The Dark Moonlight returns to the capital, and the mad prince is accused of forcing love.

The wind blew in through the window, and the two stared at each other for a long time.

After a long silence, Minister Lin said, "As you wish."

He released his grip, turned around, and sat down on the soft stool: "When Dr. Wang comes over, he will expose your trick."

Xu Qianhui chuckled and said nothing more.

Lin Zhiwei was his fiancée. As the Prefect of Jingzhao, how could he possibly convict her?

If I don't end up being accused of false accusation, I'll be lucky.

She began to tidy up her disheveled clothes little by little.

His fingers paused as they traced the belt around his waist.

She hooked the rope and gave it a gentle nudge.

"Clatter."

A small purse landed right next to Lin Zuoqing's boots.

The purple bamboo pattern with gold trim shimmered with a dark light in the dim light.

Lin Zuoqing stared at the purse for a while, then bent down and picked it up.

He remembered drinking with Lin Zuo'an that day; Lin Zuo'an also had a pouch hanging from his waist.

It's just a silver-threaded green bamboo surface.

The stitches were clumsy yet meticulous, clearly indicating that they were embroidered with care.

Lin Zuoqing tightened his grip on the purse, then looked up at the woman on the bed.

Xu Qianhui was staring at what he was holding, and moved forward slightly, as if she was in a hurry to take it back.

Lin Zuoqing chuckled and flicked his wrist.

The purse bounced twice on the blue brick floor and rolled deep under the bed.

"What are you doing?"

Xu Qianhui glared at him, then leaned out of bed to look for him.

Seeing Xu Qianhui's anxious and flustered appearance, the gloom in his eyes lessened considerably.

"No one in the Duke's mansion would use something of this caliber." He got up and pulled down the bed curtains. "Lie still, don't die in my bed."

The bed curtains fell, completely blocking out the light and cutting off the two people's confrontational gazes.

Lin Zuoqing turned around and went to sit down at the desk in the outer room, casually flipping open a file.

Not long after, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

"Brother!"

Lin Zuo'an pushed open the door and walked straight to the table: "Brother, thanks to you for saving A-Hui, how is she now?"

Lin Zuoqing looked at the dossier without looking up.

"I don't know, he's at Ci'an Hall."

"She bled so much, how could you send her back to Ci'an Hall!" Lin Zuo'an's voice suddenly rose, filled with obvious reproach: "Grandmother is old, what if she thinks seeing blood is unlucky and throws her out of the manor?!"

Lin Zuoqing glanced at him: "He's not one of my people, I can't exactly bring him to my room, can I?"

Inside the bed curtains, Xu Qianhui heard this and twitched the corners of her mouth.

There was a moment of silence outside the door.

Lin Zuo'an seemed speechless at these words, unable to utter a rebuttal for a long time.

He paced anxiously in front of his desk: "When will Dr. Wang arrive? No, I'll go wait outside."

"Where are you going? Has Qin Miaoyun gone back yet?"

Lin Zuo'an seemed somewhat irritated and said, "No, they were frightened and are resting in Rulan Courtyard now."

"Then why aren't you going to appease them? What are you doing loitering around here?" Lin Zuoqing threw the file on the table. "Get out and close the door behind you."

After hesitating for a moment, Lin Zuo'an sighed heavily.

"Then I'll go check on Miaoyun."

The door was closed from the outside.

Once she was sure the person had gone far away, Xu Qianhui pulled back the bed curtains and came out.

Her face was still a little pale, and her wet clothes clung to her body, outlining her slender waist.

Lin Zuoqing raised his eyelids and saw her stop in front of the desk.

What are you doing here?

Why would you lie to him?

The two spoke at the same time.

After the words were spoken, they fell silent.

Lin Zuoqing leaned back in his chair and let out a short, cold snort.

"If he had just asked anyone in my compound, he would have known you were here with me."

"Guess why he didn't ask?"

What's there to guess?

It's nothing more than fear.

He was just afraid others would be curious about why he cared about him.

In public, he would rather she die than jump into the water to save her.

How could they dare to openly inquire about her whereabouts from the people of Songbai Courtyard?

Xu Qianhui pouted: "You talk like you're so open and honest."

She had just finished speaking when Lin Zhiwei's soft voice came from outside.

"Zuo Qing, are you there? I'm coming in."

Xu Qianhui subconsciously squatted down.

Lin Zuoqing felt his knee being forcefully pushed, and then a soft, moist mass of flesh was squeezed between his legs.

Through the curtain in front of the desk.

Xu Qianhui saw a pair of shoes embroidered with lotus flowers walk to the desk.

"Zuo Qing, how is Xu Qianhui? Is she alright?" Lin Zhiwei's tone carried just the right amount of self-reproach.

The space under the table was cramped, and Xu Qianhui curled up inside.

With her head tilted to one side, her cheek brushed against Lin Zuoqing's thigh, and her wet hair swept across his clothes.

Lin Zuoqing's body tensed suddenly, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

"Um."

His voice was a little hoarse, and his gaze involuntarily drifted downwards.

Through that wooden plank, it seemed as if you could see the people hiding underneath.

"Zuo Qing, I really didn't mean to. I just pushed her lightly, and I don't know how she fell into the pool, nor do I understand why she's bleeding so much."

"It's alright."

"Really?"

"real."

"That's great, thank goodness you didn't blame me."

Lin Zhiwei visibly breathed a sigh of relief, and then said, "Xu Qianhui is really something. Miaoyun made things so clear, yet she still didn't back down. It's really annoying."

Lin Zuoqing did not respond to this.

When Xu Qianhui is mentioned, Lin Zhiwei seems to have endless complaints.

"No wonder you hate her so much, you'd rather let her jump into the river than take her into your household. Once you get involved with someone like her, it's like a leech, you can't get rid of her."

Lin Zuoqing remained silent.

Silence means acquiescence.

"Zuo Qing, why don't you try to persuade your aunt to kick Xu Qianhui out? I feel so sorry for Miaoyun just thinking about how a mistress like her can live so openly in the mansion."

This time, Lin Zuoqing finally spoke.

"Zuo An got engaged to her a year ago, but what about Qin Miaoyun? They haven't even exchanged their betrothal gifts yet."

Lin Zhiwei was stunned, clearly not expecting Lin Zuoqing to speak up for Xu Qianhui.

She stepped forward defiantly.

"How can that be the same? Miaoyun is the daughter-in-law personally chosen by the Second Master. What is Xu Qianhui compared to her? Once Miaoyun and the Second Young Master are married, won't she just be a troublesome mistress?"

Xu Qianhui listened and found the logic to be airtight and very reasonable.

But she didn't like to hear it.

She owes Lin Zuo'an nothing, not even a penny.

Of course, she couldn't let Lin Zhiwei comfortably humiliate her.

She reached into Lin Zuoqing's long robe, her fingertips tracing a path up his ankles until they reached his thighs.

Lin Zuoqing's thigh muscles were noticeably tense, and his breathing became slightly more rapid.

Seeing that he remained unmoved, Xu Qianhui switched to the other leg and continued.

Lin Zuoqing felt an indescribable itch that crept up his leg bone.

His fingers unconsciously curled under the table, his fingertips brushing against Xu Qianhui's cold hair.

Xu Qianhui shrank back and pinched his leg.

The fabric, along with the flesh underneath, was torn, and Lin Zuoqing let out a muffled groan.

"Zuo Qing, what's wrong?" Lin Zhiwei asked anxiously.

Xu Qianhui looked up and glared at him silently.

The corners of his eyes were tinged with crimson, making him look just like a wildcat that had been provoked and was now baring its claws.

Seeing her like this out of the corner of his eye, Lin Zuoqing subtly stepped on her skirt.

"It's nothing." His voice returned to its calm tone: "She's at Ci'an Hall now. If you want her to leave, go to Ci'an Hall."