Chapter 171 Thank You So Much

With her slender waist embraced by the Second Prince, Wu Miaofu leaned into Gu Shengyu’s arms as though boneless, showing not an ounce of wariness.

The private room they occupied was the most secluded in the entire Bright Moon Tavern. They had paid the innkeeper a hefty sum to reserve it exclusively, leaving the innkeeper beaming from ear to ear, completely unaware of who had booked the space or that the back door was dedicated solely for their use.

Wu Miaofu glanced toward the door, a lingering sense of unease whispering in her heart, as if she felt something was about to happen.

Gu Shengyu’s dark eyes deepened. He gently lifted her chin, his arm tightening around her waist.

Gao Xueluo lowered her voice anxiously, "Yuanyuan, the Second Prince’s guards are no ordinary men. Won't the people you arranged to keep watch here be discovered, leaving us empty-handed?"

"Don't worry, they won't," Shen Nanyuan replied. "I asked my eldest brother for them, telling him I needed a few people with formidable martial arts skills. The people by my brother's side possess far superior martial arts than the Second Prince's guards; they won't be spotted."

Even the exact private room Wu Miaofu had entered had been reported to her clearly, saving her a great deal of trouble.

Liu Yuli maintained a detached expression throughout, trailing languidly behind the two women and complaining with a helpless sigh, "The two of you creeping around like this—are you terrified the whole world doesn't know what you're up to?"

Gao Xueluo snapped, "..."

She yanked Liu Yuli forward by the sleeve. "You walk in front! What kind of man are you, hiding behind us!"

Liu Yuli obediently took the lead. Peering in the direction Shen Nanyuan had indicated, he noted that the location was indeed concealed; if one didn't look closely, it would be impossible to tell a private room was tucked away there. "There are two guards standing right at the entrance. It won't be easy for us to get past."

Shen Nanyuan said, "Then I'll call my brother's guards over."

Besides, she had intended to blow the matter wide open from the very beginning.

Suddenly, Gu Shengyu frowned.

Abruptly releasing his hold on Wu Miaofu, his sharp gaze darted toward the door. The sounds of a scuffle suddenly erupted outside. With a darkening expression, he stood up. "What is happening out there?"

"..." Wu Miaofu frowned as well. "I'll go out and take a look."

Before either of them could react, however, the door to the private room was forcefully flung open, and amidst Wu Miaofu's panicked gaze appeared Shen Nanyuan’s astonished face.

Gao Xueluo and Liu Yuli, who closely followed right behind, caught sight of Gu Shengyu and Wu Miaofu inside, and their expressions instantly stiffened.

Gao Xueluo drew in a sharp breath. Catching a peripheral glimpse of the other patrons below who had already turned toward the commotion, along with the innkeeper and waiters running over in a panic, she shouted loudly, "You two actually hooked up behind everyone's back?!"

Shock gave way instantly to fury. Pointing at Wu Miaofu’s slightly pale face, she gritted her teeth and continued, "You shameless fox spirit! Considering how well Yuanyuan and Lady Shen have treated you! Is this how you repay her? Ungrateful wretch! Daring to hook up with your own cousin's fiancé—you really are something else, Wu Miaofu!"

Wu Miaofu bit down hard on her lower lip, her complexion turning increasingly ashen.

She had indeed wanted everyone to learn of her affair with the Second Prince, but she had never expected it to be exposed in this manner.

Her lower lip was bitten so hard it bled faintly, and she panicked in utter disarray. "Cousin! I... make her shut up! What are we going to do if everyone finds out?!"

"Afraid of people finding out now, are you?" Gao Xueluo longed to stride over and slap her, but Liu Yuli was holding onto her arm, preventing her from moving. "Since you're so shameless, the entire capital deserves to know! Terrified now, are you? Feeling humiliated? Why didn't you think about this outcome when you were seducing your cousin's fiancé?"

Shen Nanyuan lifted her gaze, shifting it away from Wu Miaofu and onto the Second Prince's face. His expression was grim, glaring at Shen Nanyuan with a chilling hostility that was rather terrifying.

Caught red-handed and yet still so utterly unrepentant, showing not a shred of fear?

Shen Nanyuan met his gaze coldly, her eyes brimming with undisguised mockery.

At that moment, Gu Shengyu's guards rushed up frantically. "Your Highness, we must leave quickly."

"Leave?" Gao Xueluo completely disregarded the Second Prince, roaring at the top of her lungs, "Come and look, everyone! The cousin of the Grand Commandant's Manor has hooked up with her own cousin's fiancé, the Second Prince!"

Everyone below heard the declaration clearly. The specific mentions of the Grand Commandant's Manor and the Second Prince instantly left everyone downstairs dumbfounded, immediately breaking out into fervent whispers and discussions.

A nearby waiter wanted to step in and stop them, but upon hearing Gao Xueluo's words, he suddenly realized who had actually booked the private room. Trembling with apprehension, he shrank back and dared not approach.

Seeing that the intended effect had been achieved, Liu Yuli gently pulled back Gao Xueluo. "Insulting the Second Prince is fine now, but don't bring up the Grand Commandant's Manor anymore."

Gu Shengyu, however, did not follow his guards away. Instead, he walked step by step toward Shen Nanyuan. Liu Yuli narrowed his eyes slightly and stepped beside her, ready to intervene should the Second Prince attempt anything.

"You knew all along."

His tone was icy, carrying a trace of absolute certainty.

Shen Nanyuan raised an eyebrow and spoke with leisurely composure, "Yes, I've known all along."

Her gaze shifted slightly, landing upon the trembling and terrified Wu Miaofu behind him. "I must thank my dear cousin, otherwise I never would have known that Your Highness preferred her type."

Shen Nanyuan smiled, her eyes chillingly aloof. "Thank you so much, cousin."

Gu Shengyu finally understood. His hands clenched tightly into fists at his sides. Wu Miaofu hurried over, tears welling up in her eyes. "I didn't, Your Highness, I didn't."

Gu Shengyu shoved her hands away violently, an expression of intense fury breaking across his face.

"Your Highness had better hurry back to the palace," Shen Nanyuan said languidly. "My father will likely be entering the palace shortly, and our engagement..."

She lifted her face and smiled. "Should be annulled very soon."

"However, you'd better dodge the people downstairs, otherwise everyone in the capital will know what the Second Prince looks like. But your reputation will likely be ruined—after all... secrets cannot be kept hidden in the capital."

Gu Shengyu turned his head to glare viciously at Wu Miaofu, who had collapsed onto the floor sobbing. Knowing this was no place to linger, he flicked his sleeves and strode away in a fury.

Only after watching his retreating figure vanish did Gao Xueluo dare to speak again. "I spit on him! Shameless scumbag, just wait to regret this!"

Shen Nanyuan leaned lazily against the door frame, looking down at Wu Miaofu, and shook her head with a soft click of her tongue. "Why go to such lengths, cousin? But your dream should be fulfilled now—soon, the entire capital will know your name."

Wu Miaofu's body shuddered violently. She raised her head, her vision swimming with tears. "Cousin, why must you drive me to this? You have everything, why won't you just let me be? Is there something wrong with seeking a place of my own to survive? Born with a silver spoon in your mouth, Cousin, you simply don't understand how desperate our struggle for survival is."