Chapter 578 - 282: So You Prefer the Hard Way!

Chapter 578: Chapter 282: So You Prefer the Hard Way!

Chen Sheng didn’t believe a single word of Yu Nanzhi’s nonsense.

’It’s really true what they say: the more beautiful a woman, the better she can lie.’

If it weren’t for his Celestial Book’s power of Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil, and the fact that the Heir of Prince Xiang, Zhao Chengxiang, had already admitted it, anyone else might have actually been deceived.

But since she was spouting nonsense, Chen Sheng certainly wasn’t going to indulge her.

’Come up with a good excuse and explain it to the court and the Emperor!’

"Er..."

At Chen Sheng’s words, Yu Nanzhi’s expression changed, and she hurriedly spoke:

"Lord Chen, this matter... this matter... could you perhaps not report it?"

"Why?"

Chen Sheng feigned surprise:

"Since Prince Xiang’s Mansion is innocent, of course I must report it. We’ll let the court investigate thoroughly. That way, they can clear Prince Xiang’s Mansion’s name, don’t you think, Princess Consort?"

Seeing that Chen Sheng would be swayed by neither soft nor hard tactics, Yu Nanzhi frowned. She knew he must be aware of the inside story. With a sigh, she dropped the pretense and laid her cards on the table:

"As long as Lord Chen agrees not to report this matter, Prince Xiang’s Mansion is willing to pay a price. As long as it is within our power, Prince Xiang’s Mansion will not refuse."

"Any price?"

Chen Sheng raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling upon her curvaceous figure.

Feeling Chen Sheng’s brazen gaze upon her, Yu Nanzhi grew even more uncomfortable and repeated:

"Within our power."

"Is that so."

Chen Sheng leaned back slightly, resting against the wall of the pool:

"However, I don’t seem to need Prince Xiang’s Mansion to do anything for me."

"Lord Chen, please don’t speak so distantly. Xiangyang is not far from Ning’an; we are neighbors. I implore you, Lord Chen, to help our Prince’s Mansion this once. The Prince’s Mansion will be sure to remember this kindness.

Furthermore, perhaps Lord Chen could name some conditions. The Prince and I will do our utmost to meet them."

Princess Consort Xiang took a deep breath, suppressing the displeasure welling up inside her, and forced a smile.

Chen Sheng paused in thought for a moment, his sharp gaze once again landing on her:

"In that case, can the Princess Consort first tell me: did Prince Xiang’s Mansion truly collude with the Taiping Dao?"

Although the Princess Consort said she was willing to pay a price, Chen Sheng knew that wasn’t truly possible.

Especially since what he wanted to ask for, the Three-Color Treasure Lotus, would be anything but easy to obtain.

He had glimpsed as much from the earlier demeanor of the Heir of Prince Xiang.

If it were something they could agree to so easily, the Heir of Prince Xiang wouldn’t have hesitated for so long back then.

Clearly, this was a difficult matter.

Therefore, Chen Sheng had to act even more forcefully to seize the initiative.

Only then could he coerce her into agreeing.

’You can’t secure real benefits by playing nice.’

’And since this is a conflict of interest, one must naturally stop at nothing!’

"No! Absolutely not!"

Yu Nanzhi denied it outright, her tone firm and decisive.

"If there’s nothing to it, then why is the Princess Consort wasting her breath here? Once this news gets out and Prince Xiang’s Mansion is cleared, you can rest easy in the future. But if you try to hide things...

...even if you are innocent, you might be framed by someone in the future."

Chen Sheng was completely unmoved.

He had more or less figured it out.

Whether it was the Heir of Prince Xiang or this Princess Consort Xiangyang, neither had any real confidence.

"Lord Chen, you really can’t help me with this?"

Yu Nanzhi was finally realizing just how difficult Chen Sheng was to deal with.

’He’s the type who won’t make a move until he sees a clear benefit.’

’He actually wants me to admit to the crime directly.’

But this was a crime the Princess Consort absolutely refused to be tainted by.

If by some chance Chen Sheng had a Memory Stone and recorded this, it would become an indelible piece of leverage against them in the future.

"It’s not that I won’t help, but that I don’t know how."

The smile on Chen Sheng’s face didn’t fade, but he refused to yield.

Princess Consort Xiangyang took a deep breath. She felt she shouldn’t continue like this; being so servile would give her no initiative at all. After a moment’s thought, she changed her strategy.

Her expression grew much sterner.

"Lord Chen, cover this matter up, and from now on, you will be a friend of Prince Xiang’s Mansion and have our gratitude.

But if Lord Chen insists on making an enemy of Prince Xiang’s Mansion, then you had better think carefully about the consequences."

Chen Sheng’s gaze turned cold, a chill surfacing in the depths of his eyes:

"Are you... threatening me?"

"It is not a threat, but merely stating things clearly. No matter what, Prince Xiangyang is a member of the Imperial Family, and I am a legitimate daughter of the Yu Clan. Lord Chen has no past grievances or recent enmity with us.

Do you truly wish to make enemies of us over such a trivial matter?"

Yu Nanzhi’s tone grew harsher.

The atmosphere between the two instantly froze. It remained that way for more than ten breaths, until Chen Sheng suddenly let out a few laughs:

"Princess Consort, please see yourself out. I won’t escort you."

"Lord Chen, you..."

Yu Nanzhi’s expression faltered. She was about to say something more, but Chen Sheng cut her off with a sharp voice:

"Stop threatening me. I am not the kind of person who compromises just because he’s been threatened a few times. Neither Prince Xiang’s Mansion nor your so-called Yu Clan has that kind of clout!

I have weathered storms and clawed my way through the mud, fighting my way to the position I hold today. The one thing I fear the least is a threat.

So, it would be wise for you to stop with the threats. Otherwise, if I get unhappy, I might just blow this whole affair wide open. I’d love to see what happens after this news gets out.

And we’ll see whether your Prince Xiang’s Mansion truly colluded with the Taiping Dao rebels or not!"

"You..."

The Princess Consort Xiangyang’s face shifted through several shades, from pale to ashen.

For a moment, she was at a loss for words.

At that moment, Yu Nanzhi desperately wanted to turn and leave.

’I am the dignified Vassal King’s Consort, the legitimate daughter of a Noble Family—when have I ever suffered such humiliation?’