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

Lin Zuoan shook his head and explained, "I have indeed gone too far lately, and I was afraid she might do something rash and hurt herself."

Xu Qianhui curled up under the bed and silently forced a smile.

He would certainly blame himself.

In his eyes, I was completely innocent.

She was kidnapped, coerced, targeted, and almost drowned.

Since returning to the capital, everything that has happened has been a betrayal of Lin Zuo'an.

She, however, has always been a wronged victim.

Above him, Lin Zuoqing remained silent for a long while before saying calmly, "Chu Yunci is good, and you've been good to her. She probably doesn't care about you anymore."

"How could that be? I was the first man she ever truly loved. She could never let go of me, no matter who else she's with." Lin Zuo'an said firmly, "The reason she's getting close to General Chu is simply to get my attention and make me anxious."

Lin Zuoqing tilted her head to look at him: "Are you the first man she ever truly loved?"

"Otherwise what? Brother, you don't actually think that Ah Hui had feelings for you when she was young and naive, that counts as love, do you?"

He spoke with such confidence that he didn't see anything wrong with it.

After saying that, he let out a long sigh.

"Brother, I really feel I owe her a lot. She's suffered a lot following me. I'll definitely make it up to her in the future. So, I'd like to trouble you to find some time to talk to General Chu. Just tell him that Ah Hui already has a man, and that he shouldn't focus his attention on her, so as not to cause gossip."

Lin Zuoqing remained noncommittal and simply closed his eyes.

Seeing this, Lin Zuo'an sighed again and wisely got up.

"Brother, please rest first. I'm going to find Miaoyun."

The footsteps faded into the distance, the curtains rose and fell, and Xu Qianhui crawled out from under the bed.

Lin Zuoqing kept his eyes closed.

Xu Qianhui walked to the bedside and looked down at him.

"Will you go and tell them?"

Lin Zuoqing did not open his eyes, but uttered only one word.

"meeting."

Xu Qianhui smiled, her lips curving upwards.

"Okay." She bent down and pulled her bundle from under the tatami mat. "Remember to explain yourself clearly as well."

After saying that, she picked up her bundle and went straight out.

Before long, the curtain was lifted again.

Lin Zuoqing heard the noise but didn't even lift his eyelids.

Are you scared?

Lin Rulan, who had just entered, stopped in her tracks, her face full of confusion: "What are you talking about, brother?"

Lin Zuoqing opened his eyes, his gaze falling on his younger sister, and coughed lightly.

"Zuo An was here just now; I thought he had come back again."

Upon hearing Lin Zuo'an's name, Lin Rulan's expression changed, and she felt that she had a lot to say but couldn't express it.

She walked over to the small table, sat down, and poured herself a cup of warm tea. "My cousin and Miss Qin are getting engaged soon, aren't they?"

Lin Zuoqing hummed in agreement: "Second Uncle has checked the auspicious dates. The sixth day of next month is auspicious for marriage, so we've set that day."

Lin Rulan held the teacup, her fingertips tracing the inside of the cup, seemingly wanting to say something but hesitating.

She hesitated for a long time before finally speaking up.

"Brother, tell me the truth. What are your plans regarding my cousin?"

Lin Zuoqing raised his eyes, his gaze extremely indifferent: "Why did you suddenly ask about this?"

"It's nothing, I just feel sorry for my cousin."

Lin Rulan put down her teacup, carefully choosing her words.

"She was scolded more often in the manor than anyone else said to her. She owes the Duke's manor nothing at all. On the contrary, we owe her a great deal."

She raised her head and met Lin Zuoqing's gaze.

"Brother, I think... if possible, could you help her so that she can be with General Chu?"

"I owe her?" Lin Zuoqing's voice suddenly turned cold. "She lied to me like that, what do I owe her?"

"But there's absolutely no evidence for what happened to Grandfather! And she had no reason to harm him..."

"But she lied to me!"

Lin Zuoqing interrupted her sharply.

He suddenly straightened up, and the bandage on his left arm was instantly torn and deformed.

But he seemed oblivious to the pain, his eyes bloodshot.

His eyes were filled with despair and madness.

"I gave her a chance to explain, but she still lied to me!"

Seeing that he was losing control of his emotions, Lin Rulan hurriedly stood up.

"Alright, alright, I won't mention it anymore. Brother, you're still injured, please don't get agitated, I won't say anything more."

Separated by a curtain.

Upon hearing this, Xu Qianhui quietly turned around and left the tent.

The day after Lin Zuoqing achieved the highest rank in the imperial examination.

She had prepared his favorite pastries early on and was overjoyed to invite him for a boat trip.

He stood in the study, his expression indifferent.

"I made plans to go drinking with a friend, so I'm busy."

That was the first time he rejected her.

She sat under the veranda of the pine and cypress courtyard, watching the pastries harden little by little.

Day three.

Fourth day.

Until the fifteenth day.

He spent his days attending banquets, drinking, and watching operas.

He only made a brief appearance on the day of the old Duke's funeral.

Xu Qianhui searched the entire mansion for him, but couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes. He could only ask Qingshu to help deliver a letter.

"Ah Qing, my stomach isn't feeling well. Can you come back and keep me company?"

There was no response.

I miss you so much, I can't even eat.

There was still no response.

"Ah Qing, come back quickly, I have good news for you."

He neither replied to the letter nor returned home.

Until Xu Qianhui wrote the last note.

"In that case, I'll be going."

That evening, Qing Shu finally returned with a message.

Only two words.

"Can."

At that moment, Xu Qianhui felt as if all the blood in her body had been drained.

She couldn't take it anymore.

She ran out of the mansion like a headless fly and tripped and fell on the bustling street.

My knee is scraped and my palm is bleeding.

Ignoring the pain, she clutched her stomach and stumbled toward Huichuntang.

As soon as she arrived at the clinic entrance, her legs gave way and she collapsed.

Shen Huaijin happened to come out and caught her, carrying her, who looked haggard, into the inner room.

Unfortunately, that very scene was witnessed by Lin Zuoqing, who happened to be passing by.

When Xu Qianhui returned to the Duke's mansion after drinking the medicine to prevent miscarriage, her body was already shattered by Lin Zuoqing.

Her clothes and jewelry were haphazardly stuffed into two bundles and left outside the courtyard gate.

Lin Zuoqing stood on the stone steps and pointed to the bundle on the ground in front of everyone.

"roll."

There is only one word.

Resolute and ruthless.

Seeing that he was so emotionally unstable, Xu Qianhui had no choice but to pick up her bundle and leave the mansion in order to protect the child in her womb.

That night, the rain poured down.

The rain hit my face, hurting so much I couldn't open my eyes.

Xu Qianhui hid outside the corner gate of the back alley of the Duke's mansion, completely soaked.

She couldn't figure it out.

Why did she suddenly turn into this after riding through the streets on horseback in high school, with her lover all around her?

She struggled through the mud and water to climb over the low wall and sneak back into the mansion.

Then......

She jumped into the river.

And he was watching from not far away.

Expressionless.

The autumn wind blows, bringing a touch of coolness.

Xu Qianhui snapped out of her thoughts, walked to the carriage, greeted the driver Lao Huang, and stepped into the carriage.

Before I could even sit down, Granny Fang came running over, panting.

She clung to the edge of the car window, her voice filled with anxiety.

"Miss! Something's happened!"

Xu Qianhui lifted the car curtain: "What's wrong?"

Granny Fang pointed towards the horse farm: "Madam and General Chu are arguing!"

Fu Shi and Chu Yunci?

These two people have absolutely nothing in common, so why are they arguing?