Mu Yichen watched the backs of the two of them, tightening the sword in his hand. A fierce look flashed across his eyes, filled with thick killing intent.
The sky was tinged with red as the sun was just rising.
He walked towards the city tower and looked down at the entire imperial palace.
Suddenly, a feeling of sadness welled up in his heart. He felt as if he was a fool.
In the past, he thought that as long as he and his brother were united, no matter how powerful Mu Yanming was, he would still be alone.
But he never expected that in the end, he and his brother would end up like this. First, his elder brother hired assassins to kill him and frame him, and then hired assassins to kill their father. All these things had finally led to their estrangement.
It was Mu Yefeng. As soon as he returned to the capital, he had chosen his partner and stood behind Mu Yanming.
He suddenly began to feel regretful. If he hadn't listened to his elder brother's words and tried to harm his elder brother when he first returned to the capital, would he be the one sitting on the crown prince's throne now?
He shook his head helplessly and looked up at the eastern sky.
...
At this moment, in the Qi Prince's Mansion, Leng Nier was sitting alone in the yard, her expression dull and her eyes lifeless.
The maids and servants who passed by her couldn't help but shake their heads, as if they were both regretful and sympathetic.
"Your Highness the Princess, someone from the Gu Family has come. They said they hope Your Highness can spare some time to go and console Miss Gu."
Leng Nier turned her head and snorted at the maid. "Console! Humph, fine. Prepare the sedan chair. We'll go right now."
She got up and walked outside. The maid helped her into the carriage, and they soon arrived at the Gu Family.
Gu Qinglan still locked herself in the room. She had lost her mother since childhood, and apart from the maids, there was no one in the mansion she could talk to heart - to - heart.
Leng Nier knocked on the door and softly called out, "Qinglan, can your royal cousin come in?"
Gu Qinglan looked up in the direction of the door.
"Come in."
Leng Nier walked in and sat down beside the bed.
The look in her eyes when she looked at Gu Qinglan was somewhat sarcastic.
She thought that Gu Qinglan deserved what had happened to her.
If a girl didn't show herself in public, how could she be kidnapped? The Prime Minister's Mansion was heavily guarded. The villains wouldn't be bold enough to come to the mansion to kidnap someone.
"Qinglan, let's go out for a walk. Look at your sallow face from staying in the room. It's better to go out and see the sun."
Gu Qinglan didn't say a word. She hugged her legs and shook her head listlessly.
Leng Nier coughed awkwardly and pulled her hand, holding it tightly.
"Good Qinglan, your cousin knows you can't get over this hurdle, but since the thing has already happened, life still has to go on. If you keep like this, your father will be worried, and we'll feel sad for you too."
Gu Qinglan didn't understand what she really meant. If it was supposed to be a consolation, every word seemed to stab at her heart. If it wasn't, her sincere expression made it seem like it was.
Gu Qinglan lifted her eyelids and looked at her.
Then she heard her say, "By the way, Qinglan, haven't you thought about investigating this matter carefully? This matter is just too coincidental. How did they know you would come out from there, and it was so coincidental that they kidnapped you when you were alone?"
"Cousin, what do you mean?"
Leng Nier gently patted the back of her hand and lowered her voice. "You've been dejected in the room these days. Your cousin has investigated all the people you met on the day you went out. Guess who is the most suspicious?"
Gu Qinglan never thought of investigating because this whole thing was her own plan. If she investigated, wouldn't it be like slapping herself in the face?
But now, it seemed from Leng Nier's words that she had found a suspect! If that was really the case, it would be really laughable.
She wanted to see who her cousin was trying to frame, so she held her arm back and asked with hatred on her face, "Who? Who on earth wants to harm me like this! If I find out who it is, I'll surely tear him to pieces!"
Leng Nier winked at her maid. The maid opened the door and went out to stand guard outside.
Gu Qinglan looked into her eyes. Leng Nier said without batting an eyelid, "I heard that you saw the Regent's Princess on the day you had the accident."
Gu Qinglan nodded cooperatively.
"Do you still remember what clothes she was wearing?"
Gu Qinglan tilted her head and recalled seriously, putting on a surprised expression.
"She was wearing..."
"Yes, she was wearing the same clothes as you that day and walked towards you. This is the most suspicious point."
Gu Qinglan lowered her head and stammered, "Even if she was wearing the same clothes as me that day, it doesn't prove anything, does it?"
Leng Nier showed a look of disgust, but didn't want to show it too obviously, so she lowered her head slightly.
"Silly Lan'er, doesn't this prove anything? She was wearing the same clothes as you and walked towards you, and then you were kidnapped! This proves that she did it. All of this was her plan. Using herself as bait, this is really a high - level move." As she said this, she shook her head.
Although Leng Nier lowered her head slightly when she showed the look of disgust just now, Gu Qinglan still saw it clearly.
She took a deep breath. She didn't expect that the person her cousin was trying to frame was the Regent's Princess.
"Cousin, do you have any evidence for what you said?"
Leng Nier sighed and showed a regretful expression. "It's your cousin's fault. I haven't found any solid evidence for the time being to prove that it was her who did it. But you trust your cousin. This matter must be related to the Regent's Princess."
Gu Qinglan let go of her hand and hugged her legs. "I know. I'll go and investigate. If it's really her..."
Before Gu Qinglan could finish her sentence, Leng Nier couldn't wait to take over.
"If it's really her, you must go to the palace and file a complaint with the emperor. Ask the emperor to seek justice for you. I don't believe that under the emperor's nose, she can stay out of it."
Gu Qinglan nodded and softly replied, "Okay."
"Cousin, I really don't want to go out for a walk. You don't have to stay with me. Go back and rest."
Leng Nier had already achieved her goal of sowing discord, and naturally didn't want to stay here and see Gu Qinglan's listless look.
She stood up and took a step back. "Then your cousin will leave first. You mustn't think too much. Find something to do, and you'll soon forget about the bad things."
Gu Qinglan looked up at her and watched her walk out of the room.
Leng Nier was in a great mood after leaving the Gu Mansion. She swayed her graceful figure and walked on the street.
The maid carefully followed behind, not daring to fall behind a single step.
She waved the handkerchief in her hand and reached up to touch the hair on her temple. Just as she was about to turn around and say something to the maid, she was suddenly bumped into by a bare - chested man.
The man was dressed in black and had a rough face. He grinned at her.
"Hehehe."