CHAPTER 239: CHAPTER 238: A FINE SHOW!

"What a great show this is."

Xie Jiuxiao arrived cloaked in frost, accompanied by a group of Dragon Shadow Guards, surrounding the area near the boat.

"Why is Prince Su also here?"

Seeing this formidable figure, Consort Chen quickly stood and backed away, feeling she might suffer frostbite.

"Xie Jiuxiao, are you here to attend the spring banquet too?"

Yu Nianzhao asked him curiously.

"I received a letter."

Xie Jiuxiao strode in with his long legs, his stern expression slightly relaxed upon seeing Yu Nianzhao.

Holding a letter in his hand, he said coldly, "The letter specifically names Zhaozhao, accusing her of immoral acts and wanted me to come and see for myself. I didn’t expect to indeed witness quite a show, yet the leading role seems to be someone else."

Xie Jiuxiao’s sharp gaze swept over, making Pei Yunzhi shiver uncontrollably, her head bowed to her chest, not daring to lift it.

"What?"

Yu Nianzhao grabbed the letter from Xie Jiuxiao, confirming its malicious intent. The writing was crude, like that of a rough man.

"Isn’t this interesting? Am I the one being denounced?"

Yu Nianzhao was almost amused by the anger, "No wonder when I went to change clothes earlier, someone blew knockout smoke into the room?"

"Knockout smoke?"

Xie Jiuxiao squinted fiercely, "Which room was it? Mu Hongxuan, investigate!"

"Yes, Prince!"

Mu Hongxuan immediately took people to investigate.

Yu Nianzhao shrugged, "The smoke has no effect on me, so I didn’t fall into the trap, right, Pei Yunzhi?"

Pei Yunzhi shook like a leaf, frantically shaking her head, "No, I don’t know, this has nothing to do with me, the spilled wine was accidental, Zhaozhao, don’t blame me, I’m the most aggrieved and pitiful one here."

"Didn’t you just say that I set you up? Why aren’t you continuing?"

Yu Nianzhao sneered, "Don’t worry, Xie Jiuxiao and the Dragon Shadow Guards are here, they will definitely catch the culprit."

Pei Yunzhi started shedding tears pitifully, looking to Xie Yunzhe.

Xie Yunzhe’s eyes cleared from a layer of black haze, he rubbed his temples hesitantly, "What happened to me before? I felt like I was missing memories, like being misled!"

He looked up at Pei Yunzhi, his gaze cold, "Yunzhi, I always thought you were a pure and kind girl, but to think you would orchestrate such things, don’t you know that he is my father? Do you really want to marry into the An Nan Royal Mansion that desperately?"

"Brother, are you back to normal?"

Xie Jiarou, recovering from the impact, found a slight relief in this regard.

"Yes, I’m fine now, don’t worry."

Xie Yunzhe nodded to her, then glanced complicatedly at Prince An Nan, "Father, I don’t know what to say about what you’ve done, designed or not, I’m very disappointed."

"Right, I’m disappointed too!" Xie Jiarou chimed in.

Being criticized by his own children, Prince An Nan felt his face burning with shame.

He slapped the table and stood up, "In any case, if it’s something I haven’t done wrong, I won’t admit it. This spring banquet has been truly unfortunate, I’m leaving now."

Prince An Nan thoroughly intended to play the escapist role, ignoring Xie Yunzhe siblings’ attempts to stop him, he was determined to leave.

"Oh dear, what kind of situation is this, I don’t even know how to report this to the Emperor back at the palace," Consort Chen was very troubled.

Pei Yunzhi crawled to Xie Yunzhe’s feet, clutching his legs and crying, "Yunzhe, I’m really innocent, I am still untainted and have done nothing to betray you."

Xie Yunzhe held back the impulse to kick her away, gritting his teeth, "Pei Yunzhi, you know what you have done; you can’t fool me. As for my father, although he is lascivious, he is not base, if you are unwilling, he would never force you. So, of what you said, which is true and which isn’t, only you know."

He pushed Pei Yunzhi away, as if severing her from his world.

"Sob..."

Pei Yunzhi was sobbing uncontrollably, clutching the Jade Pendant, her head hung low, murmuring, "Why did things change? It shouldn’t have been like this, the person entering the room should have been Yunzhe, why is this happening to me, why?"

"Anyway, as long as you’re alright."

Xie Jiuxiao turned and took Yu Nianzhao’s hand, his frosty eyes filled only with her, almost overflowing.

"What could happen to me?"

Yu Nianzhao said nonchalantly, though her mind was on Nan Guili, wondering how the unfortunate guy was faring.

"Let our elder brother decide on this matter then, it’s time for this show to end."

Xie Jiuxiao pulled Yu Nianzhao, intending to leave the repulsive room; before leaving, he cast a cold glance at Pei Yunzhi, threatening, "If you dare to do such foolish things again, I have no qualms about throwing you into the prison to mingle with the other criminals."

Pei Yunzhi shivered on the ground, filled with deep resentment in her heart and eyes.

"Yunzhe..."

As people left, Pei Yunzhi whimpered, hoping to elicit some pity from Xie Yunzhe.

Xie Yunzhe, disappointed, said, "Yunzhi, we grew up as childhood friends; despite having no romantic feelings, I always considered you as a sister, yet you did this out of selfish desires. I promise you, anyone who harms my mother is my enemy."

He flicked his sleeve and walked away, leaving Pei Yunzhi with a hollow heart.

After everyone had left, Pei Yunzhi took off the Jade Pendant from her waist, cursing, "Did you say you would help me win over Yunzhe? Why did things take this turn? You’re trying to ruin me!"

Out of the Jade Pendant emerged a wisp of black mist, a sinister voice sounded, "I’ve helped you a lot; it’s you who are foolish, unable to seize the opportunity, mismanaging such a situation, you blame yourself, and yet you blame me? Do you expect me to bring the man over, then serve him to you?"

Pei Yunzhi’s eyes turned scarlet, "I want Yunzhe, but now I ended up with Prince An Nan... we did nothing, yet even if I jump into the Yellow River, I cannot clear the relationship between us. You must help me turn this around."

The black mist sneered, "What’s to be afraid of? You just want to marry into the An Nan Royal Mansion, and I’ve fulfilled that desire. In essence, it’s just a change of man; the end result doesn’t change, marry Prince An Nan, it’s the same."

Pei Yunzhi shouted angrily, "It’s not the same! How can it be the same? I want to marry Yunzhe as his wife, Prince An Nan already has a Princess, marrying him would only make me a concubine at best, a secondary consort."

A peculiar green gas floated from the black mist, clouding Pei Yunzhi’s mind, whispering seductively, "Then let the current Princess An Nan disappear forever, and you can ascend, directly becoming the Princess An Nan, wouldn’t that be delightful?"

In her daze, Pei Yunzhi raised a sinister smile, "Yes, Princess An Nan, I will become Princess An Nan!"