Chapter 192 (1/2)
Chapter 192: Laying low in Eastern Wu
”I'm here to see you suffer, of course,” Wei Lanying said with a malicious smile. Her words were as vicious as her expression. ”Oh, even those who think they are superior can fall from their grace so suddenly. How does it feel to lose everything, Feng Baiyu? Don't be too upset, though. You're not alone. Nan Guyue is living a fate worse than death as well.”
Jun Huang frowned. She seemed to have misunderstood something. ”What do you mean?”
In her satisfaction, Wei Lanying didn't notice anything unusual. She told Jun Huang that Qi Chen had found out about her affair with Nan Guyue, and that Nan Guyue had lost her child.
Jun Huang cursed inwardly. She sorted through her thoughts once Wei Lanying had left. She had misunderstood the situation from the very beginning! She asked the guard to notify Qi Chen that she would like to have a word with him.
The guard hurriedly went to find Qi Chen and came back with him not long after. Qi Chen looked at Jun Huang. His anger was not as severe now, but seeing Jun Huang still put a damp on his mood. He asked harshly, ”What do you want?”
”This gentleman has nothing to do with the princess, Your Highness. The truth is not as you've thought.”
”Do you think I'll believe you?” Qi Chen scoffed. ”If you're innocent, why didn't you say anything when I asked you? Ha, now that Nan Guyue has suffered a miscarriage, you're telling me you aren't involved with her? Do you think I'm that stupid?”
Jun Huang tightened her jaw and threw a glance at the guard. ”This gentleman is hiding something from Your Highness… The truth is I… I cannot get it up. I was too embarra.s.sed to tell you. I didn't expect my pride to put the princess in danger. Besides, everyone knows that I'm with Prince Nan Xun. This gentleman… this gentleman can't possibly have any relations.h.i.+p with the princess.”
Qi Chen stilled, staring Jun Huang with unblinking eyes as if he was trying to see through her lies, but there was no trace of guilt on Jun Huang's face.
He had been too hasty. He had jumped to conclusion before conducting a proper investigation. Guilt seized his heart. There was nothing he could do to go back in time.
Earlier, he was told that Nan Guyue had lost her child last night. His heart ached knowing that it was his child that had died, but what had happened had happened.
Qi Chen ordered the guards to get Jun Huang out of the prison. He took Jun Huang's hand in his and said through clenched teeth, ”Rest a.s.sured, I will put the one spreading the rumor through h.e.l.l.”
Jun Huang's lashes fluttered. ”Who is it?”
”Xiaoyun,” Qi Chen bit out. It sounded as if he was going to strangle Xiaoyun alive. ”Someone sent her to me some time ago. She looks like an innocent woman, and yet her heart is vicious.”
Jun Huang shook her head. ”Xiaoyun has been used, Your Highness. The one behind her is Lady Wei Lanying. Your Highness must know about the feud between Wei Lanying and the princess. Last time Wei Lanying had wrongfully accused the princess. She is doing the same thing again. She didn't want to be punished when her ploy was discovered, so she used someone else to do the dirty work for her. She is the mastermind manipulating Xiaoyun.”
Qi Chen saw the logic in her words. He tightened his hand around Jun Huang's fingers and promised, ”I understand now. What you've been through today I'll make her pay for.”
”What does Your Highness intend to do?”
”Royal Father was the one who arranged our marriage. I can't be too harsh with her. But I will lock her away and give her no chance to rise again.” Qi Chen's eyes grew dark and his voice hard. ”As for Xiaoyun, I'll sell her to a brothel and let her know how it feels like to be in a living h.e.l.l.”
Jun Huang was in great pain, and she couldn't stop s.h.i.+vering now that she was out of the water. Qi Chen was overwhelmed by a sense of guilt. He put an arm around Jun Huang's shoulder. ”I've made a mistake. In your condition, it's better that you stay in the manor. I – ”
”Thank you for your offer, Your Highness,” Jun Huang cut in with her eyes narrowed. ”Under the circ.u.mstances, however, this gentleman shouldn't be staying here. If Your Highness is willing, please let me stay in Nan Xun's manor. No one is going to talk then.”
I owe her at least that much, Qi Chen thought. He sighed and nodded at her. ”If so, I'll take you to brother Nan. You should rest and let yourself recover. Other things can wait.”
Jun Huang nodded. She let Qi Chen take her to Prince Nan Manor.
Earlier today, Nan Xun had received a message from Rou'er. There were quite a lot of people loyal to her in the manor. She was able to find out what had happened and delivered the news to Nan Xun. She, though, didn't know what state Jun Huang was in now. The letter therefore was vague about Jun Huang's condition. It worried Nan Xun.
He was going to go look for Jun Huang. If he couldn't find her, he would go to Prince Chen Manor and ask for her directly. The moment he stepped out of his manor, though, he saw Jun Huang being carried to him with Qi Chen following behind.