"What? Missing your cousin?"
Suddenly, a bloodthirsty, chilling voice sounded by her ear.
Ye Luan knew he was possessive and cruel. Fearing he might go mad, she suppressed the thoughts in her heart and offered a smile.
"Your Highness jokes. I was just thinking that since your fiefdom is in Youzhou, you won't be residing in the capital for long, will you?"
Youzhou's thirteen cities were located in the northern central plains. When Xiao Chizhan was the Crown Prince, he always stayed in Youzhou. No one knew what he had experienced during those years.
Even after she had read the original novel, his early life was only briefly mentioned in a few words.
Later, he killed his father and brother, ascended the throne, and returned to the capital with Tantai Ye, controlling almost the entire court.
His past experiences were like being buried by yellow sand, with no one able to uncover them.
But if he were to remain in the capital now, could it be that he harbored intentions of rebellion?
Hearing her words, Xiao Chizhan asked meaningfully, "Do you want to go to Youzhou?"
She didn't want to go at all. Youzhou was his territory, and escaping would be incredibly difficult.
"I've heard that Youzhou is vast and abundant, with lush pastures. This humble maiden is merely curious."
"If you wish to go, this king will take you."
Ye Luan asked, "Then, does Your Highness mean you won't be staying in the capital for long?"
In the dense forest, the sounds of various wild beasts mingled.
Xiao Chizhan drew even closer, his gaze chilling.
"To be honest, you just don't want me to stay in the capital, you want me to let you go, don't you?" He paused, then chuckled, "This lifetime, this king will never let go. Give up on that idea."
Ye Luan was startled. "Is Your Highness going back on your word?"
They had agreed on a period of three months.
He chuckled softly, "Have you forgotten? This king has never been a man of his word."
"To be frank, once the three-month period is up, if this king wants to kill you, won't you have to beg me and submit beneath me? Perhaps, the next term will be a lifetime."
A lifetime? Go to hell.
Who would want to spend a lifetime with a devil?
Let's see if you live long enough to see that day.
"Kiss me, and if this king is happy, I'll teach you to hunt."
Ye Luan ignored him, directly took out a bow and arrows from the quiver, and carefully observed her surroundings.
Xiao Chizhan's hand suddenly moved up, gripping her neck. Unlike before, he didn't apply force this time, merely holding her.
The moonlight glinted off the Buddhist beads on his wrist, cold and indifferent.
In the past, he always appeared fierce and terrifying, but the longer they spent together, the more Ye Luan realized he seemed to be becoming more human.
His grip on her neck was clearly meant to make her yield, not to take her life.
An inexpressible guess arose in her heart: could this wretch have unknowingly developed a soft spot for her?
She felt a flicker of surprise. With each instance of his leniency, he would surely find it harder to act ruthlessly in the future.
Perhaps, her life could be spared.
"It seems I've been too kind to you lately, allowing you to become so presumptuous."
Ye Luan lowered her gaze, grabbed his hand, shook it off forcefully, and deliberately defied him.
"Thank you for Your Highness's favor, which allows me to be so audacious."
As she spoke, Xiao Chizhan clasped her waist with both hands and lifted her, causing her to spin dizzily, bringing them face to face.
Under the moonlight, his bloodthirsty red eyes were tinged with a chilling coldness that inexplicably sent shivers down her spine.
The sound of galloping horses swept past the wilderness inch by inch, the surrounding scenery receding further.
Ye Luan looked at the handsome, bewitching face before her, momentarily dazed.
A pain spread across her lips, and blood flowed into her mouth.
She winced in pain, pushed him away, and said angrily, "Can you stop biting people whenever you feel like it?"
Xiao Chizhan had already released her, using only his legs to control the galloping horse. He looked at her, who was glaring at him in his arms, with a proud, rebellious gaze.
"Who told you to space out? This is your punishment."
Ye Luan pouted her lips inadvertently, glaring at him with dissatisfaction.
But this small gesture, in Xiao Chizhan's eyes, was incredibly alluring and seductive.
In the desolate wilderness, the howling of wolves could be heard from time to time.
The moonlight shone on her fox-like eyes, and Xiao Chizhan's gaze turned cold. He could clearly see the deep-seated disgust in the depths of those eyes.
The cold wind howled, and Ye Luan could no longer bear it. She pulled his cloak over herself and snuggled into his embrace, shielding herself from the wind's onslaught.
Her soft, fragrant body felt as yielding as a pool of water.
Xiao Chizhan sneered, "So proactive?"
"Cold."
Hearing this, he wrapped the cloak tighter around her and pulled her into his embrace.
Ye Luan noticed his unease and, in a sweet voice, changed the subject. "Your Highness, when are we returning to the capital?"
Xiao Chizhan held her, his voice calm. "We'll be back in a couple of days."
He was busy with state affairs and couldn't spend all his time frolicking in the temporary palace.
"Then, when we get back, will I have to go to the Prince's manor?"
Her repeated attempts to leave him made Xiao Chizhan's anger surge, making him want to strangle her.
"Remember this, Ye Luan. Under heaven, all land belongs to the king. Wherever you go, this king will chase you. You will never escape me in this lifetime."
Ye Luan stared blankly at him.
His enchanting red eyes held a look of seriousness. The suppressed anger made his entire being exude a wild, rebellious aura.
Her heart skipped a beat without warning.
Ye Luan was shocked. She immediately suppressed the strange feeling and said calmly,
"I want to return to the Ye manor."
Xiao Chizhan said hoarsely, "The Ye manor treats you very poorly. You'll only be bullied if you go back."
"But I--"
Before she could finish, he interrupted her sternly.
"If you continue to be disobedient, I'll chop off your feet and lock you in the bed."
You sick pervert.
The wind blew, swirling up a sky full of yellow leaves.
A man in purple robes, wearing a fox mask, lay on a tree and glanced at the two people entangled on horseback. After a moment, he withdrew his gaze.
Xiao Chizhan instantly sensed the presence of others.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, looking in the direction of the man. With just one glance, his expression immediately turned icy and terrifying.
Ye Luan sensed his change.
But his large robe completely enveloped her, and she couldn't see anything. However, she could feel that there seemed to be people around, and her face flushed red.
How embarrassing.
Angrily, she pinched Xiao Chizhan's waist hard. Xiao Chizhan, ignoring her, tightened his grip on the horse's belly and left the hunting ground.
Upon returning to the temporary palace, he dismounted and carried her, still wrapped up, back to the main hall.
As soon as they entered, Ye Luan noticed his gloomy and terrifying expression. Without asking anything, she quietly went to wash up and sleep.
Hearing the sound of him leaving, Ye Luan bit her lip slightly and tiptoed stealthily to hide behind the door to listen.
"Go and investigate. If you catch him, skin him and draw out his tendons. He must not leave Dali alive."
Long Yi's respectful voice came through, "Yes, Your Highness."
"Convey my order: tell Lord Gao to depart immediately for the border, take Lu Yuan's head, and hang it on the city wall as a warning to others."
"Yes."