Double Rebirth: The Scumbag Heroine is Terrified of the Yandere Prince! - Chapter 12

“What did you say?”

Xie Yuanxun subconsciously shot a glance at Xie Xuanyin, a flash of nervousness crossing his eyes.

He quickly adjusted his expression and said sternly, “Princess, you mustn’t talk such nonsense! You are the Crown Princess; how could Prince Chu be giving you advice? If word of this gets out, wouldn’t it damage the Prince’s dignity?”

“Utterly ridiculous!” Xie Yuanxun muttered under his breath.

Shen Ruoli’s eyes welled up with tears, looking as pitiful as an abandoned kitten. She sobbed softly, “Sixth Uncle, you misunderstand! I have not met Prince Chu privately. It’s just that my former maid, Qingying, was a gift from him.”

“It was Qingying who persuaded me to come to Mount Tianzhao to pray.”

In the blink of an eye, Shen Ruoli had crafted her story. She clutched her silk handkerchief, her eyes red. “I was thinking of the Empress’s upcoming birthday and wanted to pray for her. I originally planned to go to Dongyang Temple.”

“But Qingying said she heard from Prince Chu that the gods at Tianzhao Temple are incredibly efficacious! Moreover, since Mount Tianzhao is within Fuzhou and not far from your manor, she said with Sixth Uncle’s protection, nothing would go wrong!”

Hearing this, Xie Yuanxun’s heart gave a sudden thud. This brat’s words are heading in a strange direction…

“I have also heard that Sixth Uncle governs his fief meticulously and that the people live in peace,” Shen Ruoli continued, blinking innocently at them as if offering a sincere compliment. “So, surely the rumors about rampant bandits must be fabricated!”

Xie Yuanxun’s expression became unnatural. “Ahem, naturally.”

“It was precisely because I trusted Sixth Uncle that I came here. Who could have imagined such a thing would happen!” Shen Ruoli’s tone shifted as she let out a long, weary sigh. “It’s fine that I’m injured, but dragging the Crown Prince into harm’s way… I truly regret it! I should not have listened to others!”

Ouch! Xie Yuanxun’s face stiffened.

Shen Ruoli’s words were a series of slaps to his face. Mount Tianzhao was indeed within Fuzhou. If he truly governed the land so well, how could there be bandits? In a few sentences, she had shifted the entire blame for the ambush onto his shoulders!

Seeing his discomfort, Shen Ruoli added a faint smile. “However, Sixth Uncle shouldn’t blame yourself for our injuries today. After all, you are busy with ten thousand affairs; it’s understandable that you haven’t had time to wipe out the bandits.”

Xie Yuanxun: “…”

If he could have played dumb before, he certainly couldn’t now. Shen Ruoli had been far too blunt.

Thus, Xie Yuanxun could only force a smile through gritted teeth. “It is indeed my poor management that led to the injuries of the Prince and Princess! But Prince Chu is truly out of line!”

That useless piece of trash! Yuanxun thought. He hasn’t made any progress in usurping the throne, but he’s certainly managed to implicate me!

“Does the Prince of Chu not have enough to worry about in his own manor? To meddle so much as to interfere with the Eastern Palace. I shall submit a memorial to the Emperor tomorrow!” Xie Yuanxun squeezed the words out from between his teeth. He was genuinely furious with Xie Xuansong.

“Indeed. If news of the bandits in Mount Tianzhao spreads, it would hurt Sixth Uncle’s reputation,” Shen Ruoli said, her face pale—whether from injury or fright. “I have one more request for Sixth Uncle.”

“Qingying was knocked off a cliff by bandits while protecting me. Her fate is unknown. I hope Sixth Uncle will send men to search for her. Otherwise, if the harmony between the Prince of Chu’s manor and the Eastern Palace is lost because of a mere maid… it would be my fault.”

“He wouldn’t dare!” In front of Xie Xuanyin, Xie Yuanxun pounded his chest. “Rest assured, if Prince Chu dares to overstep, I will be the first to deal with him!”

“Thank you, Sixth Uncle.” Shen Ruoli nodded slightly and let the curtain fall.

Heh. Whether Xie Yuanxun and Xie Xuansong were in league would be revealed soon. If they were “clean,” so be it. But if they were working together, this incident would serve as the wedge to drive them apart. When it came to personal interests, Xie Yuanxun was no fool.

When she dropped the curtain, a flash of triumph crossed her eyes. Xie Yuanxun missed it, but Xie Xuanyin saw it clearly. Was she testing Sixth Uncle, or was she trying to warn me?

Suppressing his doubt, Xie Xuanyin remained stoic. “I leave the search for Qingying in Sixth Uncle’s hands.”

“It is my duty!” Yuanxun replied before ordering his men to search for the maid. He then invited the couple to stay the night. “It is late, and you are both injured. The journey is long and taxing; stay at my manor tonight and return to the capital tomorrow.”

Xie Xuanyin was about to refuse, but then he heard Shen Ruoli let out a series of low coughs from the carriage.

“Very well,” he agreed, nodding.

While Yuanxun sent messengers ahead to the manor, Xie Xuanyin lifted the carriage curtain, his gaze chilly as he looked at Shen Ruoli. “What are you trying to do?”

Shen Ruoli shook her head innocently.

“Then why were you coughing just now?”

“The mountains are cold. I must have caught a chill; my throat is uncomfortable.” She pointed to her neck.

Xie Xuanyin: “…In the future, watch where you cough!” It’s easy to cause misunderstandings!

He frowned, preparing to drop the curtain, but Shen Ruoli was faster. She reached out and grabbed his hand!

“Your Highness!” She leaned forward, getting closer to him. “Don’t you think Sixth Uncle’s arrival tonight was too coincidental? And he was so certain we were injured, isn’t that strange?”

The mountain breeze blew, and the faint, sweet scent of her perfume swirled around him like an invisible hand stroking his cheek. He was standing tall; she was leaning out, her collar slightly loose, her eyes filled with a teasing light.

Xie Xuanyin’s breathing grew heavy. This woman was truly like an old sow wearing a bra, one trick after another!

Is she still Shen Ruoli? Why was she so different in this life? In the past, she was arrogant and annoying; she was never this clingy with him. Perhaps, she was always like this in front of Xie Xuansong?

At that thought, the confusion in his heart turned into cold jealousy. He forcefully pulled his hand back. “What are you really trying to say?”

“I’m trying to say Your Highness’s heart is made of stone and iron. You don’t know how to cherish people at all.” Because he had pulled away so forcefully, her elbow had knocked against the carriage frame. It was now stinging.

Shen Ruoli pouted, pulling up her sleeve to check her elbow. It was red.

Looking at her fair, delicate arm, Xie Xuanyin’s jaw tightened. Was she just, acting coquettishly?

Before he could think further, he saw Xie Yuanxun returning. He immediately stepped forward, blocking Yuanxun’s line of sight, and snapped at her, “Where is your decorum? Sit back and stay inside!”

He pushed her face back into the carriage and dropped the curtain with a dark expression.

Behind the swaying beads, Shen Ruoli blinked. Hmm? Xie Xuanyin seemed angry. But this anger felt different from the “I want to kill you” anger of the previous days.

When the carriage reached the Prince of Zhenbei’s manor, dawn was breaking. After a day of chaos, they could finally rest.

But looking at the large, single bed in the guest room, Shen Ruoli and Xie Xuanyin were faced with a brand-new “problem”.