Ruan Jiu's words were like a sudden clap of thunder.
Xie Jingchu looked at Ruan Jiu in disbelief, as if he had misheard.
They had finally recognized each other and then managed to break through numerous obstacles to confirm their engagement.
How could the wedding be postponed?
Xie Jingchu forced a smile. "A Jiu, you... you're just joking with me, right?"
Ruan Jiu still bit her lips tightly and shook her head.
Seeing this, Xie Jingchu held his breath.
For a moment, the air in the inner chamber was deathly still.
After a long while, Xie Jingchu slowly asked, "Is it because of Xiao Wang?"
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu immediately shook her head and shouted, "No! It's not because of him!"
Xie Jingchu suddenly grabbed Ruan Jiu's shoulders tightly and stared deeply into her eyes. "Then tell me, why don't you want to marry me?"
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu immediately realized that Xie Jingchu had misunderstood her.
So she quickly explained, "A Jing, I don't mean I don't want to marry you. It's just that I don't want to marry you in Song Qingyu's identity."
"I don't care!" Xie Jingchu's eyes darkened.
Whether she was the second Miss Song or the eldest Miss Shen, she was just his Ruan Jiu!
"But I do care!" Ruan Jiu exclaimed.
Then her nose twitched and her eyes filled with tears again.
As she blinked, big tears rolled down like broken pearls and couldn't be stopped.
This really worried Xie Jingchu.
He immediately let go of Ruan Jiu's shoulders, lowered his voice, and said softly, "A Jiu, I just spoke a bit loudly. Don't cry!"
At the same time, he clumsily wiped the tears from Ruan Jiu's face.
However, this action of Xie Jingchu not only failed to stop Ruan Jiu from sobbing, but also made her cry even louder.
Helplessly, Xie Jingchu had to take Ruan Jiu's little hand and place it on his cheek. "It's my fault. Why don't you slap me twice!"
She was not just his beloved; she was simply his little ancestress.
All his male pride was nothing in front of Ruan Jiu!
Ruan Jiu trembled with sobs and said aggrievedly, "A Jing, I don't want to marry you in Song Qingyu's identity, and I definitely don't want to marry you with Song Qingyu's face!"
Originally, she thought that as long as she could marry Xie Jingchu, it didn't matter if she was Song Qingyu now.
But after recognizing Shen Yu today, she realized how much she hated her current self.
Just thinking that the marriage certificate would bear the names of Xie Jingchu and Song Qingyu made her feel extremely uncomfortable.
Then she sniffed and said, "Can you wait for me? After everything is over, I'll marry you openly in my own identity as Ruan Jiu!"
"Okay!" Xie Jingchu looked at Ruan Jiu with a doting and determined look in his eyes.
Only then did Ruan Jiu show a smile.
Although the tears in the corners of her eyes had not dried, her smile was still bright.
She sniffed and asked, "A Jing, how's the investigation on Song Yanran's grandfather's matter going?"
If she wanted to get back on track as soon as possible, she had to solve the problems of Song Yanran and the Queen quickly.
And the key to all the problems lay in what evidence Song Yanran had in her hands.
Xie Jingchu frowned and replied, "I've indeed found some clues. Song Yanran's grandfather was best at calligraphy and painting back then. Maybe, just as you guessed, the letter of treason written by General Huo back then was forged by him."
"What about Song Yanran? Have you found out what's in her hands?"
Xie Jingchu shook his head.
"However, after her mother was taken back from the brothel by Prince Song, she asked Prince Song to redeem their ancestral house."
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu's eyes narrowed.
Why on earth would she redeem the ancestral house?
"It seems that the evidence is hidden in their ancestral house, which is why Song Yanran's mother redeemed it." Ruan Jiu said in a deep voice.
Xie Jingchu nodded. "I think so too."
Song Yanran must have some evidence against the Queen and Gu Kexing!
But as for what it was, only Song Yanran knew.
Ruan Jiu thought for a while and said, "A Jing, I think we should tell Xiao Wang about this first."
After all, their power in the capital was limited.
Hearing this, Xie Jingchu pursed his lips. "Okay, I'll go with you."
"No need." Ruan Jiu waved her hand. "Don't worry. He can't do anything to me now."
Now they were all in the same boat. If the boat capsized, it wouldn't do any good to anyone.
Xiao Wang surely understood this.
-
In the Eastern Palace.
Xiao Wang didn't even lift his eyelids when Ruan Jiu suddenly visited. He just sat in front of the table and said coldly, "The second Miss Song has already achieved her goal. What are you doing here in the Eastern Palace?"
It seemed that Xiao Wang already knew that Zhao Shiliu had given up the competition in Chonghua Tower.
Ruan Jiu ignored Xiao Wang's sarcasm and casually walked to a chair and sat down. She said with a smile, "People say that even if a deal falls through, kindness remains. Moreover, our deal is still on. Why does Your Highness look so eager to drive me out?"
Hearing this, Xiao Wang stopped writing. The black ink dripped from the tip of his brush onto the paper, blurring the words he had just written into a black mess.
Then he crumpled the paper into a ball in annoyance and threw it on the ground.
"Just say it. What do you want?"
Xiao Wang raised his eyes and stared sharply at Ruan Jiu.
Ruan Jiu收起 the smile on her face and said seriously, "I seem to know why the Queen is helping Song Yanran deal with Song Qingyu."
Hearing this, Xiao Wang's eyes instantly became sharp. "Go on."
"Back then, Song Yanran's grandfather helped the Queen and Gu Kexing forge a letter accusing General Huo of treason. After the deed was done, he was killed by the Queen and the others to cover their tracks.
Knowing that he was doomed, Song Yanran's grandfather left behind evidence of the Queen and Gu Kexing's crimes to protect his only daughter. Later, this became the bargaining chip for Song Yanran to blackmail the Queen into helping her deal with Song Qingyu."
Ruan Jiu's words made Xiao Wang's eyes darken even more.
No wonder the Queen was helping Song Yanran.
But he still doubted. "The story is well - made up."
Ruan Jiu looked stunned. "A story?"
Xiao Wang said seriously, "Don't think that by saying this, I'll help Xie Jingchu deal with Gu Kexing."
Ruan Jiu sneered and thought to herself, Is he really this paranoid?
"Then tell me, why would the Queen help Song Yanran, a powerless and brainless person?"
Ruan Jiu crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair.
She wanted to see what brilliant idea the so - called wise Crown Prince had.
Xiao Wang closed his lips tightly and was at a loss for words.
He really couldn't think of any other reason for the Queen to do this.
Ruan Jiu then continued, "But I have a good idea. It can not only find out the truth but also figure out what evidence Song Yanran has in her hands."
"What's the idea?" Xiao Wang frowned.
Ruan Jiu opened her mouth slightly, but just as she was about to speak, she closed her lips tightly again.
It was better not to let Xiao Wang know this idea for now.
"I need Your Highness to act in a play with me."