"You're truly not going to tell me?"
"Get out of the way, I have things to do!" Xiao Man pushed Nangong Yu, but he didn't budge.
"Tell me, and I'll let you go."
Xiao Man smiled sweetly at Nangong Yu. "I won't tell you!"
Xiao Man wriggled out of Nangong Yu's embrace and walked away. Nangong Yu followed like a wronged little bride. "Man'er, you love me, don't you?"
Xiao Man completely ignored Nangong Yu trailing behind her, quickened her pace, and quickly hid in the crowd, disappearing from sight.
Nangong Yu stood at the alley entrance, a confident smile curving his lips. "I know, you love me."
"My lord."
"Take care of the tails following us," Nangong Yu said gently. "We can't let her identity be exposed."
"Yes, my lord."
The hidden guards quickly dealt with the trailing tails. Si Chen appeared silently behind Nangong Yu. "My lord, the Luo family has arrived."
"Return to the manor."
At Prince Qin's manor, Old Master Luo patted Luo Bingqing's back with great concern. Luo Bingqing sobbed heartbrokenly, burying her face in her father's embrace.
She had thought that after their intimacy, Nangong Yu would have to marry her. Who knew that not only would Nangong Yu refuse to marry her, but he would also drive her out of Prince Qin's manor.
"Father, there might be a hidden reason for this matter..."
Old Master Luo didn't rush to speak. He patted Luo Bingqing's back absently, as if considering how to handle the situation.
Si Ye came to invite them. "Old Master Luo, Young Master Luo, my prince requests your presence."
"Father, you must stand up for your daughter." Upon hearing that Nangong Yu wanted to meet her father and brother, Luo Bingqing immediately lifted her head. Her eyes were red and swollen, and she said mournfully, "Your daughter is already this man's person. If he refuses to marry me, then your daughter... will only have to die to atone!"
Old Master Luo's brows furrowed even tighter. He never liked to make hasty judgments, but seeing his beloved daughter so wronged, he felt a surge of resentment.
"Father will be back shortly. Wait here with peace of mind."
The father and son left Luo Bingqing's room and followed Si Ye to meet Nangong Yu. Luo Binghe might not know Nangong Yu well, but he knew his sister intimately. Nangong Yu had someone else in his heart and would not dote on his sister. He suspected his sister had resorted to some underhanded means!
However, hearts tend to be biased. Even though Luo Binghe knew his sister was in the wrong, his sister was ultimately the one who suffered losses. Since the Prince of Qin had taken her body, he should be responsible.
Si Ye led them to the study and waited outside. Nangong Yu sat at his desk, reviewing official documents. The two men stepped forward and bowed.
"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Qin."
"Rise," Nangong Yu said without looking up. "I have summoned you here regarding Luo Bingqing's matter. I wish to hear your opinions."
"Your Highness Prince Qin, Qing'er is young and ignorant. We beg for Your Highness's understanding," Old Master Luo, a truly astute man, apologized as soon as he spoke. As the saying goes, one doesn't hit a smiling face. He admitted his daughter's fault, but wasn't the Prince of Qin also at fault?
Nangong Yu looked up at Old Master Luo, his expression indifferent. "Young? She's eighteen, still young?"
Old Master Luo faltered. "My daughter is innocent and pure, unaware of worldly affairs..."
"Innocent and pure?" Nangong Yu sneered. "If she were truly innocent and pure, why would she resort to such base tricks as the Fire Charm Poison?"
The Luo father and son exchanged glances. They had initially believed their daughter was the wronged party, but from the Prince of Qin's words, it seemed their daughter deserved her fate.
"Qing'er has always been kind and pure. She must have been manipulated."
"She was indeed manipulated," Nangong Yu interjected. "But she was willingly manipulated."
"What does Your Highness Prince Qin mean by that?" Old Master Luo began to feel something was amiss. He was a man, and he understood men quite well. His daughter had beauty and a good figure. Such a stunning young woman offered willingly, any man would be overjoyed.
"Old Master, you should go and ask your precious daughter if her brain was caught in the door, daring to cooperate with the Crown Prince!"
Old Master Luo's eyelids twitched. Luo Binghe, standing beside him, was even more terrified. Was Luo Bingqing really that reckless, daring to cooperate with the Crown Prince?
However, after a moment's thought, they understood. While cooperating with the Crown Prince was not honorable, it had led to a result. The Crown Prince wanted the Prince of Qin to marry a woman without any backing. His daughter, from the martial world, had no power or influence and could not provide any help to the Prince of Qin. One wanted her married, the other was willing to marry, so they conspired and plotted against the Prince of Qin.
"Please forgive Your Highness Prince Qin. My daughter is ignorant of worldly affairs and surely did not know of the Crown Prince's ill intentions. She thought the Crown Prince was a good person and was deceived by him!"
Nangong Yu sneered at this. Old Master Luo did not mention Luo Bingqing's fault at all, seemingly determined to make him marry Luo Bingqing.
"The past is the past. I don't wish to dwell on it," Nangong Yu said, continuing to review his memorial. "Old Master, please tell me, how do you wish to handle this matter?"
Old Master Luo pondered for a moment. Qing'er could not provide any help to the Prince of Qin, and her status was low. The position of Princess Consort was surely impossible. Moreover, the Prince of Qin's favored candidate for Princess Consort was the eldest daughter of the General's manor, Xiao Man. If they insisted on the position of Princess Consort, they might enrage the Prince of Qin.
After realizing the key issue, Old Master Luo slowly said, "Since things have come to this, I will shamelessly request Your Highness to allow Qing'er to stay by your side and serve you."
Upon hearing this, Nangong Yu's lips curved into a mocking smile. He leaned back in his chair, looking at Old Master Luo with amusement.
"Stay by my side and serve?"
Old Master Luo bowed even lower. "Yes, please allow Your Highness to keep Qing'er by your side to serve?"
"Stay by my side, to serve my guards?"
As these words were spoken, the Luo father and son looked up sharply at Nangong Yu, only to find his expression had turned cold, returning to his usual ruthless and merciless demeanor!
"Your Highness, Qing'er is already yours. How can you treat her like this?"
Nangong Yu's expression was grim. "Is that so? I have been back in the capital for less than ten days. Are you sure she is mine?"
These words struck them like a bolt of thunder, leaving them both bewildered. The Prince of Qin had been back for less than ten days, but Luo Bingqing's affair with the Prince of Qin had occurred ten days ago!
Old Master Luo instantly understood the reason. While the Prince of Qin was away from the capital, the person staying in the manor was Nangong Yu's double and also his personal guard. This meant that his daughter, after all her calculations, had ultimately lost her virtue to a guard!