A red apricot is about to cheat on you

"Don't think I can't do anything to you if you don't tell me how you got into my palace and how you managed to sneak into my room without making any noise." Chu Jingchen's voice was low and cold, like a winter wind that could penetrate a person's bones. Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, filled with endless anger.

Shen Mingzhu was already in tears at this moment, with big tears continuously sliding down her pretty face. She looked at Chu Jingchen with grievance, her eyes full of innocence.

At the same time, she still insisted that she didn't know where Yi Duo'er had gone and that this matter had nothing to do with her. Her pitiful appearance might have aroused sympathy from others, but in Chu Jingchen's eyes, it was just a hypocritical performance.

Shen Mingzhu's father knelt on the ground, kowtowed repeatedly, and his forehead made a "bang bang" sound when it hit the ground. He said in a pleading tone:

"Your Highness, my daughter has trespassed into your residence. It's my fault as a father. As for the girl you mentioned, Zhu'er has never harmed her. Please let my daughter go!" The governor's voice trembled, his eyes filled with fear and worry. Even Shen Mingzhu's eldest brother pleaded for her, his anxious expression evident.

Only then did Shen Mingzhu truly realize how deep Chu Jingchen's love for Yi Duoer was. She had originally thought that if Yi Duoer disappeared, Chu Jingchen would only be sad for a few days at most.

Then he would turn his attention back to himself. But she never expected that Yi Duoer had been missing for half a month, but Chu Jingchen had no intention of giving up the search, and even caused panic in the entire capital because of this matter.

Shen Mingzhu was dissatisfied. She couldn't understand why Chu Jingchen cared so much about Yi Duo'er. She was talented and beautiful, so why did Chu Jingchen only dislike her and treat her like a worn-out shoe?

However, she knew very well that she could not admit that she had colluded with Zhu Qingxue to sell Yi Duoer out. Otherwise, given Chu Jingchen's current state of near madness, he would definitely kill her without hesitation.

So, Shen Mingzhu calmed down, squeezed out a few tears, and said in a coquettish and weak tone:

"Brother Jing, I was able to enter your room because I bribed the people in your house. As for where Yi Duoer went, I really don't know! I have no ability to harm her!" Her voice was tinged with tears, trying to make her lies more realistic.

Chu Jingchen didn't want to listen to anything this woman said anymore. He just felt extremely disgusted. He ordered the soldiers around him:

"Take her away and give her a cup of poisoned wine!" His words were like ice and fire, without any warmth or emotion, making Shen Mingzhu and others unable to believe their ears.

The governor begged desperately, kowtowed repeatedly, and his forehead was already bleeding. Chu Jingchen looked at the scene in front of him. Although he was angry, he finally spared Shen Mingzhu's life for the sake of her father and brother.

He then said, "For the sake of your father and brother, you can spare your life. When Duo'er returns and investigates thoroughly, if you are inextricably linked to this matter, no one's pleas will be of any use!" His tone remained icy and heartless. Without even a glance at them, he turned and left. His back was resolute and cold, as if filled with endless pain and anger.

This made the governor feel relieved. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and then turned around to ask Shen Mingzhu if the disappearance of Yi Duoer had anything to do with her.

At this moment, Shen Mingzhu seemed to have lost her soul. She was immersed in Chu Jingchen's ruthlessness and ignored the words of the governor.

She kept muttering, "Why is Brother Jing so heartless to me?" She said it three times in a row, looking like a child who had lost her favorite toy.

The governor and her eldest brother were speechless when they saw this. They sighed heavily. The governor said to the maid beside him, "Send the young lady back to her room!"

Shen Mingzhu was a little crazy at this time. She suddenly rushed forward, grabbed the governor's hand and shook it vigorously, and said in a trance and excited manner:

"Father, please help me, don't let him treat me like this. I'm already deeply in love with him. You and my elder brother are so powerful, can you let him marry me?" Her eyes were full of despair and obsession, as if Chu Jingchen was the only one left in the world.

The governor was filled with anger when he saw that his daughter was so servile for a man who didn't love him, without any dignity as a princess.

He raised his hand and slapped Shen Mingzhu hard on the face. The crisp sound of the slap echoed in the silent air.

He slapped his daughter in the face in order to wake her up and stop her from sinking into this hopeless relationship.

"Father..." Seeing this, Shen Mingzhu's elder brother shouted anxiously, his eyes full of worry.

Shen Mingzhu stared at the governor blankly, as if she had lost her soul. She still couldn't accept the fact that Chu Jingchen was so heartless to her.

The governor shook his head helplessly, had her taken back, and ordered in a firm tone:

"Take the princess back to her room and keep her under close watch. Do not allow her to leave the house! And do not allow anyone to visit her."

He knew very well that with Shen Mingzhu's simple nature, she was able to enter the Regent's Palace and do those things. She must have been used by someone, and there must be someone behind the scenes using her as a target.

He couldn't let her go out and continue to cause trouble, otherwise his entire family would be implicated.

At night, Yixianglou was brightly lit, its radiant lights illuminating the entire street. A constant stream of guests came and went, including wealthy businessmen in gorgeous clothes, dashing young men, and ordinary people.

Today's Yixianglou is very different from the past. The madam has already released an attractive advertising slogan.

"Yixianglou has recently welcomed a new courtesan, a woman from the prosperous capital. Not only is she stunningly beautiful and charming, like a fairy descending from the earth, but her dance is also breathtaking and rare. Tonight, her virginity will be auctioned off!"

Yixianglou rarely advertises on weekdays, so this rare promotion attracted countless people's attention.

For a time, all the prominent men in Jiangzhou wanted to come and see what kind of stunning beauty this was. Even ordinary people were willing to spend money on tea and wine just to catch a glimpse of this legendary top courtesan.

The madam stood at the door of Yixianglou, looking at the bustling crowd, smiling from ear to ear.

She seemed to have seen countless gold, silver and treasures waving to her.

However, as time went by and more and more customers came, the courtesan still did not show up.

The madam stood on the stage, looking at the somewhat restless guests below. She felt a little anxious, but her face was still full of smiles. She raised her hands, trying to appease the guests, and said in a flattering tone:

"Don't worry, everyone. Miss Sangsang is getting dressed up. As the saying goes, good things are worth waiting for! Everyone, please wait patiently."

The madam's words finally calmed everyone down. Seeing their high spirits, she nodded in satisfaction. She tilted her head and said to a man:

"Go see if Sangsang is ready?" After receiving the order, the man quickly walked backstage.