Chapter 261: Secret Talk

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

“Huan Er, 1 never want to hear the word ‘thank you1 from you.”

“Alright.”

Seeing the slight frown on the man’s face, Jiang Peihuan nodded and replied softly.

“How did you manage to place the letter in Prince Qing’s study?”

When handing the letter to Xiao Nanye, Jiang Peihuan had only asked him to find a way to put the item inside Prince Qing’s Mansion. Unexpectedly, Xiao Nanye had directly placed it in Xiao Junhao’s study.

Sipping his tea, Xiao Nanye spoke faintly, “Before I went to Prince Qing’s

Mansion with my men, 1 made a prior visit.”

“So you personally placed the letter in Prince Qing’s study?”

“Yes.”

Seeing him nod, a complex look appeared in Jiang Peihuan’s eyes.

After a long time, Jiang Peihuan suddenly looked up at him, “Xiao Nanye, why are you so good to me?”

Hearing this, the man was taken aback.

Setting down his teacup, he looked into Jiang Peihuan’s eyes. Their gazes met, and each saw their reflection in the other’s eyes. Noticing her beautiful face, a hint of laughter emerged in his eyes, “What if 1 said, I don’t know why either, would you believe me?”

When he first saw her fall into the lake and rescued her, it was almost an instinctive reaction.

Things that happened afterward, he found hard to control.

“Huan Er, in a few days, we will be married.”

“I’ve never looked forward to a day so much.”

At some point, the sharpness in his eyes began to soften.

As the winter day turned dark, Jiang Peihuan whispered, “It’s getting dark, let’s go inside.”

She then got up and left the pavilion.

Watching her figure, the smile in Xiao Nanye’s eyes deepened when he noticed the faint blush on her earlobes.

Jiang Peihuan walked ahead, with Xiao Nanye following. With every step, he placed his footprints over hers.

Even in the heavy snow, there was a touch of warmth.

While the plum garden was filled with warmth, chaos had taken over Prince Qing’s Mansion.

Xiao Junhao was injured, and Lin Mengyao went to his courtyard to take care of him. So when Xue Ru was sent to Prince Qing’s Mansion, no one attended to her, and she was directly assigned to her previous quarters.

Thirst woke Xue Ru up.

Lying on her bed, just after having a miscarriage, Xue Ru felt entirely weak, “Water…”

After calling for a long time and receiving no response, just as she was about to get up, footsteps approached.

A cup of water was brought to Xue Ru. Only after drinking did she feel revived. However, when she looked up and saw who had brought her the water, her expression instantly changed, “Why are you here?”

The person who had brought water was none other than Ye Xiao.

After setting the cup on the bedside table, Ye Xiao spoke, “Miss Xue, it seems like the person who advised you from behind doesn’t care about you now.”

Hearing Ye Xiao’s words, Xue Ru instinctively wanted to argue but bit her lip hard instead.

Seeing her silence, Ye Xiao continued, “Miss Xue, you have already been granted to Prince Qing as a concubine by the emperor. If you don’t seize the opportunity, you’ll always be just a concubine.”

“What are you trying to say?”

Looking at Ye Xiao with caution, Xue Ru asked.

“Do you want to marry Prince Qing and be honorably carried into his mansion, instead of just being a concubine?”

“Do you have a way?”

“As long as you follow my instructions, you will surely get what you wish for.”

Saying that, Ye Xiao moved closer and whispered a few words into Xue Ru’s ear.

Xue Ru’s eyes widened in astonishment after hearing those words.

Ye Xiao stepped back, smiling, “I’ve given you the way. Miss Xue. Whether you take it or not is up to you.”

With that, Ye Xiao left Prince Qing’s Mansion by climbing out of the window.

After Ye Xiao left, the door was abruptly pushed open.

The ones who entered were the two maids previously arranged by Lin Mengyao to take care of Xue Ru. They each held a food tray in their hands. After casually placing the food on the table, one of them coldly said, “Eat up.”

Xue Ru glanced at the food on the table; the vegetable leaves were yellowed, and there wasn’t any meat.

She glared at the two maids with fury and said coldly, “Is this what you’re feeding me?”

“What else do you expect? Don’t forget your place. Now you’re just a concubine. Moreover, the child in your womb is gone. Who do you think you are?”

“If you don’t eat, you’ll starve.”

Having said that, the two maids packed up the food and took it away.

Watching their retreating figures, Xue Ru was so angry that her whole body trembled, but she felt powerless.

Outside, Ye Xiao, hearing the commotion, finally left the mansion.

In the Plum Garden,

Jiang Peihuan was playing chess with Xiao Nanye when a knock was heard.

“Come in.”

“Eldest Miss?”

Upon hearing the voice inside, Ye Xiao entered, bowed to Jiang Peihuan, and then stood up.

“Back already?”

“Yes, I’ve conveyed the message to Miss Xue as you instructed.”

“Alright, you can go rest.”

“Yes.”

After Ye Xiao left, Xiao Nanye turned to Jiang Peihuan, “You sent Ye Xiao to Prince Qing Mansion?”

“Yes.”

Nodding, Jiang Peihuan continued, “Xue Ru isn’t smart enough for this. She’s just a pawn in this game.”

Since Xue Ru was from the Xue family, Jiang Peihuan couldn’t harm or kill her. But those behind the scenes, Jiang Peihuan would never let them off.

Anything outside of Jiang Peihuan’s matters was of no interest to Xiao Nanye. Seeing the fatigue in her eyes, he put down his chess piece, “It’s getting late. You should rest.”

“I’ll head back to the mansion.”

“Wait a moment.”

Seeing him stand up to leave, Jiang Peihuan quickly called out.

Hearing her voice, Xiao Nanye paused.

Moments later, he saw Jiang Peihuan approaching with a dark-colored cloak.

She had wanted to make him another cloak after noticing he always wore the white one. She planned to give it to him in a few days, but seeing him dressed so lightly now, she decided to give it to him ahead of schedule.

His eyes landed on the cloak in her hands, a smile forming in his eyes, “Did you make this for me?”

“Yes.”

Watching her nod, Xiao Nanye immediately took the cloak and draped it over himself, tying the strings without needing Jiang Peihuan’s help.

Looking down at her, he smiled, “How does it look?”