Chapter Thirty: The Snare

  "The king's heart is not something I can interpret."

  "Really?"

  "It's just that usually the prince doesn't allow women into his study."

  "So it was."

  "Have a good walk, madam."

  Lin Zhan smiled at me and nodded, then turned to leave. Although he was slender in build and had a gentle face, one thing I was very clear about was that this man was absolutely not someone to be trifled with. Fortunately, I didn't have much to do with him.

  How disappointing. I was thinking of finding that demon to talk about feelings, but it seems like there's no chance today. Let's just head back. Just a few steps later, a woman came walking towards me. Great, another one to add fuel to the fire.

  "Sister?"

  "Who are you?"

  "I am Wan Rong."

  "Wanyong?"

  "I am Wang Ye's second wife, Xiao Wanting."

  "Oh, it's you!"

  "Sister thought of me."

  "What is my sister doing here?"

  "It's boring staying in the courtyard, let's go out for a walk, where is that sister?"

  "Ah, just came out of Wang Ye's study."

  "Sister has entered the study of Wang Ye!"

  "Is it? Can't be helped, I see Qing'er is also in the house!"

  "But the prince doesn't allow women from the mansion to enter, except for Qing'er."

  "That's strange, I just saw some maids going in and out earlier."

  "Ah, this, how is this possible?"

  "What's impossible? I even heard Wang Ye and Qing Er mention you, sister."

  "What did I just say!"

  "Let go of my hand first, it's a bit painful."

  "Ah, sorry, sister."

  "It seems like they're asking you to go to the study room for something, I don't know what specifically, I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable, didn't continue listening to them, anyway, preparing to head back and rest now."

  "Is that so? Then I'll go take a look?"

  "If you want to go, just go, I'm going back, a bit tired."

  "Take care, sister."

  "Uh-huh."

  Xiao Wantong, since she didn't have any maidservants following her, and came to the study, must be thinking of having a chance encounter with that demon. She had the heart of a thief but not the guts, however, this time I helped her muster up some courage, it should work, right?

  This is it, my heart is a bit itchy, I'll go take a look, I want to see how Yan Ruyu in the golden house will react. Quietly follow behind her.

  However, this Xiao Wanrong is quite interesting. I said that the study can be entered now, but she's still so cautious. Alas, I'm also in this state now. Two women, one in front of the other, I'm bending my waist and sneaking up quietly, it feels a bit like a ghost entering the village. Alas! Don't let anyone see us, it's too embarrassing.

  Finally arrived at the study, Xiao Wanrong stopped at the moon gate, hurry up, it's really killing me this eunuch... if you don't go in, I'll leave... forget it, she doesn't dare to say that, so she just went in. Just turned around, and saw her going in from the corner of my eye, sigh, what a relief.

  I'll wait here for a bit, just in case she comes out again and we bump into each other, that would be quite embarrassing. It's been two minutes already, probably nothing will happen, so I casually toss the pearl hairpin on my head to the ground, at least leaving myself a way out.

  I quietly moved to the edge of the moon gate, strange, didn't hear any movement, took a peek inside the moon gate, oh my god, scared me to death, Xiao Wantong, you actually went in, fortunately she had her back to me, sigh! My heart can't take this anymore! Took another peek, huh, no one's there, the study door is wide open, finally got in.

  "Ah!!!!!!! Your Highness!!!!!" Right on time! It's Qing'er's loud voice, I quietly move inside and hide behind the big tree, listening carefully to the movements.

  "Xiao Wanrong, what are you doing here?" This was the high-pitched voice of the demon.

  "Your Highness, I...I...I don't know..." It seemed that Xiao Yu Ru had been frightened quite badly, and she couldn't even speak coherently.

  "Have you forgotten the rules of this palace?" It turns out that even a demon can lose their temper, it seems to have reached a critical point physically. Alas, indeed, just like when women have PMS, men become irritable if they don't get to vent!

  "Your Highness, this...this is unbearable! If everyone finds out about this, I...I...Waaahhh?" Qing'er's acting skills had reached new heights.

  "Sister... I... Wang Ye... I won't say it out loud, I won't."

  "Xiao Wantong, now get back to 'Wantong Garden' immediately."

  "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I, I am because..."

  "Get out."

  "Your Highness———"

  "Get out." Along with the sound of tableware shattering, Xiao Wanrong rushed out, crying quite miserably. I turned sideways and saw her running out of the Moon Gate. It seemed like I had gone a bit too far.

  "Qing'er, don't cry."

  "Your Highness, I, I..."

  "It's okay, it's all right."

  "Prince Wang, you said Sister Yuanyuan has gained a bit of weight."

  "Never mind her."

  "But perhaps she has her own difficulties."

  "Don't plead for her anymore, get dressed and go back to rest first."

  "But Your Highness, your body, is it really all right like this?"

  "I'm fine, go ahead."

  "Alright then, Qing'er has gone back."

  "Uh-huh."

  I hastily crouched down, with my back against the tree, lowering my head and covering my body with flowers and grass. Just now, Xiao Yuanyu didn't see me because she was too excited, but I need to be more careful now. I heard the sound of a door closing, and the faint footsteps were getting clearer and clearer.

  "Xiao Wanrong, I think you still have a chance to turn things around this time!"

  Although Qing'er spoke very softly, because the yard was too quiet, I still heard it clearly. So you're that kind of person! Fortunately, I hesitated at first, but how about your chess skills? I need to verify them slowly.

  After waiting for a few minutes, there was no sound anymore, and she should have left. I quietly stuck out my head, and indeed, Qing'er was no longer in the courtyard. I had to hurry up and leave, slowly sticking out my body, lifting my feet onto the stone path.

  "Madam!"

  "Oh no, mom!" Good grief, you scared me to death!

  "Why is the lady here?" I turned around, smiled and replied. The demon was standing by the half-open door, with his chest half exposed, it was obvious what he was doing just now.

  "Oh, it's you, Prince Wang! You scared me half to death."

  "The king asked his wife why she was here."

  "I was just walking around here earlier and I think I lost a hairpin from my head. I've been searching for it, and that's how I ended up here."

  "Have you found it?"

  "No."

  "Why did you enter the courtyard?"

  Hearing a shout, I curiously came over to take a look.

  "What you saw and heard, madam, are you satisfied?"

  "What? Shen Liu is foolish and doesn't understand Your Highness's words."

  "Unexpectedly, the lady's skill in pretending to be stupid has improved even further."

  "Your Majesty, take a rest."

  "Shen Yue, I'm going to see just how long you can hold on?"

  What does "yaoyu" mean? Never mind, it's best to leave here now, turned around and quickened my pace towards the Moon Gate.

  "Ah——"