Chapter 5: Who is in the Shadows

"How is the prince treating you?" Leng Pucheng inquired with concern, his keen eyes flashing with a barely perceptible, unfathomable glimmer, not missing a trace of expression on his daughter's face.

Leng Pu was slightly taken aback, but quickly concealed it.

The heavy stone that had been pressing on Cheng Yaping's heart finally fell to the ground, yet he still maintained a calm demeanor, resembling a benevolent father as he continued to gently instruct his daughter

The deep and resonant voice makes it easy to discern a father's affection for his daughter. A teasing remark from Leng Pu caused Leng Ningjiao's face to slightly flush with a rosy hue, and a noticeable shyness glimmered in her eyes.

After so many years of preparation for this plan, how can one allow their hard work to go to waste? Anyone would feel a sense of reluctance.

As the legitimate daughter of the Left Chancellor and the princess of the Chun Wang Mansion, Leng Ningjiao naturally possesses a noble and graceful demeanor that is on par with any other woman. Each of her identities is a source of pride for her. In addition to her status, which is unmatched by other women, she also possesses a beauty that could make fish sink and birds fall, and a charm that could make the moon hide and flowers blush. Among the prominent families in the capital, she can be said to be the object of envy and jealousy for all women.

Leng Pu Cheng patiently listened to his daughter's response, his concerned gaze seemingly expressing a sense of regret for her. After a while, he casually asked, "I have rarely seen the prince in court lately; may I ask if the prince has been at home recently?"

The daughter will remember her father's words

After the Left Prime Minister Leng Pu Cheng witnessed his daughter elegantly take her seat, he placed the tea cup in his hand on the exquisite and noble rosewood table, his sharp eyes thoughtfully surveying his increasingly resplendent daughter before him

The man with a square face spoke up immediately. His deeply buried head was almost touching the ground, and a pair of dark panda eyes seemed afraid of frightening his noble master, so he had not dared to raise his head from the moment he entered.

Being defeated by a woman is not a shameful matter, but being beaten to the point of not daring to step out of the door by a woman is a virtue that makes it difficult for him to maintain his standing among his brothers in the future. If this were to be spoken of, it would likely lead to his being laughed at to death.

My lord, I too plead guilty for failing to complete the task entrusted to me by you. It is my incompetence, and I request your punishment.

Father, what is the matter that you have called your daughter back for?

You also know that the prince has a cold and indifferent temperament, making him difficult to approach. However, he is extremely good to his daughter, allowing her to manage all the affairs of the household. Although the prince advocates for equality and treats all the wives and concubines fairly, this very aspect makes it hard for anyone to find words to criticize him. Speaking of matters of the heart, a hint of helplessness flashed in Leng Ningjiao's autumn eyes, which resembled delicate water.

These are merely his conjectures, and the man in black, having been injured, is now calling for his daughter. He simply wants to verify whether his assumptions are correct in order to plan the next steps.

If it were not for the Prince of Purity, it would be better; at most, he would increase the number of personnel to enhance defenses. After all, in such places, anyone with a hint of greed would come to cause destruction

The Secret Chamber of the Pure King Mansion

The daughter of the family is unaware of her actions, and she has no obligation to conceal anything for Prince Chun. Based on this, he still has great faith in his daughter's words

Have you noticed in whose residence the prince has been resting these past two days

The prince has been recuperating at home lately, having fallen ill due to a cold infection some time ago. His daughter has been by his side taking care of him for several days. He is now recovering well, and I believe that in a couple of days, the prince will return to the court, so there is no need for you to worry, father. In response to Leng Pu's concerned attitude, Leng Ningjiao naturally did not think too much and explained everything clearly about the affairs of the prince's residence.

Which woman does not wish to enjoy the exclusive favor of her husband? Whether considering family background, appearance, or talent, even if she is able to receive the exclusive affection of one man, no one would dare to voice any objections. Yet, the man she married, although cold in temperament, has never harbored thoughts or engaged in actions of exclusive favor. In the residence, numerous concubines and favored maidens, though inferior to her in status, appearance, and talent, still share the prince's affection with her.

The King of Alcohol has been on leave for some time now. This is something he has known for a long time, but the events of that night were too suspicious. Although he only heard the people below mention what happened that night and did not actually see the man in black, his intuition told him that... the man in black was not ordinary, perhaps it was...

The man in black was clearly injured, yet my daughter claims that Prince Chun has been in good health recently. It seems that the man in black that night was evidently not Prince Chun.

She believes that the prince is not the type to be infatuated with romantic entanglements. Being able to distribute affection evenly, he likely does not wish to witness the emergence of scheming and rivalry. After all, having grown up in the depths of the palace, she has become accustomed to the struggles among women and inevitably harbors some aversion to it. Although she is well aware of the prince's disdain for such competitive behavior, she feels reluctant to share his affection with her other sisters, yet she cannot find a better way to attract his attention.

However, if the person that night was the Pure King, then he would have to cease his actions and swiftly relocate both people and items to a safe place, lest he bring about the destruction of his clan.

Father has recently been idle and misses you greatly, which is why he sent someone to the Wang residence to invite you back. What is it? Now that you are married and have a husband, do you no longer need this old man?

The prince appears to be flirtatious and romantic, readily accepting any noble lady promised by the royal concubine or any enchanting beauty bestowed by the emperor. However, through her understanding after marrying into the prince's residence, she discovers that the prince actually has a very cold temperament. Apart from appearing in the women's quarters at night, he is rarely seen with that concubine during the day.

"Do not go out for the time being!" A stern and cold voice echoed above the heads of the two, causing them to momentarily freeze, despite their initial intention to seek punishment.

A man with a rather delicate appearance braved the intense cold and spoke first. The left side of his face was already severely swollen; although his mouth twitched at the injury while he spoke, he still did not dare to cover it with his hand, enduring this unusual pain with gritted teeth.

Ling Ningjiao was taken aback by such a direct question, a hint of shyness appearing on her face. She assumed that her father was concerned about her status in the Prince of Chun's residence, fearing that she might feel wronged if the prince neglected her. Therefore, despite feeling somewhat embarrassed, she honestly replied: "The prince appreciates my daughter's care from a few days ago, and has been resting in my room these past two days"

Born into a prominent clan and married into the immensely noble royal family, it is inevitable for common folk to have multiple wives, let alone in the esteemed residence of the Prince of Chun.

That is good, that is good. As the head of the household, you should diligently serve the prince well. You must not allow outsiders to say that the Leng family is arrogant and overindulgent, lacking in propriety. Do you remember this?

This left her feeling both dejected and helpless, as she could find no reason to change the prince's principles

Xiao Ao sat coldly on the couch, his ink-black hair cascading over his shoulders, adorned with a jade crown that accentuated his deep, three-dimensional features, exuding a striking and imposing presence. The elegant black brocade robe he wore fully expressed his icy demeanor, while his thin lips, which rarely revealed a smile, were pressed into a firm straight line, as if he were born to possess such a form. At this moment, as he looked at the two subordinates kneeling before him, whom he had always taken pride in, his already cold black eyes seemed to plunge into a thousand years of frozen ice.

Father, please do not jest with your daughter. You are aware that although I am the legitimate wife, the Prince Chun's residence is large and there are numerous concubines. Not only must I assist the prince in managing the various affairs of the household, but simply overseeing those concubines is enough to keep me occupied.

"Your Highness, I am deserving of death for suffering a disastrous defeat at the hands of that woman, ultimately allowing her to escape and failing to retrieve Your Highness's jade pendant. I am deserving of death; please punish me, Your Highness!"