The harem is too complicated; the empress, a lazy bum, wins by doing nothing.

Chapter 182 The Death of Master Wuchen
Shen Qingwan almost screamed, but her mouth was quickly covered. With a turn of the dark figure, Shen Qingwan was pressed against a tree in a corner by the man in front of her.

Prince Rui?
Zhen'er was about to step forward to stop him, but after seeing the man's appearance clearly, she silently took two steps back.

"Why is it you?" Shen Qingwan asked in confusion.

Prince Rui released his hand from hers. "If it wasn't me, who did you think it could be?"

Shen Qingwan rolled her eyes at him, annoyed. "You think I'm an assassin trying to harm you?"

"This palace?" Prince Rui repeated her words, his expression indifferent, a stark contrast to his usual docile demeanor.

He took half a step back, creating a small distance between them. "If I remember correctly, this doesn't seem to be the way back to the palace for you. Didn't you hear that I entered the palace today while you were in the Empress Dowager's palace and have been looking for me on purpose?"

"I……"

Shen Qingwan was speechless for a moment, and looked up in confusion. Was this Prince Rui so prescient that he knew she had come here specifically?

Moonlight shone on his profile, where a faint smile still lingered.

When he smiles, the corners of his eyes curve upwards, his smile is bright and clear, his eyes are as clear as water, and when his eyes curve, they sparkle.

"What exactly do you want from me?"

Prince Rui spoke again, which brought Shen Qingwan back to her senses.

If the empress and a prince were to secretly meet in the imperial garden late at night, it would surely be a capital offense punishable by the extermination of their entire family.

Shen Qingwan didn't dare to argue with him any further, so she went straight to the point, "Why did you let Consort Xia into the palace? Do you know that she was someone from your private residence at the foot of Huguo Temple Mountain? She must know about the assassins you encountered last time. Aren't you afraid that one day, she might say something to Emperor Yuanwu and have him take your life?"

“She won’t,” Prince Rui said confidently.

Shen Qingwan was taken aback. "How can you be so sure? Do you know that Emperor Yuanwu has already chosen her and she has already served him in bed?"

Prince Rui looked at Shen Qingwan's nervous expression, and the smile on his lips deepened. "You... are you worried about me?"

Shen Qingwan: ? ? ?

Is Prince Rui mentally challenged?
Even at a time like this, they still have the mood to joke and laugh.

"Don't worry." Prince Rui's expression instantly became extremely serious. "She is my secret guard. Sending her to the palace is only for the future... In short, she will not fall in love with Emperor Yuanwu, much less betray me."

"Won't betray you?" Shen Qingwan shook her head with a laugh: "Prince Rui has never married, so he doesn't understand women. Under heaven, what woman would betray her husband for a man?"

“He is different.” Prince Rui’s gaze remained firm.

"Your Highness is truly confident." Shen Qingwan's gaze darkened.

“I…” Prince Rui was taken aback, then suddenly smiled and said, “Are you angry?” Shen Qingwan wasn’t really angry, she was just amused by his ignorance.

Looking at Prince Rui's resolute expression, the only possibility is that there is an indescribable relationship between Consort Xia and Prince Rui, or rather, Prince Rui is the person Consort Xia loves, and Consort Xia is willing to go through fire and water for him, what a great spirit of sacrifice.

Shen Qingwan's lips twitched slightly: "No."

Prince Rui's smile seemed to deepen: "Don't overthink it. There is no relationship between me and her. She is just a bodyguard in my residence."

"Secret guards?" Shen Qingwan's breath hitched, her shocked eyes trembling. "Aren't secret guards all highly skilled martial arts experts? But Xia Changzai looks so innocent and harmless, how could she...?"

Prince Rui chuckled and shook his head. "If even you could tell she was a secret guard, wouldn't my brother have already become suspicious on the very first day she entered the palace?"

Shen Qingwan: ...

However, she found these words rather awkward.

"Why did you send your palace guards to become concubines?" Shen Qingwan's eyes darkened. "Although I don't know what you've done all this for, or what your plans are, Master Wuchen is a cultivator who has long since renounced worldly affairs. Why drag him into this? What did he do wrong that you want to kill him?"

Prince Rui couldn't quite describe his feelings. After a moment's thought, he said, "If I said that Master Wuchen's death had nothing to do with me, would you believe me?"

Shen Qingwan snorted coldly, "I hope so."

"Shen Qingwan, am I really that worthless in your eyes?" Prince Rui felt a sudden pain between his brows, his eyes flashing with cold sharpness, but he smiled: "I've heard that my brother often visits your palace, you wouldn't...?"

"Could it be something else?" Shen Qingwan raised her head and looked at him intently. "I don't care what you're plotting, if it harms innocent people, I'll be the first to not let you off the hook."

Shen Qingwan turned to leave, but before she could take a small step, Prince Rui grabbed her arm tightly. "Shen Qingwan, please believe me. I have never intended to hurt anyone, and I would never hurt anyone."

"really?"

"nature?"

"Could it be that those people who tried to kill me when I was attacked at the foot of Huguo Temple Mountain weren't just a show you hired? If those people were really sent by someone to kill me, how could Master Wuchen have lost his life for nothing? Jiang Yuxian, you don't really think I'm a fool, do you? Do you think I know nothing?" Shen Qingwan sneered.

"Shen Qingwan." Prince Rui's voice was noticeably higher than before. "Have you ever considered that the Empress's attack outside the palace was no small matter? Why did my brother only ask a few simple questions after returning to the palace, and then stop having a thorough investigation? Even though he gave instructions, there have been no results to date, and he has stopped pursuing the matter. On that day, you left the palace with my brother. What urgent matter happened in the court that made him unable to wait even half an hour and had to return to the palace alone?"

Shen Qingwan was completely stunned by what Prince Rui said!
“If I’m not mistaken, the assassins that day were all sent by my brother.” Prince Rui’s tone carried a hint of helplessness. “My brother is inherently suspicious and not as simple as you seem on the surface. Although he has never mentioned our past engagement, as a man, I know very well how much he resents it. He has not yet consummated the marriage with you, probably because he has other plans in mind. After all, if you become pregnant and it is a boy, he will be the legitimate heir. Shen Qingwan, remember, no matter what, you must protect yourself and live well.”

Shen Qingwan's body swayed involuntarily. She felt her vision go black, her head buzz and throb, and her body felt as if something had drained her soul.

In the end, she had oversimplified things. If Prince Rui's speculations were all true, then Master Wuchen's death...

(End of this chapter)