Best friends dressed up in ancient times to become mistresses? You run, I run too!

This isn't out of necessity; it's clearly a sign of deep-seated malice. They enjoy doing such things and even feel smug about it.

She'd let this kind of person experience it for herself.

Shen Ningzhu also shut her mouth.

Turning his head, he saw that Jiang Xuanyan's arms were bulging with veins, and his face was as black as the bottom of a pot, making him look extremely ugly.

She secretly rolled her eyes and pretended not to see him. Liu Zhiyi was even less inclined to pay attention to him, completely ignoring him from the moment she arrived.

After waiting for a while, the door creaked open and then closed again.

Shen Ningzhu and Liu Zhiyi exchanged a glance, quickly opened the window a crack, and peered through it.

Through the layers of gauze curtains, the maid from before could be seen lying quietly on the bed.

Sometime during the night, a greasy, overweight middle-aged man, about five feet tall, appeared in the room.

The man, his neck hunched, his face contorted with excitement, rubbed his hands together and lewdly grinned as he walked toward the bed.

"My little beauty, I'm here."

"Hehehe~~~ I heard you're a rich young lady, tsk tsk, today, grandpa will taste just how alluring this noble lady is, hehehehe~~~"

The two best friends frowned simultaneously, feeling a bit disgusted, as if they had swallowed a fly. It took a lot of effort to suppress the churning in their stomachs.

Suddenly, Liu Zhiyi quickly opened the window, braced her hands on the window frame, and with a swift movement, flipped herself into the house.

"Who...ah—"

A crisp "snap" sounded in my ears, followed by a man's pig-like scream.

But the sound stopped abruptly as soon as it was heard.

Liu Zhiyi's attack was ruthless and swift; the man's obese body instantly collapsed to the ground like a pile of rotten flesh, lifeless.

After thinking for a moment, he took a deep breath, picked up the maid from the bed, walked to the window, and threw her out the window.

Immediately afterwards, he climbed out as well.

Jiang Xuan Yan lowered his eyes. "Zhu Zhu, how do you plan to punish this maid?"

Shen Ningzhu gave Liu Zhiyi a deep look and said, "Beat him half to death and sell him off. Also, you go back first; the show has to continue."

Jiang Xuan Yan nodded and strode away.

Jiang Yi picked up the maid from the ground and quickly followed behind him away.

Not long after, Jiang Qingyi arrived with a group of noble ladies, accompanied by the expressionless Jiang Xuanyan.

"Is this where you saw Miss Shen and a man getting into a physical altercation?"

"Your Highness, that's right."

Jiang Qingyi feigned difficulty, furrowing her delicate brows, and then glanced at Jiang Xuanyan, who remained silent to the side.

"This……"

“Brother Yan, don’t be angry. Perhaps the maid just saw things wrong. Although Miss Shen is unruly, she would never dare to act recklessly in a situation like today.”

The noble ladies and gentlemen following behind were already terrified and dared not utter a sound.

Is Shen Ningzhu crazy?

Even if someone is fickle and can't stand being alone, they should still choose the right occasion.

Who gave her the audacity to cuckold the emperor? If what happened today is true, then for the sake of the royal family's reputation, those in the know will most likely be silenced.

If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have gone out today.

But now it's too late to say anything. The only thing we can pray for is that this is a misunderstanding.

Seeing that the atmosphere was too quiet, Jiang Qingyi glanced at the group of people indifferently.

The noble ladies who were being scanned trembled, clutching their handkerchiefs tightly. One of them gritted her teeth and spoke.

“A village girl is a village girl. Even if she wears luxurious clothes and expensive jewelry, she can’t hide her base and promiscuous nature.”

"As the saying goes, it's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature. After not seeing her for several years, Shen Ningzhu is exactly the same as before."

"Isn't that right? A slut like that is a mistake to even be alive; she should be drowned in a pig cage."

“Our Princess Qingyi is kind and benevolent. We thought she had changed for the better and went so far as to speak up for her and invite her to such a high-class banquet. She is ungrateful and actually brought a wild man here for a secret rendezvous. She deserves to die.”

Jiang Xuan Yan's gaze fell indifferently on the maid, his tone unhurried yet carrying a strong sense of pressure.

Are you sure you saw it clearly?

"Your Majesty, I saw it all clearly."

"If it's fake..."

The maidservant quickly interjected, "If there is any mistake, I will accept the Emperor's punishment."

"Very well, Princess, you heard what I said, didn't you? If we can't find her later, drag that gossipy, lowly maid away and give her fifty lashes, then throw her out of the manor. Do you have any objections to my decision?"

Jiang Qingyi was taken aback.

For some reason, I have a strange feeling in my heart, but I can't quite put my finger on it.

She could only take a deep breath and force a dignified smile.

"Qingyi has no objection."

Jiang Xuan Yan gave her a deep look, his gaze chillingly cold, filled with undisguised murderous intent.

Jiang Qingyi was startled. Instantly, she felt her hands and feet turn ice cold, her scalp tingle, and her whole body felt as if someone was strangling her.

The silk handkerchief, embroidered with an exquisite phoenix and peony pattern, was clutched so tightly that it became deformed. A sense of terror and suffocation instantly crept up her spine and quickly swept over her entire body.

This was the first time she had ever seen murderous intent in Jiang Xuan Yan's eyes.

It seems he's seen through it all; today's events were her doing. But, is that all it takes for him to kill her?

Yes, even if Shen Ningzhu is not the best, she is still his woman in name only. If something happens to her, wouldn't the whole world know that Jiang Xuan Yan has been cheated on?

Oh no, I was so angry that I was so focused on dealing with that bitch Shen Ningzhu that I forgot the royal family's reputation couldn't be compromised...

Thinking of this, Jiang Qingyi's face turned pale, and she tried to keep her teeth from chattering as she finally began to feel afraid.

Although to outsiders Jiang Xuan Yan treated her extremely well and granted her unparalleled favor, Jiang Qing Yi knew better than anyone that those were just appearances. In reality, her princess mansion had long since become nothing more than a facade.

But clearly, when she first returned to Beijing, he was still sincere towards her.

In a daze, the wooden door creaked.

The maid had already opened the door. After taking a few steps inside, she suddenly let out a scream, then her body went limp and she collapsed to the ground.

For a moment, everyone at the entrance was filled with unease.

Jiang Xuan Yan gave him a wink, and Jiang Yi stepped inside. A short while later, he came out, bowed, and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Jiang Xuan Yan.

"Your Majesty, there is a naked man inside, who is...dead."

Jiang Qingyi was shocked.

"What? Dead? How did he die?"

Could it be Shen Ningzhu? No, although she's not completely powerless, she's just a weakling with barely any strength.

The man she chose was ugly and strong, possessing a brute force that no ordinary woman could kill.

By the way, where did Shen Ningzhu go?

Jiang Yi didn't mention Shen Ningzhu at all just now. Could it be that he's deliberately helping her cover it up? Now that things have come to this, are you expecting her to stop?