Chapter 32: Why Are the Flowers So Red?

He handed the clothes he had grabbed to Yuan Qian'er, gesturing for her to change, and then turned his back to keep watch, ensuring no one would sneak a peek.

Once she had changed, Yuan Qian'er smoothed her hair. Since she didn't know how to style it into a bun, she left it cascading over her shoulders. "Mo Yiran, I'm done. You should put your clothes on now."

Mo Yiran turned back, donned his robes, and stroked Yuan Qian'er’s silky hair, saying, "When I return, I’ll ask Mo Xue to teach me how to style hair; it’ll come in handy for the future!"

Yuan Qian'er didn't pay much attention to his words, as her focus was entirely on Zhao Mingyu, who had just regained consciousness by the pond.

After coughing up the water he had swallowed, Zhao Mingyu gasped for fresh air. Once he caught his breath, he roared at the surrounding maids and eunuchs, "Which suicidal bastard dared to shove your grandfather into the pond? Get out here! Damn it, and where is that bitch? Forget it, she must have run off—I’ll settle the score with her later."

The surrounding servants had no idea what had happened; the Imperial Garden was usually reserved for the Emperor and his concubines, so they typically steered clear of the area.

Mo Yiran descended from the tree with Yuan Qian'er, landing behind Zhao Mingyu. His voice was cold as he said, "It was me."

"It was you, you bastard? If you have the guts—Prince... Prince Mo! My deepest apologies, Your Highness! This lowly one is blind and dared to offend you. Please, I beg for your mercy!" Zhao Mingyu turned around, terrified out of his wits, his head nearly pressing into the dirt in a desperate kowtow.

"Greetings, Prince Mo!" The eunuchs and maids hurriedly knelt in salute. Yuan Qian'er couldn't help but sigh—whether in the modern era or ancient times, power and money truly reigned supreme everywhere.

"You may all rise."

Zhao Mingyu stood up and looked into Mo Yiran’s eyes, his blood turning cold. Why did the Prince look like he was ready to kill someone? He glanced at the person standing beside Mo Yiran, and his jaw nearly hit the floor. He stammered, "You... you... how are you still here?" He had assumed Yuan Qian'er had long since fled. Could it be? Did she really know the Prince?

Yuan Qian'er gritted her teeth. "Surprised? Thought I ran off to some corner to cry? Wanting to settle the score with me? Let me tell you, Zhao Mingyu, today I’m going to show you exactly why the flowers are so red!"

"Pah! You’re just a lowly maid, how dare you act so insolently before me!" He turned to Mo Yiran with a look of feigned sincerity. "Your Highness, this maid saw that I was handsome and tried to seduce me. I was foolish and momentarily lost my head to lust, only to be caught by you. I am deeply ashamed!"

The way he phrased it, it was as if Yuan Qian'er were the one to blame for everything. Who was the real victim here? His acting was truly, damnably superb.

Yuan Qian'er looked at Mo Yiran. "What do you think, Your Highness?"

"I only believe what you tell me," Mo Yiran replied, looking at her with gentle eyes.

"He says I seduced him. Honestly, some people truly lack any self-awareness. Why doesn't he go find a puddle to look at his reflection in? Would I ignore a fine specimen like you to seduce him? If you’re going to insult your own intelligence, at least try to be a bit more clever about it!"

Seeing the way Mo Yiran treated Yuan Qian'er, even the dullest person could tell their relationship was far from ordinary. But the lie had already been cast; there was no turning back.

"Your Highness, please believe me! It was truly this woman who tried to seduce me first! I beg for a thorough investigation!"

"Investigate your head! Do you think Mo Yiran is blind? He saw everything, yet you’re still acting like a clown in front of him. Your skin is so thick—it’s a waste not to have recommended you for Hollywood!" Yuan Qian'er, unable to watch him continue his performance, snapped in frustration.

"Investigate my head? What does this have to do with my sister?" Zhao Mingyu was completely baffled.

Yuan Qian'er was left speechless. She slapped her forehead and muttered under her breath, "Good grief!"