After flirting with the aloof prince, the concubine ran away pregnant.

Then came Song Yan's conciliatory voice: "Brother Li, Brother Xie, let's talk this out. Brother Xie, why don't we call that girl over and ask her? If she really did something wrong, it will save your two families from hurting your relationship."

The study was quiet for a moment.

Even the soft sound of teacups tapping on the edge of the table stopped.

Then, Xie Xun's voice rang out, neither loud nor hurried, yet chilling enough to send shivers down one's spine: "Song Yan."

After just two words, Song Yan immediately fell silent.

Xie Xun paused before saying, "Now, can the Prefect of the Capital arrest people based on a single word?"

Song Yan felt as if he had been slapped in the face, and gave a dry laugh: "Brother Xie, that's not what I meant..."

Xie Xun ignored him, and the atmosphere in the study became tense.

Afu stood in the shadow of the side hall, her fingers resting on the window frame, the wood grain digging into her fingertips and causing a slight pain.

She couldn't see Xie Xun's expression at that moment, but she could imagine it.

The man was mostly sitting in a grand chair, his back straight, his black sleeves pressed against the armrests, his eyelids half-closed, coldly looking at the person opposite him.

The less he spoke, the less people dared to misbehave.

Sure enough, Li Heng couldn't hold back any longer.

"Xie Xun, what do you mean? My servant saw it clearly; it was someone from your courtyard!"

Xie Xun said calmly, "Time."

"Around midnight!" Li Heng replied, his neck stiff.

"It rained heavily last night."

Xie Xun's voice was steady, with very little fluctuation: "From my west wing to your courtyard, there are two moon gates, and an open path leading to the edge of the courtyard. A midnight downpour—did she go to steal the luminous pearl?"

Li Heng choked for a moment: "She...she can take advantage of someone's unpreparedness..."

"Did you see her face clearly?"

"nature--"

"On a rainy night, it's hard to see a person three steps away. Are you sure you can spot someone accurately?"

Afu heard Li Heng take a deep breath, as if he was feeling choked up.

Xie Xun didn't give him a chance to add anything, "A sandalwood box, a copper lock. The tribute was stolen, but there was no water in the courtyard, no broken lock, and no guards were alerted."

He paused, his tone growing colder, "Are the guards of the Prince of Yong's residence just for show?"

Li Heng, enraged, retorted, "Don't try to scare me with that! My men saw it, Xie Xun, you're protecting a thief!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a very soft laugh suddenly rang out in the study.

Xie Xun said, "Report to the authorities."

Li Heng didn't react: "What?"

"The tribute has been stolen; report it to the authorities."

Xie Xun's voice carried an undeniable authority: "The Court of Judicial Review, the Ministry of Justice, or the Prefect of the Capital—you choose."

Song Yan gasped, "Brother Xie..."

Xie Xun didn't stop. "Seale the hospital, arrest the people, and get the case approved."

With each word he spoke, the atmosphere in the study grew heavier. "Your guards, servants, and those on duty last night—not one of them is missing."

Li Heng's expression changed, and his voice trembled: "It's just a luminous pearl, why are you making such a fuss about it?"

Xie Xun finally raised his voice slightly, not fiercely, but with a heavy, imposing tone, "The tribute was stolen, do you think it's not serious?"

The study was deathly silent.

Afu leaned against the wall of the side hall, her fingertips slowly curling up.

Li Heng's flawed accusations were utterly futile in front of him, leaving him no room to struggle.

The fact that he was sitting there was enough to make it clear that if this matter really escalated, it wouldn't be Afu and Baizhi who would suffer, but only Li Heng himself.

Suddenly, Li Heng's dry, hearty laughter echoed from the study.

"Oh, Brother Xie, you're just too serious! What's the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice? Isn't that still your territory? It's no big deal, don't make a fuss."

His tone shifted, and his roguish charm returned. "Let me tell you the truth, the luminous pearl wasn't lost."

Song Yan breathed a long sigh of relief: "It's good that it wasn't lost, it's good that it wasn't lost. I told you it was a misunderstanding."

"Since Brother Xie isn't buying it, let's be frank."

Li Heng revealed his true intentions, his voice revealing undisguised greed.

"I've taken a liking to your maid. I said at the banquet yesterday that I'd trade you a luminous pearl for her. Since you've brought it up today, I'll be frank too. Besides the luminous pearl, I'll also offer two Ferghana horses from the Western Regions! That'll be enough for your maid, isn't it?"

Inside the annex, Afu's fingers, which had just loosened, tensed up again.

In these people's eyes, exchanging a fine horse and a luminous pearl for a woman is an extremely worthwhile deal.

Li Heng's offer of such an exorbitant price was already a great concession to Xie Xun.

The study was eerily quiet.

After a long pause, Xie Xun finally spoke, "Li Heng."

His voice was indifferent. "Are you worthy?"

Those three short words were more unpleasant than anything else had been said.

Li Heng exploded on the spot: "Xie Xun, don't push your luck! She's just a maidservant, a plaything. Is it really worth turning against me for a woman? We're both men. If you give her to me today, I, Li Heng, will owe you a favor!"

Xie Xun did not answer immediately.

Afu heard the sound of the teacup being placed back on the table.

It was very light, yet it made one's heart sink.

Then, he said coldly, "A plaything?"

Li Heng sneered: "Isn't that right?"

Xie Xun paused for a moment and then said, "Yes."

Afu's breath hitched for a second.

The next moment, his voice pierced through the wooden wall and clearly reached her ears.

"That's mine too."

Li Heng was taken aback.

Xie Xun's tone was flat and cold: "My things are mine. I'm not tired of them, and no one can touch them."

Afu slowly increased the pressure on the windowsill with her fingers.

The wood grain dug into her fingertips, but she seemed not to feel it.

Li Heng still tried to maintain his composure: "She's just a maidservant! How can you, Young Master Xie, be so petty?"

Xie Xun didn't waste any more words with him, "Changsong."

The person waiting outside immediately responded, "Your Highness."

"see a visitor out."

Li Heng angrily retorted, "Thank you, Xun!"

Xie Xun's voice finally faded.

"roll."

As the last word fell, the tension in the study completely broke.

Inside the annex, Afu slowly released her grip on the window frame.

My fingertips turned white from the excessive force and were somewhat numb.

She leaned against the cold wall and suddenly found it somewhat amusing.

That silly girl Bai Zhi even swore that the prince had feelings for her and that he liked her.

Xie Xun did protect her just now, he protected her firmly and beautifully, so much so that she almost had another misconception.

But that phrase "plaything" is more sobering than any cold water.

In Xie Xun's eyes, she was nothing more than an object that just suited his taste and that he hadn't gotten tired of playing with yet. Because she was his private property, he wouldn't allow anyone else to covet her.

His earlier intimidation, counterattack, and protectiveness might not have been because of her as a person. Perhaps it was simply because Li Heng had foolishly offended him.

She closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, her eyes were clear and calm, almost indifferent.

This couldn't be better. There are no emotional ties, only an exchange of benefits. He provides shelter, and she provides her body.

When he really gets tired of her, and she's saved enough money, she'll just walk away, leaving neither of them owing the other anything.

The sound of a teacup shattering came from the study.

Then came Li Heng's furious cursing.

"Xie Xun, you just wait!"

Song Yan lowered his voice and urged, "Brother Li, let's go, let's go first, don't make a scene..."

The footsteps became chaotic.

Li Heng was dragged away by Song Yan, cursing and swearing, his voice fading into the distance.

Afu knew she couldn't stay here any longer.

She straightened her skirt, turned around, and prepared to quietly return the way she came.

But as soon as I turned around, I almost bumped into someone who was rushing over.

The man was dressed in a blue cloth robe, with a slender and tall figure, and fine beads of sweat on his forehead, clearly indicating that he had come in a hurry.

Afu paused, looked up, and was slightly taken aback.

It is a sequence.