Shang Shuqing advanced step by step. "Sister-in-law, an elder sister-in-law is like a mother. Qing'er has always respected you deeply. Qing'er does not believe you would deceive me. Today, Qing'er only wants one truthful answer from you. Is Daoist Master safe and well in the Sacred Realm?"
Crash! Her back struck the long banquet table, and Feng Ruonan could retreat no farther. Since the other party could say such things, she clearly already knew something. And now that the matter had been pressed this far, how could Feng Ruonan keep lying?
But the truth was truly difficult for Feng Ruonan to speak aloud. Her face was filled with distress.
Seeing her reaction, Shang Shuqing was no fool—rather, she was very clever. She understood. Her voice trembling, she said, "Then... what Wang Xiao said was true!"
Wang Xiao? Guan Fangyi and Xu Laoliu exchanged a glance. She understood. When this County Princess had gone out earlier on the pretext of relieving herself, she must have taken the chance to find Wang Xiao.
Feng Ruonan did not know how to answer.
Shang Shuqing had not wanted to cry, nor did she wish to cry before so many people. She had been well brought up. Yet tears somehow began to flow slowly down her cheeks. In her mind stood that figure at Thatched Cottage Manor, tall and unwavering. She could not believe it. How could someone so capable of anything have died just like that?
The sight of her silently weeping, her eyes shimmering with tears, twisted Feng Ruonan's heart. She stepped forward, wanting to embrace her. "Qing'er!"
Shang Shuqing raised both hands and pushed her arms away, refusing to let her approach. "Sister-in-law, why did you deceive me?"
"Qing'er, this was not deception. It was for your own good!" Before such a