Chapter 70

Luo Qinghan's hand slowly moved down, gripping her neck, his dark eyes filled with icy killing intent.

"This is your last chance. If you don't confess now, I will break your neck."

Zhao Meiren had imagined many possible reactions from the Crown Prince when he saw her, but she never thought he would actually want to kill her.

She could feel that the Crown Prince truly intended to kill her.

The hand that gripped her neck was like ice and iron, almost freezing all the blood in her body.

She opened her eyes wide in terror and stammered, "It was Consort Li!"

Luo Qinghan's face remained cold and expressionless.

"It really was Consort Li. I am not lying to you. This jade bracelet was given to me by her, as well as this gold hairpin!"

Zhao Meiren took off the gold hairpin from her head and the jade bracelet from her wrist, trembling as she presented them to the Crown Prince, her eyes full of fear.

"Consort Li told me that Your Highness's mother is from Chenliu County, and she asked me to come here to sing, saying that it would attract Your Highness's attention. I know nothing, I just wanted to gain your favor. Please, for the sake of my sincere heart, spare my life!"

Luo Qinghan released his grip.

Zhao Meiren staggered back two steps, clutching her neck, her face drained of all color, leaving only a deathly pale.

Luo Qinghan took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped his right hand clean, his gaze towards Zhao Meiren cold and terrifying.

"Aren't you going to leave?"

Zhao Meiren was so frightened that she wet herself and fled in a panic.

Luo Qinghan casually threw the handkerchief to the ground and left.

This time, he did not head to the Qingge Hall but to the Jinfeng Hall.

Eunuch Chang never expected things to develop this way. He was stunned for a moment before quickly leading a group of palace maids and eunuchs to catch up.

...

Qingsong ran back to the Qingge Hall.

Baoqin was standing at the door, looking around. When she saw Qingsong return, her eyes lit up.

"Did you find out? Where is the Crown Prince? When will he arrive at the Qingge Hall?"

Qingsong, panting, waved his hand, "The Crown Prince can't come!"

Baoqin was stunned, "Why?"

"Zhao Meiren stopped the Crown Prince. Tonight, the Crown Prince will likely stay at the Yinxue Pavilion and won't come to our Qingge Hall."

Baoqin was shocked, "How could Zhao Meiren appear out of nowhere?"

Qingsong recounted everything he had seen and heard in detail.

The more Baoqin listened, the more her face darkened.

She gave Qingsong a silver coin, instructing him not to speak of tonight's events, then turned and went back inside.

Xiaoxixi asked weakly, "Can we have dinner now? I'm really hungry."

Baoqin, thinking of her master waiting for the Crown Prince with an empty stomach while he was with another woman, felt a surge of anger.

She said indignantly, "Eat! I will get you something to eat right away, you can have whatever you want!"

Xiaoxixi was a bit surprised, "We don't need to wait for the Crown Prince?"

Baoqin, unable to bear to tell her the truth, said vaguely, "The Crown Prince has something to attend to tonight and won't be coming. We won't wait for him."

"Oh."

Xiaoxixi didn't think much about it and obediently waited for her dinner.

Baoqin stormed into the small kitchen, rolled up her sleeves, picked up a cleaver, and began chopping fish meat with a loud thud, as if she were chopping up Zhao Meiren, that fox spirit.

The loud noise could be heard from far away.

Xiaoxixi asked the palace maid beside her, "Who made Baoqin angry?"

The palace maids all shook their heads, indicating they didn't know.

Inside the Jinfeng Hall, Consort Li had just fallen asleep. When she suddenly heard that the Crown Prince had arrived, she was both surprised and delighted, quickly getting up and having the palace maids help her wash and change clothes.

Before she could finish dressing, the Crown Prince had already walked into the room in large strides.