The Princess Cannot Escape: The Cunning Prince Is Not to Be Messed With

Chapter 28 Obstructing Pedestrians

With his eyes slightly open, Lu Xun stared intently at the four words on the thin metal plate, his heart filled with mixed emotions. It was as if those four words carried immense impact, rushing straight into his heart through his eyes, stirring up a monstrous wave in his already calmed emotions, which could not be calmed for a long time.

Lu Xun, who was staring at the metal piece, did not realize that because he was using too much force with his fingertips, the hard and sharp edge of the metal had pierced into his flesh, causing a line of dark red blood to seep out.

Suddenly, at that moment, the thin metal sheet seemed to come alive and began to absorb the blood that was slowly seeping from his fingertips. Frowning and staring at this inexplicable change, he saw the blood rapidly seep into the metal along its natural grooves, then swallow it up along with the four characters.

With his lips pressed tightly together and his brows furrowed, Lu Xun raised his gaze from his fingertips, three words flashing through his mind: Xuanwu Armor.

Just as they were debating whether to toss the coin, a slightly familiar figure approached. Looking at the person, Yin Quan stroked his chin and then called out the name of the white-clad guard: "Kou Yun!"

"What are your orders, Miss Yin?" Upon hearing this, Kou Yun, who had stepped forward, nodded slightly, his voice still low.

"Come, come, sit down, I have something to ask you." As she spoke, she patted the empty space next to her, Yin Quan's face beaming, her smile revealing her teeth but not her eyes.

Seeing this, Kou Yunwang hesitated for a moment when looking at the empty seat next to her, but quickly looked away and moved his lips, saying, "What does Miss Yin want to ask?"

Seeing that Kou Yun had no intention of sitting down, Yin Quan didn't insist. She simply maintained her smile and asked, "Where's Long Jue? I've been wandering around here for a while now, where is she?"

Upon hearing the name "Long Jue," Kou Yun's originally straight eyebrows furrowed slightly.

He replied, "Long Jue has important business to attend to recently and is not at home."

After hearing this, Yin Quan looked away and muttered to herself with a hint of regret, "He's not here..."

It seems I'll have to ask Wei Jun to deliver the things to her for me...

As he was pondering this, he heard Kou Yun's consistently flat tone: "However, he will be back within the next day or two."

Holy crap! Why are you taking such long breaths?! Would it kill you to just say it all at once?!

He glared at Kou Yun in frustration, but the latter seemed completely oblivious, his expression as bland and tasteless as his tone, which never showed any emotion.

Ignoring Yin Quan's resentful expression, Kou Yun walked up the steps, but stopped just before entering the front hall. He then turned to the person still sitting on the steps behind him and whispered, "Miss Yin, the master has instructed that no one is allowed to sit here, as it will obstruct pedestrians."

After saying that, Kou Yun, with a calm expression, strode forward and quickly disappeared from Yin Quan's sight. Yin Quan stared at the direction he disappeared in with slightly open eyes. After a long while, he shouted, "Xiahou Ying! Go to hell with you and all your damn rules!"

Outside the vermilion and gold-inlaid gates of the Prince Duan's mansion, Gu Lounan, who was standing on the stone steps dealing with the white-clad guard Pang Ban, suddenly curled his lips into a smile.

"Pang Ban, you just said that the Prince is not receiving guests today, but why did I hear a stranger's voice inside?"

Ignoring Gu Lounan's question, Pang Ban still stretched out his arm to block him, and repeated his words in a deep voice: "His Highness has given orders, and I am only following orders. Please return, Grand Preceptor."

“If you obey my orders, I, the Imperial Preceptor, will naturally not make things difficult for you. However, compared to this order, which is more important, the Prince’s life or your life? I’m sure you know better than I do…”

"Grand Preceptor, please return." Before Gu Lounan could finish speaking, Pang Ban's deep voice rang out again, devoid of any emotion, yet stronger than any emotion could express.

“Pang Ban, I have come here on the Emperor’s orders. You and I each have our own masters and duties. I will not force you. Please deliver this item to Prince Duan and tell him that the Emperor has always been concerned about him.”

"Yes, I will pass on the message." Pang Ban responded in a deep voice and reached out to take the bright yellow brocade box that Gu Lounan handed over. However, the latter paused slightly and did not immediately let go.

"Pang Ban, it is truly a blessing for Prince Duan to have such a loyal subordinate as you."

Gu Lounan suddenly lowered his voice, so low that only he and Pang Ban could hear it. His narrow phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips. After speaking, he let go, turned around and walked down the stone steps, then bent down and stepped into the black sedan chair with a purple-red roof.

The moment the official sedan chair was lifted, a hoarse voice, as thin as smoke and mist, floated into Gu Lounan's ears: "Reporting to the Imperial Preceptor, Yin Quan has returned to the Prince Duan's residence."

Upon hearing this, Gu Lounan remained calm, his narrow phoenix eyes still slightly narrowed. His slender, jade-like fingers tapped casually against the gold-threaded gauze window of the official sedan chair. After a long while, he slowly spoke as if talking to himself, "It's been a while since I last visited Minister Ding of the Ministry of War..."

Pang Ban, holding a bright yellow brocade box, walked to the front hall and ran into Yin Quan, who was still sitting on the steps.

Upon seeing the dark-faced guard, who was taller and more imposing than the average person, Yin Quan glanced at him and suddenly said, "Are you also going to tell me that your master ordered you to sit here and block people's way?"

Hearing this, Pang Ban frowned, trying to recall if his master had said something like that. But how did this person know?

Seeing that he neither responded nor gave any expression, Yin Quan pouted and asked again, "What are you holding in your hand?"

"This is what the Imperial Preceptor instructed me to deliver to my master."

"The Imperial Advisor?" Upon hearing Pang Ban's reply, Yin Quan frowned slightly, suddenly recalling the person on her wedding day who had a mischievous grin on his face, clung to her tightly, and inexplicably asked her if she was willing to marry him.

Seeing Yin Quan's thoughtful expression, Pang Ban moved his lips slightly, but did not voice the question that was slightly arousing in his heart. Instead, he said in a deep voice, "If Miss Yin has nothing else to say, I will take my leave."

"Wait..." Yin Quan called out to the tall, black-faced guard as she slowly rose to her feet. After smoothing out the wrinkles on her dress, she slowly shifted her gaze back to the bright yellow brocade box that shone brightly in the sunlight. A radiant smile bloomed on her rosy lips, and her two dark, bright eyes sparkled like stars or a full moon.

"The Imperial Preceptor is busy with countless affairs of state. Why would he need to condescend to deliver such a small brocade box to the Prince Duan's residence? Such a matter could be handled by a servant. Why bother the Imperial Preceptor? In my opinion, there must be something fishy going on here."

Upon hearing this, Pang Ban frowned.

Should he tell her now that, in fact, all items, from large paving stones to small embroidery needles, regardless of who delivers them to the Prince's mansion, are personally opened and inspected at the gate by that person. Only after confirming that there are no problems will he personally deliver them into the mansion and hand them over to the Prince.

"For the sake of your prince's physical and mental health, why don't you let me take a look first?" With that, Yin Quan reached out quickly, but Pang Ban saw through her movements first, thwarting her intentions.

"If Miss Yin is curious, please ask the Prince directly..."

"Are you curious about what he sent?" Before Pang Ban could finish speaking, Xiahou Ying's cold and indifferent voice came from behind the two of them, carrying a chilling aura.

"I'm just worried that he might have hidden poison or an arrow in the brocade box to harm you." Yin Quan pursed her lips and shrugged.

"I've checked, there are no traps." At this moment, Pang Ban's voice rang out from behind, causing Yin Quan to turn around and glare at him.

Why didn't you say something so important just now!

Why do all the guards in this prince's mansion seem to be breathing so heavily...?

Are you trying to stop people from breathing?!

Seemingly oblivious to the deep resentment in her eyes, Pang Ban's voice remained low and consistent.

After hearing Pang Ban's words, Xiahou Ying glanced at the gleaming bright yellow box with a blank expression, then took it from his hand and opened it.

Inside the shallow box lined with dark red velvet was a blue register with silver flowers, in the center of which were three elegant and rounded characters: Xiuchun Register.

Upon seeing the three black characters that snaked like water on a white background, Xiahou Ying's face darkened, his brows furrowed, and his dark eyes flashed like swords, striking the characters with a cold light that seemed to pierce through them.

"Xiuchun Book? What is that? Is it an erotic picture book?" Yin Quan craned her neck and quickly glanced into the brocade box. She was puzzled at first, but then her eyes widened suddenly.

"Could it be that the Imperial Advisor knew you had failed to marry eight times in a row, so he specially sent this thing in case of emergency? That question is really thoughtful of you!" Ignoring Xiahou Ying's increasingly gloomy and cold face, Yin Quan spoke to himself, while instructing Pang Ban to carefully put the thing away to prevent it from being discovered by any stranger and damaging the prince's reputation.

Pang Ban lowered his head further and further, almost burying it in his collar, while Wei Jun, standing behind Xiahou Ying, turned his head to the side and suddenly became very interested in a small bird with a tuft of white feathers on its head standing on the courtyard wall.

Suddenly, at that moment, Xiahou Ying, who had remained silent, reached into the brocade box with his long, slender fingers and took out the meticulously bound register. He handed it to Yin Quan and said, "Since you are so interested in what he sent, why don't you take a look at what is written inside?"

"Me? Are you sure? Let me see?!" Yin Quan stared wide-eyed at Xiahou Ying, confused.

Has Xiahou Ying really been poisoned to the point of brain damage? He's been acting strangely ever since he woke up...

She glanced at him with her head tilted and took the register from his hand while pursing her lips. She suddenly felt a little nervous.

"Um, Xiahou Ying, are you sure you want me to watch this from here? There are so many people? Is this really a good idea?"

Xiahou Ying remained silent, his previously slightly cold expression suddenly turning strange.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Yin Quan pouted and said no more. She gritted her teeth and stomped her foot, then opened the exquisitely crafted silk book. The moment she opened it, she exclaimed "Eh!"

It turned out to be a roster, and the kind with both pictures and text.

Staring at the portrait of the woman on the first page of the album, she frowned and leaned closer, then flipped it over disdainfully, not forgetting to comment: "What bright eyes and white teeth, what slender figure? She dares to show off a figure as flat as a washboard! Aren't they afraid of deceiving the emperor?!"

"That butt is too big! But a big butt doesn't guarantee you'll have a son!"

"These breasts are too big! They'll definitely sag after childbirth!"

"This person has too much hair! People with a lot of hair are less intelligent!"

"This one……"

As they watched Yin Quan flip through the pages and comment on each one, Pang Ban and Wei Jun looked at their master. Sunlight poured down on his long, slender profile, which was smooth and angular, as if illuminating a jade sculpture. The sunlight shone brightly and shone, and a soft line extended from his forehead to his lips.

Seeing this, the two white-clad guards breathed a sigh of relief. However, Yin Quan suddenly paused, causing their slightly calmed emotions to rise again.