With these words, she turned around and was about to lead her entourage back.
Ji Huang didn't intend to let things escalate to this point. He stepped forward to stop her.
"Huier, why do you have to be like this? I just hope you can get along well with the empress dowager. Besides, the empress dowager has no ill intentions towards you or our child."
He Hui withdrew her hand dejectedly.
"I can see that the empress dowager and I are just not destined to be mother - in - law and daughter - in - law. After all, I'm just the daughter of a merchant. How could I ever meet the empress dowager's standards? I guess I was just being self - indulgent."
As she spoke, her tears flowed more and more fiercely, which made Ji Huang panic.
"Huier, don't cry. Let's just let this matter go. Fine, I'll make sure you have less contact with the empress dowager in the future."
However, this concession still didn't satisfy the person in front of him.
"No need. It's better that I leave. I'll go back to the northwest and wait for news about the prince. The mansion is so small. We're bound to run into each other."
Shi Muyuan rolled her eyes. She knew what He Hui meant.
"Since no one can tolerate me, then I'd better leave. Anyway, no one here wants me to stay."
Ji Huang was in a dilemma. "Both of you want to leave. You are the most important people in my life. Huier, Mother, please stop making trouble, okay?"
There was a hint of struggle and pain in his eyes.
He Hui acted as if she didn't see it. "The prince thinks I'm making trouble, but I just want to accompany you in peace."
Her maid spoke up at the right moment.
"Humph, yes, I'm the only bad guy. I'm tired. You can decide where I should go. Anyway, I'm in your hands now. It doesn't matter where I am."
Without saying anything more, she went back to her room.
When she lay on the bed, her eyes were fixed on the ceiling. Although she had won this round, she felt a chill down her back.
She tossed and turned but couldn't fall asleep. In this quiet night, everything seemed so out of place.
Just then, there was a sound from the window.
She immediately became alert and took out the dagger she had hidden under her pillow.
With someone like He Hui around, she had to be prepared at all times. So, she had secretly brought the dagger in when the servants weren't paying attention.
Seeing that the window had been quietly opened a crack from the outside, she was extremely nervous. Could it be that He Hui had secretly sent someone?
Was she really that bold? Wasn't she afraid of being discovered?
A thousand thoughts raced through her mind. She tightly held the dagger and quietly approached the window.
Just as the figure outside rushed in, she held the determination to die and swung the dagger down.
At that moment, many things flashed through her mind.
If she really died here, Ji Huang would surely send her body back. Maybe this would be an opportunity for the two brothers to talk and solve their problems.
However, the dagger in her hand never fell. Instead, it seemed to be stopped by someone.
She opened her eyes a little and looked at the person in front of her. Surprise was clearly written on her face.
"How did you get here?"
"The empress dowager should know why I'm here."
His words suddenly enlightened the young girl, and there was still a hint of joy in her eyes.
The man warily glanced outside. After making sure there was no one, he closed the window.
"The empress dowager really made it hard for us to find you. We don't know what you're thinking. You always manage to get yourself kidnapped."
His tone was complex. There was blame, but it seemed that there was more distress.
Shi Muyuan was startled by her own thought. She scoffed in her heart.
This man had always hated her the most. How could he feel distressed for her?
However, his appearance today really made her heave a sigh of relief.
She used to hate this man climbing through her window the most, but now she wished he would do it more often.
"By the way, National Master, how did you find this place?"
"We should really thank our prince for that."
He told the young girl in detail what had happened before. After she finished listening, she couldn't calm down for a long time.
He thought the young girl was sad because of Ji Huang, so he awkwardly comforted her.
"Since the prince has already planned to rebel, it's only natural for him to change his mind. It's just that we trusted him too much at the beginning and still regarded him as a child."
"No, that's not what I'm thinking. Hearing what you said, I'm thinking that He Hui's influence on him has already been so profound. This will make it difficult for us to do anything in the future."
She remembered what had happened at night and sighed helplessly.
Cui Qizhou's face darkened slightly. He had been on the roof watching everything at night.
"That person can't be kept any longer. However, it's not the right time to act yet. The empress dowager should leave this place with me first. We can discuss other things later."
He looked very serious, but unexpectedly, the young girl refused.
"No. I know that staying here might be dangerous for me, but I can't leave now."
"Why! Although He Hui seemed to lose today on the surface, relying on the prince's favor, she will probably try to harm you again soon. It won't be so easy for you to get away next time."
"I understand the reasoning, but don't you think something is too strange?"
"What?"
"As far as your memory serves, has there ever been anyone in the royal family of our Great Liang who can't eat sugar, even if we go back several generations?"
She knew that even though she didn't know much about the royal family, the man in front of her must know very well. If even he didn't know, then she should think carefully about where that child came from.
Sure enough, after a moment of thought, Cui Qizhou answered affirmatively.
"Never."
"That's right. I have something I need your help with, and this can only be done if I stay."
"What?"
The man was smart. He vaguely had an idea of what it was, but he was waiting for an answer.
"I suspect that Ji Junlin is not the prince's biological child. But it won't be easy to find out. I need your help."
"We can still investigate this even if we leave, Empress Dowager! Don't be foolish."
"No. I'm waiting for you to bring me the evidence. Maybe this evidence will be the key to saving our country in the end."
Her eyes were firm, and in the end, the man couldn't refuse.
"Okay. How does the empress dowager want to do this? Tell me in detail."
The two discussed for about half an incense stick's time before finally finalizing the whole plan.
However, Shi Muyuan stared at the man with a deep look in her eyes.
This made the man feel strange. "Is there something on my face? The empress dowager is so lost in thought."
"No. I just remembered some past events. Over the years, if it weren't for your support, how could I have accomplished so many things? I'm quite curious. Weren't you at odds with me before?"