Double Rebirth: The Scumbag Heroine is Terrified of the Yandere Prince! - Chapter 27

Seeing the struggle in the physician’s eyes, Shen Ruoli’s first instinct was to ask what he meant.

However, her heart skipped a beat, and an internal alarm instantly blared—Xie Xuanjin didn’t trust her to begin with, and she had no prior dealings with Physician Zhang. Why would he suddenly reveal something that Xie Xuanjin and Queen Sun had ordered him to keep secret?

What if this was another trap set by Xie Xuanjin to test her?

To test if she was truly trustworthy, or if she was merely playing a double game just as she had in her past life?

Thus, Shen Ruoli maintained a thin smile. “Physician Zhang, since the Queen and His Highness ordered you to keep this secret, then you should not be telling me.”

If she wanted to know the truth, she could investigate in the shadows. At this critical juncture of trying to mend her relationship with Xie Xuanjin, she could not hand him the “handle” to her own downfall.

“But Crown Princess, this concerns you…” Physician Zhang tried to persist.

Shen Ruoli frowned, her voice sharpening with authority. “Physician Zhang! Mind your words!”

This was the Crown Prince’s Estate. Ever since she and Xie Xuanjin had been reborn, that man had kept her under secret surveillance. If Physician Zhang said something he shouldn’t right now, wouldn’t he be dragging her down with him?

“Crown Princess, I am not speaking nonsense! The Queen and His Highness summoned me last night. Not only did they have me inspect the safety talisman you gave the Queen, but they even had me keep a secret watch on you. If you…”

Before he could finish, Shen Ruoli let out a low bark of command. “Silence! Yun Yue, see our guest out!”

She had keenly sensed a trace of a dangerous presence outside the door.

This was the Crown Prince’s Estate; it was difficult for common assassins to infiltrate. Therefore, there was only one possibility: Xie Xuanjin’s men had been drawn here.

Shen Ruoli’s sudden severity turned Physician Zhang’s face pale. Daring not to say another word, he followed Yun Yue out in a dejected state.

Soon, the presence outside the door gradually faded away.

Shen Ruoli sat on her stool, her heart still thumping wildly.

As she suspected! Xie Xuanjin didn’t trust her at all. He had not only scrutinized the talisman she gave to Queen Sun but had even placed her under secret surveillance—using not just hidden guards, but even people from the Imperial Academy of Medicine!

If this was how things were on the surface, those watching her from the shadows were likely even more numerous. Had she allowed Physician Zhang to reveal the events of last night, the relationship she had worked so hard to thaw with Xie Xuanjin would have surely hit a dead end again.

As she was reeling from the near-miss, Yun Yue returned. She checked the surroundings cautiously before closing the door.

“Crown Princess.”

“Well? Did Physician Zhang say anything?”

“Physician Zhang seemed frightened; he kept his head down and rushed out. He didn’t dare say a word to me,” Yun Yue whispered. “However, when I was coming back just now, I noticed two unfamiliar faces in the courtyard.”

“Oh?” Shen Ruoli frowned. “What happened?”

“They are two palace servants assigned to sweeping. Although they seem to be minding their business, sweeping and weeding, I can’t help but feel they look… strange,” Yun Yue said hesitantly.

“What did you notice?” Shen Ruoli’s fingers gripped the edge of the table.

It seemed her intuition had been correct. That dog of a man, Xie Xuanjin, had indeed sent people to spy on her.

“I feel like those two servants are taller and sturdier than average. And their eyes… they look a bit different. I don’t know if it’s just my imagination.”

“If your gut says something is wrong, then there is definitely a problem.”

Having lived a second life, Shen Ruoli trusted her sixth sense. In her previous life, she had often suspected Xie Xuansong’s sincerity, feeling he was merely using her. But every time she complained to her maid Qing Ying, Xie Xuansong would treat her with tenderness for a while.

Now she knew her premonition had been right all along! That scoundrel was indeed just using her; his tenderness was only a tactic to soothe her emotions and dispel her doubts so she would continue to serve his interests willingly.

Shen Ruoli’s face tightened. “So, Xie Xuanjin still doesn’t believe me.”

Yun Yue’s expression shifted. “Crown Princess, do you mean those two servants are His Highness’s eyes and ears?”

“More than just those two.”

Although Shen Ruoli hadn’t noticed anything unusual with the other servants in Qingning Palace yet, she now felt that everyone—except Yun Yue—was one of Xie Xuanjin’s people.

“From now on, we must not let Xie Xuanjin catch any faults in our words or actions.” Shen Ruoli took a deep breath. “Since I have chosen Xie Xuanjin, I will not look back. Keep a close eye on Xie Xuansong’s side; report any movement to me immediately.”

“Also, send word for my brother to come to the palace to see me tomorrow.”

“Understood,” Yun Yue replied. She started to withdraw, but after a few steps, she hesitated. “Crown Princess, Physician Zhang clearly had something to say earlier. Why didn’t you let him finish?”

Since Yun Yue knew Xie Xuanjin had planted spies in the palace, she naturally guessed that Shen Ruoli was afraid of the Crown Prince finding out.

“It’s not as if you interrogated him; he offered the information voluntarily. Even if His Highness found out, he would only blame the physician,” Yun Yue argued. “I don’t understand why you didn’t wait to hear him out.”

She walked back to Shen Ruoli’s side. “Crown Princess, our situation in the estate is currently very difficult. What if what he was about to say was important? At least we could have been prepared.”

A few days ago, Yun Yue had been happy that Shen Ruoli chose Xie Xuanjin over Xie Xuansong, believing it was the right choice. But Xie Xuanjin had been so heartless to her, even threatening to hang her from the city gates to let her fall to her death. Since then, Yun Yue had been living in fear, waking up every day terrified of what he might do next.

“Regardless of whether Physician Zhang truly wanted to help or was sent by Xie Xuanjin to test me,” Shen Ruoli said, her expression grave as she clenched her hands, “Yun Yue, from this day forward, we cannot easily trust anyone!”

The realization dawned on Yun Yue. “So you were afraid he was a plant!” She felt a wave of lingering fear. His Highness was naturally suspicious, and lately, his suspicion toward the Crown Princess had reached its peak.

“Crown Princess…” Yun Yue looked at her mistress with heartache. She was relieved she hadn’t pried for the rest of the story when she escorted the physician out. Even if she meant well, she could have easily made things worse.

“It’s alright.” Knowing Yun Yue worried for her, Shen Ruoli patted her cheek gently.

She leaned against the table, her voice low and contemplative. “The Crown Prince is like a lump of iron, but I will pry him open nonetheless, just to see what color his heart is on the inside.”

If she pried open this “iron lump” and found his heart was black, she would accept it. After all, she owed him. Even if she died by his hand, she would do so willingly.

But before that, she had to complete her path of revenge.

Thinking of this, Shen Ruoli pulled herself together. “I’m going to the small kitchen to prepare a few dishes that Xie Xuanjin likes. When he returns, invite him over. Tell him I have something to say.”

“Also, before that, go and invite two more people to the estate.”