Ye Luan ignored his shameless address, crossed her arms, and smiled, "Since His Highness can fake his physical condition, this little strength won't kill you."
"I just wanted to hold you while I slept. I didn't mean to deceive you."
He said this with great conviction.
A stubborn, crazy lunatic, utterly shameless even when exposed.
His existence was the source of all evil!
Ye Luan gave him a helpless look, tinged with disappointment.
That gaze sent a chill through Xiao Chizhan's heart, and a sense of panic involuntarily arose.
He wanted her to stand before him, alive and breathing, just like that day when she was drugged and dependent on him, cooing and even kissing him.
He couldn't ruin what he had finally obtained.
"Luan Luan, I was wrong. Please don't be angry. I'll sleep on the couch in the study, and you can sleep here, okay?"
His tone softened, and his usually fierce and terrifying eyes showed a hint of appeasement.
Ye Luan paused, then said nothing more.
Seeing her silence, Xiao Chizhan knew she had agreed. He threw back the quilt, picked up his clothes, and dressed. He obediently folded the more than a dozen quilts and put them back in the cabinet.
The room was warm from the underfloor heating, not cold at all.
Xiao Chizhan said, "Then I'm leaving. Get some rest early."
Ye Luan ignored him and slowly walked towards the bed.
Seeing this, Xiao Chizhan said nothing more, reluctantly closed the door, and left.
She was indeed very sleepy. Without his disruption, Ye Luan slept soundly that night.
She woke up the next day, and it was already late.
The maids waiting outside came in to serve her.
Ye Luan's mouth twitched slightly as she saw the abundance of silk clothes and hair ornaments. She got out of bed to wash up.
"Miss, do you want to wear this one?"
All the dresses were red, elaborate, and luxurious.
Ye Luan didn't want to wear red, but she had worn her clothes all day, and they were dirty. She had no choice but to casually pick up a relatively simple red dress.
After breakfast, Xiao Chizhan did not appear.
"Yue'er, where has His Highness gone?"
The maid Yue'er, who was serving her, immediately replied respectfully, "His Highness has gone out on business today. If Miss wants to look around, this servant will accompany you."
Upon hearing this, a flash of brilliance instantly appeared in Ye Luan's eyes.
She sized up Yue'er and asked blandly, "Where does Miss Lan live? Can you take me to see her? It's too boring in the room."
"This servant will take Miss."
The territory was vast, and Ye Luan could sense that there were dark guards everywhere, with very strict security.
She walked for nearly two incense sticks of time before arriving at the garden where Lan Murou lived.
"A'Luan."
Lan Murou was sitting under the corridor, embroidering. Seeing her arrive, she smiled softly.
Ye Luan went up the steps, winked at her, and the latter immediately understood. She instructed the maids serving her to retreat and pulled Ye Luan into the room.
As soon as the door was closed, Lan Murou quickly handed Ye Luan the travel permit hidden in her sleeve, "Here, this is the fake travel permit I've been hiding. It will absolutely not expose you."
Ye Luan took the travel permit and breathed a sigh of relief.
"A'Luan, what are you going to do?"
"It's hard to explain in a few words."
Lan Murou worried, "I'm afraid you won't be able to leave. His Highness..."
Ye Luan said, "When he discovers I've left Northern Qi, he'll pursue me relentlessly. Let him follow if he wants."
"So, are you leaving now?"
"No, it's for emergencies."
Xie Beihan, a man so cunning, had shown no movement. Who knew what he was plotting? She couldn't count on him to get her a travel permit.
She was tired of being in Northern Qi. Xiao Chizhan dared not imprison her now, nor could he force her to stay by his side. She wasn't afraid; she could just ignore him.
With the travel permit, she could go wherever she pleased.
Thinking of this, Ye Luan looked at the person opposite her, "Murou, when I return to the capital, I'll get one for you too--"
She had no means to obtain a fake travel permit at the moment. Once she returned to the capital, she could ask her cousin for help.
Lan Murou saw her difficulty and comforted her, "I don't need this travel permit. Keep it."
She didn't dare to run away, truly didn't dare.
Moreover, he was watching her closely now and kept her by his side, giving her no opportunity to leave.
"Murou, to be honest, it's not good for you to be constantly controlled by him."
Ye Luan put away the travel permit and walked to the tea table, pouring a cup of hot tea.
"I've noticed that this dog, Tantai Ye, is very skilled in psychological warfare. He applies pressure from all sides to make you fearful. He's simply a devil."
Lan Murou sighed, "He's even more ruthless than His Highness. He would really kill my younger brother."
"That's why, for your brother's sake, you can't keep being suppressed by him. I think Tantai Ye has some affection for you, perhaps you can use it."
"What do you mean?"
Ye Luan sipped her tea, "Think about it. The Tantai family is the head of the four great clans in the capital, comparable to royal families. He is the only legitimate heir of the Tantai family's main lineage. His status is noble. Will he marry you in the future?"
To put it bluntly, the Tantai family would never accept a commoner girl as a wife.
"Furthermore, Tantai Ye's personality is paranoid. He won't let you go then either. The Tantai family will definitely act against you, and if he marries a wife, they will be even less tolerant of you. You and your brother will have even worse lives."
"If you don't stand firm, you will always be manipulated by him."
Lan Murou pursed her lips slightly. What A'Luan said had always been her hidden worry.
Ye Luan continued, "If you remain so weak, he won't value your thoughts. Once the Tantai family forces him to marry, with his character, he won't object for your sake. At that time, you will be his mistress kept outside, how will you conduct yourself?"
"Therefore, even if you can't escape for now, you can't continue to be so weak."
"Since he has affection for you, you must find a way to use his affection to put yourself on an equal footing with him."
Hearing her words, Lan Murou frowned slightly.
A'Luan had attempted suicide several times to bring about changes in His Highness and achieve the current situation.
How could she make him understand that she wanted equality?
Actually, what Ye Luan didn't say was that someone as powerful as Tantai Ye, if he truly didn't want to marry, the Tantai family couldn't do anything to him.
"Murou, you need to let him know that you are not to be trifled with."
Lan Murou raised her eyes and gave a wry smile, "In the past, I struggled too. But ever since I was captured and A'Yan's legs were almost crippled by him, I gave up those thoughts."
Ye Luan sneered, "He wouldn't dare. He's just trying to scare you. As long as he can't bear to part with you, he won't truly lay a hand on your brother."
"Really? I don't even dare to resist him. I can only obey him completely."
"Don't worry, it's fine if you act out a little. He won't kill you. Moreover, you can try to use soft tactics to ensure your brother is not controlled by him."
Lan Murou bit her lip, "Then what should I do?"
Ye Luan put down her teacup, paused, and then asked, "Did your brother go to the military camp?"
"Yes, I heard he's been in Liangzhou."
Ye Luan narrowed her eyes slightly, "Liangzhou is a crucial border military area. If he can earn military merits, he will have a chance for promotion. Even if not, you can work through Tantai Ye to get your brother to Sai Bei."
"Go to Sai Bei? Why?"