To show his favor, Prince Ying Xiao Rongyan exerted all his strength on their wedding night.
He had finally managed to close his eyes for a brief rest when the door to the Tinglan Courtyard was knocked on so hard it nearly collapsed.
"Your Highness, Commander Fan is here and urgently requests to see you."
Xiao Rongyan's eyes snapped open, a sudden chill creeping up his spine.
Lying in bed, He Shuwan slowly opened her eyes. Her fingers gently stroked Xiao Rongyan's chest, her voice as enchanting as spring water and sweeter than honey.
"Your Highness~" Her voice was melodious, capturing his very soul.
Xiao Rongyan's chest trembled with a sudden thrill. He hurriedly pressed down on He Shuwan's delicate hand, his voice slightly breathless.
"Go to sleep first. I will come back to accompany you in a while."
If this continued, he would be completely drained.
This princess from the Shuobei Kingdom was even more clingy than Side Consort Li. Her irresistible tricks made it impossible to stop.
He Shuwan wrapped her arms around Xiao Rongyan's arm with a look of disappointment.
Pouting, she said, "Your Highness, you must come back. Today is our wedding night, and no one is allowed to take you away."
Xiao Rongyan swallowed hard, unable to resist touching He Shuwan's cheek.
"Don't worry, I will definitely return."
Had he known He Shuwan was this beautiful and alluring, he wouldn't have been so reluctant in the beginning.
But this was even better.
Having a beauty in his arms while also forming a connection with the Shuobei Kingdom was killing two birds with one stone. Ultimately, he was the one who benefited.
After Xiao Rongyan left the room, the expression on He Shuwan's face, who was sitting on the bed, gradually changed.
She got up, walked to the window, and opened it just a crack.
She saw a servant hurriedly leading Xiao Rongyan out of the courtyard, as if something serious had happened.
Her gaze swept over the servants standing at the courtyard gate, and He Shuwan couldn't help but narrow her eyes.
She had to find a way to dismiss these people, otherwise it would be inconvenient to carry out her plans.
In the front hall, Xiao Rongyan looked puzzled as he signaled all the servants to leave.
"What exactly has happened to warrant Commander Fan coming here so late in the night?"
Fan Guanshan spoke in a firm tone, "Prince Qi and the envoy of the Shuobei Kingdom were assassinated on their way back. Someone drugged their wine. The Emperor has ordered me to investigate, and I ask for Your Highness's cooperation."
Xiao Rongyan's eyes widened. Seeing Fan Guanshan staring at him with a suspicious gaze, he quickly reacted, holding out his hands to show his innocence.
"The drugging has absolutely nothing to do with me. Today is my wedding banquet."
Fan Guanshan replied, "No one is saying it has anything to do with Your Highness until the matter is fully investigated. Who was the maid serving wine to the Shuobei envoy today? Please summon her here."
Xiao Rongyan took a deep breath, all romantic thoughts completely vanishing from his mind, replaced by a chilling realization.
He called the butler over and said, "Who served the table of the Shuobei envoy today? Bring everyone who had contact with the wine here."
Involving the assassination of a prince and an envoy, this had to be thoroughly investigated. He absolutely could not take the blame for this.
Soon, the butler brought over two servants, one male and one female.
One was the servant responsible for pouring wine at the table, and the other was the maid who carried the wine from the kitchen to the table.
Fan Guanshan's sharp gaze swept over the two.
Compared to the male servant kneeling on the left, the maid looked much more terrified, her hands trembling beneath her sleeves.
"Men, take them away."
Seeing that Fan Guanshan was taking them away without asking a single question, both of them instantly panicked.
They opened their mouths to cry out their innocence, but the Imperial Guards who grabbed them clamped hands over their mouths. Their muffled cries were forced back down their throats, nearly choking them.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, He Shuwan opened her eyes, pretending to have been woken up.
Seeing Xiao Rongyan's grim expression, she asked with a coquettish tone of concern, "Your Highness looks so unwell, has something happened?"
Thinking of the excuse Fan Guanshan had just provided, Xiao Rongyan held He Shuwan's hand with a hint of worry.
"Wang Nie and Qi Xiong were assassinated by notorious bandits on their way back, and my eldest brother ran into it. Royal Father is furious and dispatched the Imperial Guards to search the city. Commander Fan came to warn us, lest the thieves hide inside the Prince Ying Manor."
He Shuwan paused for a moment, then covered her mouth in feigned surprise.
"What kind of bandit is so formidable that even Qi Xiong is no match for him?"
Xiao Rongyan didn't want He Shuwan to ask any more questions, so he pulled her into his arms and lay down.
"Wang Nie and Qi Xiong were too drunk; they didn't even wake up during the assassination. Fortunately, the guards from Prince Qi's Manor and the Capital Prefecture arrived in time. A few sedan bearers died, but everyone else is fine. Go to sleep, we still have to enter the palace tomorrow to pay our respects to my mother."
He Shuwan didn't believe Xiao Rongyan's explanation. She closed her eyes thoughtfully, pretending to sleep.
Bandits only steal; even if they were caught, they wouldn't easily commit murder, especially when facing multiple people.
Qi Xiong spent his years in the military camp, so his alcohol tolerance couldn't possibly be low. There was no way he should have gotten drunk at a wedding banquet.
There was definitely a problem here. She would have to send someone to ask around tomorrow.
