AN: So sorry, one chapter today. Had a busy day. Happy reading.
Sweat trickled down his temples, his breath shallow, but his eyes still carried a flicker of stubborn pride.
"My… my daughter is innocent… and she helped His Highness," Lord Leung stammered, his voice brittle, trembling with fear yet straining toward courage.
Perhaps it was adrenaline, perhaps a fleeting surge of defiance, but for a moment he forgot the pain.
He pressed on, words spilling like shards of glass. "My daughter is dating Jian Ci… you think he would let you harm his benefactor?"
Yu Xi's gaze locked onto him, cold and merciless. He said nothing at first, letting silence weigh heavier than any blow.
For a heartbeat, Lord Leung thought he had found a lifeline, a thread of hope to cling to. But Yu Xi's lips curled into a sneer. "Is that what she told you?"
Confusion clouded Lord Leung's battered face. His brows furrowed, his swollen lips parted. "Wha—what do you mean by that?"
