The King of Yu already had a bad complexion. Now that Tang Ziyan had said such impolite words to him, his face turned even uglier.
Almost without thinking, he reached out and grabbed Tang Ziyan by the neck. His dark eyes were as gloomy as water. "You're just a young man from the Southern Courtyard. It'd be as easy for me to kill you as to crush an ant. What right do you have to stand in front of me and lecture me?"
The King of Yu's voice was hoarse. Although it sounded flat, the coldness in his words sent shivers down one's spine.
Tang Ziyan wasn't one to be trifled with. He frowned and looked at the King of Yu. "Since the princess has taken me in, I'll protect her with all my might."
"Just you?" The King of Yu's face darkened. "Who do you think you are? You think you can protect the princess?"
As he spoke, he tightened his grip on Tang Ziyan's neck. Tang Ziyan's face immediately turned pale.
Seeing this, Su Mingyu stepped forward and grabbed the King of Yu's hand. "Your Highness, Tang Ziyan is just a young man from the Southern Courtyard. Why bother arguing with him?"
Hearing Su Mingyu's words, the King of Yu's complexion improved a bit.
He glanced down at Tang Ziyan and said coldly, "Get out of here!"
Tang Ziyan covered the place on his neck that had been grabbed and seemed to want to say something more.
But Su Mingyu stepped forward and stood between them. "Mr. Tang, please go back to the mansion first. His Highness the King of Yu probably just wants to talk to me about today's matter. It'll be fine."
"But..." Tang Ziyan was clearly worried. "Your Highness, you..."
"Enough!" Su Mingyu scolded in a low voice. "Mr. Tang, please go back first."
Hearing the hint of anger in Su Mingyu's tone, Tang Ziyan knew that her mind was made up.
After a long while, Tang Ziyan pursed his lips. "I came out with the princess, so I'll go back with her. I'll just wait for you here."
Seeing his determination, Su Mingyu could only sigh inwardly.
She turned to look at the King of Yu and shrugged. "Your Highness, please lead the way."
Although the King of Yu was displeased, he still frowned and walked ahead.
Following the King of Yu into an alley, Su Mingyu finally asked curiously, "Your Highness, what exactly do you want to talk to me about?"
Suddenly, the King of Yu stopped in his tracks. Su Mingyu wasn't paying attention and bumped right into his back.
Su Mingyu let out an "ouch" and covered her forehead. "What are you doing?"
The King of Yu looked down at Su Mingyu. "You came here today just to help Tang Ziyan?"
She hadn't expected him to notice so quickly.
Su Mingyu didn't try to deny it. She nodded. "Yes, so what? Is Your Highness going to apologize to me for misunderstanding me before?"
Before the King of Yu could say anything, Su Mingyu waved her hand and pretended to be very magnanimous. "I didn't take this matter to heart. Your Highness doesn't need to be so concerned either."
Seeing Su Mingyu acting so nonchalantly, the King of Yu looked at her coldly. "You know that's not what I want to say."
Su Mingyu blinked her big, beautiful eyes. "What exactly does Your Highness want to say?"
"Su Mingyu!" The King of Yu suddenly lowered his voice. "You clearly know that I..."
Before the King of Yu could finish, Su Mingyu raised her hand to stop him. "Your Highness!"
Su Mingyu looked up at him seriously. Her clear eyes held a hint of warning. "I think I don't need to remind you that I'm the princess consort of the King of Ruixian, and Your Highness, you've married my younger sister and are about to marry Princess Wu Yurou. Some things... it's better not to say them."
Looking at the clarity in Su Mingyu's eyes, the King of Yu tightened his fists. After a long while, he said in a deep voice, "So you've always known?"
Su Mingyu touched her nose. "No, I just guessed. But you don't need to say the rest. I won't listen."
After saying that, Su Mingyu turned around and was about to leave, but after taking just one step, a big hand grabbed her wrist.
Su Mingyu looked back at the King of Yu with a hint of displeasure in her eyes.
Seeing her so distant, the King of Yu felt a dull pain in his heart. He looked at Su Mingyu coldly, and his dark eyes were filled with thick anger.
Su Mingyu felt a bit numb under his gaze. Just as she was about to say something, the King of Yu suddenly took a step forward. Before Su Mingyu could react at all, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his embrace.
The force was so great that it seemed as if he wanted to crush Su Mingyu into his body. It made it a bit difficult for Su Mingyu to breathe.
She pushed against the King of Yu hard, but no matter how hard she tried, he just wouldn't let go.
Su Mingyu's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that the King of Yu had lost control?
If that was really the case, should she fight back?
Just as Su Mingyu was hesitating whether to break the peace, the King of Yu suddenly leaned down and whispered in her ear in a very low but firm voice, "As long as it's something I want, I will definitely get it!"
Su Mingyu rolled her eyes in her heart. Did the King of Yu really think he was someone extraordinary?
Before Su Mingyu could say anything, the King of Yu's hot breath lingered on her neck. "You're no exception."
Su Mingyu got goosebumps all over. She disgustedly stomped on the King of Yu's instep.
The King of Yu let out a muffled groan, but a hint of a smile appeared on his lips. "Your Highness, please go back. Otherwise, your follower will get worried later."
Looking up at the King of Yu, Su Mingyu secretly rolled her eyes in her heart. Had she just been tricked by him?
Moreover, from the King of Yu's words, it seemed that he was confident of defeating Gu Ruobai. Otherwise, how could he be so sure that she would also become his?
Su Mingyu's heart sank. She looked up at the King of Yu. "Your Highness, since I've married Gu Ruobai, we're in the same boat."
Su Mingyu's words were both a probe and a warning.
She was telling the King of Yu that she would never betray Gu Ruobai.
But the King of Yu didn't care at all. He just smiled faintly and nodded. "Of course I know that."
Seeing his arrogant look, Su Mingyu suddenly took a bold move and asked, "Tell me the truth. Did you cripple Gu Ruobai's legs?"
The King of Yu just squinted at her. "You guess."
This ambiguous answer actually made Su Mingyu more certain of something.
She raised her eyebrows. "So it's related to you."
As she spoke, Su Mingyu reached out and patted the King of Yu's chest, then said coldly, "Sure enough, you're the King of Yu. You can even harm your own brother."
After saying that, without waiting for the King of Yu to reply, Su Mingyu turned around and walked out of the alley.
Watching Su Mingyu's departing back, the King of Yu looked at the place on his chest that she had just touched, then curled his lips, and a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes.