Hong Ning’s suspicions deepened, but her expression remained pleasant.
With a smile, she said, “No wonder you seemed unfamiliar. But I must say, Young Master Zhong, you don’t look well. Are you not accustomed to your lodgings?”
Guilty conscience written all over his face, Zhong Wen Cai fumbled through a vague response.
Men understood the weaknesses of other men far too well.
Yang Zhen had already guessed most of the truth just by looking at him.
He let out a cold sneer, about to speak—
But at that moment, a familiar voice called out from behind them.
“Your Highness.”
Lady Wang, supported by a maid, had hurried after them.
Yang Zhen’s expression darkened instantly.
“Did I not tell you to rest properly? Wandering about like this—what kind of conduct is that?”
Not understanding why he was angry, Lady Wang lowered her gaze and murmured, “Your Highness forgot your cloak earlier. I thought, with the weather turning cold and you possibly heading out, you might need it…”
With that, she gestured for her maid to present the cloak.
Yang Zhen stilled for a moment, his expression easing slightly.
“No need. Go back and rest.”
Lady Wang obediently bowed and left with her maid, returning to the rear courtyard.
Hong Ning had been watching Zhong Wen Cai closely.
From the moment Lady Wang appeared, he had been staring blankly, as if entranced.
Now, he looked utterly dazed—as if his very soul had left him.
Her suspicions were confirmed.
Her first instinct was to use Bi Qin’s inner core to break the enchantment on him.
But in the next moment, she hesitated—and changed her mind.
She called out, “Young Master Zhong?”
Zhong Wen Cai snapped back to reality.
“That… that was…”
His voice wavered.
Yang Zhen’s face had already darkened beyond repair, about to explode in fury.
But before he could, Hong Ning swiftly intervened.
“Your Highness has urgent matters to attend to. Let’s not waste time.”
Then, turning to Zhong Wen Cai, she smiled gently.
“Young Master Zhong, you must be busy as well. Please, don’t let us keep you.”
Still looking confused, Zhong Wen Cai stammered a few words and hurriedly took his leave.
Yang Zhen narrowed his eyes at her.
“You seem to enjoy making decisions for me.”
Hong Ning met his gaze without flinching.
“Without evidence, what does Your Highness intend to do? With your status, even if you falsely accused someone, who would dare to object? Taking out your anger on a woman is nothing unusual either.”
Yang Zhen’s expression remained unreadable.
“So clever—yet you never seem to know how to say things that please people.”
Hong Ning laughed lightly.
“This humble woman was simply born unlikeable.”
Yang Zhen snorted, flicked his sleeve, and turned to leave.
Hong Ning immediately called out, “Your Highness, wait.”
Yang Zhen ignored her.
She stepped forward and grabbed his sleeve.
“Your Highness, please—this is truly important.”
Yang Zhen glanced at her hand, his patience thinning.
“You keep calling yourself a humble woman, yet you dare to restrain me? You are becoming increasingly insolent.”
He was holding back, out of consideration for his status.
And she knew better than to push her luck.
Hong Ning released him, but for once, she offered a polite smile.
“I was merely worried Your Highness would be too focused on his anger and forget what truly matters.”
As his anger gradually subsided, a flicker of amusement appeared in Yang Zhen’s sharp gaze.
“What do you plan to do?” he asked.
Without hesitation, Hong Ning replied, “Find out the truth about that fox demon, then find a way to deal with her.”
Yang Zhen nodded. “And how do you plan to do that?”
“Young Master Zhong has clearly fallen under her enchantment. We can use that to our advantage,” Hong Ning said, retrieving two talismans from her sleeve.
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