"So, I went back to find An Yun."
"Who would have thought that woman said there was a way to take the Golden Silkworm Gu out of your body without anyone knowing, but she had a condition."
That condition...
Was to hope that Xia Qingyan would agree to her being with Xia Yan.
Because Prince Xia once told An Yun that as long as Xia Qingyan didn't agree, he would never take a concubine for the rest of his life.
This was also the reason why, although Gu Qingqing had been dead for many years and Xia Yan had an ambiguous relationship with An Yun, he had never married An Yun.
To save Luo Feiyan and atone for his sins.
Xia Qingyan agreed to An Yun.
Since it was An Yun who raised the Golden Silkworm Gu, Xia Qingyan had no choice but to trust her.
Therefore, there was the sudden rumor that Prince Xia was going to take a concubine.
Zhao Shuning said, "You still haven't told me what happened that night when you saw your mother."
Xia Qingyan looked dejected.
"That night—"
That night, his mother was still alive.
He was just a child.
It was the first time he had seen his mother like that. He was scared and didn't dare to step forward.
It wasn't until a tear rolled out of Gu Qingqing's sunken eyes that Xia Qingyan summoned up the courage to step forward.
That night.
His mother was dying and only said a few words to him.
She told him to be on guard against An Yun, to seize the opportunity when he met a girl he liked in the future, to be a kind person, and she also told Xia Qingyan never to let Xia Yan marry An Yun for the rest of his life.
This was his mother's last wish.
Xia Qingyan had always abided by it.
Now, because of his own selfishness, he had broken his promise.
"Xia Qingyan, you're so stupid. Since you already know that it was An Yun who put the Gu on your mother, why didn't you tell your father?"
Xia Qingyan said bitterly, "My father should have known it long ago."
"My mother told me when she was dying not to hate my father. She said she was sorry for him and that she deserved what she got."
Zhao Shuning looked at Yan Ruyu.
Why did Gu Qingqing say such a strange thing?
Could there be something else hidden behind this?
"Did your mother say anything else?"
Xia Qingyan shook his head.
"After my mother said that, she passed away."
Zhao Shuning took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.
"Then why did you ask me to wear this dress to the prince's mansion banquet?"
"Because I wanted to tell my father and that woman that even if she became my father's wife and the mistress of this mansion, she would still be inferior to my mother. I knew that when my father saw you, he would surely lose his composure. And An Yun would have a knot in her heart about my mother for the rest of her life. She and my father would never be happy together."
When Xia Qingyan said this...
He gritted his teeth.
Zhao Shuning seemed to be able to feel his anger towards An Yun.
But she couldn't feel the slightest bit of sympathy for him.
"You put the Gu on me just so that I could stay by your side in the future?"
"I'm sorry, Feiyan. I'm so sorry. Because in this world, I can never find another pair of eyes like hers. Your eyes are so much like my mother's. I just... just wanted to keep you by my side. But later, in the process of getting along with you, I realized how stupid I was. I wanted to take the Gu out. I'm sorry."
Xia Qingyan continued, "I know you'll never forgive me. I don't even have the face to see you again."
Suddenly, there was a dagger in his hand.
The dagger was pointed at his own neck.
Fortunately, Yan Ruyu was quick-eyed and quick-handed. The dagger only left a bloodstain on Xia Qingyan's neck and didn't harm his life.
"Bu Ran, you?"
"He shouldn't die yet. He has to atone for his sins."
Xia Qingyan looked at Zhao Shuning and said, "Feiyan—"
"Get up."
Since the master said he shouldn't die, there must be a reason for Xia Qingyan to stay.
"Have you forgiven me?"
"No."
They say that a prime minister's heart is big enough to sail a boat, but Zhao Shuning was a woman, not a prime minister. She was very narrow-minded. Once someone did something wrong to her, she would never forgive them easily.
"Do I need to do something?"
"An Yun is not simple. Xia Qingyan, if you really want to make up for your mistakes, then go back and keep a close eye on An Yun. Her other identity is a witch of your Hailing Kingdom. To have reached this stage, she must be extraordinary."
"Okay."
Zhao Shuning said, "Then stand up too. Kneeling in front of me, I'm afraid it will shorten my lifespan."
"Feiyan, if one day something really happens to you, don't worry. I will never live alone. I will surely follow you."
Yan Ruyu said softly, "This is not your business."
Xia Qingyan also felt guilty and stood up with his head down.
But he had knelt for too long.
As soon as he stood up, his hands and feet were numb and he couldn't move.
"Go back to the prince's mansion and keep an eye on An Yun's actions."
There must be someone else behind An Yun.
Raising a Golden Silkworm Gu was an extremely glorious thing for a witch. Moreover, it was the king of the Golden Silkworm Gus.
The Golden Silkworm King was more important than life to a witch.
How could An Yun easily give such an important thing to Xia Qingyan?
Also, Xia Qingyan wasn't a bad person. Yan Ruyu could see his feelings for Ling'er. At first, he should not have known that the Golden Silkworm Gu would cause such great harm to her body.
However, how could it be such a coincidence?
Ling'er had only been infected with the Golden Silkworm Gu for a short time, and then she was infected with Qin Sheng's drug curse.
Could it be that...
There was such a person?
Who could use so many people as chess pieces and calculate them all on the chessboard?
Yan Ruyu was terrified. Since it involved Ling'er, he had to be cautious.
If that was really the case, the person hiding behind was really unfathomable and terrifying.
"Okay, go back."
After Xia Qingyan's body was no longer so numb, Zhao Shuning opened the door and let him out.
Seeing a bloodstain on the young master's neck, the guard quickly drew his sword and stepped forward.
"Prince."
"Step back."
"Prince, your injury?"
"Go—"
"Yes."
Watching the group leave the room, Zhao Shuning said to Yan Ruyu, "Bu Ran, you haven't smiled since he came in."
"Your matter hasn't been resolved yet. I can't smile."
But Zhao Shuning seemed to be okay.
"I'm not in a hurry. As long as you're by my side, I'm not afraid of any jackals or tigers."
Yan Ruyu smiled.
Zhao Shuning said again, "What do you think of An Yun?"
"She's not simple."
"Yeah."
"And that last words of Gu Qingqing when she was dying are also thought-provoking."
Suddenly, Zhao Shuning opened her eyes wide and said, "Could it be that Gu Qingqing had an affair outside and Xia Qingyan isn't Prince Xia's biological son?"
"What do you think?"
"It should be wrong. Xia Qingyan looks so much like his father. They should be father and son."
"Of course they are father and son."
"Then—"
Yan Ruyu pressed his bamboo flute against Zhao Shuning's head.
Zhao Shuning had to put down her outstretched hands, looking aggrieved.
"Wait and see. The truth should surface soon."