A piece of Japanese incense

Feng Zhixu couldn't help but sneer, and Zhi Yihe looked at him in confusion.

Feng Zhixu placed one hand on her shoulder and gently held her cheek with the other hand: "My silly Heer, you are too naive. That is the noble Royal Highness. Do you think your beloved father would be willing to risk his life just to preserve your peaceful life in the palace?"

Zhi Yihe followed Feng Zhixu's gaze the whole time, circling a strand of hair with his fingers, again and again.

"Perhaps, since you were five years old, your father has been quietly planning to make you the Crown Prince's Consort." Feng Zhixu's eyes were like the surface of a lake in late autumn, calm and cold, but at the bottom of the lake there were unknown undercurrents that made people feel chilly.

"No! No!" Zhi Yihe murmured softly, touching his cheek. The whole person seemed to be frozen there, motionless, only his eyes kept changing, like a pool of water blown by the wind.

Feng Zhixu locked her wrists with both hands and retorted, "From marrying the eldest princess to the change of the crown prince's position, your father manipulated the royal descendants like toys in his hands. What was his intention? Did he want to become a powerful official who could cover the sky with one hand?"

Zhi Yihe's pupils dilated instantly with fear. She seemed to be pushed by an invisible force and fell into the chair beside her. She grasped the armrests of the chair tightly and opened her mouth but no sound came out.

Feng Zhixu squatted beside her, holding her hand, and said softly: "He'er, listen to me, no matter what your father wants, he is still your father. As a father, it is impossible for him not to love his daughter."

"Yes... yes, Daddy... loves me..." Zhi Yihe whispered unconfidently.

Feng Zhixu continued, his eyes flickering with determination: "He'er, for the sake of our happy future, the only way now is for me to take your place and become the person your father wants!"

"Your Highness...what should we do?!"

A cruel smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Doesn't he desire power above everyone else? Whether it's Zhiyu or Zhiyan, as long as the surname is Feng, it's fine! Isn't it?" His words were like dead leaves in the forest in late autumn, hoarse and harsh, and every word was like a poisonous snake lurking in the darkness, ready to bite his prey at any time.

"Your Highness Zhixu..." Zhi Yihe leaned forward, his eyes wandering, staring at Feng Zhixu, as if looking for a hint of an answer on his face.

(Wow! The Feng Zhixu in this dream and the one I saw in reality are two completely different people!)

The stars are twinkling, the night wind is chilly, and the surroundings are unusually quiet, so quiet that even the fluttering of birds among the leaves can be heard clearly.

(Where the hell is this happening to me?)

The moonlight shines through the half-closed window, and the alcohol creates a mottled light and shadow in the dim space. Two figures lean against each other by the window, their figures appear hazy in the soft candlelight. Whispers are heard in between, and I approach, trying to catch the tiny whispers.

"Didn't Your Highness say that laurel essence would only make the Crown Prince feel dizzy, nauseous and vomit? Now he is unconscious. What is going on?" Zhi Yihe spoke amid sobs.

"Perhaps he has a weak constitution to begin with. Don't worry. When I have solved the case of the baby-eating monster and made great achievements, I will ask the Emperor to grant us a marriage. By then, open the window for him to ventilate and breathe in fresh air, and that will help."

"Well, is he really okay?"

"Of course! The scent of laurel can soothe the soul, relieve fatigue, and improve mood. It's just that if I inhale too much, it will cause breathing problems, sore throat, and other discomforts. It's actually not a big deal."

"Yes! Good! Hey! How is the investigation of your Highness's case going?"

"It will be soon. Thanks to your father. When he investigated your kidnapping, he accidentally discovered that it was related to the Crown Princess. The lotus moved the lotus root and accidentally saved the life of Wang Zude, the deputy eunuch of the East Palace. In order to repay your father's kindness, he has agreed to go to the palace to identify the Crown Princess."

"What? Princess?"

"That's right! He'er, you have helped me a lot! If we can successfully expose the Crown Princess's crimes this time, not only will I be able to avenge my mother, but there will also be no obstacles between you and me!" Feng Zhixu hugged Zhi Yihe into his arms.

(Aban’s father is actually related to a baby-eating monster?! I thought it was just a folk legend, meant to scare children, but I didn’t expect it to be inextricably linked to the Crown Princess…)

"Your Highness Zhixu! What should I do now? I killed His Highness the Crown Prince, I..."

"Shut up! Are you afraid that others can't hear you when you speak so loudly?"

Feng Zhixu and Zhi Yihe hid behind a huge rock that looked like a screen. Zhi Yihe tried to stay calm, but tears still fell.

"Listen to me carefully. Feng Zhiyu's death has nothing to do with you! And me! Last night in the East Palace, everyone witnessed him. His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, was so distressed that he vomited blood and died after learning about the Crown Princess's misconduct!"

Zhi Yihe's voice was full of regret: "But, every day when I visited him, I would apply a small amount of laurel essence on the tip of his nose when he was unconscious... If this were to be exposed..."

"Shut up!" Feng Zhixu's Adam's apple moved, he took a deep breath, and then slowly and firmly exhaled: "He'er, erase all this from your memory. From now on, you and I should not meet in private again."

"Your Highness!"

"Grandpa Emperor has finalized your marriage with Mr. Jin. You and I will no longer be together."

"Your Highness! I will never agree to this marriage! I will go and beg His Majesty right now. Even if I die, I will never marry my cousin! Your Highness!"

Her eyes became red and swollen due to pain, and tears blurred her vision, but could not blur her determination. She had to wipe her eyes frequently while speaking, but despite this, she still insisted, and every word was filled with tears, which made people feel heartbroken.

"Zhi Yihe! If you had told me earlier that you were engaged to your cousin, why would I have gone to so much trouble and effort to pave the way for him? Now I might even have to bear the infamy of killing my brother and usurping the throne! Why did I do all this?" Feng Zhixu angrily waved his sleeves and pulled away Zhi Yihe's tightly held hand.

Zhi Yihe sat on the ground in embarrassment and burst into tears uncontrollably: "This is all my fault... I should have explained it to Dad earlier. I didn't know that you and my cousin were jointly investigating this case. Dad thought that the person I have been helping was my cousin... Your Highness... It's all He'er's fault..."

Feng Zhixu sighed helplessly: "It's a done deal now, it's too late to regret. Let's just go our separate ways and say goodbye."