After the question was out, Princess Ningde regretted it.
A dog's mouth can't spit out ivory. Just now, he had belittled Li De, let alone her.
Xie Jin, for once, remained silent, but he looked at Princess Ningde and then at Yun Shu.
Such a glance was equivalent to providing the answer.
Princess Ningde could only sneer.
Anyone else would have been angered.
But Princess Ningde had already calmed down rapidly. Any great shock had now vanished into thin air.
A woman's appearance was merely a skin that would fade with time.
Even as she thought this, her emotions wavered once more when she looked at Yun Shu.
"That's right," Xie Jin said to Li De. "I have already ordered someone to go to the palace to see the Emperor. It's late today, so we will stay at the inn tonight. After seeing the Emperor tomorrow, we will reside at General Li's residence for a period of time. As guests, I believe General Li will surely guarantee the safety of us envoys from Dongning Kingdom."
Although he had verbally insulted Li De earlier, making things appear unpleasant, he didn't care. If a person didn't have a thick skin, how could they accomplish anything?
Li De's expression grew even more somber, evidently angered. He let out a scoffing laugh, "Very well. You have traveled from Dongning Kingdom, and this general will surely guarantee your safety."
He wanted to see what tricks they could play!
However...
"King Ye didn't come?" he asked knowingly.
King Ye had become Prince Jin, how could he come?
After asking Xie Jin this question, he looked at Yun Shu.
Yun Shu's expression was impassive, showing no signs of abnormality. Her tone was as usual, "King Ye will arrive in a while. He had some matters to attend to along the way."
"Rest assured, King Ye will arrive before the Emperor of Xixia Kingdom's birthday," Xie Jin promised Li De.
There was still a month before the Emperor of Xixia Kingdom's birthday. Within this month, they could surely resolve these messy affairs.
Moreover, he didn't believe that Zhan Tian Ye was that fragile and that his memory would remain gone forever!
Having known Zhan Tian Ye for so long, he understood him far too well.
However, the Emperor of Xixia Kingdom was too despicable. He had so many sons, though each was more foolish than the last, yet he had to resort to stealing someone from Dongning Kingdom?
Li De and Princess Ningde looked at Xie Jin almost simultaneously.
Xie Jin grinned, his teeth bared. He stared at Princess Ningde's face and said, "It's getting late. I must escort the Princess Consort to the inn to rest. If Princess Ningde is interested in me, feel free to say so directly. I will certainly come and spend more time with Princess Ningde to foster our relationship."
Princess Ningde was enraged. "You are overthinking it."
This man's mouth was too foul!
"That's good then. After all, there are countless people who like me. Being stared at by a crowd of women every day is truly unbearable for me," Xie Jin said, completely unconcerned by Princess Ningde's icy glare.
It didn't matter to him if he thoroughly disgusted her.
Then, turning to look at Yun Shu, he winked at her, as if asking if his performance today was good.
Either he didn't show up, or when he did, he could subdue so many people.
Yun Shu was not stingy. She nodded at Xie Jin, acknowledging that he had indeed done a good job today.
At the very least, he had disgusted those who deserved to be disgusted.
He had broken this deadlock.
Furthermore, he had arrived precisely at lunchtime today, and together with her, they had flawlessly executed this play.
The situation had been completely reversed.
He certainly deserved praise.
Xie Jin was overjoyed. Since the Princess Consort had praised him, he could use this to claim credit from Zhan Tian Ye in the future, which would surely yield twice the result with half the effort!
Who was the most cunning person in this world?
It was he, Xie Jin!
Without needing to open merchant shops all over the land, he could make himself rich beyond measure!
Everyone could only watch helplessly as Yun Shu walked away before their eyes.
And then disappeared safely from their sight.
Yun Shu, as the Princess Consort of King Ye, truly could not be touched in Xixia Kingdom! Li De emanated a terrifying aura, yet they were still going to reside in his mansion. This was clearly asking him to protect their safety, as if they had meticulously planned everything and were reaping all the benefits!
"General, with her identity as the Princess Consort of King Ye, it is effortless for her to enter and exit the palace. It will be difficult to do some things next," Princess Ningde said, maintaining her composure. She looked at Li De with a blank expression and reminded him softly.
Yun Shu was a stumbling block for them.
Yet, she had missed the opportunity to remove this stumbling block!
If, during the days when Yun Shu still resided in the Prince's mansion, she had discovered Yun Shu's true identity, she would absolutely not have given her a chance to continue living!
This time, she had miscalculated!
Li De's gaze was cold and deep. He said coldly, "Indeed, it will be difficult to proceed with things."
They would need to constantly monitor every move of His Highness Prince Jin.
Although Yun Shu and the others residing in his mansion displeased him, it allowed him to know their every move.
As the matter was not accomplished, Li De could only lead his men away.
Pingyang Prince's mansion returned to its former tranquility.
Zhen Lin and Princess Ningde, brother and sister, looked at each other without a word, remaining silent for a long time.
What had just happened was like a dream to the siblings.
After an unknown period, Zhen Lin looked at Ningde and asked in a deep voice, "Ningde, His Highness Prince Jin is indeed the King Ye of Dongning Kingdom, right? Is the Princess Consort of King Ye's visit to Xixia Kingdom to find King Ye?"
Why had King Ye become Prince Jin of their Xixia Kingdom?
The Emperor, General Li, and Ningde were all entangled in this.
Princess Ningde was not surprised that her brother could guess these things. After all, what had just happened had presented many clues before his eyes. With so many clues before him, how could her brother not guess?
However...
"Do not speak of these things again, brother. His Highness Prince Jin is simply Prince Jin, he has nothing to do with King Ye," Princess Ningde replied in a deep voice.
And even less to do with Yun Shu.
Zhen Lin's expression became unusually calm. He gave a self-deprecating smile, "As expected."
They had stolen Yun Shu's husband, and yet they still wanted to kill Yun Shu here. In the end, they were unaware of their mistake and instead believed Yun Shu deserved to die.
It was they who were wrong.
"Brother, do not think what we did was wrong just because you like Yun Shu. Everything we have done is for Xixia Kingdom. Personal affections are always insignificant when it comes to matters of state," Princess Ningde advised Zhen Lin.
Zhen Lin said nothing at this, merely smiling self-mockingly.
Then, he walked out with heavy steps.
Watching Zhen Lin leave, Princess Ningde felt all her support crumble.
However, she still sat down.
Her eyes were filled with daze and anger.
"Why did you have to come?"
From this day forward, she would no longer give Yun Shu any opportunities. Since she liked being Princess Consort of King Ye so much, then let her remain Princess Consort of King Ye forever. The position of Prince Jin's consort could only belong to her, Princess Ningde.