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

Chapter 78 His Tacit Approval

Whether it was because he was acting on Xiahou Ying's orders or for some other reason, Jing Yu did not appear at the mansion all day today, and it was not until several days later that Yin Quan was able to see him.

"Miss Yin, this is what you wanted." The clean-cut and cheerful young man said as he placed a rather heavy-looking package on the stone table in front of her. He then turned to leave, but was stopped by Yin Quan.

How much do you know about the Imperial Advisor's background?

Upon hearing this, the young man paused for a moment, then quickly regained his composure and replied with a smile, "If Miss Yin wants to know about the Imperial Preceptor, perhaps it would be more appropriate to ask Master in person."

Hearing the boy's response, Yin Quan smiled and said no more, only saying with a light laugh, "Go down. If there's anything else, I'll contact you again."

Seeing that she had no intention of pressing the matter further, Jing Yu did not linger any longer and quickly walked up the steps, disappearing into the many corridors.

Following the boy's retreating figure, Yin Quan pursed her lips and then turned her gaze away from the package wrapped in blue cloth on the stone table.

Was it Xiahou Ying's tacit approval again...?

She really doesn't understand him...

On the one hand, they prevented her from getting close to these things, but on the other hand, they tacitly approved of and indulged her.

If she was contradictory, in her opinion, Xiahou Ying was probably even more contradictory than her.

Thinking of President Zhang's expressionless, cold, and aloof face, as clear as snow mountain spring water, Yin Quan moved her lips slightly, but did not touch the package for a long time.

Her delicate fingertips, as tender as lotus tips, gently caressed the dark blue cloth bag as she gazed absently into the empty corridor.

Since it was his deliberate tacit approval, there might be something in this package that he intended for him to know...

Inside the study, Jing Yu stood respectfully before the desk, bowing his head, and said, "Your subordinate has delivered the things that Master instructed to Miss Yin."

As if he hadn't heard the boy's clear voice, Xiahou Ying kept his gaze lowered, focused on the scrolls in his hands, until after a long while he finally looked up and moved his thin, cicada-wing-like rosy lips: "Did she mention anything else?"

"Reporting to Master, Miss Yin inquired about the Imperial Preceptor's background." Speaking in a deep voice, Jing Yu's still-childish face revealed a composure and maturity that was quite incongruous with his features and temperament.

Upon hearing this, Xiahou Ying paused subtly in his gaze at the scroll, but quickly continued downwards, saying casually, "Go down. If she wants to know anything, you can tell her."

Upon hearing his master's words, Jing Yu frowned, feeling both puzzled and confused.

Can I really tell Miss Yin about the things concerning the Imperial Advisor...?

The relationship between the master and the Grand Preceptor has always been tense because of the Crown Prince. Moreover, the ruthless Grand Preceptor seems to have quite a bit of affection for Miss Yin in the manor...

The relationship here is rather complicated...

With mixed feelings, Jing Yu felt extremely troubled by his master's permission.

As the young man emerged from the study, dressed in a snow-white outfit, he saw Yin Quan walking towards him.

Jing Yu opened her eyes wide in surprise.

It's hard to believe that this seemingly beautiful and elegant Miss Yin is actually a woman of action...

He pursed his lips, about to speak, when Yin Quan, who was walking towards him, spoke first: "Is your master inside?"

Nodding in agreement, Jing Yu gave an affirmative answer almost subconsciously. Before he could finish speaking, the rouge-colored figure in front of him had already swept past him like a fragrant breeze and entered the two half-closed rosewood doors.

"coming……"

As soon as Yin Quan stepped across the threshold, a clear, cold voice, like a chilling wind, drifted towards him.

She didn't respond immediately. She first turned around and closed the door, then turned back to look at Xiahou Ying, who was still focused on the books behind the desk, and pouted, "You already know, why are you asking?"

As she spoke, Yin Quan walked slowly toward the bookshelf on the north wall, her expression relaxed, as if she had only come here to kill time and had no interest whatsoever in the person sitting behind the desk at this moment.

She picked up a few books and flipped through them, then pursed her lips.

It's all just strategies and instructions; the books in this Prince Duan's mansion are really boring... Is this the kind of book Xiahou Ying reads all day long in his study? No wonder his personality is so eccentric.

Just as she was inwardly complaining, Yin Quan suddenly felt a chill in her back. She turned around abruptly and saw a pair of long, narrow, dark eyes, as deep as a cold pool in an empty valley, staring at her intently. The eyes were like the cold moon tinged with clear light, and she was momentarily stunned.

Her scalp tightened, and her fingers loosened, only to see him suddenly press against her, their faces and lips almost touching. Yin Quan stared wide-eyed, gasping for breath. Her entire back pressed against the framed bookshelf, she froze completely, her mind blank.

Before she could react, Xiahou Ying suddenly slumped down and handed her the ancient book that she had just dropped.

"This ancient book is a handwritten copy from the Eastern Zhou Dynasty."

Yin Quan swallowed hard, staring blankly at Xiahou Ying and blinking.

What?!

A handwritten copy from the early Eastern Zhou Dynasty?!

so……

Thinking of this, she felt a burning sensation on her cheeks, gritted her teeth, and pushed him away forcefully.

"It was just a slip of the hand!"

Following her retreating figure, Xiahou Ying's dark eyes flickered slightly. He pursed his lips and put the ancient book back on the shelf without saying anything more.

There was no cold, chilling voice like a winter night's wind coming from behind. Yin Quan frowned, wanting to speak but hesitating.

A pang of annoyance shot through her heart. She pouted and glanced back at the tall, elegant figure in snow-white every now and then. Finally, she moved her lips and said, "Aren't you curious?"

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Xiahou Ying's clear, cool gaze remained fixed on Shu Jiandan, though his thin lips loosened imperceptibly: "What are you curious about?"

“I have ordered the white-clad guards in your residence to investigate court officials outside the Crown Prince's faction, and I also want to know the background of the Imperial Preceptor. Aren't you curious about my purpose in doing these things?”

Finally, unable to hold back any longer, Yin Quan blurted out all the questions and confusions that had been hidden in her heart for so long. She placed her hands on the other side of the table and looked through the stacks of books at Xiahou Ying, who had never looked away from the books.

"Why be curious? In less than ten days, you will marry me and become my concubine. Why would you care about these things..." Xiahou Ying said, lifting his gaze expressionlessly. He suddenly stopped, his two long, slanted eyebrows slightly raised.

"Could it be that you think I don't trust you... or that you don't trust me?" His voice suddenly rose, and he looked at her with deep eyes, as if covered by a layer of pearly, translucent light, which almost instantly shone into Yin Quan's body and struck her soul.

A chill ran down her spine again. Yin Quan straightened up, her body slightly leaning forward, and muttered under her breath, "You were the one who said you didn't want me involved..."

"I said it was true, but have you heard it?" The dark light in his eyes faded, and Xiahou Ying let out a barely audible sigh. His expression softened as he looked at Yin Quan.

Uh……

His question made her bite her lip and look up at the sky.

Just as the two fell silent, Wei Jun's voice suddenly came from outside the door.

Turning her head at the sound, Yin Quan saw the white-clad guards who had already entered. Although she still had some things to say, she straightened up and walked out.

Looking back at the rouge-colored dress that had just brushed past him, Wei Jun pursed his lips, turned his gaze to his master, only to see that the pair of cold, clear black eyes, like the moon's gentle glow, had been following the figure without blinking until the fluttering, butterfly-like skirt disappeared around the corner of the corridor.

Silently watching his master, Wei Jun felt a deep sense of melancholy.

Back in the inner courtyard, Yin Quan sat on a stone bench in the middle of the courtyard wearing only a thin ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress). Harina offered to add a cloak for her, but she refused.

Holding a bright red velvet cloak, Harina stood beside her, biting his lip, feeling a mixture of worry and confusion.

With one hand resting on her sharp chin, Yin Quan was deep in thought.

What Xiahou Ying said just now seems to make some sense...

But those words still sounded a bit strange.

It's really not like him at all.

While she was lost in thought, two figures, one tall and one short, suddenly emerged from the corridor directly opposite her.

With a slight furrow in her brow, Yin Quan pouted.

Granny Gui and Chun Ya...

How could she have forgotten about that...?

Xiahou Ying had just reminded her that the wedding was in less than ten days, which meant she had to memorize all those rules and regulations by heart in the next ten days!

This is outrageous!

She felt a tightness in her chest and a headache, and her hands and feet seemed to be trembling. Yin Quan stared unblinkingly at the two palace maids who were walking towards her, her heart filled with endless sorrow.

It's just getting married, does it really need to be so complicated...?

She rubbed her forehead, smoothed out her slightly furrowed brows, and stood up to greet him.

Imperial Prefecture.

In the dim and damp stone chamber, Gu Lounan, dressed in a crimson-purple robe, was leisurely reclining on a long yellow camphor wood couch. His slender but pale fingers tapped lightly on the dark edge of the couch, and his phoenix eyes were slightly closed, as if he were taking a nap.

Opposite him was a man in black robes, his hands and feet bound by iron chains, his hair disheveled and filthy, obscuring his true appearance.

Several iron hooks and chains pierced the joints of the man in black. In the dim light of the fire, the blood that flowed slowly along the black iron rings was thick yet bright, and each drop fell onto the metal ground with a muffled sound that made one's scalp crawl.

Suddenly, Gu Lounan, who had been keeping his eyes slightly closed, opened them. His expression remained indifferent as he glanced at the figure in front of him, but he quickly curled his lips into a smile.

"As expected of the people of Tinghailou..." With a smile on his face, he slowly moved his pale orange lips, then paused and turned his head away a few times. Almost at the same time, a black smoke billowed out from behind him and drifted straight toward the figure who was already barely breathing.

"Dou Qing, I respect this man as a hero. Send the body back to Tinghai Tower."

After speaking, Gu Lounan slowly got up and quickly disappeared into a bottomless darkness.

Upon entering the inner courtyard, he was immediately struck by the sight of a slender figure standing in an elegant stone pavilion on the side of the courtyard. He raised an eyebrow, but quickly regained his usual nonchalant demeanor, smiling as he approached her and said in a clear voice, "Miss Chu, it's been a long time."

Inside the Prince Duan's residence, Yin Quan, who had been tormented by Granny Gui and Chun Ya for a whole day, didn't even have the strength to wail.

At this moment, she had no energy or time to ponder Xiahou Ying's thoughts; she had already had enough of the "Rules for Women," which could have crushed an adult male.

"I'm not reciting it! I'm not learning it anymore! I'd rather not get married! What a load of rubbish 'Rules for Women'! I'm..."

"how?"

Before Yin Quan could vent her frustration, a calm, indifferent voice drifted in from outside the door, startling her.