cold clothes

Zhao Qun raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at her calmly.

"This concubine greets Your Highness the Third Prince." After regaining her senses, Wang Yuqing quickly bowed to Zhao Qun.

"No need for formalities," Zhao Qun said calmly.

Wang Yuqing nervously clenched her hands, her eyes darting nervously away, avoiding Zhao Qun's gaze. The thought of Zhao Qun catching her spying made her blush even more. Besides, it was improper for the two of them, a single man and a woman about to be married, to be alone together. She was caught in a dilemma.

Zhao Qun only saw Wang Yuqing watching him and Hong'e from a distance. He was a little curious about Wang Yuqing's intentions, so he went up to ask her. But seeing how reserved she was, he didn't press her for an answer. Just as he was about to take his leave, Wang Yuqing unexpectedly spoke up.

"Your Highness, what did you say to Hong'e just now?"

Zhao Qun stared intently at her, not saying a word immediately, while Wang Yuqing visibly grew increasingly nervous.

Suddenly, Zhao Qun laughed out loud: "Hehe, this is the first time I've seen my cousin take the initiative to contact me privately. Did something happen?"

Wang Yuqing understood perfectly well that the Third Prince was testing her, but she couldn't glean anything from his ambiguous words. Should she tell the Third Prince about Hong'e and Ningbi? Would the Third Prince care about matters between women?

Yuqing's excessive caution is regrettable; she can't be teased at all. Zhao Qun sighed inwardly, then said, "Hong'e just told me about Ningbi, saying that Ningbi is being treated coldly by the Wang family, and that you don't like her or Ningbi very much."

“She, she actually said that,” Wang Yuqing immediately showed a look of surprise and anger, “It’s simply avoiding the real issue and spreading falsehoods.”

"You're so angry." Zhao Qun found it amusing that Wang Yuqing's usually dignified and quiet face had become so lively, and that she was angry but throwing a small tantrum.

“Because what Hong’e said… is not entirely correct. She only told part of the story and concealed the parts that were unfavorable to her from His Highness,” Wang Yuqing said angrily.

"Is my cousin willing to tell me the truth?"

Wang Yuqing looked up at him in surprise. “Your Highness is willing to listen, so I am naturally willing to tell you. However, this is a trivial matter between women, and Your Highness should not trouble yourself with it.”

"This concerns my future princess consort. The princess consort's affairs are my affairs. Please speak freely," Zhao Qun said earnestly, his clear eyes encouraging him.

Hearing Zhao Qun's words, Wang Yuqing felt relieved. Zhao Qun was right; Hong'e's use of poison could endanger his safety, and he should know this. So Wang Yuqing recounted to Zhao Qun Hong'e's life story in the Wang family. Of course, some parts were modified, such as changing the description of the aphrodisiac to a poison that causes physical discomfort, and changing the story of not finding Ningbi to her bringing Lengyi back herself.

Men value a woman's chastity, and she didn't want Ningbi to leave a bad impression on Zhao Qun.

"Oh...that happened." Zhao Qun's tone was still indifferent, but his somber expression revealed his displeasure. He pondered for a moment, a faint bitter smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. "It seems like this is not something I should interfere with."

"No need for Your Highness to trouble yourself, I will explain to Her Majesty the Empress," Wang Yuqing said, straightening her shoulders.

Zhao Qun smiled and nodded, "Okay, I'll stand by my cousin's side."

Wang Yuqing was momentarily stunned; this was the first time she had spoken to Zhao Qun like this. Would he stand on her side? The Third Prince seemed to have no reason to stand on her side; it was probably for Ningbi's sake. The Third Prince really did like Ningbi very much.

She suddenly clenched her fist, then relaxed it, her delicate brows furrowed and then smoothed out, and she said with determination, "Actually, Hong'e is right. Miss Ningbi has indeed suffered cold treatment in the Wang family. I have done many excessive things to Miss Ningbi, which I cannot refute. If Your Highness wants to punish me in the future, I will accept it willingly."

It took her courage to say these things, but after she finished, it was as easy as removing a boulder. Zhao Qun's expression remained calm, her eyes as serene as a lake bathed in the afterglow of autumn.

After listening to Wang Yuqing's words, he smiled gently and casually: "Since that's the case, then let's wait until you and Ningbi have a 'court showdown' in the future, and I will conduct a 'fair trial' then."

"Okay," Wang Yuqing replied.

Zhao Qun couldn't help but chuckle at Wang Yuqing's serious expression, but he was also quite helpless. Wang Yuqing, on the other hand, couldn't understand what Zhao Qun was laughing about. She thought that she had said everything she needed to say, and it wasn't appropriate for a lone man and woman to meet in private for too long, so she was thinking about taking her leave.