Bai Muyan nodded, "Will the people in the manor let her go?"
"Yes, the deed of sale is in my hand."
"Good." Bai Muyan shook the drawings in his hand again, "What is this?"
"The 'Stormy Pear Blossom Needles', cousin, do you know any skilled craftsmen who can help me forge it."
As a young master from a prominent family, Bai Muyan naturally wouldn't fail to find a good craftsman.
"Alright, I'll go back and do it. I'll give it to you when it's done."
Ye Luan shook her head, "After it's done, just deliver it to Granny Fang at the別院 (biéyuàn - separate courtyard), no need to find me."
Hearing this, Bai Muyan said nothing more, just nodded faintly.
"Thank you, cousin, for your help."
The atmosphere became a little tense.
Bai Muyan looked at his calm cousin before him, lost in thought, wondering what she had endured in the Prince's manor to become this way.
He couldn't help but ask softly, "Are you doing well?"
"I'm doing quite well, thank you for your concern, cousin."
Watching her smile, Bai Muyan clenched the bundle in his hand and let out a breath.
Given that Prince Dingbei was such a vindictive person, and Ye Luan had once been so rebellious towards him, would he let her go?
"Cousin, I'm going back now. You should go back soon too, don't let anyone see you."
"Alright."
After Bai Muyan left, Ye Luan also descended from the viewing platform and returned directly to the Liyuan.
Inside the palace, no one had returned yet.
After eating and bathing, she donned a red veil, took a blue porcelain bottle, and walked to the incense burner, pouring the poisoned water into it.
As wisps of smoke rose, the corner of her lips curled up, her eyes terrifyingly cold.
Xiao Chizhan was too cautious. He had probably already discovered the tampering on her lips. Then she would play along, letting him relax his guard.
She covered the lid of the burner and sat back in front of the dressing table, taking out the lip rouge and gently applying it.
The color was red,娇艳 (jiāoyàn - charmingly beautiful), seductive, and alluring.
"Miss Ye, His Highness has returned."
The door was flung open with a bang.
Ye Luan turned around and was immediately pounced upon by Xiao Chizhan, who strode in. A strong scent of alcohol wafted over, and she couldn't help but frown.
It was suffocating.
"His Highness is drunk, help him to bed."
The little palace maids came in trembling, completely afraid to touch Xiao Chizhan.
Ye Luan frowned, "Come, help me."
As soon as she spoke, she felt a pain in her neck.
She turned her head and saw the man's eyes, red as if burning with hellfire, fixedly staring at her, his entire being exuding intense terror.
This madman.
"Where were you during the day?"
Ye Luan, finding it difficult to breathe under his grip, directly kicked him in the groin.
Xiao Chizhan dodged, but then his hand shot out, grabbing her waist and pulling her towards the dressing table with a crash, scattering rouge and powder all over the floor.
She was forced to sit on the dressing table, the man's overwhelming presence surrounding her, making it hard for her to breathe.
"Speak!"
Her shoulders were held tightly by him, and the rage in his eyes seemed ready to tear her apart.
Ye Luan forced herself to calm down.
Don't panic.
No one had discovered her whereabouts. She had taken a circuitous route for fear of being followed, and only proceeded after confirming she wasn't being tracked. He definitely didn't know.
"I had nothing else to do, so I went for a walk."
"Heh." Xiao Chizhan leaned closer and sneered, "But someone clearly saw you and Bai Muyan leaving the viewing platform one after another."
Ye Luan's hand tightened, but her expression remained calm, "It's been a long time since I've seen my cousin, we just chatted for a bit."
"Cousin? You call him quite affectionately."
His long, strong fingers traced her cheek inch by inch, his cold, sinister eyes clinging to her like a snake.
Suddenly, with a rip, he tore apart her veil dress, piece by piece, scattering them through the air.
Ye Luan felt humiliated and immediately shouted, "Get out, all of you, get out."
The palace maids immediately retreated, closing the door.
"What? I can't satisfy you, so you need to find other men?"
He's a madman, a complete lunatic!
Ye Luan fiercely clawed at his back, ignoring his nonsensical words.
"Speak!"
His anger was so great that even those outside could hear it.
"Xiao Chizhan, are you sick? He's my cousin, can you stop talking nonsense like a madman?"
Hearing this, Xiao Chizhan became even angrier.
"Yes, I'm sick, and you are my medicine."
His rough fingertips dug into her chin, forcing her to look up at him. Gazing at the stubborn eyes beneath him, his anger grew.
"This is my last warning. Our game has just begun. If you make me unhappy again, I will make your life worse than death."
He wanted to keep her hidden, to possess her, and absolutely forbade anyone else from coveting her.
Their entwined breaths grew heavier. Ye Luan tasted blood in her mouth. She pushed him away and glared fiercely at him.
"Don't worry, I remember clearly. In three months, I will definitely make Your Highness fly with joy."
Xiao Chizhan smiled, "I am very happy. I hope you are too."
Happy my foot.
Ye Luan refused to look at him.
This perverted lunatic was moody, flying into a rage one moment and smiling at her the next.
"Remember this, I really dislike what you did today."
"Wouldn't it be more straightforward for Your Highness to tell me directly that you dislike me seeing other men and only want me to be a slave you can abuse?"
Xiao Chizhan sneered.
"You are correct."
What an impudent scoundrel.
The wind outside the window stirred up a sky full of peach blossoms, blowing them into the Liyuan courtyard. The palace maids, hearing the sounds of intimacy coming from inside, quietly blushed.
He had drunk so much that his scent of alcohol permeated her entire being. She was extremely disgusted by it.
Xiao Chizhan carried her to the bathhouse in the back to wash up. Looking at her peacefully sleeping face, he pinched her displeasantly.
"Who is serving whom, really?"
Ye Luan was exhausted, swatting his hand away and muttering, "Stop bothering me."
"You've got quite a bit of courage."
Xiao Chizhan said, pulling her into his embrace again.
Shameless.
Who knew how long it had been. Ye Luan had also intended to change the spices in his sachet, but she hadn't had time and had fallen into a deep sleep.
When she woke up the next day, he was no longer there.
Ye Luan moved her sore legs and slowly got out of bed.
The Crown Prince's autumn hunt usually lasted several days. She guessed he had already left.
After a moment's thought, she quickly put on her clothes, took out the residue from the incense burner, and secretly dug a hole under the tree in the courtyard, burying it all cleanly before breathing a sigh of relief and returning to her room.
"Qiuyue, have the kitchen prepare a bowl of contraceptive soup."
Qiuyue hesitated, "Miss Ye, His Highness did not give any instructions, this servant—"
Before she could finish, Ye Luan interrupted her.
"His Highness told me last night."
Is that so?
Qiuyue was a little doubtful, but the person before her was the Prince's only woman, and she dared not disobey.
"Yes, Miss."
Except for the first time he made her drink contraceptive soup, she had forgotten about it and hadn't drunk it since. Only last night did she suddenly remember that she hadn't taken any cold medicine.
She absolutely could not give birth to Xiao Chizhan's child.