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

The moss on the stone steps of the main courtyard was damp.

Lin Zuoqing's steps were unsteady, and he almost slipped and fell on the edge.

Qing Shu quickly stepped forward to help him up.

"Your Highness, be careful."

Lin Zuoqing raised his hand to brush him away, only to feel dizzy and lightheaded.

As we passed through the hanging flower gate, a sharp female voice pierced the sky.

"Why does Madam want to annul the engagement? Did that bitch Xu Qianhui say something to you?"

"What kind of spell did she cast on you all that you're all helping her?"

"I am the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Wu'an's family! What do I lack compared to her, a down-on-her-luck merchant's daughter?"

Ignoring the old woman's attempts to pull her away, Lin Zhiwei stopped Fu Shi, who had just returned to the courtyard.

Her hair was disheveled, her hairpins were askew, and her eyes were so red they looked like they were about to bleed.

Fu took a half step back and pulled her clothes back with disgust.

"What can I do if the old lady doesn't approve of this marriage? If Miss Lin feels wronged, she can go and make a scene with the old lady. What kind of behavior is it to throw a tantrum here?"

After saying that, Madam Fu didn't even give her a second glance and walked straight towards the main room with her maid.

Lin Zhiwei knelt on the cold, hard bluestone slab, the wind blowing through her thin silk skirt.

"Xu Qianhui...it's all her fault!"

Lin Zhiwei rushed towards the side courtyard like a madwoman.

In the side courtyard, Xu Qianhui leaned against the cushions on the soft couch, fiddling with the medicine box on the small table with one hand.

The wooden door was suddenly kicked open with great force, and a cold wind carrying the dampness of autumn rain rushed in.

Lin Zhiwei burst into the house with red eyes.

"You wretch, what kind of bewitching potion did you give Zuo Qing to dare force the Duke's mansion to annul my engagement!"

Xu Qianhui slowly adjusted her cloak, her eyes showing neither surprise nor anger.

"Miss Lin, have you come to the wrong place? What does your marriage have to do with me? If you have any problems, you can use your own methods to keep Lin Zuoqing. Why come here and act crazy?"

Lin Zhiwei turned pale from the sting of those words.

What she hated most was Xu Qianhui's indifferent attitude.

It was as if what Lin Zhiwei cherished was worthless in her eyes.

"Stop pretending! You're just an orphan girl living under someone else's roof, always flirting with other men. You offended the Left Minister in the manor before, then you got entangled with the Second Young Master, and now you've even hooked up with General Chu. What right do you, a shameless person, have to stay in the Duke's manor?!"

Xu Qianhui chuckled softly after hearing these words.

She walked to the round table and poured herself a cup of warm tea.

The rising steam blurred her features.

"You know perfectly well that he has no real feelings for you, yet you insist on trapping him with a marriage contract. What's the point? If you're going to go crazy, go find him at Songbai Courtyard. I have nothing to do with your affairs."

Seeing her nonchalant demeanor, Lin Zhiwei's rationality completely crumbled.

"You bitch!"

She raised her hand high and slapped Xu Qianhui hard across the face.

Just as the slap was about to land.

A large hand reached out from the side and gripped Lin Zhiwei's wrist tightly.

The person who came was extremely strong; he threw her away with a single hand.

Lin Zhiwei collapsed to the ground, her wrist turning bright red, and she gasped for breath in pain.

"Who gave you permission to touch her?"

Lin Zuoqing looked down at her, his gaze chillingly cold.

Lin Zhiwei looked at the man blocking Xu Qianhui's way, her eyes filled with despair.

"Zuo Qing, I'm just too scared. She wants to take away the engagement, take away you, and you're all I have left."

"You can't leave me!"

Lin Zuoqing let her hug him, his eyes were extremely cold, devoid of any warmth.

"I told you back then that I would never love you in this lifetime. It was only because you said you didn't mind that I agreed to the engagement."

Lin Zhiwei's crying stopped abruptly.

She looked up at the man she had loved for eight years.

"No, I don't believe it! I don't believe you have no feelings for me at all!" Then, she pointed at Xu Qianhui: "It's all because of her! You changed the moment that shameless scourge came to the capital! She deserves to die!"

A crisp slapping sound suddenly rang out in the room.

Lin Zhiwei's head was knocked to the side by the blow.

She covered her face, completely stunned.

Lin Zuoqing withdrew his hand and said coldly, "Lin Zhiwei, that's enough."

Xu Qianhui watched this farce without feeling any pleasure from it.

Lin Zuoqing's reddened eyes, in particular, made him look somewhat absurd and ridiculous.

It's truly rare to see even the high and mighty Lord Lin have a moment of conscience.

She smiled and looked at Lin Zuoqing: "Lord Lin, did you protect me today out of guilt, or because you've finally realized you were wrong?"

Lin Zuoqing suddenly turned to look at her.

That pretty face was full of mockery.

He opened his mouth, wanting to explain.

"I……"

"See Miss Lin out." Xu Qianhui turned around and instructed Qing Shu.

Then, her gaze turned to Lin Zuoqing again.

"Don't bring up your engagement or your past relationship in front of me again. I just want to leave the Duke's mansion and don't want to get involved in your messy affairs."

Neither of them spoke another word until Lin Zhiwei was taken away.

The courtyard fell completely silent, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind.

Lin Zuoqing stood there like a stone statue.

He watched Xu Qianhui's thin back.

It felt like there was a handful of bitter herbs stuck in my throat, so bitter it was astringent.

He had a lot of questions he wanted to ask.

I wanted to ask her if the injury on her hand still hurt.

He wanted to tell her that he didn't mean to misunderstand her.

But looking at her aloof and unapproachable demeanor...

He couldn't utter a single word.

"Xu Qianhui".

In the wind, his voice was terribly hoarse, carrying a plea he himself was unaware of.

"I will investigate the matter from three years ago."

"Lord Lin would be best to ask the Second Miss again," Xu Qianhui said in a very calm voice, as if she were talking about someone else's business. "She knows far more than you do."

Like an orchid?

What does she know?

Lin Zuoqing gave Xu Qianhui a deep look.

That aloof and cold figure was like a thorn, piercing his heart.

He turned and strode quickly into the rainless space.

......

Just after midnight, a dark figure scaled the wall and landed steadily in the shadows beneath the window.

Xu Qianhui stood up and pushed open half of the carved wooden window.

Looking outside, he saw an old man with a somewhat hunched back.

"Let's go."

She carried a dim lantern and pushed open the door to go out.

The two walked straight towards the main room of Ci'an Hall.

During the day, the old lady was making a huge fuss. All the servants in Ci'an Hall were thrown into chaos, not even having a chance to catch their breath.

During dinner, Xu Qianhui went to the small kitchen.

Under the guise of helping to serve soup, he secretly slipped a packet of sleeping pills into the water vat.

That's enough medicine to knock out all the exhausted servants in the courtyard.

Now, the entire Ci'an Hall is unusually quiet, even the head maid on night watch is fast asleep under the eaves.

Xu Qianhui and Lao Huang entered the inner room as if it were empty.

The old lady was a light sleeper and suddenly opened her eyes upon hearing the noise.

Through the hazy bed curtains, I could see two people standing in front of the bed.

The dim lantern was raised higher, illuminating Xu Qianhui's expressionless face and the indignant old driver, Lao Huang.

The old lady trembled with fright and hurriedly sat up.

"Hui girl! What time is it? Why did you bring this person here?"

Xu Qianhui did not respond.

She walked to the table, dragged over a rosewood stool, and sat down directly in front of the bed.

The lantern was placed on the small table beside the bed.

The warm yellow light reflected the chilling coldness in her eyes.

She looked at the trembling old lady and smiled softly.

"Madam, I'm sorry."

"I wanted you to live a few more days, but my aunt wouldn't allow it, so there was nothing I could do."

The old lady's eyes widened, and her breathing suddenly became rapid.

She pointed at Xu Qianhui, her fingers trembling like a leaf.

"What...what are you going to do!"

Xu Qianhui ignored her, and turned her head to look at Lao Huang behind her.

"Let's get started."

Old Huang gripped the short blade in his hand and approached the bed step by step.