The Princess Cannot Escape: The Cunning Prince Is Not to Be Messed With

Chapter 309 Her Past

When Old Master Gu pushed open the door and came in, Xiahou Ying was already sitting there, as if he had known he was coming all along.

"Is Elder Gu's statement true?" Xiahou Ying did not appear particularly happy; his expression was composed as he sought to ascertain whether Elder Gu truly intended to stand up against Gu Lounan.

Yin Quan was deeply worried for Xiahou Ying. Wasn't Xiahou Ying pushing Elder Gu away by saying such things at this time? It clearly showed that he didn't believe Elder Gu would make such a decision.

"Yes, I'm certain. I won't say that I'm doing this for everyone's benefit, that I just want him dead," Elder Gu said through gritted teeth.

Yin Quan was startled. This was completely different from the Elder Gu before. It was as if he had been reborn. Before, he might have been worried about this and that, but now he seemed to have been ignited by the fire of revenge.

"Alright, Elder Gu, I will certainly fulfill your wish, but since we have reached a deal, you absolutely cannot go back on your word," Xiahou Ying said solemnly. This was a warning; he could no longer bear any more betrayal.

"How could I betray you? If I can't even do this, what have I done to win your respect all these years?" This was the only thing he could be proud of since becoming an elder.

Yin Quan was genuinely happy for Xiahou Ying, as this gave them the upper hand and increased their chances of obtaining the divine artifact.

"Elder Gu, we've received news that Gu Lounan has already set off here. He'll arrive at the manor soon. I hope we can obtain the divine artifact as quickly as possible." Xiahou Ying was a decisive person and spoke directly, which Elder Gu didn't seem to mind at all.

"Actually, it's just a legend, but I do know that there is indeed a restricted area inside the manor, and only the manor lord can enter." Old Gu said, referring to this artifact. He had indeed studied it because of the rumors, but the clues always went cold, and he never found a complete one.

Xiahou Ying didn't find this strange at all. Unlike other magical artifacts, the rumors about the Chonglou Manor's artifact seemed to have disappeared from the martial arts world.

But no matter what, we should try even the smallest clue.

“It’s getting late now. We’ll set off for the forbidden area first thing tomorrow morning. What do you think of this arrangement, Elder Gu?” Xiahou Ying said, asking for Elder Gu’s opinion, but his tone lacked sincerity.

"This is a forbidden area. I've only ever walked around the outer perimeter. I've never actually been inside. Without the right method, we'll all meet with disaster." Elder Gu's face showed fear as he spoke.

"Elder Gu, are you perhaps considering giving up the chance for revenge?" A voice rang out from the doorway at that moment.

Meng Sheng walked in from the doorway without glancing at Elder Gu, but instead gave Xiahou Ying a look.

The closer Yin Quan got to Xiahou Ying, the less he could understand what Xiahou Ying was thinking. The two of them didn't seem to have any interaction on the surface, but they somehow seemed to be connected. How did he manage to do that?

Although Yin Quan was a top-notch lawyer in his previous life with considerable achievements, often using others to win his cases, he was nothing compared to Xiahou Ying. Everyone seemed to be living in his fabricated stories.

If Yin Quan were Xiahou Ying's enemy, she would find it extremely terrifying. However, Yin Quan knew that Xiahou Ying was doing everything for her own good, no matter what. Although he would sometimes silently bear the consequences, he would never harm her.

"Child, what are you doing here?" Elder Gu was very surprised by Meng Sheng's appearance.

"Didn't Prince Duan tell you? When I was down on my luck, I received a favor from Prince Duan. Although I later found my master by accident and left Prince Duan's shelter." When Meng Sheng said this, the expression on his face did not look like gratitude.

At that time, Meng Sheng did enter Prince Duan's detention center, but life there was not easy. Prince Duan knew his identity, but he was just using him.

But the truth is that if he hadn't been in Prince Duan's shelter during that time, he would have starved to death on the streets long ago. He cannot forget this life-saving grace that doesn't seem like a life-saving act.

"Young Master Meng, you flatter me. I was only doing this by chance, and I never expected to receive your help today." This is truly beyond my expectations. In any case, I must thank Young Master Meng for your assistance.

Meng Sheng did not respond to Xiahou Ying's words. He had always disliked and found those formalities annoying, and he would never do them.

"Child, are you going to the forbidden area too?" Elder Gu suddenly realized that if Meng Sheng was going to help Xiahou Ying, then it meant that he was also going to the forbidden area.

"It's just a forbidden area," Meng Sheng said dismissively. "Even if Elder Gu doesn't avenge my mother, as her son, I must avenge her, mustn't I?"

Mengsheng had long heard of his father's cowardice, but he never imagined it would reach this level. He dared not resist, dared not avenge his mother. How could this man be his father?

Elder Gu understood the sarcasm in Meng Sheng's words. He knew he was a coward, so for so long he simply stopped taking charge and let his wife make all the decisions.

Back then, he dared not disobey his parents' decision to marry his wife. The only time he was brave was when he went out to gain experience. But what kind of bravery was that? He was injured not long after he went out and almost lost his life.

Now everyone respectfully calls him Elder, simply because of his advanced age and the fact that his wife is always there to take care of everything for him.

"Child, don't do this. I truly love your mother. How could I let you enter the forbidden area alone? I'll go with you tomorrow." Elder Gu only hoped that Mengsheng would be alright. For his child, he was willing to give anything.

"I'll go back and prepare first. We'll set off early tomorrow morning." Elder Gu said and left. He felt hurt by Meng Sheng's contempt, but there was nothing he could do. It was all his own doing.

Meng Sheng didn't actually dislike Elder Gu as much as he seemed on the surface. When Elder Gu left, he stared at his back for a long time.

“You know that a father’s heart is always true to his child. Even if he’s not good, he’s still your father and he cares about you. You can’t treat him like this.” Yin Quan really couldn’t stand Meng Sheng’s treatment of Elder Gu, even though Elder Gu wasn’t like the tough guys she had seen in ancient times who would rush in without saying a word.

However, she saw his concern for Mengsheng. Elder Gu was just timid about many things. There were many people like him in modern times, and there were even men who were more timid and cowardly than him.

“This is my family matter, and I think you’re meddling too much.” Meng Sheng frowned as he argued with him about his family affairs, which was something he hated most, especially since his relationship with his father was a sensitive topic.

"He just didn't know you existed. Isn't it said that ignorance is no excuse? You can't blame everything on him." Yin Quan's father left when she was young. He knew she existed, but he still abandoned her and her mother.

"Woman, can't you understand what I'm saying?" Meng Sheng's voice turned sinister. If Xiahou Ying hadn't been there, he probably would have snapped Yin Quan's neck.

Although Meng Sheng's appearance was terrifying, Yin Quan, who had never experienced fatherly love since childhood, felt that seeing Meng Sheng treat her father this way touched some deep emotions within her, and she absolutely could not allow it.

"Don't think that I'll be afraid of you just because you're like this. If it's your fault, it's your fault." Yin Quan was also annoyed. Why was this person like an old stubborn person? He would regret it later.

"Alright, Yin Quan, you seem to have lost control today. You should go back and rest." Xiahou Ying noticed Yin Quan's loss of control, and even though he stopped her, he sensed something was different about her. However, he couldn't ask her directly now that Meng Sheng was around.

Yin Quan said nothing more and left. She had said what she needed to say. Her two lifetimes had taught her a lesson: never try to change someone's mind. No matter what you say, they'll always think they're right; only through real experience will they understand.

It was almost dawn, but Yin Quan tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep.

At this moment, Xiahou Ying pushed open the door and lay down beside her fully clothed. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, leaving a kiss on Yin Quan's forehead.

"What's wrong with you today? Is something the matter? You rarely lose control of your emotions like this." Xiahou Ying's voice was filled with worry. They were setting off to find the divine artifact tomorrow, and who knew what awaited them along the way.

"It's nothing, I just remembered a story." Yin Quan hugged Xiahou Ying's waist, rested her head on his chest, and felt very safe listening to his strong heartbeat.

"Ah Quan, can you tell me what kind of story it is?" Xiahou Ying knew that the story was not a story, but Yin Quan's own story, and he wanted to know about her past.

"A girl's father abandoned her and her mother when she was very young. Her mother raised the girl alone, and the girl was very hardworking and ambitious, eventually becoming an excellent lawyer. She thought she was finally going to live a good life with her mother, but then her father appeared and demanded money from her." Yin Quan paused, trying to calm herself down. Every time she thought about those days, tears would well up in her eyes.

Xiahou Ying kept gently patting Yin Quan's back, sometimes lightly, sometimes softly, as if to encourage her, to give her strength, and to tell her that he was still there for her.