The new emperor's first decree upon ascending the throne was to forcibly take his cousin as his

Zhao Xuelan was trembling uncontrollably, tears and snot mixed together, and her delicate makeup was ruined.

She kept shaking her head, causing the hair ornaments in her hair to tremble wildly, looking utterly disheveled.

Xie Chengyan chuckled, leaned forward slightly, and spoke with a puzzled tone, as if he was genuinely wondering why she didn't appreciate his kindness.

"Didn't you always want to see your cousins? Why are you afraid now that you've met them?"

"This finger belongs to your second cousin... the ear to your sixth cousin, the toes to your own brother, and..."

"Stop talking!" Zhao Xuelan completely broke down. "Please...stop talking...stop talking..."

These words nearly made her faint. Forgetting all decorum, she crawled over on all fours and grabbed the hem of his robe tightly.

"Your Highness, I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong, I dare not do it again, I will never dare to do it again..."

"Please, spare the Zhao family... I'll do whatever you say... I really know I was wrong, Your Highness, I beg you..." She spoke incoherently, her forehead slamming heavily against the cold ground, drawing blood shortly afterward.

Xie Chengyan looked down at her. "So, do you still like me?"

She abruptly raised her head, her face blurred with blood and tears, her eyes filled with terror. "I don't like it anymore! I don't like it anymore! I don't like it anymore! I don't like it anymore!"

"Then tell me, who ordered the assassination of the Ruan family girl at Huguo Temple?"

The fear on Zhao Xuelan's face was still there, but her crying stopped abruptly.

"Your Highness...I..."

Xie Chengyan's face showed little emotion, but his words sent chills down one's spine: "It seems Miss Zhao is not satisfied with the gift I gave her today. Then tomorrow I will send her the head of the Zhao family's young master. I wonder if Miss Zhao will like that?"

Cao Shen, who was standing to the side, couldn't stand it anymore. "Miss Zhao, no matter how powerful your backer is, can he be more powerful than His Highness the Crown Prince? If you don't speak up, the Duke of Zhao's mansion will be implicated by you."

Others may not know, but Cao Shen knows His Highness's methods. Decline is the best outcome; what he fears is that it will end in the destruction of his family and death.

The last trace of color drained from Zhao Xuelan's face. She slumped to the ground, her eyes fixed on the blood-stained severed finger on the floor. Her lips trembled uncontrollably as she finally managed to squeeze out a few words: "It's...it's the Fifth Princess."

"Your Highness, I really didn't know that the Fifth Princess would send assassins and try to tarnish Miss Ruan's reputation. I... I really just wanted to teach her a lesson..." Her voice grew softer and softer.

"Xie Chengyue?"

"The Fifth Princess forbade me to speak, saying that if I did, the Zhao family would be finished. I... I'm really scared."

Although she is pampered at home, what chance will she have to survive if this matter gets out?

She truly regretted it; she shouldn't have opposed Ruan Xianrong, and she shouldn't have coveted the Crown Prince. She shouldn't have made such a foolish mistake.

She dared not look up at the Crown Prince, keeping her head down and trembling as she awaited her fate. Now, she had no way out.

"Miss Zhao can go back now. You should know what to say."

"Cao Shen, see her out."

"Yes."

*

Meanwhile, Ruan Xianrong first went to Fengyi Palace to pay her respects to the Empress, and then took Cheng Qing to meet the people.

The Empress looked him up and down. He was good-looking and seemed like an honest man. She also heard that he was quite learned.

But his background was rather poor.

At the welcoming banquet, men and women sat separately, and the Empress sent him away first.

Once everyone had left, the Empress asked, "I originally thought you would marry the Crown Prince, making our family even closer, and you would become my daughter-in-law. I never imagined that Nian Nian would like this?"

"But...but what exactly do you like about him?"

"Of course I like him because he's good-looking," Ruan Xianrong said bluntly.

The Empress was taken aback, truly not expecting such an answer.

Did he actually fall for that appearance?

Those outside the hall paused upon hearing the conversation inside.

Then Ruan Xianrong continued, "Cheng Qing is the most handsome person I have ever seen in Mingzhou. I chose him at first sight and had him come back to the capital with me."

"But there are plenty of better-looking girls in Kyoto, why choose from Mingzhou?"

Naturally, it's because she wants to leave Kyoto and marry someone from Kyoto. How else can she leave?

"If you really like good-looking people, there's no one better looking than the Crown Prince, you..."

"Aunt," Ruan Xianrong interrupted quickly, startled, "I've already chosen Cheng Qing, and I won't like anyone else. If my father hadn't fallen ill this time, we would already be married."

That's right, the imperial decree bestowing the marriage is still there.

"Fine, since your parents have already agreed, there's nothing I can say as their aunt. As long as you're happy, that's all that matters."

What she was worried about was the Crown Prince; she was afraid that the child might do something terrible.

Fearing that the Empress might say something else that she couldn't handle, Ruan Xianrong quickly stood up: "It's getting late, Aunt, please rest well. I'll take my leave now."

In her haste, without looking up to see where she was going, Yinque didn't have time to warn her before bumping into someone walking towards her.

He stumbled back two steps and was helped up by the person in front of him. "You weren't watching where you were going."

The familiar voice, yet tinged with doting affection, sent a chill down Ruan Xianrong's spine.

He instinctively took two steps back and bowed, "Cousin."

Xie Chengyan's eyebrows curved slightly. "Niannian, are you in such a hurry to go find... your fiancé?"

She looked up and saw that he was clearly smiling, but she could sense a hidden malice beneath his gentle smile, a gloomy and sinister aura.

"Why don't you go in since my cousin is here?"

"I was originally going to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager, but my cousin is here, so it's not appropriate to go in and disturb her."

Ruan Xianrong's smile was dry and forced; judging from these words, he was blaming her for delaying his business.

"I won't delay my cousin's business. I'll go find Miaoyin first."

"Coincidentally, I was also going to see her. Would you like to come along?"

Didn't you say you were going to see the Empress? Why are you going to see Miaoyin again?

Ruan Xianrong instinctively wanted to shake her head, but when she met those eyes, she really didn't dare.

She must be the most pathetic female supporting character in the transmigration novel world, right?

But what can she do when someone holds a high position and wields power? It's okay for her to be a little cowardly; it's all for the sake of survival, and there's no shame in it.

The road leading out of Fengyi Palace wasn't long, but Xie Chengyan wasn't riding in a sedan chair today, so the two of them walked towards the back garden, seemingly without end.

Xie Chengyan never does anything meaningless; he must have a purpose in contacting her today.

What could be their purpose?

Could it be that he was worried she hadn't relayed what he said last time?

Or did Ruan Zhaoyuan say something to him that aroused his suspicion and made him want to give her a warning?

That's hard to guess.

"Nian Nian".

Cheng Qing's voice came from behind, and the girl, who had been hanging her head, immediately brightened up.

"Ah Qing? Didn't you leave?"

Cheng Qing first bowed to the Crown Prince before pulling her along, saying, "My elder brother said he would take me to the front, as it wouldn't be convenient to meet after the welcoming banquet begins, so he asked me to come and talk to you first."

Ruan Xianrong smiled and lowered her head, wiping the sweat from his palms. "Are you nervous?"

Cheng Qing wasn't embarrassed when she was exposed. She told the truth, "I was quite nervous meeting with important people from the capital today, so I only felt at ease after seeing you."

Ruan Xianrong comforted him for a while, completely forgetting that there was someone behind her.

Xie Chengyan's eyes darkened as he looked at the man, wondering what it would look like if he were to stab him with a knife.

Where to strike, how much force to use to kill with a single blow, and the splattered blood would surely stain the robes.

His smile was so beautiful, but it wasn't just his.

Desire nearly overwhelmed him.

But in an instant, all the emotions in his eyes were concealed.

Xie Chengyan stood with his hands behind his back, a smile playing on his lips, his gaze as calm as ever. The madness and murderous intent he had just displayed were like the hem of a garment fluttering in the wind, leaving no trace after the wind had passed.

However, the fire in my heart was impossible to suppress and suddenly surged up.

He's really going crazy.

Thinking of it.