CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 44: WHICH ZHAOZHAO?

After Chu Wenjia’s body was discovered, Duke Luu Mansion was furious, determined to find the murderer and tear them to pieces.

However, after the coroner’s examination, there were no signs of external injury or poisoning; it was a sudden, unexplained death.

Moreover, lying beside him at the time of death was Wei Heng’s mistress, both of them unclothed, which clearly spoke about their relationship.

Even more shocking was that Chen Fang, who was supposed to be imprisoned, was also lying with them.

Without knowing better, one might think they were having a threesome...

The gossip spread swiftly throughout Shangjing, with everyone eagerly discussing the scandal.

Speculation ran rampant about the nature of their relationship.

"Mr. Chu was known for his wild lifestyle, splurging on the new star courtesan at the auction when she first debuted. People thought he would become more restrained after marrying Miss Liu, but he never changed his ways and met the same fateful end."

"There’s no way Mr. Wei’s death has nothing to do with his family. Just look at it—once Mr. Wei died, Chu went to their estate and tangled with his mistress. Perhaps it’s Mr. Wei’s ghost coming back for revenge."

"I think so too. I heard when they died, their faces looked terrified as if they’d seen a ghost."

"I also heard that the two illegitimate children born from Mr. Wei’s mistress are Mr. Chu’s, and Duke Luu wants to bring them to his mansion to raise. Now his wife is in a furor, protesting that expecting a widow to raise children from her husband’s mistress is humiliating. She is, after all, the pampered youngest daughter of Mr Liu, and it seems a feud between the General’s Mansion and Duke Luu Mansion is inevitable now."

Sitting in the teahouse, Yu Nianzhao nibbled on melon seeds, listening to others discuss Chu Wenjia as her lips curled involuntarily into a smile, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at the imposing man across from her.

"Prince, no wonder you returned later than me last night; you were busy with this kind of affair."

"Someone has to clean up the mess."

Xie Jiuxiao took a sip from his teacup. "Have you enjoyed the show? Soon, I’ll take you to He Xiu Workshop."

"He Xiu Workshop? What for?"

"Aside from Ms Jiang, the Prince Su Mansion is full of men. Ms Jiang is getting old, and her taste isn’t reliable anymore. I’ll personally accompany you there to take measurements and have some clothes made."

"Prince is so thoughtful!"

Yu Nianzhao propped her chin up with both hands and praised him with a sweet smile, noticing Xie Jiuxiao turn his head uncomfortably.

"Ahem... In a couple of days, it’ll be the New Year’s Eve banquet, and my mother will return to the capital. She will formally announce your identity at the banquet."

Xie Jiuxiao poured another cup of tea, his tone gradually growing colder. "The Empress Dowager will also be present at the New Year’s Eve banquet. Of the ten days you mentioned, only three remain. If the mother Gu isn’t found at the banquet, will I truly be doomed?"

His tone was unperturbed, for Xie Jiuxiao believed he had come to terms with life and death.

Since he became the vessel for evil from the age of six, everyone around him told him

he was destined to die!

Mr. Dongfang once predicted that he wouldn’t live past twenty-six.

Xie Jiuxiao looked up at Yu Nianzhao, his eyes swirling with obscure emotions.

It seemed he had found a reason not to die!

Yu Nianzhao’s gaze softened, lifting a radiant smile, "Don’t worry, with me here, no one can snatch your life!"

After all, who dares to snatch someone from King Yan’s hand?

Yu Nianzhao’s smile was bright as the sun, melting the frost inside Xie Jiuxiao’s heart.

Xie Jiuxiao’s tense expression relaxed significantly, "Yes, let’s go to He Xiu Workshop."

"Alright!"

He Xiu Workshop was at the corner of a central street, the finest workshop in Shangjing, and also the royal embroidered workshop.

"It’s Prince Su!"

As they entered, the bustling workshop seemed to freeze, with everyone trembling. The workshop owner hurried to greet them, maintaining distance while awkwardly chuckling, "Prince Su’s visit is indeed an honor, are you here to have new clothes made?"

Indeed, Xie Jiuxiao’s signature evil qi was unmistakably iconic, impossible for anyone to ignore his identity.

"Prepare some clothes for Princess Consort Su, and make three palace dresses as well." Xie Jiuxiao did not shy away from mentioning Yu Nianzhao’s identity.

Princess Consort Su?

The workshop owner glanced at Yu Nianzhao, feeling deep respect for her.

Just enduring Prince Su’s evil qi was enough to earn his admiration, and he quickly smiled, "Alright, no problem at all. Please follow me for your measurements, Princess Consort Su."

"Hmm." Yu Nianzhao followed him.

The interior of the workshop was decorated in understated luxury, filled with an array of finished garments alongside private chambers for entertaining esteemed guests attended by dedicated embroidery staff.

"Zhaozhao?"

Once the measurements were taken, Yu Nianzhao was still selecting clothes when she heard a soft call.

Pei Yunzhi looked awkwardly at Yu Nianzhao, accompanied by two exquisitely dressed young women who raised their eyes to curiously size her up.

Yu Nianzhao cast a cold glance at her, directly ignoring them and continued choosing garments independently.

"Hey? Why are you being so rude? Didn’t you hear Yunzhi saying hello to you?"

The woman beside Pei Yunzhi couldn’t contain herself and glared at Yu Nianzhao discontentedly.

Pei Yunzhi felt embarrassed, not wanting to have too much interaction with Yu Nianzhao as she feared her identity being exposed, quickly saying, "It’s alright, Yanran cousin, let Zhaozhao choose her clothes, and we’ll go somewhere else."

"Why is that? Why is Yunzhi avoiding her so much? This workshop doesn’t belong to her alone, why should we make way for her?"

Xie Jiarou disapprovingly glared at Yu Nianzhao, "I’ve never seen her in Shangjing before. Could she possibly have a status higher than mine, warranting me to avoid her?"

Only then did Yu Nianzhao glance at her, realizing she was the daughter of Prince An Nan, Princely Heir’s full sister Jiarou.

No wonder Pei Yunzhi was eager to escape, afraid her false noble identity might be exposed in front of Xie Jiarou, if it were discovered by Prince An Nan, the marriage would likely not last.

After all, in royal circles, true bloodlines were highly regarded, a false phoenix could never compare!

"Zhaozhao?"

Lien Yanran furrowed her brow, finding the name quite familiar.

Staring at Yu Nianzhao’s familiar face, a realization dawned, pointing at her, "Could you be that Zhaozhao?"

Lien Yanran was the daughter of Ms Lien’s elder brother, and by generation, was Yu Nianzhao’s cousin.

She had met Yu Nianzhao five years ago when she was first found and brought back to the Lien Mansion by Ms Lien.

At that time, Yu Nianzhao was timid, always eagerly pleasing everyone, surprising them with how much she had changed now.

Xie Jiarou frowned asking, "Which Zhaozhao? You all seem to know her, while I don’t? It’s curious, are there hardly any noblewomen in Shangjing unfamiliar to me as county head?"