Princess, something terrible has happened! The prince consort has attempted suicide again!

Zhang Xiaomeng feigned ignorance, pretending to be stupid: "I am Niu Er, who else could I be?"

Liu Qingrou's gaze was deep, and doubts arose in her heart.

After she finished crying, she had shed her despair and madness and calmed down completely.

The person before me held the lowest of servants' status and carried an extremely ordinary name.

But he stumbled upon the shocking secret of the two princes plotting treason. Not only did he remain calm, but he also managed to rouse himself from his desperate situation and devise a comprehensive countermeasure in an instant.

Ordinary people at the bottom of society would be terrified if they encountered such a scene of execution.

He remained calm and composed, displaying a wealth of wisdom.

There are only two possibilities—

Either he has a shocking identity;

Either he is an exceptionally gifted genius.

Liu Qingrou did not press the matter further.

This person deliberately hides their shortcomings and pretends to be honest, so asking any more questions will be futile.

At the same time, Zhang Xiaomeng felt extremely uncomfortable.

Liu Qingrou's scrutinizing gaze was too clear at this moment. If he continued to waste time, she would eventually find a flaw in him, making it even more difficult for him to escape.

His conviction never wavered—

He only wanted to die peacefully, return to the modern world and claim that huge reward. He didn't want to get involved in any of the love, strife, power struggles, or intrigues in this world.

With this thought in mind, he immediately feigned panic, pointed at her, and exclaimed:

"Oh dear! It's chilly and cold outside. You should put your clothes on properly so you don't catch a cold."

At this moment, Liu Qingrou's outer garment had fallen off, leaving her only in a thin inner lining, revealing her graceful figure and snow-white skin.

Given the traditional modesty and demureness of women in ancient times, they would naturally feel embarrassed and try to avoid the situation, hastily putting on their clothes.

That was exactly what Zhang Xiaomeng was planning—

While she was frantically tidying her clothes, he made a quick getaway.

As for Huang Cheng and Zhao Jinrui's conspiracy, he had already paved the way for Liu Qingrou to break the deadlock, and she would handle it herself; it had nothing to do with him anymore.

But things didn't go as he wished.

Upon hearing this, Liu Qingrou's cheeks flushed slightly, but she did not flinch at all.

She straightened her posture, looked calmly at the boy before her, and softly asked, "Am I beautiful?"

Zhang Xiaomeng's heart tightened, and he knew something was wrong. He quickly crossed his arms over his chest, took half a step back, and feigned panic.

"You, you mustn't do anything rash! I'm not that kind of person!"

Liu Qingrou's face immediately darkened.

This person truly doesn't play by the rules at all!

She stopped arguing with him, grabbed Zhang Xiaomeng's wrist, and forcibly dragged him back to the dilapidated temple.

Then, in front of him, she calmly picked up her clothes and put them on neatly, one by one.

Zhang Xiaomeng's gaze swept across the area uncontrollably, a surge of restlessness rising within him.

孽 孽!

Which man could withstand such an extreme test?

A moment later, Liu Qingrou was dressed.

Aside from a slight redness at the corners of her eyes, indicating she had been crying, she still possessed stunning beauty and an extraordinary aura.

"Have you seen enough?" she asked calmly.

Zhang Xiaomeng quickly looked away, chuckling awkwardly, "In all my life, this is the first time I've met such an...open-minded woman."

Liu Qingrou walked slowly to him, her eyes burning as she gazed intently at him.

"It's not that I'm open-minded, it's that I want to give myself to you. From now on, you are my man."

"ah?!"

Zhang Xiaomeng's pupils dilated slightly, his face filled with astonishment.

Seeing this, Liu Qingrou's eyes flickered with unease, and she murmured softly, "What, even you're starting to dislike me?"

Zhang Xiaomeng quickly waved his hand and explained, "Miss, you are joking. I am of humble status, a lowly servant in a brothel. How could I possibly be worthy of someone like you?"

"What do you mean by high or low, noble or base?"

Liu Qingrou's eyes were incredibly sincere, and every word she spoke was heartfelt.

"Those princes and nobles, who seem to be living a life of luxury, are actually heartless and ungrateful, treating people like dirt. They are not even a fraction as good as you."

"I admit, I did want to use you to heal my heartbreak."

"But I, Liu Qingrou, am still innocent and pure. You are the first person to have seen my figure, seen my disheveled state, and saved me from a desperate situation."

"If it weren't for you, I would have perished in the dry well long ago. I have no way to repay your life-saving grace, so I am willing to give myself to you. In this life and the next, I will never betray you in the slightest."

Zhang Xiaomeng was completely dumbfounded.

He truly never expected that despite his efforts to avoid romantic entanglements and other commitments, he still couldn't escape this fateful predicament.

The next moment, his mind suddenly settled.

No.

Absolutely not.

No one can corrupt my Daoist heart!

He was about to refuse outright when Liu Qingrou spoke first.

"You don't need to rush to answer."

"Once we join forces to thwart this conspiracy and avenge all the grievances and hatred in my heart, you can give me your answer then."

……

At the same time, at the Tang residence.

Tang Wenyuan had just returned from investigating a case at Yixiang Courtyard, and he was still covered in dust from his journey.

Tang Wan rushed forward immediately, her eyes filled with anxiety: "Father, how is he? Is Young Master Lü alright?"

Tang Wenyuan picked up a cup of hot tea and took two sips to calm himself down. He said in a deep voice, "Chen Wenxuan was poisoned and died on the spot. The scene was clean and tidy, leaving no evidence. We cannot find the source of the poison."

Upon hearing this, Tang Wan breathed a sigh of relief, her heart growing warmer and softer.

Chen Wenxuan used despicable means to drug her, so Zhang Xiaomeng retaliated in kind, poisoning her enemy.

He was usually carefree, but he was willing to shed blood for her.

Such affection would move anyone.

"Where is Young Master Lü? Where is he?" Tang Wan was still filled with worry.

"His whereabouts are currently unknown." Tang Wenyuan pondered and guessed, "He probably doesn't want to implicate us, so he's deliberately hiding his whereabouts."

Tang Wan immediately gripped her father's sleeve, her eyes slightly red, and spoke earnestly:

"Father, he caused this trouble because of me. No matter what, I want him to be safe and sound."

"Don't worry."

Tang Wenyuan patted his daughter's hand, comforting her, "This case is being handled by Wang Dongjian, the deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He received a favor from me in his younger days, and I have already sent someone to speak to him. He will keep you informed of the case's progress. I have also increased manpower to search for Lü Xiaoyou throughout the city, and we will have news soon."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a servant rushed in, bowed, and reported: "Master, someone outside the mansion has delivered a secret letter, saying that they have an extremely important matter to discuss and request an audience."

Tang Wenyuan took the letter, glanced at it, and his expression suddenly changed drastically.

He immediately ordered in a deep voice, "Quickly invite him in and take him directly to the study. No one is to be allowed to peek in."

"yes!"

The servant accepted the order and hurriedly left.

Tang Wenyuan turned to look at Tang Wan, his tone grave: "Wan'er, please step back and leave. I have important matters to attend to."

Seeing her father's solemn expression, Tang Wan dared not ask any more questions and obediently withdrew.

Before long, two disguised guests, wearing veils, were led to the Tang family study.

Tang Wenyuan's sharp gaze swept over the two men, and he asked in a deep voice, "Who are you two?"

As soon as she finished speaking, one of them raised her hand and removed her veil, revealing a stunningly beautiful face.

It was Liu Qingrou.

The other person kept their head down and shoulders drooping, their face hidden by a veil.

"Liu Qingrou of Nanzhao greets the Tang Libationer." Liu Qingrou bowed slightly, displaying impeccable manners.

A flicker of surprise crossed Tang Wenyuan's eyes: "You are Liu Qingrou, the pride of Nanzhao?"

"It is indeed I, a young woman."

Tang Wenyuan's brows furrowed instantly, his tone clearly wary and hostile:

"What you said in your letter concerns a matter of great importance, involving a prince's rebellion and the security of the border; it is by no means a trivial matter. Do you have any concrete evidence?"

"If I had evidence, I wouldn't have dared to come to Tang Jijiu for help," Liu Qingrou replied frankly.

"Since you have no credentials, why should I trust you?"

Tang Wenyuan's expression was cold and stern, his words carefully chosen: "As an envoy of Nanzhao and the fiancée of the Second Prince, you nearly harmed my daughter during the previous literary contest. I did not pursue the matter out of consideration for the diplomatic relations between our two countries. Do you intend to gamble the entire Tang family with just empty words today?"

Faced with doubts, Liu Qingrou remained calm and composed, her attitude sincere yet not humble.

"Chancellor Tang's considerations are thorough and reasonable."

"But this young woman's coming to inform on me today will do me no good whatsoever."

"I was originally Huang Cheng's fiancée. If the conspiracy succeeds and Nanzhao benefits, I will also be a meritorious official and enjoy honor."

"I do not wish to see the country in turmoil and its people suffer, nor do I wish to become a pawn in power struggles, manipulated by others!"

"Please, Chief Minister Tang, set aside your personal grievances for now and prioritize the well-being of both nations and the stability of our borders!"

His words were forceful and forthright.

Upon hearing this, Tang Wenyuan frowned and fell into deep thought.

He could hear the sincerity and determination in her words, but he also knew that this matter was too shocking.

A woman who willingly betrays her fiancé and her country must be hiding a great injustice that no one knows about.

His gaze shifted slightly, then suddenly fell upon the silent, veiled figure accompanying him, and he asked in a deep voice:

"Who is this person? Why doesn't he show his true face?"