Chapter 122

Chapter 122 After Xie Run said this, she was also quietly observing Prince Jing's expression. She decided to adapt on the fly, gauging Prince Jing's face to determine whether she should continue. Then, her sneaky little gaze met Prince Jing's sharp, hawk-like eyes. Xie Run: "..." Prince Jing: "..." When others have a guilty conscience, they truly have a guilty conscience. When Xie Run had a guilty conscience, she was skulking about, practically wearing her guilt on her face, yet without a trace of shame. What would you call this? A brazenly justified guilty conscience? Prince Jing looked at her, alternating between anger and amusement. He gave a cold snort inwardly, and put on a deliberately indifferent expression. "What are you looking at?!" "Why don't you confess honestly?" If Xie Run opened with the matter of that year, it certainly couldn't be just this small matter. "Oh!" Xie Run shrank her neck and obediently acknowledged. Prince Jing grew even more silent. Xie Run: "Your Highness, don't be angry. This matter is a long story." "The county magistrate of Chen Commandery, relying on being a relative of the Xie family's main branch, wanted to forcibly take my elder brother as a son-in-law." "To protect the entire family, my father heeded a colleague's advice and sent me to the Prince Jing's residence as a concubine." "I was young and hot-tempered back then. I often heard of the tragic experiences of concubines, and I saw the Prince's residence as a den of tigers and wolves. I was both grief-stricken and desperate, so..." "So you went and did what?" Prince Jing's eyes narrowed slightly. What could Xie Run have done that she would still be clamoring to confess after so long? It couldn't be something like eloping, could it? Xie Run said in a small voice: "I went and jumped into the lake." Prince Jing: "...How spineless." He had thought Xie Run would have the guts to do something like eloping, but who knew it was suicide?! Xie Run: "..." Is this a matter of having guts or not?! Prince Jing's response was not what she had expected! Although Prince Jing wasn't following the script, Xie Run still had to stick to it. She continued in a wronged tone: "I was pulled out of the water, narrowly escaping death, and was sent into the Prince's residence in a daze." Prince Jing raised an eyebrow: "So when you told me back then that you had nearly drowned once, it was over this?" Xie Run nodded pitifully. "Truly spineless!" "To seek death over such a trifle... If worst came to worst, you could have run off, hidden at a relative's house for three to five days, and by the time your parents found you, wouldn't the matter of entering the Prince's residence have fallen through?" The people from Prince Jing's residence had traveled far to select concubines; time was necessarily limited. They were casting a wide net anyway, not insisting on any particular person. If this girl couldn't come, they'd simply switch to another family. Plenty of people wanted that spot. But as he thought about it, Prince Jing suddenly realized what he was saying wasn't quite appropriate. Teaching his own Concubine Consort how to run away? If anyone heard of this, he'd lose all face. Prince Jing immediately put on a cold expression again, looking very dignified. Xie Run was taken aback. "Then what about my family?" Prince Jing said indifferently: "Your brother's marriage isn't something that happens overnight." "Just stall for time. Once he passes the provincial examination and moves the whole family to the capital, can the county magistrate of Chen Commandery really send people to the capital to drag your elder brother back for a wedding?" "And if he dares?" Prince Jing stared coldly at Xie Run: "So you're not here to confess, but to argue with me?" Xie Run pressed her lips together and immediately pretended to be obedient. The two went back and forth bickering, and the atmosphere suddenly eased. Xie Run continued to sob and complain in a wronged tone. "Some days ago, my elder brother wrote to me, and I learned that someone had spread word that when I jumped into the lake back then, it was because I failed to elope with a neighbor and drowned myself in shame." Hearing this, Prince Jing laughed. "Drowned herself in shame?" He knew very well how much Xie Run valued her own life. She was particular about everything in daily life, all for the sake of living longer in the future. And the reason for suicide was a failed elopement, leading to shame and anger? Prince Jing didn't believe a word of it. Xie Run grabbed Prince Jing's hand. "Your Highness knows me best. If I were to seek death because I was disheartened by my family, that would be plausible." "But for a neighbor I'd barely met a few times... and a failed elopement, dying of shame?!" Xie Run said indignantly: "How could that be?!" Prince Jing was puzzled: "You've always been clever and open-minded. Why would you worry and confess over such trivial matters?" Xie Run said helplessly: "Today, while I was giving birth, that neighbor actually came to the Prince's residence!" Prince Jing's gaze sharpened, and a hint of killing intent appeared in his eyes. He was no fool. Regardless of whether Xie Run had ever had an affair with anyone, the fact that this person came to the Prince's residence at this time meant he harbored ill intentions. Someone must be pulling strings behind the scenes. Who? Fifth, Seventh, or Eighth? These worthless wretches, they only know how to target the women of the inner court! "Where is that person now?" Prince Jing's voice was cold and sharp. Xie Run: "Your Highness knows I've always been cautious." "Ever since my elder brother mentioned it in his letter, I felt something was off and immediately had him investigate the Fang family." "After investigating, we discovered that this man surnamed Fang claimed to be in seclusion studying, but he had vanished into thin air." "I knew then that he was targeting me." "This humble woman's most perilous moment in life was, of course, the time of childbirth, so I specially had my elder brother arrange for people to keep watch at the gates of the Prince's residence, and the moment any familiar face appeared, they were to be bound immediately." Xie Run smiled bitterly and said, "This humble woman also knows the principle of 'rather kill a thousand by mistake than let one go free.'" Prince Jing said, "You did nothing wrong." "I am not one of those narrow-minded people who like to cling to the past." "Rather, it is those who harbor malicious intent and scheme to harm you and the child who truly deserve death!" Prince Jing's imposing aura grew heavier, radiating a chilling coldness. Of course, he would not only listen to Xie Run's one-sided account. At present, it was merely out of trust and understanding of Xie Run, knowing that she had no need or reason to lie to him. Whether there truly was an old romance or not, a single investigation would reveal it. Xie Run gripped Prince Jing's hand tightly, her clear, distinct eyes filled with admiration and reverence. "Does the Prince recall that this humble woman once said that the Prince is a noble and upright gentleman?" Prince Jing's expression softened slightly, carrying a hint of pride: "Naturally, I remember." "You are still the first to praise me in such a manner." A smile bloomed across Xie Run's brows and eyes, like spring blossoms bursting forth on branches, radiant with beauty that could not be concealed, enchanting and captivating. "This humble woman wishes to say today as well, the Prince is the most valiant and noble man I have ever seen!" "That this humble woman can serve the Prince and receive his favor is truly a blessing of three lifetimes, and I shall never regret it!" Her face was delicate and frail, still tinged with a hint of illness. Yet her gaze was exceptionally resolute, and every word she spoke carried great strength, utterly sincere from the depths of her heart. Prince Jing's heart stirred with delight at her affectionate words. Unable to resist, he drew her into his embrace and laughed heartily, "Since Suisui has spoken thus, how could I dare to disappoint your heartfelt sentiments?!" It had to be said, Prince Jing found Xie Run's words immensely gratifying. They even stirred within him an infinite sense of masculine pride. After the surging emotions subsided, only one thought remained in his mind. This Xie woman—he had not spoiled her in vain.