Dai Youheng paused briefly, just the right measure of surprise and hesitation appearing on his face. "Your Highness, this-surely it would be improper. If I moved into the Princess's Mansion, it would damage your reputation. We're in the eye of the storm right now, with who knows how many eyes watching. I can't-"
"Idiot!" Xu Jiujiu interrupted before he could finish, sounding a little angry. Her cheeks flushed a deeper red with emotion.
"At this point, do you really think I still care about some empty, intangible reputation for virtue?" She stepped closer, her burning gaze fixed on him as though she meant to see into his heart. "Do you know what kind of situation you're in? Shrek is watching you like a tiger eyeing its prey, and the Zhu Family's remaining forces may not have given up. Who knows how many people in the city want to seize this chance to get at you, whether to win you over or destroy you! Staying outside on your own would only give them an opening!"
Her voice was urgent and sincere, filled with unmistakable concern. "Only my Princess's Mansion, with its layers of imperial guards and Venerable Ice Sky and Venerable Nebula standing watch, can offer you the greatest safety!"
Dai Youheng looked at the genuine anxiety in her eyes and fell silent for a moment, seemingly weighing his options. Yet Xu Jiujiu's next words were even more direct, all but tearing away every pretense of restraint.
"Besides," she lowered her voice, but her words rang even clearer, "as long as you can prove your innocence completely at the imperial hearing three days from now and wash away the stain of being called an Evil Soul Master, with your current talent-a sixteen-year-old Soul Emperor, a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, an