Chapter 62: The Cuckoo Impointing in the Magpie's Nest

Xiao Ze did not notice Dou Hongyan's subtle distraction.

Instead, he asked, "How did you come to know all this?"

"It's nothing."

Perhaps having drunk a few cups of wine, Dou Hongyan felt heavy-hearted, lacking even the energy to play along with him.

Cutting the topic short with a cold and rigid tone, her voice sank as she gave Xiao Ze a solemn warning: "You place far too much trust in Gu Zhaozhao, resting your own reputation entirely upon another person—"

"Hah."

Her voice was interrupted by a capricious chuckle.

Dou Hongyan snapped her mouth shut, her expression growing even gloomier. She pulled herself away from Xiao Ze's embrace and glared at him with a furrowed brow as a playful look suddenly crossed his face.

With the soft, warm body slipping away from his arms, Xiao Ze felt a sudden emptiness against him.

His noble fingertips casually brushed away a wrinkle on his lapel. Raising his eyes, he arched a brow and asked leisurely, "Are you jealous?"

His tone was laden with intense mockery and amusement.

She was discussing serious matters.

Yet the person opposite her paid it no mind whatsoever, twisting the conversation in this direction—simply unreasonable, entirely devoid of sincerity.

He was even worse than that child Shen Yuxing!

Dou Hongyan lost whatever mood she had left.

She turned her head away with a desultory air, her voice stiff: "His Highness is right. My tolerance for alcohol is poor and my mind is muddled, causing me to blurt out jealous words."

With that, she rose and lifted the carriage curtain: "I'm going out to catch some breeze and clear my head."

The stifling atmosphere inside the carriage made it impossible for one's heart to feel at ease. Dou Hongyan felt an inexplicable irritation, a nameless urge to leave this place that stirred such unpleasantness within her.

So she decided to act on the thought, rising simply to leave.

Yet someone refused to let her have her way.

A hand forcefully pulled Dou Hongyan back. Xiao Ze's brows were tightly furrowed, his expression deeply displeased: "What kind of tantrum are you throwing? You invited me over just to let me watch you and Shen Yishuo entertain guests?"

He let out a cold laugh, his voice sinking: "Where are you going? Are you running back to see Shen Yishuo and leaving me stranded here?"

The more Xiao Ze spoke, the more dangerous his tone became.

As a dignified crown prince, left behind and abandoned, he radiated a gloomy and displeased aura from head to toe.

Irritated, Dou Hongyan tried to yank her sleeve back. With her red lips pressed into a straight line, she looked back to confront him: "I said I was going down to catch some breeze. Didn't Your Highness also say my alcohol tolerance is too poor, making me unsuited to stay here?"

"Get back here!"

Provoked by Dou Hongyan's distant tone, the corners of his eyes flushed red. He called out to her, demanding with a darkened face, "Explain yourself clearly."

"I have already said quite clearly."

Inside the carriage, Dou Hongyan found herself locked in a messy tug-of-war with Xiao Ze.

The carriage curtains were parted several times, yet the people inside failed to show themselves for a long time.

Until an abrupt, flat voice without emotional fluctuation shattered the peace within the carriage: "Your Highness, the shadow guards have captured a suspicious individual near the restaurant. Should he be taken away?"

Outside the restaurant, the shadow guards brought by Xiao Ze had already tightened their guard.

Their purpose was to prevent anyone from posing a threat to Xiao Ze.

Yet the person before them evidently lacked the capability to pose any threat to Xiao Ze, prompting the guard to add, "It seems they are targeting the Marquis's Manor."

"Oh?"

Xiao Ze sat up properly.

He casually pulled Dou Hongyan back, pressed her down beside him, and asked in a low voice through the carriage curtain, "What is his background? Who gave him his orders?"

Outside, there was a moment of silence.

Followed by a muffled groan of pain, instantly succeeded by terrified pleas for mercy: "Don't hit me, don't hit me! I'll talk, I'll talk... I'll say everything!"

Realizing he had unwittingly provoked a formidable figure, the man dropped to his knees on the spot, trembling as he babbled, "This humble one... this humble one is called Wang Qi, living in the north of the city..."

"Who is asking you about that?!"

Another kick from the guard sent Wang Qi rushing to correct himself: "Yes, yes, yes, I'll talk, I'll talk!"

Only then did he grit his teeth, harden his heart, and closing his eyes, blurt it all out: "This humble one doesn't even know who the target is supposed to be. It's... someone paid me to come here, saying there was a banquet being held in the restaurant, and told me to wait outside."