When Lin Yeran saw Xie Jiuan's look, his body suddenly trembled, and cold sweat trickled down from his forehead. He tried hard to hold back his constantly shrinking steps. A smile even uglier than a cry appeared on his face as he quickly denied it. "No, no. How could that be? Prince Xie is right to scold me."
Xie Jiuan was the ninth and the youngest among the princes, so it was quite respectful for Lin Yeran to address him as "Prince Xie".
Lin Yeran was domineering in the capital and didn't give anyone face. But one day, somehow, he didn't check his fortune before going out and offended Xie Jiuan. With that gentle smile, Xie Jiuan directly ordered his men to throw Lin Yeran into a snake pit.
Although those snakes were non - venomous, snakes were Lin Yeran's greatest fear. He stayed in the snake pit for three days and three nights and was almost bitten to death. Xie Jiuan was in a good mood and came to see him from time to time to mock him.
Not convinced after being bitten, Lin Yeran, regardless of others' dissuasion, offended Xie Jiuan again. He was tied up by Xie Jiuan's guards. Xie Jiuan still had that gentle, signature smile, but this time he held a knife in his hand and threatened to castrate Lin Yeran.
That time, Lin Yeran was so scared that he howled and shed tears. He knelt naked for three days and three nights before he was spared from being castrated.
Lin Yeran's father reported the matter to the emperor, but the emperor just said, "It's just a small quarrel. It's not worth mentioning." and the matter was quickly dismissed.
A small quarrel? Not worth mentioning?
The people of the Lin Mansion didn't dare to go out for half a year, losing all their face.
Since then, Lin Yeran finally realized that Xie Jiuan was someone he couldn't afford to offend. When he heard that Xie Jiuan had gone north, he would hurry south.
This time, he never expected to meet this living Hades here.
"Has it been too long since I last visited the Lin Mansion that you've come to me on your own, Young Master Lin?"
Xie Jiuan's tone was light, but it scared Lin Yeran badly.
"No, no. It's all a misunderstanding, Prince Xie. I didn't know Miss Gu was yours."
Hearing this tone, Lin Yeran knew that Xie Jiuan was about to teach him a lesson again. He quickly waved his hands and stepped back, ready to run.
Hearing his words, Xie Jiuan hooked his lips into a smile and didn't refute.
"Fine. Get out. I'm in a good mood today and don't want to argue with you. But if there's a next time..."
Xie Jiuan stopped here, leaving Lin Yeran to figure out the meaning.
Since the steps were offered, there was no reason not to take them. Lin Yeran forced an extremely ugly smile on his face. He bent down and nodded vigorously. When he saw Xie Jiuan wave his hand, he quickly fled with his servants in a hurry.
Before even getting downstairs, he rolled down the stairs several times because he was in such a hurry, losing all his face. He didn't even dare to look back and almost rolled out of the restaurant in an instant.
The second floor became quiet. At this time, Gu Jiangyue also came to her senses. Her face showed little emotion as she slightly curtsied towards Xie Jiuan.
"Thank you, Prince Jiu."
Gu Jiangyue just wanted to leave here quickly. After thanking Xie Jiuan, she was about to go downstairs.
"Does Miss Gu have nothing to say to me? Aren't you going to invite me to sit down?"
Have something to say to him?
Gu Jiangyue was stunned. She did have something to talk to Xie Jiuan about, but how did he know? She turned around and looked at him.
Xie Jiuan stood still. He was as graceful as jade, dressed in a snow - white robe. He smiled beautifully. The wind blew the loose strands of hair on his forehead. He was as cold and elegant as a painting.
"Please sit down, Prince Jiu."
Gu Jiangyue did need to find Xie Jiuan. She definitely couldn't bring down the Lin family on her own. So she needed the help of the man in black to spread the news about the Lin family's bribery and the unjust case of the He family to draw the attention of the court and the royal family.
But to contact the man in black, she had to find Xie Jiuan with the jade token. Now Xie Jiuan was sitting in front of her, and it seemed that he even knew what she wanted to do. Gu Jiangyue had a premonition that this Prince Jiu was definitely not as harmless as he seemed.
Gu Jiangyue slowly picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea for Xie Jiuan, and gently placed it in front of him.
Xie Jiuan just looked at her. He let out a soft laugh and picked up the teacup to take a sip.
"Miss Gu can just speak your mind. I won't eat you."
Gu Jiangyue was still weighing whether to speak up or not. After hearing Xie Jiuan's words, she thought for a while. It seemed that she had no other way but this, as she was just an unfavored young lady in the Gu Mansion.
She gritted her teeth and finally took out the jade token the man in black had given her and placed it on the table.
"Can Prince Jiu do me a favor and help me contact that man in black?"
The jade token lay quietly on the table. Xie Jiuan squinted his eyes. He didn't expect Gu Jiangyue to be so cautious. Even though he was sitting right in front of her, she still wanted to find the man in black.
"What do you need him for? Just talk to me."
Xie Jiuan waved the folding fan in his hand. His words were extremely unreasonable. He suddenly regretted meeting this young woman first in the identity of the man in black.
Who would have thought that the Ninth Prince of the Great Xia would be jealous of himself?
Gu Jiangyue was taken aback by his words and looked at Xie Jiuan with a proper smile on her face.
"I'm good friends with him. He's gone somewhere else recently and may not be back for a while. Miss Gu can just tell me what you need."
Xie Jiuan quickened the movement of fanning, as if feeling that what he said just now was a bit strange. He then added with a smile.
The man in black wasn't in the capital? Gu Jiangyue couldn't help but frown.
"Miss Gu seems very interested in Miss Liu Yunyan." Seeing that Gu Jiangyue still didn't trust him, in order to prevent her from leaving directly, Xie Jiuan spoke first.
He had a premonition that if he didn't say something beneficial to her first, Gu Jiangyue would never exchange conditions with him. This young woman had a lot on her mind.
"The emperor has been investigating the Lin Mansion very strictly recently. He asked me to keep an eye on Lin Yeran. I wonder, Miss Gu..."
Gu Jiangyue paused as she was about to pick up the teacup. She didn't expect Xie Jiuan to tell her this.
Was he trying to cooperate with her?
If the man in black were still here, Gu Jiangyue would have pretended to be stupid without hesitation and refused to tell Xie Jiuan any information about the Lin family and the He family. She had been betrayed too many times.
But unfortunately, the man in black was not there. Now Xie Jiuan also said that the emperor attached great importance to this matter. If Gu Jiangyue didn't say anything, she might miss this opportunity and it would be very difficult for her to threaten the Lin family again. She had no other choice now.
Gu Jiangyue could only try to believe that Xie Jiuan wouldn't lie to her.
"My father did tell me something about this. I wonder if Prince Jiu knows the He family?"
Gu Jiangyue stopped here. Her eyes looked directly at Xie Jiuan without any evasion, trying to see through this playboy widely rumored in the capital.
She saw a pair of peach - blossom eyes, cold and beautiful like a deep pool, hidden under a lazy smile.