Time Travel: Brothel Maid

Chapter 264 Control

Xiao Guo'er draped the cloak over her shoulders, tied the collar of her robe in a knot in front of her body, and then spoke, "This servant has something to ask Your Highness: When did Your Highness realize that this servant was a woman? And why did you send people to follow and monitor this servant?"

Faced with Xiao Guo'er's gaze, which was filled with hidden anger and shimmering with tears, Zhao Yunrong couldn't help but be momentarily stunned.

He hadn't expected that Xiao Guo'er already knew about these things, but it was only a momentary shock. In a short while, he quickly composed himself and his complex emotions.

Zhao Yunrong showed no panic or attempt to deny his deception. On the contrary, his expression remained calm and composed as he readily admitted everything, "When you and I fell off the cliff, I noticed one day that the scar on your face had peeled off, revealing its mark. As for surveillance, I did send people to follow you, but only for your safety, not to monitor you."

Zhao Yunrong spoke these words so casually, as if everything was just an ordinary matter.

His indifference infuriated Xiaoguo'er, who cursed him in her heart: Shameless!

That man is despicable! She even saved him and took care of him at the bottom of the cliff! If she had known things would turn out like this, she should have let him burn to death with his fever that day! What an ungrateful and shameless bastard!

Xiao Guo'er's mind raced, and she swallowed the curses that were about to burst forth. Instead, she pleaded, "Since Your Highness remembers what happened at the bottom of the cliff that day, please forgive me and Tang Jingchen, considering that I once took care of Your Highness and rendered a service to you. Besides, I am not a servant of Your Highness's household; I am free!"

Xiao Guo'er changed her title of "servant" and spoke with sincerity, hoping that she could move Zhao Yunrong and make him let them go.

Unfortunately, this sincerity clearly did not move Zhao Yunrong.

"The marriage between Tang Jingchen and Gu Huatong is an imperial decree personally issued by the Empress Dowager. If he dares to elope, it will be considered disobeying the decree, and the consequences will be beyond what you or the Tang family can bear. I am not letting you go for your own good, and for the good of the Tang family."

Ha, what a perfectly plausible excuse. I hadn't noticed before, but now that I think about it carefully, the incident of Gu Huatong falling into the water was most likely orchestrated by this cunning and ruthless Eighth Prince!

After mentally cursing Zhao Yunrong's ancestors for eighteen generations, Xiao Guo'er fell silent.

No matter what she says, it seems that this Eighth Prince will not let her and Jing Chen go.

Instead of wasting words, it's better to rest and conserve energy, since there's another tough battle to fight later.

In the darkness, time seemed to stretch out, each second feeling incredibly long.

Amidst the soft patter of rain, only the silent breathing of the two people remained inside the carriage.

Zhao Yunrong never expected that things would be brought up so quickly. Fortunately, things only deviated slightly from the original trajectory and would not have a major impact. He could still control the situation.

Just like now, no matter how unwilling she was, she sat safely in front of him.

"When did you find out that I had discovered your identity?" Zhao Yunrong was also a little puzzled. He had no idea what little things she had done right under his nose, or how she had found out.

The casual tone startled Xiao Guo'er. She feigned anger, her words laced with sarcasm and dissatisfaction, "Your Highness showed no surprise at my sudden change of appearance, which shows you knew all along. Rest assured, Your Highness, I am simple-minded and do not possess such complex and deep schemes. I cannot hide so many things in my heart, nor can I, like Your Highness, devise plans and schemes to drive people to a dead end with no way to escape."

Towards the end, there was even a hint of gritted teeth.

Despite the disrespectful tone, Zhao Yunrong was not angry at all. After all, his behavior was not very honorable, and he had forcibly separated the two of them, which was bound to make people a little angry.

Zhao Yunrong softened her tone and tried to reason with Xiao Guo'er to reduce her resistance.

"Everyone has their own destiny. Tang Jingchen and Gu Huatong's marriage was a twist of fate, a destiny that brought them together. It is a blessing for him and the Tang family that he was able to marry the princess's daughter. You will find a better place to live if you leave him. If you remain stubborn, you will only suffer."

Fate? Bah! Xiao Guo'er was practically burning with rage. She wanted to point her finger at this hypocritical Eighth Prince and demand an explanation: wasn't that scene of the beauty falling into the water and being rescued meticulously planned and directed by him? And what about Wu Qingqing back in Huaiyang…

But she couldn't ask now, she couldn't let him know that she already knew about the despicable things he had done to her and Jingchen... she couldn't increase his vigilance and defensiveness... only when he truly lowered his guard and thought victory was in his grasp would she and Jingchen have a chance to find a glimmer of hope...