His cold expression, aloof fox-like eyes, and perpetual wariness—
Xiao Chi Zhan was displeased. He turned his gaze away and leaned in to kiss her.
Ye Luan frowned and shifted slightly away.
His blatant rejection only fueled the anger in Xiao Chi Zhan’s eyes.
“Have I been too good to you these past few days, making you forget your place?”
He was good to her?
A joke.
When had he ever been good to her? All he gave her were insults, curses, and threats.
She wanted to feign a pitiful, begging look, but her face was stiff, and she couldn’t manage it. The coldness in her eyes was impossible to conceal.
This only made Xiao Chi Zhan more furious, his pent-up rage threatening to consume her entirely.
Ye Luan saw a dagger suddenly appear in his hand. Her legs went weak, and she slid down the jade surface, falling ungracefully into the water.
Watching her flail, Xiao Chi Zhan smiled, his demeanor softening considerably.
Stupid.
After struggling for a moment, Ye Luan grabbed a dragon carving and pulled herself to the other side of the hot spring, letting out a sigh of relief.
Damn it.
Tired of acting with this lunatic every day.
Suddenly, Xiao Chi Zhan walked up behind her. Ye Luan flinched and reflexively turned to grab at him, but she unexpectedly yanked off his prayer beads.
In an instant, a murderous aura permeated the entire peony pool.
Ye Luan was lifted and flung away by him, splashing water everywhere.
If she hadn’t reacted quickly, she would have hit the jade rock in the center of the pool, possibly fatally.
Ye Luan shakily rose from the bottom of the pool, putting more distance between herself and the madman.
Xiao Chi Zhan didn't even look at her. He picked up the wet prayer beads from the bottom of the pool and left.
Observing his unusual behavior, Ye Luan lightly licked her lips. Did these prayer beads hold significant meaning for him?
The original book hadn’t mentioned them, had it?
Oh well, maybe she just hadn’t read carefully enough and missed it.
She withdrew her gaze and looked at the white robe on the display shelf. She then exited the hot spring.
With no one around, she walked directly to the robe, took down the sachet, opened it, and picked out the various spices inside. Once she confirmed they were all gone, she put it back.
She placed the spices she held in a handkerchief, looked at the forest behind her, dug a hole, and buried them all, destroying the evidence.
By the time she returned, palace maids had already arrived.
She smiled and said, “The Prince has already left. Please take his clothes and belt back.”
“Yes.”
“Miss, dry yourself off, lest you catch a chill.”
Ye Luan nodded, wiped herself clean, changed into a new set of clothes, and headed towards her own residence.
She had no desire to return and face the lunatic Xiao Chi Zhan, so she wandered around.
“Ye Luan.”
As she walked into a bamboo grove, a playful voice echoed.
She frowned and looked up into the bamboo leaves. Li Qiongyu was lying on the branches, looking down at her with a smile.
What bad luck. Why was he here?
She was already sick of everyone around Xiao Chi Zhan.
Ye Luan gave a perfunctory nod and turned to leave.
“Hey, hey, hey, why the rush? Sit down and have some tea.”
He leaped down with a whoosh, blocking her path.
The face before her wore a playful smile, his eyebrows slightly raised, indicating his good mood.
Actually, they held no grudges against each other. He had even given her a dagger once, saving her life. It was a pity that he was good friends with Xiao Chi Zhan, and she was destined to be a stranger to him.
“No need for tea, Young Master Li, please let me pass.”
“Heh heh, no.”
Li Qiongyu smiled at her. “Do you like wearing such vibrant clothes?”
He had thought that someone as aloof as her would prefer simpler, more elegant attire.
Tsk tsk.
She looked even more beautiful this way.
“Young Master Li, what kind of gaze is that? Do you look at everyone so sentimentally?”
“Hahaha.” Li Qiongyu burst into laughter. “Are you trying to make our brotherhood turn to animosity?”
Two figures in red stood amidst the bamboo, a striking, almost glaring sight.
Xiao Chi Zhan’s expression turned terrifyingly dark.
“Ye Luan.”
His somber voice startled Ye Luan, and she turned around.
Holy crap.
Hadn’t he already left? Why was he back?
“Chi Zhan, don’t be so fierce.”
Xiao Chi Zhan strode forward, looking at him coldly. “What are you doing here?”
“Just seeking some peace and quiet.”
“Scram.”
Li Qiongyu scoffed. “So fierce, you’re scaring the young lady.”
“Does she concern you?”
His voice, sharp and laced with displeasure, made Li Qiongyu laugh even more wildly.
“You’ve fallen, you’ve truly fallen.”
“Get lost immediately. Don’t come around here unless you have business.”
Li Qiongyu flicked his robe. “Fine, fine, I won’t be an eyesore.”
As soon as he left, his hand clasped Ye Luan’s, and he dragged her unsteadily towards the palace hall.
His palpable rage made Ye Luan frown. Why was he so angry? Could it be… jealousy?
Impossible.
He had always treated her with disdain, and she hadn't done anything to warm his heart yet. He definitely wouldn’t like her.
Perhaps his inherent machismo had surfaced.
Even if he didn't like her, as long as she remained by his side, she couldn't exchange flirtatious glances with other men.
Hmph, men have always been this despicable.
With a bang, he flung her onto the floor of the main hall.
Fortunately, the floor was carpeted, so she didn’t get hurt.
He crouched down, his crimson eyes filled with coldness. His rough thumb nipped her chin, and his voice was heavy with menace, “What? Already thinking of seducing Li Qiongyu?”
“Or have you two known each other behind my back all along?”
Ye Luan calmly replied, “Your Highness has misunderstood. It was a chance encounter.”
“A chance encounter?” Xiao Chi Zhan seethed. “Are you telling me you two are fated to meet?”
Good grief.
What kind of logic was that?
Ye Luan felt pain as he pinched her chin, unable to speak.
The more Xiao Chi Zhan looked at her, the angrier he became, his fury impossible to suppress. He cupped her chin and sealed her lips.
------
Afterward, he picked her up and placed her back on the bed.
Ye Luan ignored him, curling up in the blankets and retreating to the inner side.
Xiao Chi Zhan’s mood improved slightly. He nudged her. “Come here.”
There was no response.
“Do you want to taste blood?”
Shameless, bastard.
He only knew how to threaten her.
Ye Luan said coldly, “If it makes Your Highness happy, what harm is there in this servant sacrificing her life?”
Xiao Chi Zhan hated her indifference towards him at this moment. He directly threw off her blanket and forcibly pulled her into his embrace.
Ye Luan didn't struggle, nestling into his arms.
“What is that expression on your face?”
“I am doing as Your Highness wishes. Whatever you ask me to do, I will do. What dissatisfaction does Your Highness have?”
Xiao Chi Zhan couldn't stand it. He flipped over and again grabbed her by the neck.
Ye Luan’s heart turned to ash. Her eyes were filled with defeat as she looked at him.
“Heh, no longer afraid of death?”
“Compared to death, I am more disgusted by sharing one man with others.”
Her eyes were full of revulsion.
Xiao Chi Zhan released her and sneered, “So it’s jealousy.”
After speaking, he did something unprecedented and offered an explanation, “I have kept my promise to you. I have never touched anyone else.”