Ruan Jiu didn't have time to say goodbye to Concubine Shu. She immediately turned around and ran outside.
However, as soon as she stepped out of the Cold Palace, the maid who had just spoken had disappeared without a trace.
Not far away, several old nannies were running in Ruan Jiu's direction.
Seeing this, Ruan Jiu panicked and immediately fled in another direction.
Alas, the palace was so vast, and the several old nannies were closely following behind.
What if these persistent people were sent by the queen? If she was caught, she might not be able to leave the palace today.
Thinking of this, Ruan Jiu couldn't help but feel a little scared, and her steps unconsciously quickened.
Suddenly, she saw a closed palace not far away. It seemed that there was no one there.
So, taking advantage of the fact that the old nannies hadn't caught up yet, she made up her mind, pushed open the door of the palace, and hid inside.
After closing the door of the palace, she lay on the door and put her ear to it.
Holding her breath, she carefully listened to the footsteps outside.
Fortunately, the old nannies didn't follow.
The tense string in Ruan Jiu's heart finally relaxed.
She let out a long breath.
She secretly rejoiced at this thrilling survival after the disaster.
However, this joy didn't last long.
As soon as she turned around, her slender neck was firmly grabbed by a pair of powerful big hands.
Only to see Prince Xiao Wang glaring at her with a gloomy look on his face. There was obviously a trace of anger in his eyes.
Today was originally the anniversary of Xiao Wang's mother's death. Every year on this day, he would stay in his mother's bedroom for a long time.
Unexpectedly, an "uninvited guest" had broken into the Xuanhe Palace, which had been ignored for years.
Ruan Jiu's breath caught in her throat. She secretly thought that this prince must be crazy. Why did he always like to grab people by the neck!
Sure enough, when a person was unlucky, even drinking cold water would get their teeth stuck.
She thought she had escaped the chase, but unexpectedly, she had run into an even bigger trouble.
"How did you get here?"
Xiao Wang's deep voice sounded.
The voice was not loud, but it obviously gave people a strong sense of oppression.
Ruan Jiu struggled and patted Xiao Wang's hand, indicating that she couldn't speak.
Only then did Xiao Wang loosen his grip on Ruan Jiu's neck.
Then, Ruan Jiu covered her neck and took several steps back in a row, afraid that if Xiao Wang was in a bad mood, her neck would become a plaything in his hands again.
Then she showed a flattering look on her face. "I came into the palace today to make clothes for the eldest princess. Unexpectedly, I got lost for a moment and accidentally broke into this place. I hope the prince will forgive me!"
After hearing this, Xiao Wang didn't say a word.
He just folded his arms across his chest, slightly narrowed his eyes, and quietly looked at Ruan Jiu.
Just then, a guard suddenly ran over from somewhere and whispered a few words in Xiao Wang's ear.
No one knew what the guard had said. Xiao Wang's eyes darkened. "Making clothes for Yongning?"
Ruan Jiu pretended to be calm and nodded.
She looked very sincere.
But obviously, Xiao Wang didn't believe her at all. He snorted coldly. "Then why did the queen's people chase you?"
Ruan Jiu's breath caught in her throat. It seemed that her guess was right.
Those old nannies were indeed sent by the queen.
Ruan Jiu pretended to be innocent. "Maybe it's because they thought I looked unfamiliar."
"Then why did you run?"
"They were chasing me. Of course, I had to run!" Then she let out a long sigh and continued, "I was also scared. I was afraid they would arrest me as a bad person, so I ran."
"Scared?"
Ruan Jiu pursed her lips and nodded seriously.
After hearing this, Xiao Wang sneered. "Since that's the case, then I'll invite Miss Shen to the Eastern Palace to calm her nerves."
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu's eyes widened and her breathing suddenly stopped.
It was over!
It would be more accurate to say that Ruan Jiu was carried to the Eastern Palace by two guards rather than invited.
Although she had already prepared herself for the worst on the way, when she was locked in the dark prison in the Eastern Palace, she still couldn't help but feel a trace of panic.
The dark prison in the Eastern Palace was usually the place where Xiao Wang interrogated prisoners.
What on earth did she do to be "lucky" enough to come to this place?
Ruan Jiu knelt on the ground and raised her eyes to look at Xiao Wang.
The dark prison was extremely dim. Only a few candles were flickering slightly.
The light was shining on Xiao Wang's face, but it was hard to see his expression clearly.
"I don't know where I offended the prince?"
Her eyes were misty with tears, and she looked extremely pitiful.
At the moment, Ruan Jiu didn't know what Xiao Wang meant by bringing her here.
So, she could only act weak first.
Xiao Wang was sitting on a chair, propping his head up and looking at Ruan Jiu.
"Doesn't Miss Shen think this quiet place is especially suitable for calming one's nerves?"
Hearing this, the corner of Ruan Jiu's mouth couldn't help but twitch.
This was called calming one's nerves?
I'm afraid those with weak nerves would have fainted from fear long ago.
Ruan Jiu sniffed and whispered, "It's the first time I've heard of inviting someone to a dark prison to calm their nerves."
Although her voice was soft, it still reached Xiao Wang's ears.
Xiao Wang raised his hand.
After a while, a guard came over with a teacup in his hand.
He squatted down and put it in front of Ruan Jiu.
Ruan Jiu frowned and shrank back.
Was it because she had accidentally broken into a palace that she was going to be given poison to drink?
Were the people in the royal family all so unreasonable?
"Miss Shen doesn't want to drink?"
Ruan Jiu waved her hand. "I'm not thirsty."
She was afraid of being poisoned!
However, soon, she dispelled the doubts in her heart.
Although the Shen family was just a merchant family, Xiao Wang couldn't quietly execute her without any reason.
As for why Xiao Wang had brought her here.
I'm afraid he just wanted to scare her.
After all, once a person's heart was invaded by fear, they would inevitably show their flaws.
"Your Highness, I've been delayed for too long. I'm afraid the eldest princess has been waiting impatiently." Ruan Jiu said calmly.
Xiao Wang saw that there was no longer the panic in Ruan Jiu's eyes as before.
In this situation, she could still come up with the idea of using the eldest princess as an excuse to get herself released. She was indeed not an ordinary woman.
Since the day Xiao Wang saw her elegant handwriting, he knew that she was deliberately hiding her talents.
And that day outside Taiping Village.
All of these things made Xiao Wang can't help but want to explore what secrets were hidden in her.
Moreover, why did the queen's people keep chasing her?
"Don't use such excuses to deceive me." Xiao Wang's voice was cold, as if there was no trace of warmth.
After a pause, he continued, "Tell me, what on earth was your purpose for coming to the palace today!"
After saying that, Xiao Wang's sharp eyes swept over.
Ruan Jiu still looked calm. "I came to make clothes for the eldest princess."
"Do you think I'll believe you?"
"Whether Your Highness believes me or not has nothing to do with me. However, I'm innocent and have never told a single lie."
Moreover, she did come into the palace today to take the measurements of the eldest princess for making clothes.
Saying this was not exactly a lie.
Xiao Wang lowered his head and played with his fingers.
For a moment, the entire dark prison was so quiet that you could almost hear a pin drop.
Looking at the torture instruments for interrogating prisoners placed in the dark prison, Ruan Jiu gently rubbed the fine sweat on her palms.
She tried hard to suppress the uneasiness in her heart, and her whole heart was in her throat.
However, as long as Xiao Wang didn't know that she had gone to the Cold Palace to see Concubine Shu, he couldn't do anything to her.
After all, all those who entered the palace had to be registered. Even the prince couldn't just kill her without any evidence, could he?
Thinking of this, Ruan Jiu's panicked heart gradually calmed down.
"Since that's the case, then you can stay in this dark prison.
Stay here until you're willing to tell the truth."