"You used to be so good to . Even when you knew about Junlin and ... you never held it against , much less made things difficult... And don’t you know how I feel about you? At Li Zong Pass, I was willing to give up my own life to save you... Is this how you treat now?"
The more she spoke, the more wronged she felt, and tears stread down her face.
It wasn’t until he heard her soft sobs that Zhou Cangyan seed to snap back to reality. His brow twitched slightly, and after a long mont, he said, "This Prince will not forget the debt I owe you."
Song Xilan lifted her handkerchief to gently dab at her tears. "In that case, may I call in that favor?"
His indifferent gaze rested on her. Though he said nothing, it exuded an invisible pressure.
Song Xilan was so nervous she barely dared to breathe. She twisted the corner of her robes, her helpless gaze still fixed on him.
Zhou Cangyan lowered his gaze and stood up. "Fine."
He turned and left, unwilling to say another word.
He had agreed. Song Xilan should have been happy. But an inexplicable sense of loss blood in her heart. ’I know this is emotional blackmail, but what choice do I have?’
’If my mother’s scandal is exposed, my reputation will be ruined along with hers!’
Seeing Zhou Cangyan already at the door, she felt a strange sense of panic, as if missing this chance would an they would beco true strangers!
"Your Highness!"
On impulse, she rushed forward and hugged him tightly around the waist.
"I really have no other choice... She’s my mother! I can’t just watch her throw herself into a lake with a child in her womb... Your Highness, please don’t be angry, okay?"
Outside the door, gasps could be heard one after another.
The Shadow Guard looked up at Housekeeper Pang, who looked back at him.
Manager Pang couldn’t listen anymore. "She’s putting our Prince in an impossible position!"
He was about to push the door open but was stopped by the Shadow Guard, who held him back firmly.
"Uncle! Uncle, calm down!"
They knew how protective their master was of Song Xilan. If Manager Pang went in now, he’d surely be greeted with a beating!
"No! Even if it costs my old life, I can’t let the Prince be bewitched by her!"
"Oh, Uncle—"
Just then, Xuan i said unhurriedly, "The Prince Qing Mansion has a mistress of the house."
A single sentence was enough to jolt them from their daze.
Manager Pang’s eyes lit up. Without another word, he broke into a trot to find Song Lianhe.
Coincidentally, Song Lianhe had already heard what was happening and was on her way.
"Princess Consort!"
Manager Pang shouted, "Princess Consort, quickly, co save the Prince!"
"Ah! What happened to him? Is he injured or poisoned?!"
Song Lianhe grew anxious at once and quickened her pace.
Who knew that when she was led to the front hall, she would learn that Zhou Cangyan was inside, whispering sweet nothings with Song Xilan!
Song Lianhe was so angry she wanted to kick the door in, but she stopped right as she reached it.
"Princess Consort! Go in, quickly!"
Manager Pang was frantic.
"No, that’s not right."
Song Lianhe turned around decisively. She was about to give an order to Xuan i but shifted her gaze to Yin Huan and E Jintang, who had been following her the whole ti.
"Yin Huan, Grand-nephew, co here."
"Okay."
E Jintang was very obedient to her. After all, she was soone his mother approved of, so much so that she had even given Song Lianhe so of her own dowry jewelry. Moreover, before his departure, Mrs. E had solemnly warned him not to trust anyone except Zhou Cangyan and Song Lianhe!
"My, my, the wedding hasn’t even happened, and you’re already putting on the airs of a Princess Consort!" Yin Huan grumbled, but she moved over nonetheless.
Song Lianhe whispered in her ear, "Take Zhang Yu away."
Yin Huan looked at her, then turned and left without a word.
Seeing this, E Jintang imdiately followed.
Yin Huan was not tall and wore her hair in the trailing topknots of a young maiden, giving her an innocent appearance. Trailing behind her was the mountain-like E Jintang. Since arriving at the Prince Qing Mansion, the two were always seen together, their strange pairing drawing a lot of attention.
Xuan i, of course, heard her order Yin Huan to take Zhang Yu away, but she remained perfectly still.
Just as Song Lianhe was about to push the door open, she heard soone sharply stop her.
"Prince Qing is speaking with our Princess Consort! Unrelated personnel are not to disturb them!"
Nanny Tian ca running over, flustered and exasperated. She hadn’t seen Zhang Yu yet, and she didn’t know if her mistress had successfully persuaded King Qing. She absolutely could not let Song Lianhe go in and interfere!
’Song Lianhe is the one who started all this. If it weren’t for her, how would the Madam have ended up in this situation?’
’So naturally, she was hostile when she saw Song Lianhe. Never mind that she’s Princess Qing; the wedding ceremony hasn’t been held, so it doesn’t count! Besides, it’s my young mistress whom Prince Qing is deeply in love with! He knows I’m overstepping my bounds, but he would never punish for it!’
Kong Qing also harbored resentnt toward Song Lianhe and couldn’t help but join Nanny Tian, chiding in a low voice, "Prince Qing is inside speaking with our Princess Consort. Even if you are Princess Qing, you can’t just barge in without being summoned."
The Shadow Guard and Housekeeper Pang were not happy to hear this.
’Our Princess Consort is in our Prince Mansion! Since when does she need permission from outsiders like you to go wherever she pleases?!’
Just as Manager Pang was about to speak, Song Lianhe suddenly spun around, took a few steps to stand before the two won, and raised her hand, delivering a slap to each of them—
"I’ve been far too lenient with you!"
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