The spring outing began

Especially when that brother was Xiao Jinyi. Who would dare do anything wicked right under the cold, ruthless Prince Jing's nose?

The point of doing this was that rumors were impossible to control. They could neither be seen nor touched, yet they were no less deadly than blades and spears. It was best to avoid that suffering if possible!

Not only did Xiao Jinyi hear Shen Shixu's thoughts, but Xiao Lie and Bai Lixi, who were "eavesdropping" outside, heard them too.

Xiao Jinyi had never imagined anyone would be bold enough to scheme against a princess right under the imperial family's nose. No sooner had that thought arisen than he realized this was not the first time. Jiang Xingbang's scheme against Jiang Bin had been one instance, and Xiao Yuanqi being cuckolded had been another. Including this incident, their imperial family had been targeted three whole times in such a short span!

Xiao Jinyi wanted nothing more than to enter the palace and ask his father and Xiao Yuanqi what exactly had happened during the years he had been away from the Capital. People were trampling all over them again and again. This was truly intolerable!

Xiao Lie was furious as well. He snapped a branch off a potted plant by the door, producing a sharp crack.

Hearing the noise, Shen Shixu glanced outside. He saw nothing, but the shadows on the ground revealed that someone was out there—two people, in fact. The two shadows overlapped, looking rather intimate.

Xiao Jinyi saw the pair of shadows too and knew who they belonged to. Only then did he remember that he had been entertaining guests, only to abandon them the moment he heard Shen Shixu had arrived. He suddenly felt a little guilty!

"Do you have other guests?" Shen Shixu asked,