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

Chapter 77 Cold Fury

"No problem, no problem. I just want to ask you one thing. Just answer yes or no, is that alright?" Yin Quan smiled and shook her head, rubbing her hands together as she looked up at Wei Jun with pleading eyes.

Looking at her with such fervent eyes, Wei Jun involuntarily turned his head away, a chill creeping into his heart.

If his master sees this... even if he doesn't die, he'll probably be badly injured...

Just thinking about it sends chills down my spine.

Thinking this, the white-clad guard subtly stepped back, creating distance between himself and Yin Quan. Just as he was about to speak, his eyes widened in shock, and his expression froze.

Seeing Wei Jun's face turn pale in an instant, Yin Quan was taken aback and muttered, "Why do you look so pale? It's like you've seen Xiahou Ying..."

As she spoke nonchalantly, she suddenly realized something and turned her head sharply. There she saw a tall, elegant, and ethereal figure, as majestic as a snow-capped mountain, standing right behind her. A chilling aura, as clear as a mountain stream, poured down on her like a tidal wave, burying her in it in an instant, even stripping away the air itself.

Yin Quan's lips twitched, and she was about to speak when Xiahou Ying grabbed her wrist and dragged her away from Wei Jun.

Standing frozen in place, Wei Jun stared at the figures that quickly disappeared into the crowd, one after the other, and felt a surge of emotions.

Only in front of Miss Yin did the master... truly appear like a living, breathing person.

Thinking this, Wei Jun's lips curled up slightly, and he quickly strode after him.

He dragged Yin Quan back to the manor. Although he didn't use much force along the way, the movements were still a bit rough. In addition, the duration was a little longer, so some tender red finger marks were left on her slender, white wrists.

"Look! It's red! I just asked a few questions, is it really necessary to make such a fuss!" Yin Quan shouted angrily, stretching out his wrist and leaning close to Xiahou Ying's face.

Ignoring her anger, his brows were furrowed, his face ashen, and he cornered her step by step. He remained silent throughout, his cold, sharp, and handsome face fixed on her. His dark eyes, as cold as the night, gleamed with a faint indigo light, like the karmic fire from hell, burning fiercely. Though it emanated no warmth, it could burn away even one's soul, leaving no trace.

Yin Quan's scalp tightened, and her lips stiffened. She wanted to speak, but the words were abruptly cut off by that ghostly gaze, and her mind went completely blank for a moment, utterly and completely swallowed up by those unfathomable, slender black eyes, with no hope of escape.

"Why?" A low, husky voice escaped from her thin lips. Xiahou Ying's eyes were cold and deep. A cold, dark light seemed to burst forth from the deepest part of her eyes, slowly pouring out with a chilling aura. Strands of light wrapped around her body, like semi-transparent spider silk. As soon as they touched her, they seeped through her skin and into her bones.

"What do you mean, why?" Yin Quan retorted in a low growl, her neck stiff. In an instant, she didn't know where she got the courage and strength, but she grabbed his neatly trimmed collar, turned him around, and pinned him against the wall.

"I should be the one asking 'why'! Xiahou Ying, why do you keep everything from me? We're getting married soon! Even if I can't do everything, at least let me know! I don't want you to bear all the burdens alone! You bastard, are you even listening?!"

Looking down at the small face that was slightly flushed with anger, Xiahou Ying's thin lips, which were pressed into a straight line, moved almost imperceptibly before quickly returning to normal.

I never imagined she was so strong...

Staring into those dark pupils, as clear and cold as the moonlight, Yin Quan frowned.

I always felt that although he was looking down at me, he seemed to be...absent-minded?

This is simply... intolerable!

"Xiahou Ying! Are you even listening to me?! Xiahou..."

"I am listening."

Her voice was clear and cool, instantly extinguishing the anger in Yin Quan's heart.

As Xiahou Ying spoke, he grasped the hands that were tightly gripping his clothes, gently stroking them with his fingertips, and said with a half-smile, "With such strength, this king will have a hard time."

Startled by what she heard, Yin Quan blinked, and the pressure between her fingers suddenly loosened.

What do you mean?

Is he saying she's strong?

But it sounds so awkward... Why is he having such a hard time when she's so strong?

Is there any direct or indirect relationship between these two things...?

Thinking this, Yin Quan frowned slightly, but then suddenly realized something.

"Me!...You!..."

For a moment, she felt her tongue was tied in knots, and she stared wide-eyed, unable to say anything more for a long time.

As if he had anticipated this, Xiahou Ying silently lowered his gaze, his dark eyes as dark as night, their clear light shimmering.

"Don't change the subject! And let me go!" Yin Quan raised her sharp chin and twisted her hands as she shouted.

"I do not wish to involve you in this struggle." Without giving a direct response or letting go, Xiahou Ying stared intently at her, his thin, pale red lips, as cool as rose petals, moving slightly, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

"What difference does it make? From the moment your father issued the decree to arrange the marriage, I was already forced into it. Now that you want me to withdraw, how can I let you face it alone?" With a light laugh, Yin Quan suddenly relaxed her tense shoulders.

She raised an eyebrow and looked up, a smile playing on her lips. Her dark eyes, shimmering like pearls, seemed to hold ripples of water, captivating anyone for a moment.

"If I am afraid, I will not come back. Xiahou Ying, do you even understand a woman's heart? Do you know how much courage it takes to say such mushy things?"

Xiahou Ying remained silent, offering no response. He simply stared intently at her, at those dark eyes that shone brighter than starlight and more dazzling than the clouds, his heart pounding.

Perhaps, as she said, he was overthinking things... He simply didn't understand women's hearts...

A woman's heart...

He didn't take her nonsensical reasoning to heart, but after hearing it so many times, he began to think it made some sense.

As he pondered this, Xiahou Ying's pursed lips suddenly parted into a narrow slit, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly.

"Why can't you be like an ordinary woman?" Xiahou Ying murmured to himself as he stroked the smooth, delicate skin of the person in front of him. His dark eyes shone with a clear light, as if they were gathering and settling some unspeakable emotion.

"Do you know how much trouble your audacity will bring you...?"

“I know.” Yin Quan interrupted him before he could finish speaking, meeting Xiahou Ying’s gaze steadily. She reached out and grasped the calloused hand that was rubbing against her cheek, and continued, “Xiahou Ying, I know what I’m doing. I’m very clear-headed.”

"I believe you, and I ask you to believe me too!"

His gaze fell upon her clear, resolute eyes. Xiahou Ying pursed his lips, then withdrew his fingers from her cheek and stood with his hands behind his back.

"You seem to know more than I thought..."

Hearing this, Yin Quan chuckled and tapped his chest before walking past him with her hands behind her back, saying, "Never underestimate a woman."

After saying that, she walked straight ahead without looking back.

His gaze, as clear and cold as the moonlight, slowly lingered on her receding figure. Even after Wei Jun returned to the mansion, Xiahou Ying remained motionless.

Upon entering the inner courtyard, Yin Quan was surprised to find Harina, Lian Hongling, and two palace maids all waiting there, seemingly anticipating her arrival.

"You two, get out of here..." Yin Quan said leisurely, raising her chin at the two palace maids, who quickly disappeared from her sight.

After the two left, Yin Quan stood in the courtyard and looked around. Then he turned his gaze to Lian Hongling and said in a deep voice, "Have the people I asked you to keep an eye on done anything strange?"

Upon hearing this, Lian Hongling nodded and said, "Reporting to Master, the Imperial Preceptor has not made any unusual moves recently. The people who attacked us today have nothing to do with the Imperial Preceptor's residence."

Upon hearing her response, Yin Quan stroked her sharp chin but did not speak immediately.

Although Madam Li was a powerful figure in the capital, she would never dare to provoke the people of Prince Duan's mansion. Moreover, even if they wanted to seek revenge, wouldn't it be better to strike when the moon was dark and the wind was high?

But she just had to choose this time...

It looked almost like it was intentional... intentional, giving her a chance to resist, letting her escape...

Thinking of this, Yin Quan lifted her gaze to Lian Hongling, and as if suddenly remembering something, asked, "During the time you were monitoring the Imperial Preceptor's residence, did you pay any attention to Madam Li of the Red Moon Pavilion?"

Shaking her head, a hint of confusion flashed in Lian Hongling's eyes.

“That madam is strange. I remember you previously discovered that quite a few people from the three major manors had been seen near the Imperial Preceptor’s residence. Think carefully, among those people, is there anyone who could be connected to that madam of the Red Moon Pavilion?”

“Master, are you perhaps suspecting that today’s events are related to those three great manors? When I traveled the Central Plains, I heard some things. Nowadays, there are four great manors standing side by side in the martial world. It is said that the four great manors look up to Chonglou Manor, and the master of Chonglou Manor is surnamed Gu…” At this point, Lian Hongling paused, as if waiting for Yin Quan’s reaction, but the latter remained calm and showed no abnormality. After a brief silence, she chuckled to herself, “That’s quite a coincidence, sharing the same surname as Gu Lounan…”

Hearing her faint chuckle, Lian Hongling and Harina were both taken aback. They exchanged glances, unable to determine whether Yin Quan's words were merely a meaningless remark or carried some other deeper meaning.

The room fell silent suddenly, and no one spoke.

Leaning back on the rosewood couch, its color a mix of turmeric and dark chestnut, Yin Quan absentmindedly stroked the gleaming black silver ring on the middle finger of her left hand, her guess already formed in her mind.

As Lian Hongling said, the people from the three major manors have only recently started loitering near the Imperial Preceptor's residence. If she is not mistaken, the martial arts forces behind Gu Lounan must be inextricably linked to Chonglou Manor.

Recalling how Xiahou Ying and Gu Lounan coincidentally appeared at the same time, there is only one possibility if it was not pre-arranged.

They had been fully aware of the actions of those who were lurking in the shadows and plotting against them, and the reason they remained inactive was simply to wait for such an opportunity.

And yet, by sheer coincidence, he became their opportunity...

Thinking this way, Yin Quan was somewhat unhappy, but more than unhappy, she felt helpless.

If she could think of this, Xiahou Ying certainly could too.

Although she knew he would defend her in every way, even risking his life to protect her on many occasions, she still couldn't quite understand what thoughts were hidden behind his dark, moon-like eyes.

She didn't like spending time trying to figure out Xiahou Ying's thoughts, but now she had no choice but to start thinking about it.

She certainly held an important place in his heart, but as time went by, she found it increasingly difficult to discern whether it would surpass the weight of an entire empire.

He not only couldn't see through Xiahou Ying, but he also couldn't see through himself.

With her mind racing, Yin Quan pulled her finger off the antique silver ring, stood up, put her hands behind her back, and walked toward the door, saying as she went, "Then, let's go see if Jing Yu is at the manor. I want to see him."