You're the one who wants to marry a mistress, and I'm marrying someone else, yet you still

She calmly replied, "Your Highness, you may have misunderstood. I am just an ordinary friend of Lord Shen, or to put it bluntly, not even a friend. He is a member of the Shen family, how could I possibly live peacefully with him? As for your statement that he and I are His Highness the Crown Prince's people, what do you think I, a divorced woman, could do for His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Xie Wanru rejected Prince Rui's answer.

Prince Rui smiled slightly, seemingly not believing her words: "You really aren't the Crown Prince's person?"

His questioning gaze was tinged with mockery.

Xu Ning's fingers tightened slightly as he held the teacup. He didn't know what was right or wrong; he only knew that anyone who threatened his junior sister was an enemy.

"Perhaps I should also ask His Highness Prince Rui a question: Whose side is His Highness on?

Xie Wanru decided to take the offensive as a form of defense. Her clear eyes stared directly at Prince Rui, trying to find answers from his reaction.

Prince Rui was quite surprised by Xie Wanru's counterattack: "Interesting. Princess Yongchang is so young, yet she is making me look at her with new respect. As for whose side I am on, I don't seem to need to choose. No matter who becomes emperor in the future, I will always be Prince Rui."

He answered, yet it seemed as if he didn't, and the atmosphere suddenly became subtle and tense. Lin Qing was anxious, but she also knew that it was not the right time to interrupt.

Xu Ning remained silent, but his deep eyes revealed an undeniable vigilance.

“Since His Highness Prince Rui is unwilling to be frank, then I have nothing more to say.” Xie Wanru’s tone was firm, neither humble nor arrogant.

She knew that Prince Rui was no ordinary person, but she also felt that such a person wouldn't follow a good-for-nothing like Xiao Yan. There was another possibility...

Prince Rui harbors rebellious intentions.

After Xie Wanru finished speaking, Prince Rui actually clapped lightly, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes: "What a fine Princess Yongchang! According to seniority, I am your elder. When an elder asks you a question, you should answer the truth."

"An elder?" Xie Wanru raised an eyebrow. "You're only a few years older than me. Do you expect me to call you Uncle Rui?"

After Xie Wanru finished speaking, she imagined the scene and couldn't help but shake her head.

Adding her age from the previous life, her current mental age is at least thirty, older than Prince Rui. It feels very strange for her to call Prince Rui "Uncle Rui".

Perhaps feeling that Xie Wanru's disdainful look had offended Prince Rui, his expression suddenly turned sour, and Xie Wanru quickly shut her mouth.

"Since Princess Yongchang is not being honest, then I cannot tell you the truth either."

Prince Rui's eyes were rather gloomy, as if he had been wronged.

His expression puzzled Xie Wanru. She really couldn't see through this Prince Rui. Not only could she not tell whether he was friend or foe, but his temper was also very strange.

"Never mind, you can continue eating."

Xie Wanru got up, ready to leave, leaving Prince Rui to eat by himself. She had been with him for so long, but she couldn't get any information out of him. Shen Cong'an was still waiting for her in the study.

When Senior Brother Xu Ning saw her get up, he wanted to leave with her, but Xie Wanru gestured for him to stay and accompany Prince Rui. They couldn't all leave, in case Prince Rui got angry again and said she had neglected him.

Lin Qing smiled sympathetically at Xu Ning, then happily followed Xie Wanru to slip away.

Xiao Yunli was no longer angry, and chuckled as he watched Xie Wanru's departing figure.

"Does Princess Yongchang have so little patience for me? You still haven't answered my question: are you or are you Xiao Long's?"

Prince Rui stood up, and Xie Wanru stopped in her tracks.

Xie Wanru, who had already walked a few steps away, turned around and looked at Xiao Yunli.

Xiao Yunli was nearly thirty years old, but he had always been pampered and pampered. His skin was still as youthful as a young man's, but his effeminate appearance made it impossible for anyone to guess his age.

"Your Highness, if you weren't of noble birth and good looks, speaking like that would be irritating. No matter whose side I'm on, I could never be on the side of that fool Xiao Yan. Are you satisfied now?"

Even the dignified Third Prince was addressed by his given name by Xie Wanru.

After all, outsiders might not know about her past affair with Xiao Yan, but those within the royal family did, so there was no need to hide it.

Xiao Yunli's lips curled into a playful smile. He slowly approached Xie Wanru and said in a low voice, "Satisfied? Do you think I would be satisfied so easily? You haven't said whose side you are yet. However, you are right, you certainly can't be Xiao Yan's side. He doesn't have that qualification."

Xie Wanru took a step back, keeping a certain distance from Prince Rui: "Your Highness, what do you mean by this? I only want to live my life quietly, please do not make things difficult for me."

She cannot publicly acknowledge that she is the Crown Prince's person because she still bears the surname Xie. Even though she has left the Xie family, most people will still think that she represents the Xie family.

This matter should not be made public yet; at the very least, it should not be known to Xiao Yan and the others.

"Difficult?" Xiao Yunli chuckled. "I just find you interesting and want to chat with you more. What, is that not allowed? I've already said that no matter who ascends the throne in the end, I will always be Prince Rui. So it doesn't matter whose side you are to me."

Xie Wanru thought this Prince Rui was really strange. Why ask if it's not important? But she didn't dare to show it on her face, so she forced a smile and said, "This subject is naturally willing to chat with Your Highness, but it's getting late and I have important matters to attend to. How about we keep each other company another day?"

Xiao Yunli nodded, seemingly accepting Xie Wanru's explanation: "Alright, since you have something to attend to, then go ahead and do your work. I'll leave after I finish this cup of tea. However, you must remember that I might come back to chat with you at any time and eat the glutinous rice chicken made by your cook. Don't be unwelcome then."

"My daughter dare not."

Xie Wanru bowed and took her leave, turning and walking away quickly. She didn't want to spend another moment with this capricious Prince Rui, and even wanted to fire the cook who made the glutinous rice chicken.

This will prevent Prince Rui from constantly using this excuse to get in people's way.

After walking a distance, Lin Qing couldn't help but ask, "Wanwan, what exactly does that Prince Rui mean? Why did he suddenly approach you? His words just now were also ambiguous."

Xie Wanru shook her head: "I don't know either. This Prince Rui is very cunning. I can't figure out what he's thinking at all. However, no matter what his purpose is, we have to be careful and not let him find any fault with us."

Lin Qing nodded, secretly resolving to pay closer attention to Prince Rui's movements in the future, and to inquire more about this person from her father when she returned.

Xu Ning remained in the room, sitting opposite Prince Rui, waiting for him to finish the last sip of tea before seeing him off. The atmosphere was somewhat awkward.