Chapter 469 Insincere Words

Hua Feixue turned around and said to him, "Every word I've said comes straight from the heart, with not a single lie in it."

"You've done nothing wrong, Crown Prince—it's all Second Miss Ji's fault. Even if she truly carries your child, it just shows she's the one who's improper, and has nothing to do with you."

Hua Feixue almost threw up saying that!

She had to muster every bit of her courage to say something so fake.

Had she not known that the tragedy between the Dog Crown Prince and Ji Qingqing was entirely her own doing, she would have admired her ability to lie through her teeth!

But what Hua Feixue didn't expect was for Luo Jingshen to actually buy it.

He figured Hua Feixue was just covering for him, so he didn't see any point in hiding it anymore. He stepped up and grabbed her hand.

Luo Jingshen said with a sour look, "Xiao Xuehua, you're right—this is all Ji Qingqing's fault. She was already the future Crown Princess, and she still came to the Eastern Palace shamelessly throwing herself at me."

"I'm a red-blooded man, after all, and she came onto me—how was I supposed to resist? In the scuffle, we ended up sleeping together."

"But as for her saying she's carrying my kid, I don't buy it. I think it's just another scheme she's cooked up to fool me."

"Don't worry, I'll stay here at the residence with you today. I won't go anywhere, and I won't go see her at the yamen."

Luo Jingshen was about to lead Hua Feixue into the room when she grabbed his sleeve.

"Your Highness, hold on."

Luo Jingshen turned around and heard her continue, "Why not hear me out, Your Highness?"

"About Second Miss Ji being pregnant with your child—whether it's true or not, I think you should go check it out yourself."

"She's got a murder case hanging over her right now. If she really is pregnant with your child, the yamen officials won't dare mess with her. If this blows up, or if she actually has the baby, what are you planning to do about it?"

Luo Jingshen frowned a little and asked, "Then Xiao Xuehua, what do you think I should do?"

Hua Feixue had been waiting for him to ask exactly that. A smile curled on her red lips as she said, "Isn't it simple? If she really is pregnant with your kid, just make her get rid of it."

"You're still young, Your Highness, and you'll have plenty more kids in the future. Why keep a legitimate son who's already stained before he's even born?"

"Later, when you're out and about, how would you hold your head up around your brothers and sisters?"

Luo Jingshen thought it over and figured she had a point.

After all, Ji Qingqing was carrying his first child—royal blood. If word got to the palace, Emperor Jingyang might actually order her to keep the baby.

He'd barely gotten rid of Ji Nanchuan—why would he want to get tangled up with the Marquis Yongning's family again?

That family was way too good at ruining themselves, and Luo Jingshen was afraid of getting dragged down with them.

Besides, his child could never be born from an imposter.

Ji Qingqing was already a fake, and Luo Jingshen knew deep down he was a fake too. If they had a fake's kid, then all three of them would be fakes, and they'd really be lost down the wrong path forever!

Luo Jingshen decided that before this blew up, he had to nip this kid in the bud.

After all, he could go seven times a night now and would have tons of kids with Hua Feixue later—who'd care about the one in Ji Qingqing's belly?

With his mind made up, Luo Jingshen said to Hua Feixue, "Xiao Xuehua, I've got urgent business at the yamen now. I'm afraid I can't keep you company today. Why don't you stay at the residence and wait for me?"

Hua Feixue was instantly annoyed by that!

If the Dog Crown Prince wouldn't let her go, how was she supposed to watch the show?

She tugged on Luo Jingshen's sleeve and whined playfully, "Take me with you, Your Highness. I don't want to be away from you."

"Besides, I can help you out there. I'm a woman, and I came from the Flower Pavilion—I definitely know women better than you do, Your Highness. Some things you're not comfortable saying to her, I can pass along for you."

Hua Feixue's playful pleading instantly softened Luo Jingshen's heart.

He took her hand and said, "Fine, fine, I'll do whatever you want. You've never been to the yamen before, right? I'll take you there to see what it's like."

Hua Feixue rolled her eyes. See the world?

She was the Crown Prince of the Xishu Kingdom—did she need him to take her to some yamen to see the world?

Besides, the yamen was full of prisoners—what was there to see?

She really couldn't understand Luo Jingshen's way of thinking.

If Ji Qingqing weren't locked up in there, she wouldn't step foot in that place even if someone begged her.

Soon they got on the carriage headed for the yamen. On the way, Luo Jingshen fussed over Hua Feixue, even having snacks made for her.

Hua Feixue didn't refuse. She dug in, not caring one bit about looking ladylike.

Luo Jingshen figured she was just starving from waiting for him at the residence, and kept telling her to eat more.

Hua Feixue had a smile on her face, but inside she sighed, wondering how much longer she could enjoy this cushy life of being taken care of.

Once she got back to Xishu, if she couldn't kill the Old Witch, she and Ji Yuntang would probably be stuck there forever.

So, in these last three to five days, she'd eat her fill—just in case she never got the chance again.

Before long, Linchuan's voice came from outside, "Your Highness, we've arrived at the yamen!"

Luo Jingshen looked at Hua Feixue and saw a grain of rice stuck to her face. He reached out to brush it off.

But before his hand could touch her, Hua Feixue said, "Your Highness, I'm full. Let's head out!"

She couldn't stand the Dog Crown Prince touching her face.

She'd be tempted to rip his hand off.

Luo Jingshen didn't think much of it, figuring she was just full and wanted to stretch her legs. He handed her a handkerchief.

"Wipe your mouth."

Hua Feixue didn't refuse that. After wiping, she casually stuffed the handkerchief into her chest.

But she didn't notice the small character "Qing" embroidered on it.

Prefect Zhao Chengjiu came out in person to greet them.

"Your subordinate greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Luo Jingshen said, "Lord Zhao, rise. Take me to see Second Miss Ji."

"Yes, as you command."

To check whether Ji Qingqing was really pregnant or just lying to him, Luo Jingshen also brought an imperial physician.

The prison door opened, and the stench of blood and filth hit their noses. Looking in, the dark, damp space had no daylight—just a few oil lamps on either side flickering weakly.

Their ears were filled with the heart-wrenching cries of prisoners, oppressive and tormenting.

Zhao Chengjiu suggested, "Your Highness, the stench in here is unbearable. Maybe you shouldn't go in!"

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