Chu Yun schooled his features into a mask of neutrality and nodded towards an empty chair that Hua Nanyi pulled towards Ru Yumei.
"Please sit, your Highness," he said, "we appreciate you telling us this, but I'm not sure I understand why her Highness would have that impression of her mother."
Xiao Zai nodded, but added, "not that we don't believe Her Highness."
It was hard to make sense of her expression through the veil, which hid half of her face, but the tremble of her eyelids and the flutter of her breath seemed genuine.
"This pains me to admit, but my mother's relationship with my father has always been strained."
Chu Yun exchanged a brief glance with Xiao Zai. He could imagine why. Having secret children with an alpha from a neighbouring kingdom, would do that to any relationship.
"Matters related to the harem perhaps?" Chu Yun suggested, smiling in sympathy.
