Chapter 119: She Cannot Leave the City

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“She has gone to Qingyun Nunnery to observe a vegetarian fast and pray to Buddha for the prince?”

Tan Qingjiu raised a brow. “Which prince is she praying for?”

The steward seemed caught off guard by the question. After a moment’s hesitation, he said, “Judging from what she said, it should be… our prince?”

“Praying for our prince? Then in what capacity is she doing so for Prince Duan? Wouldn’t such prayers only be effective if offered by someone close to him? Usually, it would have to be a blood relative—or perhaps his wife?”

“She is the heir’s wife. What business does she have praying for Prince Duan? Especially after making a scene and disgracing herself at the Prince Duan’s residence.”

Tan Qingjiu’s expression remained impassive, and her voice was equally calm, yet the steward could not help detecting a subtle hint of calculation in her words.

After a moment’s thought, the steward said, “It does seem rather strange.”

“It is more than strange.” Tan Qingjiu lowered her eyes and smiled faintly. “No one understands Tan Yunge’s temperament better than I do. After suffering such humiliation and losing so much face today, how could she possibly let the matter go?”

“Nine times out of ten, she intends to use the excuse of praying for blessings to disappear from the capital and from everyone’s sight. Then she can quietly make a few moves and find some way to take her revenge.”

The steward frowned. “Is that really what she intends? Should we think of some way to stop her—or simply refuse to let her go on the grounds that she and the prince are neither relatives nor kin?”

But as soon as he finished speaking, he shook his head. “No, that would seem strange too. By then, the heir’s wife might turn the tables on us and claim that we were driving her into a corner, refusing even to give her a chance to repent and atone for her sins.”

Tan Qingjiu was amused by his words. “That is indeed what she would do.”

“Then what are we to do?”

Tan Qingjiu shook her head. “It does not matter. Leave her be. Did she say when she plans to depart?”

“No. But it will be tomorrow at the earliest. She may even need two or three days to prepare.”

Tan Qingjiu nodded. “Exactly. There is no need to concern ourselves with her. Let her make as much noise as she pleases.”

“We are truly going to let her be?”

“Yes. Even if she manages to leave, she will not make it out of the city.”

With that, Tan Qingjiu waved a hand and returned to her room, leaving the steward standing there in utter bewilderment.

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That night, at the residence of the Heir of Prince Ding.

It was already nearing midnight, yet the lamps in the main courtyard of the heir’s residence had not been extinguished.

Tan Yunge sat in a chair, her hands gripping the armrests tightly. “Wasn’t I told that the heir had returned? Why haven’t I seen him even now?”

The maid standing nearby cast a cautious glance at Tan Yunge. “The heir did send someone earlier to say… to say…”

Seeing the maid hesitate, Tan Yunge’s expression darkened further. “Say what?”

“He said that while he was outside the residence today, he heard quite a few rumors about the heir’s wife. He said that since the heir’s wife had caused yet another disgraceful incident, she ought to remain in her own courtyard and reflect behind closed doors.”

Tan Yunge sprang to her feet. “What did you say? Why did no one tell me about this?”

“I saw that Your Highness was in a poor mood today, so this servant did not dare mention it.”

Tan Yunge gritted her teeth and drew several deep breaths before managing to calm herself somewhat. “Where is the heir?”

At those words, the maid’s expression grew even more hesitant, as though she scarcely dared speak.

“Speak!” Tan Yunge swept the teacup from her hand, sending it crashing to the floor. “He returned to the residence but did not come here. Which seductress’s courtyard has he gone to? I’ll go and see for myself…”

“Your Highness…” the maid hurriedly said. “The heir did not go to the courtyard of any of the other wives or concubines. He… he brought Miss Yulan from the Emerald Tower back to the residence. She is in the main courtyard.”

“He brought some shameless vixen from outside into the residence?” Tan Yunge’s face grew even darker. “Very well. I would like to see just how extraordinary this vixen is!”

Tan Yunge strode out, and only then did the maid recover herself. She hurried after her. “Your Highness, Your Highness, please don’t… The heir specifically ordered you to remain in your courtyard and reflect behind closed doors. If you go there, he will certainly be angry.”

“Angry? What does he have to be angry about? I am the lady of this residence. How could I refuse to receive a guest? I am only going to take a look. I will not do anything. I merely want to see this Miss Yulan…”

Tan Yunge finished the words through clenched teeth. Then she shook off the maid’s hand and stormed toward the main courtyard.

As soon as she reached the entrance, the sound of strings and bamboo instruments drifted out from within.

Tan Yunge’s hands clenched tightly inside her sleeves as she hurried into the courtyard.

A coquettish laugh floated faintly through the air.

“My lord, you are so wicked. I truly cannot drink another drop, yet you keep making me drink. Look, my lord—you have even soaked my clothes.”

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“Hahaha…” Shen Xiao threw back his head and laughed. “Where are they wet? Come here and let me have a look.”

“My lord! You are terrible! How could I let you look at that?”

“What is there to hide? Is there any part of you I cannot look at? I think you are not drunk at all. When you played the qin for me just now, your hands did not tremble in the slightest. Come, drink this cup for me too.”

“My lord, you are wicked. Did you deliberately keep making me drink? What do you want to do after getting me drunk?”

“You tell me. What else could one do after getting you drunk? Hahaha… I love the way a beauty looks when she is drunk. It is especially alluring. Besides, after drinking, most women are rather more uninhibited in bed.”

Tan Yunge’s eyes reddened. She could bear to listen no longer and stepped out into the open.

“I heard that the heir brought a guest home. Why did no one invite me to help entertain her?”

“Your Highness!”

The woman in Shen Xiao’s arms paled and hurriedly rose to her feet. “This humble one greets Your Highness. Your Highness…”

Before she could finish, Shen Xiao seized her by the hand, pulled her back down, and drew her into his arms once more.

“Why bother with her? Ignore her.”

Only then did Shen Xiao look toward Tan Yunge, though his expression had already turned cold.

“I seem to recall giving you a specific order to remain in your courtyard and reflect on your actions. Are my words no longer worth anything?”

“How could that be?” Tan Yunge smiled. “I heard that you had brought someone home, my lord, and thought I would come over to take a look. This must be Sister Yulan. She truly is breathtakingly beautiful and clearly knows how to care for people. Since you like her so much, why do I not take charge and bring Sister Yulan into the residence?”

“How generous of you.” Shen Xiao let out a derisive laugh. “There are quite a few women I have taken a fancy to lately—thirty or forty, perhaps. Why not take charge and bring them all into the residence?”

Tan Yunge’s expression shifted repeatedly. Shen Xiao’s face suddenly turned icy.

“Get out!”

Tan Yunge clenched her teeth and left the main courtyard in a fury. After all, this was the heir’s residence.

She had only gone a short distance when she suddenly felt as though needles were stabbing into every inch of her body…