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

Prince Rui scoffed, clearly not believing her words. Moreover, based on his understanding, Xie Wanru would never call him Imperial Uncle.

He and Xie Wanru were ten years apart, which wasn't a big age difference. They had no connection before, but he had met Xie Wanru when she was a child. That girl would rather fall into the stinking mud than call him "Royal Uncle" or ask him to save her, even if it meant putting her hands on her hips and holding back tears.

He reached out, wanting to remove the veil from "Xie Wanru," wanting to see if the person in front of him really resembled Xie Wanru so much that he had fooled so many people at the banquet.

Lin Qing was startled and quickly took a few steps back to avoid Prince Rui's hand. She didn't want to expose her identity at this time. If she pretended for two more days, Wanwan might return.

"Uncle Rui, what are you doing? Your niece is really not feeling well. Besides, men and women should not touch each other. Even if you are an elder, you cannot be so inconsiderate."

Xie Wanru's voice carried a hint of panic and grievance, as well as a suppressed anger.

Prince Rui stopped what he was doing and stared at "Xie Wanru" for a while. If it were Xie Wanru, she would probably slap him right now.

Then he suddenly remembered that he had imagined Xie Wanru's personality from the past, and he found it quite funny. He said with a smile, "Alright, alright, since you are indeed not feeling well, then I will not tease you."

As he spoke, he turned and ordered the guards beside him to bring over the fishing gear. He then waded into the stream and sat on a rock, where he began to fish.

The water was deeper below the large rock, and when Prince Rui cast his bait, he actually caught a small fish in no time.

The servants around him praised his superb fishing skills and flattered him, which clearly pleased the Prince Rui, who continued to cast his line.

Lin Qing breathed a sigh of relief. She took the opportunity to retreat to a shady spot, keeping a distance, thinking that if Prince Rui fell into the water while fishing, she would have to leave the Princess's residence as soon as possible.

However, Prince Rui did not seem to intend to let her go so easily. While fishing, he would occasionally exchange a few words with Lin Qing, making it impossible for her to escape.

Just as Lin Qing was getting anxious, Chun'er quietly arrived at the Lake View Pavilion.

Chun'er carried a plate of fruit and respectfully placed it on the small table next to Xie Wanru. She then whispered a few words to Dongzhu, who was closest to her.

Dongzhu understood, and while adjusting Xie Wanru's veil, she whispered to her, "Miss Lin, the princess has returned and asked you to find an excuse to leave. She will handle His Highness Prince Rui."

Upon hearing this, Lin Qing was overjoyed; Wanwan had finally returned.

She immediately picked up the teacup beside her and pretended it was an "accident," getting herself soaked in the sun.

"Oh dear, Your Highness, are you burned? It was my fault for not holding it properly. Please punish me, Your Highness."

Dongzhu also hurriedly pretended to be flustered.

"It's alright, the tea is cold, it's nothing, it's just that these robes are dirty."

Xie Wanru looked regretfully at Prince Rui, who was not far away, and said, "Uncle Rui."

Prince Rui glanced at her and said indifferently, "Since your robes are wet, you should change them quickly to avoid catching a cold."

Xie Wanru felt as if she had been granted a pardon and quickly left the Lake View Pavilion with Chun'er and Dongzhu.

Back in her room, Lin Qing took off her veil and breathed a long sigh of relief. She was finally free from playing the role of Wanwan.

"Thanks a lot."

Xie Wanru stepped out from behind the screen. During the days Xie Wanru was away, Lin Qing had been pretending and feeling uneasy. This "thank you for your hard work" was an affirmation of her efforts.

"Have you taken care of things?"

Lin Qing stopped what she was doing; the stain on her clothes was just tea, nothing to worry about.

"Well, I'll go deal with Prince Rui first. You rest here for a while, and I'll tell you all about it after I've seen Prince Rui off."

Xie Wanru changed her clothes and came to the Lake View Pavilion again, but this time it was for real.

When Prince Rui saw her, he smiled slightly and said, "Princess Yongchang looks even better in this outfit than before."

He knew this time it was really Xie Wanru. Even though she was wearing a veil and hadn't said a word, he knew this was the real Xie Wanru, but he didn't intend to expose her.

Xie Wanru looked at him, wary. "Really? Uncle Rui seems to be in a good mood, even noticing these things."

Upon hearing Xie Wanru address him as "Uncle Rui," Prince Rui frowned slightly.

It turns out Xie Wanru was nearby just now. Did she know he would be suspicious, so she called him that too? Hehe, how interesting.

He suddenly realized that dealing with this kind of person was much more interesting; those stupid and dull people on ordinary days were truly boring.

“Princess Yongchang, you are very clever, but do you know the saying, ‘One wrong step can lead to eternal regret’? I have heard that you have a good relationship with the daughter of the Minister of Justice, and she seems to be quite old.”

Prince Rui spoke with a smile, but Xie Wanru felt that his words were a blatant threat. He must have already discovered... discovered that she had not been in Xuancheng for the past few days.

"Uncle Rui, the fish has taken the bait."

Xie Wanru intentionally changed the subject.

This time, Prince Rui didn't say much and turned to focus on fishing.

He returned home satisfied with his catch as night fell, saying he would take his fish back to the pond in Prince Rui's mansion to raise them.

Xie Wanru's lips twitched slightly; this uncle really had too much free time.

While everyone else is scheming against each other, he's the only one who truly knows how to steal a moment of leisure, even threatening her a few times. So, is Prince Rui one of Xiao Yan's men?

Xie Wanru was undecided.

The Princess's residence is in turmoil today, as is the Lou family.

The Northern Barbarians' letters were filled with complaints about the losses they suffered from being punished by Xie's army because they cooperated with their plan.

Lou Li had no choice but to scrape together an equivalent amount of silver to make up the difference and appease the Northern Barbarians' anger.

This replenishment nearly emptied the Lou family's coffers, and Grand Tutor Lou was so angry that he almost kicked him out of the Lou family.

"According to the original plan, let Xiao Yan charge ahead and let them panic first. Then we will act accordingly. If you ruin our master's important plans again, my son and I will die ten thousand times over."

Grand Tutor Lou raised the ruler in his hand.

Lou Li was terrified. He had been disciplined by his father with this ruler since he was a child, and he had an innate fear of it.

“Father, I wouldn’t dare. I will be very careful and will never do such a thing again.”

Lou Li was in so much pain that he was sweating profusely. He only wanted Xiao Yan to know that his Lou family was not a pawn to be manipulated, but he really did not expect Xie Wanru to act so quickly.

Moreover, the Emperor's trust in the Xie family was unbreakable, and the people's respect and love for the Xie family was something he had not anticipated.

There was one more thing he hadn't guessed: Xiao Yan had already misunderstood him, believing that he had sent people to obstruct the bandit suppression campaign, and had mentioned this matter to the emperor after the victory report.

It is said that the Lou family's influence is probably linked to bandits in various places, and it is hoped that his father, the emperor, will send people to investigate thoroughly.

Xiao Yan was inherently stupid and could not tolerate the slightest disrespect from others. His most powerful tactic was to turn around and bite back.

After being reprimanded, Xiao Yan exuded a thick aura of darkness, as if he were shrouded in bad luck and had stepped in dog poop.

He glared fiercely out the window, his mind replaying his father's stern and disappointed words, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table, making a "tap-tap" sound.

"Lou Li, this is what you've done! I'll make you taste what it means to reap what you sow! What it means to overestimate your own abilities!"