Cui Yuanyang didn't say anything, she just said, "Father is admiring flowers in the backyard pavilion, and I think... he's probably waiting for Brother Zhao to come and meet him."

Zhao Changhe looked up at her. Her big eyes, which usually showed a wide range of emotions, were now shrouded in mist, concealing her thoughts.

But she still smiled and, after Zhao Changhe finished eating the pastry, she gracefully stood up, holding up her skirt. "I'll take Brother Zhao there."

Zhao Changhe stood up, and Cui Yuanyang naturally took his hand and they left the room.

Zhao Changhe felt a little uncomfortable and looked around the corridor. "Why are you holding my hand?"

Cui Yuanyang said nonchalantly, "Whether I should or shouldn't, I've done it so many times. Why deceive ourselves? No matter what, Yuanyang is still Yuanyang, whether in public or in private."

Zhao Changhe pursed his lips and didn't answer.

Cui Yuanyang walked leisurely, holding his hand, and said, "Actually, I wasn't in a very good mood."

"Because you found out who the spy is?"

Cui Yuanyang sighed, "If Brother Zhao could be a little more foolish, he would be much cuter."

To read the uncut version, go to [p𝘢wread.com].

"Like you?"

Cui Yuanyang nodded solemnly. "Yes, like me."

Zhao Changhe couldn't help but laugh.

Cui Yuanyang said, "Of course, if you're too foolish, you can't be like a god and help me overcome all obstacles. That would be troublesome. Otherwise, be smart in front of others and foolish in front of Yuanyang?"

Zhao Changhe suddenly felt that this girl was starting to talk in riddles.

What does "in front of others" mean? Where is the "inside"?

He avoided the topic. "So who is the spy?"

"My third brother, Cui Yuancheng."

"The legitimate second son?"

"Yes."

Zhao Changhe fell silent. This was a real brother with the same parents... He was willing to sacrifice his harmless sister's life just to frame Cui Yuanyong for not taking good care of his sister. He didn't even know if it would actually help him in his bid for the inheritance.

No wonder the initial reaction of the Cui family was slow. The people on the Dao had already started assassinating, but the Cui family didn't know. And these organized attacks must have been coordinated by someone in a high position. It was not something that a powerless illegitimate child or concubine could do.

If he were Cui Yuanyang, she should be crying now... Maybe she had been crying for a long time last night?

"How... will he be dealt with?"

"Father locked him up in the dungeon. He hasn't been dealt with yet. I heard that Mother has been crying at home, saying that it must be a mistake and that someone is framing him."Zhao Changhe shook his head, finding it difficult to evaluate.

Cui Yuanyang laughed again. "But I don't hate him now."

"Hmm?"

"If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have met Brother Zhao, who is so righteous and loyal."

"..."

"Do you know? I regretted it before."

"What do you regret?"

"Not choosing the first path and going with you to Jiangnan Mo Bei." Cui Yuanyang's voice gradually became quieter, and Zhao Changhe didn't hear the second half of her sentence. "Maybe there won't be another chance like this again."

Zhao Changhe didn't need to hear the second half of the sentence. Just the first half was enough to reveal the girl's thoughts.

He tightly pursed his lips, unsure of how to respond.

Cui Yuanyang suddenly stopped walking. "We're here."

Zhao Changhe looked up and saw a colorful garden ahead. A winding path made of blue stones meandered through the flowers and trees, disappearing into the distance.

"I won't go in..." Cui Yuanyang smiled, blushing again. "Some of the things you said, I'm afraid I shouldn't listen to."

After saying that, she turned and ran away, disappearing around the corner of the corridor. She looked back, her eyes seeming to be filled with annoyance and resentment, but it was hard to tell.

Zhao Changhe watched her until her light green skirt disappeared from view, then silently turned and walked into the garden.

It was strange that he didn't feel this way when he parted with Xia Chichi.

In the depths of the garden, water flowed, and a corner of a pavilion could be seen between the flowers and trees. Someone stood there, silently watching the water.

Zhao Changhe walked up to the pavilion. There was a table with wine on it, but no one was there to serve it.

Cui Wenjing was still watching the water and didn't turn his head. He casually said, "Sit. I heard you like to drink, so drink alone."

Zhao Changhe didn't sit down. Instead, he walked up to him and stood beside him, watching the water.

This action was very rude...of course, it would also be rude to sit there and drink alone. However, it was in line with his rough image. Now, standing side by side like this, it was even harder to describe.

Cui Wenjing turned his head and looked at him with some surprise. His gaze lingered on the scar on Zhao Changhe's face for a moment before turning back to the water. "What status do you have to stand beside me?"

The benefactor of his daughter? Or son-in-law? Or...the prince?

"A guest." Zhao Changhe casually said. "As a guest, I came to visit, but the host didn't even turn his head and just watched the water...The Cui family is well-respected, and I don't want to bring shame to my elders, so I can only stand here with you."

Cui Wenjing's eyes had a hint of amusement. He turned around gracefully and made a gesture of invitation. "I have something on my mind and was rude for a moment. Please forgive me. Please sit."Zhao Changhe turned around and sat down, taking the initiative to pour wine for Cui Wenjing.

Cui Wenjing watched him pour wine with interest and suddenly asked, "Have you read books and learned etiquette?"

Zhao Changhe replied with a grunt.

Although I haven't learned the etiquette of your world, and I haven't read the same books as you, I really am a scholar.

The temperament of a scholar is actually quite obvious, but the bookish air of Zhao Changhe, who had been living in a gang, had become increasingly faint. However, in the face of the attributes of the Cui family, he couldn't help but show it. Cui Yuanyang had thought he was "dead in the water" before, and this guy wasn't as rough as she had imagined.

But in Cui Wenjing's eyes, it meant something else: "Zhao Village people shouldn't read books and learn etiquette."

Zhao Changhe's hand, which was pouring wine, paused slightly, and then he stopped and put the wine pot aside. "Zhao Village is just next to Luo Family Manor... it's not as desolate as people imagine."

"So it's normal for people from Zhao Village to work in Luo Family Manor, or for people from Luo Family Manor to live in Zhao Village?"

Zhao Changhe remained silent.

Cui Wenjing looked at the wine in her cup and suddenly said, "I didn't want to take action last night. I wanted to wait for the assassin to kill you first. I was confident that I could save my daughter at the same time."

"I know." Zhao Changhe replied calmly, "If that were the case, I would have died in the hands of the assassins from Tingxue Tower. If you had come a step later, you would have only been able to save your daughter... many headaches disappeared in an instant."

"Do you resent me? You risked your life to escort my daughter, but you got this answer."

"If I were in your shoes, I might not have done any better, so I understand... In the end, you still took action to save us. What you thought before didn't matter much. But as I said to Yuanyang, understanding requires mutual effort."

"There must be equal qualifications for mutual understanding, whether it's me or Tang Wanzhuang." Cui Wenjing said indifferently, "Just like any family, the attitude towards a son-in-law and a marriage between families of equal status cannot be the same. Everyone is like this, and I believe you would be the same. So, what identity are you drinking with me now?"

Cui Wenjing's attitude was almost like saying: You were tricked by the Chaos Chronicles, and now my daughter and your matter have no other options. The only choice is whether you are a prince or a bandit. If you are a prince, we can have a marriage alliance; if you don't recognize it, then just be a son-in-law and play on the side. I'm waiting for your answer.

Zhao Changhe suddenly thought that Cui Wenjing's attitude could actually show one thing: he knew that he wasn't a real prince.If he was a real prince, Cui Yuanyang could have just said it outright. She only hesitated because she knew it was fake. After all, if they were going to help a fake prince ascend to the throne, there would be a series of big moves that needed to be made. Would the Cui family be willing to take such a risk?

That's why she had the idea to just kill him last night and be done with it.

But today, she discovered that Zhao Changhe was actually educated and well-mannered. There seemed to be something intriguing about him, and she was starting to doubt her judgment on the "fake prince." So every sentence she spoke was an attempt to get Zhao Changhe to admit that he was the real prince and to produce the token of his identity.

As Zhao Changhe thought about this, he suddenly shook his head and laughed.

Cui Wenjing watched him quietly, saying nothing.

Finally, Zhao Changhe sighed, "So I said, understanding requires mutual effort. In this matter, no one has ever thought about what Zhao Changhe thinks... Perhaps only Yuanyang has thought about it from my perspective..."

Cui Wenjing said calmly, "You might as well explain it clearly."

"I just did what I should do by sending Yuanyang back. From the beginning until now, I have never had any romantic feelings towards her, nor have I ever coveted the power of the Cui family," Zhao Changhe said in a low voice. "I have a lover... Although I don't know if she still remembers me, I must live up to her waiting before she said we were strangers. Yuanyang is cute, and the Cui family is noble. Perhaps they can give me a lot of help, and I can rise to the top from now on... But Zhao Changhe has never had this intention."

Cui Wenjing narrowed her eyes.

In the distance, on the corridor, Cui Yuanyang leaned against the pillar, looking up at the white clouds in the sky and sighing softly.