The person beside her withdrew their hand, but Ye Luan quickly clutched his sleeve, her voice softening, "I was really wrong. Please don't involve innocent people."
He turned back, and deep within the girl's bright and dazzling eyes, hatred was hidden. The hand pulling at his sleeve trembled, turning pale.
Recalling her recent coldness, Xiao Chi Zhan grew even more infuriated.
"Is this how you admit you're wrong?"
His devilishly handsome face was filled with sinister gloom. Ye Luan couldn't control herself and shouted back, "What's wrong with me? What exactly is wrong with me?"
"You imprisoned me like an animal in your manor, forced me to drink love-luring flowers. Isn't that punishment enough? What else do you want from me?"
Her jaw was suddenly gripped, and the man's chilling aura permeated the surroundings. Those overly alluring red eyes exuded fierce malice.
"You're becoming more and more presumptuous."
Ye Luan was also filled with indignation, "I am just this presumptuous, what can you do to me?"
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them.
What was wrong with her? Why was she arguing with him again?
"Good!"
"Very good!"
Xiao Chi Zhan's sharp gaze swept over her. He turned and left, the aura of slaughter emanating from him making everyone on the ground kneel and dare not move.
Ye Luan gritted her teeth, wanting to chase after him, but was stopped by Dong Shuang.
"Miss Ye, it's time to go back."
She was forcibly taken back and imprisoned.
Xiao Chi Zhan did not return that night.
Ye Luan sat on the edge of the bed, watching the sky darken outside, her mood growing heavier.
"Miss, why has your temper become so stubborn, to the point of defying the Prince?" Fu Dai looked at her with concern.
Yes, what was she arguing with him about? Shouldn't she be coaxing him to let down his guard? Continuing to be stubborn like this would bring her no benefit at all.
What was wrong with her?
Ye Luan's heart felt bitter. "Will he imprison me for life?"
Fu Dai looked at the shackles on her hands, feeling distressed.
"Miss, didn't you get along quite well with the Prince before?"
Did they?
That was based on his absolute power, and she endured it with clenched teeth.
Now, she didn't want to pretend anymore.
But—
It was not up to her at all.
"I wonder how Grandma and the others are doing?"
Ye Luan waited for a long time, it was already the third watch, and he still hadn't returned.
Outside, it began to rain, a drizzling autumn rain with a whistling cold wind.
She glanced at her shackled wrists and called out, "Dong Shuang."
The door was pushed open, and the person slowly walked in.
"Miss, what is it?"
"Has the Prince returned?"
Dong Shuang respectfully replied, "This servant does not know."
"Unlock this for me, I want to go find him."
"Miss, please don't make things difficult for this servant. The Prince will beat all of us to death."
The autumn wind blew in through the window.
Ye Luan's muddled head was somewhat cleared by the wind. She organized her thoughts, her eyes sinking slightly.
She could no longer act against him like this.
Otherwise, she would be imprisoned by him for life.
His paranoia and ruthlessness were etched into his bones. Even if he liked her, he would never allow her to challenge him time and time again.
She could not continue to wait for death, to be imprisoned by him like this. She needed to find a way to change the current situation.
Her gaze slowly calmed down, and she spoke softly.
"Unlock it. I won't go anywhere, just walk around the courtyard."
Dong Shuang hesitated. "It's raining outside."
Ye Luan looked at her coldly. "Did the Prince say I'm not allowed to walk around the courtyard?"
Startled by her stern gaze, the servant flinched.
"Yes."
Her wrists were freed. Ye Luan waved her hand, dismissing the attendant.
She put on a snow-white padded jacket and a red silk skirt, covered herself with a fox fur cloak, took out a porcelain bottle, and took some medicine.
"Miss, what did you eat? What are you going to do?"
Seeing Fu Dai's anxiety, Ye Luan smiled and lightly touched her forehead. "It's just a ploy of self-inflicted suffering."
The desolate and chilling rain slanted down, silently striking the courtyard. Rustling sounds came from the branches.
Ye Luan knelt in the courtyard, terrifying the attending wet nurses and maids.
"Miss Ye, what are you doing?" Dong Shuang ran over in panic.
A red oil-paper umbrella was held over her head.
"If the Prince wishes to punish me, this humble lady is willing to accept it."
The small courtyard was surrounded by his informants and hidden guards. As long as Xiao Chi Zhan was in the manor, they would arrive soon.
She knelt on the cold ground in her red skirt and inner garments. The damp, cold rain seeped through her clothes, chilling her to the bone.
They arrived quickly.
Beneath the blooming begonia corridor, he stood tall and elegant in a snow-white robe.
He looked at Ye Luan kneeling in the rain, his eyes narrowing slightly, revealing a strange coldness.
Ye Luan sensed his icy gaze. When she looked up, she met those deep red eyes.
Her breath hitched.
For a moment, the only sound was the rustling of the wind, terrifyingly silent.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
The maids and wet nurses all knelt on the ground, prostrating themselves.
The man, holding an umbrella, slowly walked over. He moved deliberately, his left leg reacting with slight sluggishness, but his posture was extremely elegant, not a trace of clumsiness.
"What play is this now?"
His voice was faint, carrying a bone-chilling cold.
The Prince most enjoyed killing on rainy days.
Recalling the scenes from before, Ye Luan couldn't help but glance at his leg.
Her jaw was suddenly lifted, forcing her to meet the man's deep, somber gaze. Just for an instant, it made her back prickle.
A cold wind swept past.
Watery mist began to gather in Ye Luan's fox-like eyes. Her pale hand clutched his robe tightly, and with red-rimmed eyes, she whispered, "Your Highness, I truly was wrong."
Xiao Chi Zhan tilted the umbrella, covering her head. He looked down at her from above.
"Where were you wrong?"
Ye Luan's pale hand tightly grasped his robe. She raised her moist eyes. "I shouldn't have left Your Highness without permission, I shouldn't have thrown a tantrum."
The girl's fair face was wet with rain. Her long, thick eyelashes were covered in moisture, and her clear eyes looked at him tremblingly, incredibly obedient.
His unnaturally red lips curved slightly. His voice was extremely low. "You're faking it."
The man's leg in front of her trembled uncontrollably with pain.
Ye Luan secretly glanced up at him. His deep, dark red eyes were gloomy, his features terrifyingly indifferent, as if he felt no pain.
"Your Highness, my leg hurts so much."
Xiao Chi Zhan had to admit that at this moment, the murderous intent he had harbored for days instantly vanished. Looking at the obedient girl before him, the smile on his lips deepened.
"Take this."
Ye Luan's pupils trembled slightly as she took the umbrella.
The next moment, her body suddenly lifted. He scooped her up horizontally.
She was drenched, and a lot of dust had stuck to her, all of it now on him.
She shifted uncomfortably.
"Your Highness, the Bai family—"
"Shush, don't speak."
The door was kicked open by him. He carried her into the natural imperial hot spring behind the inner chambers.
It was very warm inside. Ye Luan felt the chill gradually receding from her body, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
Xiao Chi Zhan gently placed her into the pool. He squatted by the edge of the pool, caressing her face. "From now on, don't test me like this."
Ye Luan lowered her eyelids, her gaze darkening. Just as she was about to say something, she heard him say:
"It pains me."
His voice was incredibly gentle, yet it sent a chill down her spine.
In fact, she had already taken the medicine. Even if she had been rained on all night, she wouldn't have fallen ill to such an extent.