The Supporting Female Character Enters the Game, the Crazy Crown Prince Slowly Falls Deeply in Love - Chapter 75

Xie Yunian lowered his eyes, gazing at Jiang Yao as if trying to see through her entirely.

However, hearing Jiang Yao’s words, he still let go of her hand, his voice thick with suppressed anger. “Jiang Yao, have you acted out your play enough?”

The distance between the two was minimal; they could practically feel each other’s breath.

Unexpectedly meeting Xie Yunian’s eyes, Jiang Yao’s heart tightened, feeling as though all her thoughts had been instantly seen through.

She opened her mouth, momentarily forgetting how to cry.

Xie Yunian took a step back, looking at her coldly. “Speak. What is your purpose in approaching me?”

Purpose?

What purpose could she have?

To marry him and avoid her original fate—does that count?

Jiang Yao felt helpless inside. She just wanted to live.

“I was wrong about this, Young Master Xie. I shouldn’t have deceived you.” She smoothed her expression and stood obediently upright.

Look, she’s already switched from “Xie Lang” to “Young Master Xie.”

Xie Yunian sat back down in the chair and raised a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, his expression somewhat indifferent. “Who ordered you to approach me with such meticulous planning?”

Xiao Wuheng?

Or Xiao Jing (the Regent King)?

No wonder Xiao Jing stepped in to rescue her at the Xuan Yang Marquis’s Manor that day, using the Regent King’s Consort’s name.

Hearing his question, Jiang Yao was momentarily dazed.

Was he suspecting that she was instructed by someone else to approach him?

She couldn’t help but find it somewhat laughable. Does being instructed by herself count?

“No,” Jiang Yao’s face was pale. She shook her head slightly, her voice so soft it was barely audible.

Xie Yunian leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, looking at Jiang Yao’s guilty expression, somewhat in disbelief. “No?”

His eyes changed slightly, but quickly returned to calmness. “Then I’ll ask, and you answer.”

Jiang Yao stood rooted to the spot and nodded.

“You knew I hadn’t lost my memory.”

This was clearly an affirmative statement.

Jiang Yao bit her lip. “Yes.”

“Then why did you lie to me?” Xie Yunian sneered.

And she claimed he knocked on her door in the middle of the night.

Xie Yunian suddenly paused.

Though, he did actually go there last time.

“Didn’t you lie to me too?” Jiang Yao looked up, meeting Xie Yunian’s gaze with a hint of stubbornness in her eyes. “Young Master Xie was clearly also using me.”

“You hit the back of my neck at the lotus pond that day, and you also stole peacock feathers in the backyard of the side manor,” Jiang Yao felt more and more wronged as she spoke, and her voice involuntarily rose. “On the Mid-Autumn Day, those guards were coming to arrest Young Master Xie, weren’t they? I took you inside the Huixian Tower to change clothes and helped you conceal the bloodstains on your clothes…”

That cost her ten taels of gold!

She bit her lip and simply poured out all the thoughts in her heart. “I suspect Young Master Xie was trying to reduce their suspicion, right?”

Xie Yunian, as a hostage in the capital, the Emperor would surely not be at ease handing power over to him. And she was now Xie Yunian’s nominal “weakness.”

As her last sentence fell, silence filled the room.

Having said her piece, the courage Jiang Yao had finally mustered immediately dissipated.

She shrank her neck, like a startled quail, and lowered her head, not daring to look at him again.

Seeing her behave like this, Xie Yunian suddenly lost interest, and an inexplicable sense of irritation welled up in his heart.

“Yuan Zheng, see the guest out.”

Jiang Yao felt as if she had been granted a massive reprieve and hurried to the door. But just as she was about to step over the threshold, she suddenly remembered something, turned back, and whispered, “Madam Xie invited me to stay for dinner. Young Master Xie, please help me explain to Madam Xie…”

With that, she immediately followed Yuan Zheng out the door, terrified of being held back even a moment longer.

Listening to her hurried footsteps leaving, the feeling of frustration in his heart did not dissipate. He raised a hand to rub his temples, feeling a severe headache.

Yuan Zheng returned after seeing Jiang Yao out, only to find his Young Master still sitting in the chair, lost in thought.

He cautiously peeked his head in. “Young Master, I already told the Madam that Miss Jiang had a family emergency and couldn’t stay for dinner, but… the Madam looked a little disappointed.”

“Hmm.” Xie Yunian slowly rose from the chair, his gaze catching the brocade box that had been dropped on the floor during his earlier action.

The lid had sprung open, revealing what was inside—a painting scroll.

“Oh, what is this?” Yuan Zheng bent down and picked up the scroll. He examined it carefully, his tone carrying a hint of probing. “Is it… the birthday gift Miss Jiang sent you?”

Xie Yunian waved his hand, his voice carrying a hint of impatience. “Take it away.”

Yuan Zheng didn’t move. He held the scroll in his hand, his expression hesitant.

Xie Yunian saw him still standing there motionless and looked over.

“Young Master, why don’t you take a look first?” Yuan Zheng stiffened his neck, extending the painting, and spoke bravely.

Xie Yunian was silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the scroll in Yuan Zheng’s hand.

He closed his eyes, suppressing the irritation in his heart, and slowly unrolled the painting.

The scene in the painting gradually came into view—the vast, desolate landscape of Shuobei, the continuous mountain ranges, and… a figure galloping on horseback through the sand and wind.

Xie Yunian was momentarily stunned, his gaze lingering on the painting for a long time. His heart felt as if something had gently touched it.

The figure of himself in the painting looked unrestrained, as if nothing in the world could constrain his freedom.

“This subordinate believes that the Third Young Miss Jiang cares for you in her heart,” Yuan Zheng stood beside him, secretly glancing at Xie Yunian’s expression and speaking quietly.

In his opinion, the Young Master looked as though he was suffering from a broken heart.

Xie Yunian’s dark eyes stared at Yuan Zheng for a long moment, his voice cold. “And then?”

Yuan Zheng felt a chill down his spine under his gaze. He raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, gritted his teeth, and risked saying, “Young Master, could it be that the reason you’re angry now is that you… have developed feelings for Miss Jiang?”

Xie Yunian’s gaze instantly turned cold at his words, as if he had heard a colossal joke. He sneered. “I like her?”

Seeing that he hadn’t immediately gotten furious, Yuan Zheng grew slightly bolder and continued, “The way you are now, isn’t it because you care about Miss Jiang in your heart?”

Otherwise, given his Young Master’s temperament, he would have already brought his sword to the Jiang Manor. He wouldn’t be standing here.

Before he could finish speaking, Xie Yunian had already given him a cold glare, his gaze like a knife, immediately scaring Yuan Zheng into silence, his smile freezing on his face.

“I’ll go check on the Madam’s courtyard, see if there’s anything I can help with…” Yuan Zheng gave a dry laugh, quickly found an excuse, and slipped out, afraid that if he said another word, his Young Master would swing his sword at him first.

Silence returned to the room. Xie Yunian sat alone at the desk, completely still.

After a long while, he slowly lowered his eyes, his gaze resting on the painting on the table.

“A birthday gift…” he murmured to himself, his voice carrying a hint of self-mockery and helplessness.

This was the first time he had ever received such a birthday gift.

Yuan Zheng’s words echoed in his mind—could it be that the reason you’re angry now is that you care about Miss Jiang in your heart?

He cares about her?

Xie Yunian gave a small laugh.

Truly obsessed.

What could Yuan Zheng possibly understand?

He is only angry because he was deceived.