"Nothing much."
Qu Linglong didn't say, but the upward curve of her lips clearly indicated she had done something.
Ling Yao's eyes darted around. Could it be that the First Prince was well again?
Last night, the two of them...
"Chi Yun, wait a moment. I need to speak with Miss."
Qu Linglong pulled Ling Yao back into the room.
She needed to ask for clarity, to know exactly what injuries he had sustained, so that she could guide him correctly in the future and avoid making mistakes unknowingly.
Ling Yao was reluctant to speak. She knew it was the First Prince's dignity, but if Linglong knew, it would indeed help her treat him better.
"If the First Prince is not as glorious as he appears on the surface, or if he once wallowed in the mud, would you look down on him, Linglong?"
"As long as it wasn't his fault, I wouldn't."
"Yes, I believe you. Of course, it wasn't his fault."
He was pure, but he felt dirty himself, needing someone to lead him out of the darkness.
"When he was young, he was abused by palace staff, with drugs, and sexually violated."
...
In the front courtyard, Feng Shihao was getting increasingly impatient.
The main reason was the presence of this uncouth Grand Princess. Xiao Shan and the strategist had all gone out to assign tasks, and this Grand Princess had volunteered to entertain him.
This woman wanted to marry Xiao Shan, making her a love rival to his imperial sister. He naturally had no pleasantries for her.
However, due to the diplomatic relations between the two countries, he tried his best to be patient.
But this woman was truly shameless.
Even when he feigned a philandering demeanor in the past, he wouldn't have acted like this.
The climate here was hot, and people dressed lightly. This woman was even more so, her long legs exposed to the very root!
Meng Jiu, Wei Hu, and Zhang Yan could turn their bodies to become background scenery, but he... could he gouge his own eyes out?
"Prince Jiangbei, eat! The grapes here are much tastier than those in the capital. They're juicy and not sour at all."
Hua Qingmu slurped down a whole grape, tossed the skin onto the table, and licked her fingers with her ruby-red lips.
Even setting aside her actions, the sounds alone were unbearable.
What a man, Xiao Shan. His imperial sister mustn't have been deceived by him, bringing such a temptress to the general's mansion. Did he really not touch her?
Hua Qingmu, with her heavy makeup making her eyes appear exceptionally large, smiled maliciously, stood up with a sway of her hips, and pushed her ample bosom forward as she walked towards Feng Shihao.
The brother of the Goddess looked so handsome, especially those phoenix eyes. They were truly captivating.
A gust of floral fragrance wafted over. Feng Shihao watched Hua Qingmu sway her hips as she approached and couldn't help but step back a few paces.
This woman was tall, almost as tall as him.
In this southwest region, she was quite an anomaly.
"Prince Jiangbei, I hear you are quite the ladies' man. What is it? I, this princess, am considered beautiful. Could it be that I don't catch your eye?"
Hua Qingmu grabbed Feng Shihao's arm. Her large chest pressed against him, startling Feng Shihao greatly.
He swung his hand to slap Hua Qingmu, but she twisted and writhed, rubbing against him like a snake, circling him.
She even let out a giggling sound.
Anyone who didn't know better would think they were flirting.
Little darling, even Yuan Bufei couldn't escape her. What power could a young master from the capital possibly have?
"Get lost!"
Suddenly, a powerful kick landed on his waist. Hua Qingmu cried out in pain.
The voice was somewhat coarse, with a wild edge to it. Truly vulgar.
His waist! It felt like it was breaking. It hadn't healed properly, damn it. Who kicked him so hard!
Qu Linglong, before Hua Qingmu could turn around, stomped on her again. "Shameless! You dare touch my man!"
Feng Shihao, who had been about to slap his arm away, paused and looked at the furious Qu Linglong.
Her eyes were red with anger.
She was this angry?
Qu Linglong, still not satisfied, proceeded to kick Wei Hu and the others standing beside him.
"You don't know how to protect the Prince. What use are you?!"
They lowered their heads, murmuring and not daring to speak.
Who could have known if their master was willing or unwilling? He used to be quite the philanderer.
Although Qu Linglong's actions were more vulgar than the uncouth Grand Princess's, Feng Shihao didn't find her unsightly at all. He slowly patted his sleeves, his expression unreadable.
His mind drifted back to the scene when he woke up that morning. Her hand resting on his shoulder, his head leaning against her chest.
He had actually run into her arms!
He had almost pushed her off the bed onto the floor.
"Big brother, are you alright?"
Ling Yao's question interrupted Feng Shihao's thoughts. He blinked his phoenix eyes and saw Qu Linglong looking at him with red eyes.
What was this?
Did she think he had done something to betray her?
It was quite amusing. She was merely a concubine...
A tear fell from Qu Linglong's eye. She turned her back, wiped it away as if nothing had happened, then turned back, pursed her lips, and lowered her head.
Feng Shihao's heart skipped a beat.
"I'm fine," he shook his head.
"Goddess."
Hua Qingmu's eyes lit up. She clutched her waist and leaned closer. "Indeed, she is the Goddess. She resembles the Goddess statue worshipped by our Tantai royal family so much."
Especially those eyes. Yesterday, they were red and swollen, and he hadn't noticed. But now, looking at them, they were exactly the same.
Ling Yao looked at the Tantai Grand Princess, who was a head taller than her, and recalled Xiao Shan's words from yesterday.
She was even jealous of men.
Then she looked at the wide neckline of her dress, revealing the magnificent mountains below... why were they uneven?
Ling Yao reached out her hand... and slipped it inside.
Everyone's mouths formed an 'o' shape.
Then, Ling Yao pulled out a large white steamed bun.
As the bun came out, that side of her chest deflated.
"Heh heh!" Hua Qingmu pulled out the bun from the other side and took a big bite. "Goddess, have some. They're fresh, just steamed this morning, not stale."
Everyone: "..."
The Tantai Grand Princess was a man...
Ling Yao was utterly speechless. Her hand trembled, and the bun rolled onto the ground.
She remembered a dream from a long time ago where Xiao Shan married a man. She had thought it was a fabricated dream, but it turned out to be a premonition.
After her initial shock, Qu Linglong actually felt relieved. He was a man, which was better than a woman. She looked at Feng Shihao and saw that his expression had become even more grim.
Her heart sank.
The princess had only mentioned that he was abused by palace staff... could it be...
Her heart ached even more.
It was killing her.
"Your Highness, you haven't had a chance to tour the southwest yet. Would you accompany me for a walk?"
Qu Linglong came over and gently linked her arm with Feng Shihao's.
In front of outsiders, she perfectly played the role of a concubine.
But he remembered last night's utterance: "Zhong Liang."
He had no family or friends in the past. This nickname, apart from the late emperor and Prince Runan occasionally calling him that, no one else had ever used it.
She had said: "I've called this name secretly many times in my dreams."
Ling Yao smiled. "Then Linglong, don't forget to bring me back anything fun you see!"
Now, Feng Shihao had no choice but to go, whether he wanted to or not.
Looking at the small hands on his arm, Feng Shihao nodded coldly.