CHAPTER 390: CHAPTER 363: BREAKING HER PROUD SPIRIT

Due to Yu Xiaolian’s resistance, the lobby of the inn immediately descended into chaos.

Zhang Keqiu waved for more people to step forward to capture Yu Xiaolian. "She’s guilty; she must be a member of the Witch Clan. If you all get her, it would be a significant achievement for us."

This time, except for Min Yunki, all the government officers rushed forward. With so many people, Yu Xiaolian couldn’t decide whom to kick. So, she simply dragged Su Jingchen to the inn’s backyard while shouting, "The Crown Prince is immoral, condoning his subordinates’ senseless killings!"

Zhang Keqiu saw Yu Xiaolian dare to ruin the Crown Prince’s reputation so boldly; he was even more furious and hurriedly led his men to chase Yu Xiaolian.

"You’re injured; don’t fight them; go into the space!" When they reached the inn’s backyard, Yu Xiaolian, without saying a word, put Su Jingchen into the space. Then, the inn’s backdoor guards and Zhang Keqiu and others chasing Yu Xiaolian arrived, immediately surrounding her.

"Where is he? Where is your husband?" Zhang Keqiu was angry. He brought so many people to catch two young ones, and one still got away.

Yu Xiaolian pointed at the inn’s courtyard wall. "I told him to climb over the wall and run. We can’t both fall into your hands; someone has to get out to send a message."

"Send a message? To whom?" Zhang Keqiu was shocked. Could she really be a member of the Witch Clan?

Yu Xiaolian crossed her arms, calmly spouting nonsense. "Of course, to Prince Yu."

"Pr... Prince Yu?" Zhang Keqiu stammered. "Do you know Prince Yu?"

In an innocent manner, Yu Xiaolian replied, "Whether I know him or not, you’ll find out when Prince Yu arrives!"

Earlier at the restaurant, she heard a merchant named Zhao say that because Jingchu City was in turmoil due to the Crown Prince, Prince Yu couldn’t sit still and also came to Jingchu City.

Whether she knew Prince Yu or not didn’t matter. Right now, her priority was to fool this mustache.

Zhang Keqiu’s face turned pale. At that moment, he truly realized that Yu Xiaolian might not be just a simple female scholar.

What kind of female scholar would know so many princes?

Prince Yu was different from Prince Jin. Although Prince Jin was a prince, he was the emperor’s despised son.

Prince Yu was not. Since Miaojiang was Prince Yu’s fief, the Crown Prince’s extensive capture of Witch Clan girls there was somewhat supported by Prince Yu.

It could be said that the Crown Prince and Prince Yu were currently the emperor’s most favored princes. Moreover, a few days ago, Prince Yu sent another beneficial escort girl to the emperor. Prince Yu’s favor was now on par with the Crown Prince.

Moreover, Prince Yu was now intent on having the Crown Prince leave his fief to enjoy the credit of providing longevity supplies to the emperor himself.

However, the Crown Prince had just gained a clue about the Longevity Gu, and he wanted to make a name for himself in the Miaojiang area, so he refused to leave.

Therefore, recently, the Crown Prince and Prince Yu, these "good brothers," have been at odds. The Crown Prince also instructed his men to avoid conflicts with Prince Yu’s people while searching for members of the Witch Clan. Although he is the Crown Prince and the heir to the nation, the Miaojiang area is after all Prince Yu’s turf, and the Crown Prince shouldn’t go overboard.

Zhang Keqiu was afraid that Yu Xiaolian would actually call Prince Yu. If Prince Yu came, the Crown Prince would surely scold him for his incompetence. Zhang Keqiu’s mind was racing before he obsequiously smiled at Yu Xiaolian. "Yu, Yu Scholar, this matter isn’t worth alerting the prince. You’ve just arrived in Jingchu City this morning, and the hubbub about the Gu Worms in the city’s wells has been going on for days. Naturally, it has nothing to do with you. Why don’t you call your husband back? Let’s not trouble Prince Yu with such a minor issue."

Yu Xiaolian raised an eyebrow, feeling relieved inside but showing nothing on the surface.

"My husband is an old acquaintance of Prince Yu. It’s no trouble at all. I think Prince Yu will be pleased to see him. We were anxious to return to Luocheng and didn’t want to disturb Prince Yu, but events caught us here. If I don’t speak up, you’ll bully me."

Zhang Keqiu lamented with a mournful face, "Yu Scholar, Yu Xueguan, you’re broad-minded; I was blind and didn’t recognize Mount Tai. Please don’t hold it against me. Let me take you to Prince Yu’s villa, or rather, let me escort you there. Just, please, don’t..."

Yu Xiaolian interrupted Zhang Keqiu’s mustache, "Oh my, weren’t you so arrogant just now? Didn’t you doubt I was from the Witch Clan? How come you suddenly no longer suspect me?"

It seemed that for Zhang Keqiu, Prince Jin’s face was not as useful as Prince Yu’s. After all, Prince Yu was the lord of Miaojiang.

Zhang Keqiu knew Yu Xiaolian was still angry, so he steeled himself and started slapping his face, speaking softly to Yu Xiaolian while doing so.

"Yu Scholar, it was my mistake; please calm down..."

Yu Xiaolian impatiently waved her hand. "Alright, alright, I’ll forgive you this time. But if it happens again, I’ll have Prince Yu skin you alive."

Seeing Yu Xiaolian relent, Zhang Keqiu thought to himself that this little girl was easy to talk to and had a soft heart.

"Shall I take you to Prince Yu then?" Zhang Keqiu asked obsequiously.

Yu Xiaolian impatiently waved her hand. "No need, I’ll wait for my husband to return here at the inn."

"Well then, when the scholar returns, you must put in a good word for me. What I did earlier was out of helplessness. The Witch Clan people are too rampant, and whenever I investigate, people panic. Only you remained calm, which is why I suspected you. It was all a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding!" Zhang Keqiu was deeply anxious.

He feared Prince Yu wouldn’t easily miss the chance to cause trouble for the Crown Prince. As for whether Yu Xiaolian truly knew Prince Yu, he didn’t doubt it at all because Yu Xiaolian not only knew Prince Jin but also Elder Gao. Thus, it wasn’t surprising she knew Prince Yu.

"Alright, when he returns, I’ll talk to him properly. I was in a hurry, and less trouble is better. You can leave now!" Yu Xiaolian, after speaking, calmly walked past Zhang Keqiu and returned to the room on the inn’s second floor.

After Yu Xiaolian left, Zhang Keqiu used his sleeve to wipe the cold sweat off his forehead and turned to Min Yunki. "Do you think she really knows Prince Yu or was just lying to me?"

Min Yunki said, "Boss Zhang, whether she knows Prince Yu or not, just the fact that she knows both Prince Jin and Elder Gao means you shouldn’t offend her. What’s to gain by offending her? Isn’t this the first time you’ve ever met her? No past grudges, no recent enmity.

Moreover, she’s the sworn sister of Deputy General Jiang from the Southern General Mansion. Why would you target her?"

Zhang Keqiu was regretful. The reason he targeted Yu Xiaolian at first was because he noticed Yu Xiaolian had an arrogance about her, which he couldn’t stand. He believed a woman should live with her head bowed, and a woman like Yu Xiaolian, who dared to stand tall, should be humbled.