"Is it really so?" Ye Haoxuan showed no anger, while Lian Xue’er’s heart was uneasy, not knowing if the prince would involve her too.

She cried out in grief, "Prince, please save me. I know I shouldn’t have impersonated the Ye Family’s lady. But I had no choice. County Magistrate Zhong made me do it. Madam Zhong told me I’m fortunate to have a good face, and said that as long as I bite the bullet, I would become the aristocracy, but if I didn’t obey, my parents would be dead. Prince, I beg your mercy."

Li Luru, still holding Xiaobai, asked curiously, "According to what you say, you just needed to grit your teeth and say nothing, then everything would be fine. You’d have money and servants, no longer a country girl. So why did you speak out?"

Ye Haoxuan glanced at her and then shifted his gaze back to Lian Xue’er.

"Yes, why did you speak out?"

"Prince, I’m scared. I’ve been unable to sleep at night these days. Although I’m from a farming family, I know right from wrong. I know what County Magistrate Zhong asked me to do is wrong. And since I’ve been in the county, I haven’t seen my parents anymore. Two days ago, I overheard the Zhong family’s young ladies talking, saying that my parents were dead."

Lian Xue’er couldn’t be bothered to wipe her tears, crawling two steps forward on her knees, "I barged in and questioned the Zhong family’s young ladies, but they denied it, saying it wasn’t true, that I had misheard. But I’m scared, sob..."

Ye Haoxuan didn’t know what he was thinking, after a while, he waved his hand, "Alright, I know about this, you can go back first."

"Prince..."

She wanted to say something more, but the attendant grabbed her, "Miss, the prince has his own thoughts on this matter."

Seeing this, Lian Xue’er didn’t say anything more.

After she left, Li Luru asked, "Do you believe what she said?"

Ye Haoxuan countered, "What do you think was true or false in what she just said?"

"A mix of truth and lies." Li Luru said thoughtfully, stroking her chin, "I feel that this girl is different from ordinary country girls. Ordinary country girls are quite rustic, but she doesn’t have that rustic air at all. And although she cried pitifully, when she mentioned her parents were dead, I didn’t feel she was that sad."

"Your observation is quite keen."

"Right, you think so too?" Li Luru looked for affirmation with sparkling eyes. "And did you notice, a country girl like her having such delicate, fair hands without any calluses? The girls working at our family’s farm are nothing like her."

As she spoke with excitement, she clutched Ye Haoxuan’s arm, "There’s definitely something wrong with this Lian Xue’er, we must investigate thoroughly."

Ye Haoxuan was briefly stunned as his arm was grabbed.

He lifted his eyelids and met Li Luru’s smiling eyes, "Let go of your paw. Didn’t your mother teach you that men and women shouldn’t touch?"

After his reminder, Li Luru realized the awkwardness, laughed sheepishly, and let go of her hand.

"You’re the one with paws, skinny chicken claws."

A man’s hands being so slender and long truly sparked envy.

"Li Luru, I think you’re a bit bold today," Ye Haoxuan said, reaching for his teacup only to find it empty.