After the ghost-hunting master descended the mountain, his fame spread throughout the capital.

Bi Sheng seemed to have anticipated his answer. Upon hearing it, she simply nodded slightly, without any resentment at being rejected, and replied softly:

"I understand. Thank you, General... for your noble character."

What she sought was not to curry favor, but a way to survive.

If you're lucky, you might be able to enter the Duke Xie's mansion.

Now, although the other party has shattered any of her fantasies of marrying into wealth, it is far better than she had expected.

At least she wasn't forced to stay in the Yicui Pavilion serving all sorts of men, and they didn't even kill her.

She... won the gamble.

Just then, the door was kicked open violently with a bang.

The crown prince appeared at the door with several trusted guards and a Taoist priest in a blue robe.

Chu Yan's gaze quickly swept over the messy bed in the room, and a smile of triumph finally appeared on his face, which had been gloomy for many days.

"Xie Dai! How dare you!" Chu Yan stepped into the room, his voice suddenly rising, righteous and stern:

"How dare you, on the eve of your wedding to your younger sister, disregard the Emperor's grace and linger in such a filthy and disreputable place, committing such a shameful and despicable act! Where do you place the dignity of the royal family? Where do you place the reputation of Mingzhu?!"

Chu Yanyi rebuked him sternly and righteously, but his eyes gleamed with excitement.

He slightly turned his body, blocking the view of the guards and the Taoist priest behind him, lowered his voice, and spoke to Xie Dai in a sinister tone, at a volume that only those nearby could hear:

"Tell me, what would happen if Father and Achu found out about this? Would you still be able to hold onto your position as the imperial son-in-law? Would Achu still be willing to marry a hypocrite like you, whose words and actions contradict each other?"

Xie Dai remained unusually calm in the face of Chu Yan's aggressive questioning.

He even slowly straightened his slightly wrinkled inner garment before standing up and walking to Chu Yan.

The two were of similar height, and their gazes clashed intensely in the air.

Xie Dai suddenly chuckled, his laughter filled with undisguised mockery and disdain.

He leaned slightly closer to Chu Yan's ear and, in a voice only the two of them could hear, slowly and deliberately said:

"Not good."

Chu Yan's pupils contracted.

Xie Dai continued in a low voice, his tone eerily calm: "The imperial decree has been issued, the wedding date has been set, and the whole world knows."

"If this gets out, at most it will just spread my reputation as a womanizer. I was just confused before marriage, it was just youthful impulsiveness."

"His Majesty may reprimand me, and Achu may be heartbroken, but as long as I am willing to admit my mistakes and make amends, this marriage cannot be ruined."

Xie Dai looked at Chu Yan's suddenly gloomy face, and a mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips:

"But you, Chu Yan." He addressed him by his given name, showing none of the reverence a subject might have for the crown prince.

"They can't kill me, and they'll have to watch me rightfully marry A-Chu and live together day and night, sharing meals and sleeping quarters, until we grow old together... watching her smile for me, bearing my children..."

His voice was even lower, like the hiss of a venomous snake, drilling into Chu Yan's ears:

"Does your heart feel like it's being gnawed at day and night by a thousand venomous snakes, a mixture of pain and itching, yet utterly helpless?"

"You...!" Chu Yan was struck in the most painful spot, his face instantly turned ashen, veins bulged on his forehead, and the killing intent in his eyes was undisguised.

Xie Dai gave him no further chances; the mockery on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling glint in his eyes.

"Chu Yan, this is my last warning to you."

His voice was devoid of emotion, filled only with chilling murderous intent. "Don't send anyone near Achu again, not even to spy on her from afar! Don't try to influence or harm her using any underhanded means! Otherwise—"

Xie Dai paused, looked directly into Chu Yan's angry eyes, and said, word by word:

"I wouldn't mind fighting to the death right now. Let's see if you, the morally flawed crown prince, are deposed and imprisoned first, or if I, the fickle consort, die first!"

"At worst, we'll go to hell together, but before I do, I'll kill you without hesitation! You, are you willing to take the bet?"

Xie Dai knew Chu Yan's weakness perfectly well.

He cared deeply about the position of crown prince, and about the image and power he had painstakingly cultivated.

He may be crazy, but he is not a completely irrational madman; he dares not really gamble with the position of crown prince.

Xie Dai straightened up and distanced himself.

His voice returned to normal volume, his gaze sweeping over the Taoist priest behind Chu Yan, whose eyes were darting around, and the guards with varying expressions, as he spoke loudly:

"Last night, Mr. Xie had a few drinks with friends and accidentally got drunk, wandering into this place by mistake. Fortunately, this young lady took care of him and he did not behave improperly."

"This is a private matter, and Your Highness need not trouble yourself. If Your Highness has no other important matters, I still have wedding preparations to make, so I will take my leave now."

After saying that, he stopped looking at Chu Yan's eyes, which were practically spitting fire, and strode out, pushing aside the guards blocking the doorway.

Chu Yan was left standing there, trembling with anger, but because of his words about fighting to the death, he hesitated to make a move that would cause the situation to spiral out of control.

Chu Yan was like a venomous snake whose vital spot had been pinched, possessing fangs and venom but daring not to bite easily, and could only watch helplessly as its prey calmly left before its eyes.

That feeling of frustration and rage almost consumed him.

Images from memory flow by.

Xie Dai returned to his residence and thoroughly washed himself from head to toe. After changing into clean clothes, he went straight to the palace without hesitation.

Inside the princess's palace, Chu Mingzhu was surprised to see him arrive so suddenly at this hour, with a solemn expression.

"Why are you here at this hour? Has something happened?"

Her voice was soft, yet carried a subtle tension.

Although she was in the palace recently, she could vaguely sense the undercurrents surrounding the marriage, especially the Crown Prince's side, which would definitely not let it go.

Xie Dai did not answer immediately, but first dismissed all the palace servants who were standing in the hall.

Only when the palace doors closed, leaving only the two of them in the vast space, did he walk up to her.

Instead of trying to get closer as usual, he took a deep breath from a few steps away, then lifted his robe and knelt on one knee.

Chu Mingzhu was startled by his sudden action and instinctively stepped forward to help him.

"What...what are you doing? Get up!"

"I'm sorry." Xie Dai didn't get up. Instead, he raised his head and looked straight into the depths of her panicked eyes.

"I made a mistake today, a mistake that may bring shame upon you."

He didn't offer a single word in his own defense, but recounted the entire story of Yicui Pavilion, from being framed to Bisheng's confession, and then to Chu Yan's sudden threat, without any concealment.

Chu Mingzhu listened quietly, her initial astonishment turning into a flash of coldness and disgust in her eyes when she heard the Crown Prince's threatening words, before finally settling into calm.

She didn't speak immediately, but lowered her eyes and unconsciously clenched her sleeves.