Nonsense! She’s Not a Bad Woman! - Chapter 95

At the city gates, the carriage rolled to a halt as Mo Xiao tightened the reins. He swung down from his horse in one fluid motion and strode quickly to the carriage.

“Your Highness, we’ve captured the man.”

He Yanli toyed with the jade pendant in his hand. At those words, his expression shifted slightly. “Alive?”

Mo Xiao replied, “Alive. That traitor tried to bite his tongue and kill himself, but I stopped him. He’s already been sent to the Ministry of Justice’s dungeon. Does Your Highness wish to go there and conduct the interrogation yourself?”

The traitor had already been like a turtle in a jar, completely within their grasp in the capital. But out of nowhere, a little girl had appeared—one skilled in poison. Thanks to her, the pursuers had all ended up clutching their stomachs, sprinting for home while making a mess in their trousers. The stench had filled the entire street.

Only after capturing that girl did they learn she was one of Second Miss Qiao’s people.

He Yanli slipped the jade pendant into his sleeve. “Return to the manor.”

Mo Xiao was puzzled. The rebel was already in their hands—shouldn’t they be wringing him dry, forcing out every last detail about the remnants of the former dynasty hidden in the capital?

But he dared not question further. He merely turned to the coachman. “Back to the manor!”

Qiao Wanyan had been waiting half a day at the Ministry of Justice, yet He Yanli never came. When she finally sent Ziyuan to inquire, they learned that Prince Jing had no intention of coming today. He remained at the manor and had said he would interrogate the prisoner tomorrow.

“Miss, really! They knew His Highness wasn’t coming, but didn’t even bother to inform you. Letting you wait here for nothing!” Ziyuan muttered angrily.

Qiao Wanyan said calmly, “Eight or nine chances out of ten, he did it on purpose.”

“Then, Miss, should we still go to Prince Jing’s manor? Why not just wait until tomorrow? You’ve been waiting so long already, your body must be exhausted. Better to rest at home and go tomorrow.”

But at that moment, an image surfaced in her mind: Yun Yao’s pitiful face, tears and snot running as she clutched at her sleeve before departure, begging her to save her.

Qiao Wanyan sighed quietly. “Forget it. We’ll go to Prince Jing’s manor.”

Meanwhile, in his study, He Yanli was reading a freshly delivered secret letter. After finishing, he held it over the flame of a candle and let it burn to ashes. His obsidian eyes reflected the flicker of fire—like a flame born in the heart of an arctic wasteland, brilliant yet utterly devoid of warmth.

The endless sky was painted with a magnificent sunset. The afterglow streamed in through the window, falling across He Yanli’s brow.

Bathed in that glow, his eyes narrowed slightly, gaze fixed on the tightly shut doors.

As expected, she had no conscience. Even with her own people thrown into the Ministry of Justice’s dungeon, she wasn’t the least bit anxious to rescue them.

Just then, Mo Xiao entered. “Your Highness, dinner is ready.”

Why did His Highness’s expression look so dark? Could it be that something happened in Beiming City, judging from that secret letter?

He Yanli only gave a light hum in response.

In Qingyun Hall, the table was already laid with dishes of exquisite aroma and appearance.

He Yanli looked over the spread with disinterest. “Clear it all away. This king has no appetite.”

The servants had just begun to remove the dishes when a young attendant rushed in.

“Reporting to Your Highness—Second Miss Qiao is here. She says she has something urgent to discuss. Word is, she waited at the Ministry of Justice for you for quite some time, and when she could not wait any longer, she came here to find you.”

He Yanli’s brows knit together. “She went to wait for me at the Ministry of Justice? Instead of coming to my manor first? What business does she have in such a place? Has her brain been kicked by a donkey?”

The boy scratched his head. “This servant has no idea… Shall I go and ask Second Miss Qiao?”

He Yanli’s voice was low and steady. “Ask what? If outsiders heard, they’d think this king actually cared about her. Let her in.”

Qiao Wanyan knew where Qingyun Hall was. Back when the Prince’s Residence was still just a royal son’s manor, she had often come here. So even without a servant leading the way, she could easily find her path.

Pushing open the doors to Qingyun Hall, she found He Yanli seated at the table, lowering his gaze as he ate—without sparing her even a single glance.

His posture was straight and refined, like a pine standing tall. He lifted his silver chopsticks, gracefully picking up a tender piece of greens and bringing it to his lips. Every movement revealed the aristocratic elegance unique to one born of imperial blood.

He Yanli was handsome by nature, but in this moment, with his head slightly lowered and his attention wholly focused on his meal, that sharp, overwhelming aura he carried seemed to soften just a little.

For once, Zi Yuan did not kneel in fear and greeting.

“Your Highness, this humble daughter greets you,” Qiao Wanyan’s voice rang out, clear and sweet like a songbird in the mountains, enough to make one’s heart quiver.

He Yanli remained silent, neither answering nor looking her way, as though deliberately keeping her at arm’s length.

Qiao Wanyan spoke again, gently, “Your Highness, has the remnant traitor from the previous dynasty been caught?”

“What of it if he has? And what if he hasn’t?” His tone was flat, betraying no hint of emotion.

Qiao Wanyan explained earnestly, “Yunyao is still young. She’s always been kept at home, never venturing out. Now that she’s come to the capital, she doesn’t understand how treacherous people can be, and accidentally fell into a rebel’s scheme, ruining Your Highness’s affairs. But she truly meant no harm. I beg Your Highness to show mercy, considering her youth and ignorance.”

After a pause, she added, “Yunyao caused the guards investigating the traitor to be poisoned. But the poison only causes stomach upset—it won’t leave any lasting damage. This humble daughter is willing to compensate the guards, and I promise it will satisfy them.”

Standing off to the side, Mo Xiao quietly observed. The rebel had already been captured; this matter could be blown up or brushed aside.

In the past, His Highness would’ve waved a hand and had the girl escorted back home before Qiao Wanyan even had a chance to speak.

But now…

After years at his side, Mo Xiao could tell—this time, the little girl would not be leaving so easily. Qiao Wanyan’s trip today was destined to be wasted.

“To obstruct this king’s investigation, and think some ‘compensation’ is enough to free her? Do you take me for a fool?” He Yanli finally set down his chopsticks and lifted his gaze toward her.

His eyes flicked over the dirt on the hem of her skirt. It seemed she had picked it up inside the Ministry of Justice’s prison cells.

He figured she hadn’t noticed. Otherwise, would she still come here in such disheveled attire? She would’ve gone straight home to the Minister’s residence, changed clothes, and probably had this entire dress thrown out.

He lifted his teacup, intending to take a sip—only to find it empty.

Mo Xiao immediately stepped forward to refill it, but was stopped in his tracks by a single cold glance. He obediently retreated.

Ah, from the looks of His Highness now, the Second Miss would be lucky to escape without shedding a layer of skin.

Qiao Wanyan quickly caught on and moved forward herself, lifting the clay teapot to pour for him. But the tea inside was scalding hot. She hadn’t been careful enough—her hand jerked when the heat bit into her skin.

The teapot slipped slightly, splashing steaming liquid onto her hand.

“Hss—” Qiao Wanyan gasped, sucking in a sharp breath.

Just as she tried to pull her hand back, He Yanli abruptly caught her wrist. He brought it close, his lips brushing near as he gently blew across the reddened skin.

The very next second, he froze.

The air in the hall seemed to solidify, silence pressing down like a frozen glacier.