The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Chapter 971: Chapter 971: The Xia Yu Remnant Reveals Himself

Prince Min gently reassured Princess Consort Ji with kind words before stepping out of Shou’an Palace. He saw the Princess Consort Min standing in the courtyard, gazing at the crescent moon in the sky, and couldn’t help but look up as well.

At the sound of movement, the Princess Consort Min turned her head, stepped back slightly, and made a courteous bow to him.

Prince Min said, ”Mother Consort is unwell, and her words contain much resentment, all due to her illness. You need not take it to heart.”

The Princess Consort Min replied flatly, ”I understand, Prince, please do not worry.”

Prince Min curved his lips into a smile, looking at her with a subtle amusement, and said, ”In fact, no matter what she says, or what happens in this mansion, as long as it doesn’t involve you, you won’t care or take it to heart, will you?”

The Princess Consort Min furrowed her brows slightly and looked up at him.

”You’ve always seen yourself as an outsider, coldly watching everything in this mundane world.” That’s precisely why she didn’t care about anything.

The Princess Consort Min said nothing.

”I heard you went to Songshan Temple to pray and met Madam Song?” Prince Min suddenly spoke. ”You got along well and had a pleasant conversation?”

The Princess Consort Min was not surprised that he brought up this topic. After all, the people who accompanied her on outings were from the Prince Mansion, his people, so what could he not know?

”It can’t be said we had a pleasant conversation, just a chance meeting, and we had a cup of tea.” The Princess Consort Min replied indifferently.

Prince Min glanced at her sideways, and said, ”It’s said that Madam Song is a straightforward and open-minded person. If you get along well with her, you might as well move around more.”

The Princess Consort Min was a bit surprised. Was this a test, or did he really want her to make contact?

After saying this, Prince Min didn’t elaborate further and walked away.

The Princess Consort Min watched his disappearing figure, lowered her eyes slightly, and felt a bit puzzled.

This person, she really never understood him a single bit.

...

The night was cool as water.

Shang Pu, wearing a thick cloak, gazed at the mutilated moon for a long time before turning back to his study. As soon as he stepped inside, his body slightly stiffened under the cloak, and a trace of anger flashed across his face, quickly submerged in the dim light.

He bypassed the screen inside the room and entered the inner chamber. Sure enough, he found it no longer empty; there was someone else seated at the round table, pouring and drinking alone.

”Are you now coming and going as you please, or have you grown tired of this chess game and want to end it early by causing trouble?” Shang Pu coldly looked at the person at the round table, the current Prince Min, Chu Ze.

No, more accurately, it was Xia Houzhe, the remnant of the Xia family, whom Emperor Chu had been searching for, playing the role of Chu Ze.

If Emperor Chu and the others saw this scene, they would likely be furious, feeling their intelligence insulted. The person they had been searching for was right beside them, under their noses, yet completely unnoticed.

”This game of chess has just begun, hardly reached a life-or-death standoff; it’s the most fun part. How could you say I’m causing trouble? But you, what, feeling sorry for the Dowager, embarrassed and angry?” Xia Houzhe stood up, came to Shang Pu, and reached out to touch his face.

Shang Pu felt repulsed and shook off his hand: ”Xia Houzhe, don’t overdo it. At worst, we all end up in ruin. If I expose you, do you think you can fly out of this Imperial City? Even if you do, will you continue to hide in the dark gutters, unable to see the light?”

Xia Houzhe’s eyes sharpened; he laughed, pointing at him, and his smile was devilish, saying, ”Expose me? Like more than ten years ago, saying you’re actually Chu Ze? Would he believe it, hmm? Even if he does, you’d only end up being disposed of as a remnant, wouldn’t you?”