This matter was indeed strange.
So many people were searching for one person, and none of them found anything. It felt odd no matter how one thought about it.
Upon hearing this, Jing Heng's expression also darkened. He snorted again, "If it's confirmed that he betrayed my master, I will kill him with my own hands!"
Ruan Xi shook his head, "Based on my understanding of Prince Ye, he is not someone who goes back on his word. If he decided to marry Yun Shu, he would never marry anyone else in this lifetime. Moreover, anyone with eyes can see how much he likes Yun Shu."
Jing Heng fell silent.
Ruan Xi narrowed his eyes and guessed in a low voice, "The more complicated things are, the more we need to investigate thoroughly."
"After you rendezvous with General Yun, will you be going to Western Xia?" Ruan Xi asked.
Jing Heng nodded, "Perhaps Prince Ye will go to Western Xia."
"Then I'll come to Western Xia to meet you after I've sorted things out here," Ruan Xi made a decision after a brief thought.
After all, with so many people in the Ruan family, he didn't need to make decisions for many things.
However, Yun Shu's situation was tricky, and perhaps he could help in Western Xia. Furthermore, he had some matters to attend to there.
Jing Heng's expression softened. "Alright."
Ruan Xi became serious and stopped wasting words, turning his gaze to Yun Shu and Gu Zhiruo.
In the darkness, the two of them were already a little tipsy.
Unconsciously, his gaze fell upon Gu Zhiruo.
He had never seen Gu Zhiruo in such a state before.
Her peerlessly beautiful face carried a hint of intoxication, adding a touch of charming allure. She was stunningly beautiful, captivating his attention, and he found himself staring in a daze.
"Don't harbor any more fantasies about my master. Even if Prince Ye and my master don't end up together, it will never be with you," Jing Heng warned in a cold tone, surprised that Ruan Xi still hadn't given up on his infatuation.
Ruan Xi snapped back to reality, realizing he had been lost in thought. Feeling a bit guilty, he immediately told himself it must be because he had been living too abstemiously lately and hadn't had proper fun with any women, which was why he was staring at Gu Zhiruo with such a captivated gaze.
Fortunately, Jing Heng hadn't noticed. If Jing Heng misunderstood, so be it.
"Can't I even look? I know it's impossible with Yun Shu, you don't need to tell me," Ruan Xi retorted speechlessly.
He had to admit, when he had nothing to do in the past, he would think of Yun Shu. He felt that no woman in this life could make him so convinced and even yearn for her so deeply.
But now...
Ruan Xi glanced at Gu Zhiruo, blinked, and thought, no one in this lifetime would ever make his heart flutter again!
"I'm not talking to you anymore. I'm going to find a couple of beauties to entertain myself! If you won't drink with me, someone else will!" Ruan Xi turned around潇洒ly, preparing to go and enjoy himself.
Jing Heng remained expressionless. "Be careful not to catch anything."
"You'll catch something, your whole family will catch something!" Ruan Xi stopped abruptly, almost stumbling. The desire for pleasure he had just felt was ruined by Jing Heng.
Jing Heng didn't care. He didn't act recklessly and had no family. Ruan Xi's words were in vain.
After speaking, Ruan Xi only then realized. He gritted his teeth in anger.
He stormed off.
Halfway there, he was stopped. To his surprise, it was Wu Xuewei. He hadn't managed to hide the anger on his face and said in a deep voice, "Something wrong?"
Wu Xuewei was feeling dejected, which was why she came out for a stroll.
And she wanted to see Yun Shu.
But when she heard from a servant that Yun Shu had come to the Ruan mansion and had been with Gu Zhiruo all along, her mood plummeted. Unexpectedly, she ran into Ruan Xi.
However, Ruan Xi didn't seem to want to see her. She pursed her lips, feeling a little wronged. "Cousin, is there some misunderstanding between us? Shouldn't we talk things through properly?"
"Misunderstanding?" Ruan Xi was puzzled. When had they ever had a misunderstanding?
"It wasn't that I wanted to leave the Ruan mansion back then. It was... it was Madam who didn't want me to stay any longer. Cousin, I admit I knew I wasn't worthy of you back then, which is why I left. Over the years, I've heard about the things you've done outside and I know you were hurt by me. It wasn't my intention, Cousin, please believe me." Wu Xuewei's beautiful eyes were wet with tears, which rolled down like pearls.
She looked truly pitiful and deserving of sympathy.
But these words startled Ruan Xi.
His peach blossom eyes widened. "When was I ever hurt by you?"
He had always known Wu Xuewei liked to self-indulge in her own thoughts and was overly sentimental. He had been too lazy to deal with her before, and when they met, they would just have a few casual words. Now, she was claiming he was heartbroken because of her?
A few tears had just escaped Wu Xuewei's eyes and dripped onto her face. Her delicate and pretty little face instantly stiffened. "Cousin, you..."
"It's late at night, and it's easy to overthink. Go back to sleep properly. Speaking of which, you must be twenty this year, right? You should be married. Should I help you find a husband?" Ruan Xi asked with a serious expression.
Seeing her behavior today, coupled with the rumors he had long heard within the mansion, he had thought she was intelligent. Others might not know the truth of the rumors, but as the person involved, she didn't know either?
Dealing with a woman who overthought things was something he handled with ease.
This way, it was straightforward and saved trouble.
Wu Xuewei's body trembled, and her feet almost gave way. She looked at Ruan Xi in disbelief. "Cousin, your actions over the years have been absurd. Is it really not because of me?"
When she first came to the Ruan mansion, she was amazed by its prosperity. Coupled with seeing the incredibly handsome Ruan Xi, she knew she wanted to marry Ruan Xi in this lifetime. During that time at the Ruan mansion, she and Ruan Xi often met, and he had always been very kind to her, often showing concern.
Later, his first wife found out about her feelings and made her leave the Ruan mansion.
In the years since, she had wanted to see Ruan Xi again, but he hadn't returned to the Ruan mansion much.
During this time, she had considered marrying someone else. Her parents had arranged discreetly, but she was not satisfied with any of them.
Now, after hearing Ruan Xi's words, she felt as if she had been struck by lightning.
"You're overthinking it. In my eyes, you're just my distant cousin," Ruan Xi said with a handsome and dashing smile, but his words were like knives.
Wu Xuewei's delicate face immediately turned pale, as if she had suffered immense humiliation. "You clearly showed me warmth and concern back then, and even appeared before me often..."
"Coincidence, and polite words," Ruan Xi said pinpointedly.
"Yun Shu, see if I was right. They're having a tryst here."
At this moment, Gu Zhiruo's voice suddenly came from behind them. Her voice carried a hint of intoxication.
Although Gu Zhiruo was drunk, her voice was not loud.
Ruan Xi's excellent hearing made him hear her clearly, but Wu Xuewei, lacking martial arts and internal energy, did not hear Gu Zhiruo's words clearly. She only realized that someone had arrived behind them.
She had always been proud, and she was already in a rather awkward situation. So, she wiped away her tears before turning around to look.
Two women were walking towards them.
Gu Zhiruo, due to the alcohol, exuded a charming allure that was different from usual.
As for Yun Shu, who was beside Gu Zhiruo, Wu Xuewei's eyes widened. She had never seen such a breathtakingly beautiful woman!