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

Chapter 93 is just a coincidence

Looking down into the small-leaf sandalwood box, one could see a pill the size of a longan, golden with purple hues and a faint white halo, standing out against the dark red velvet lining. It emitted a refreshing fragrance, making it undoubtedly a top-grade medicine in terms of both color and aroma.

Although Qifeng Manor is located on the renowned Medicine King Mountain, such top-grade medicine is an absolute treasure, priceless and unavailable for purchase. Even Qifeng Manor would likely need several years to refine such a unique piece. To so easily hand it over to someone else seems rather generous...

Gu Lounan hesitated for a moment as his mind raced, but Xiahou Ying took the box from Chu Fenghua without hesitation and said respectfully, "Second Master Chu is so kind as to ask for your help. On behalf of the young master, I thank you."

Upon hearing this, Chu Fenghua narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly, her pupils clear as crystal, yet deep and unfathomable.

She glanced at Xiahou Ying, then suddenly parted the corner of her soft, delicate red lips and spoke as if casually. Although her tone was questioning, the words she uttered turned into a meaningful statement.

"I heard that there was a Prince Duan in the Western Liang Kingdom who had lost seven wives. His name was Xiahou Ying, and your name is only one character different from yours, Steward Xia..." Chu Fenghua said, his tone suddenly slowing down. His eyes remained fixed on him, never looking away, as if he had developed a strong interest in him.

"Young Master Gu, as the Grand Preceptor of Xiliang, have you ever met the renowned Prince Duan?"

The conversation abruptly shifted, and she looked away from Gu Lounan, her smile deepening.

Catching a glimpse of her gaze, which seemed sharp yet merely curious, Gu Lounan raised his chin and, with a slow, ambiguous smile, repeated her question, then countered with, "The renowned Prince Duan... So Prince Duan is indeed a famous figure in the martial arts world?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Fenghua chuckled, withdrew her gaze from Xiahou Ying, and turned to walk towards the door. However, she stopped at the threshold, turned back to look at Gu Lounan and Xiahou Ying who were standing there, and said, "I have heard that the Grand Preceptor has always been at odds with Prince Duan. If he is really Xiahou Ying, why would he condescend to the young master for the sake of a mere woman?"

"What the Second Master says is absolutely right... If I were truly Prince Duan, Xiahou Ying, how could I possibly lower myself to the position of a mere concubine's son, the Imperial Preceptor, for the sake of a mere woman..." As Xiahou Ying spoke, he glanced at Gu Lounan without leaving a trace. The latter merely shrugged and smiled innocently.

"The name is just a coincidence." After finishing his sentence, he lowered his eyes and bowed respectfully.

With a slight smile, Chu Fenghua stepped across the threshold and disappeared from their sight.

As soon as Chu Fenghua left, Gu Lounan immediately moved closer to Xiahou Ying, carefully examining the Purple Gold Nine-Turn Pill inside the small sandalwood box in his hand. Then, he looked up at Xiahou Ying, a slight smile playing on his lips, and asked, "What do you think?"

"The Second Master Chu is showing goodwill; Young Master, you may accept." Xiahou Ying replied expressionlessly, then walked towards the bedside.

Following his figure, Gu Lounan smiled helplessly and then followed him.

"That's not what I meant..." Gu Lounan grinned and moved closer to Xiahou Ying, glancing around before continuing.

Sensing his subtle implication, Xiahou Ying focused solely on Yin Quan, placing the Purple Gold Nine-Turn Pill into her pale, waxy lips, before uttering a soft, thoughtful remark: "You should be grateful."

"I..." He had barely uttered a word when he felt two pairs of eyes, as cold and clear as the moonlight, approach him. Along with them came his cool, clear breath and the fresh, dry scent of morning dew.

“You…” Staring at him, she blinked, and suddenly noticed what seemed to be a faint… peach-pink hickey behind the slightly open gap where his collar met.

Suddenly, his eyes widened. Yin Quan grabbed his collar and growled, "Hickeys! Tell me! Which little vixen gave you that!"

"You want to know?" Instead of showing any panic or attempt to cover up what one would expect when caught, Xiahou Ying raised an eyebrow, his gaze deep, and even the tone of his thin red lips became rather ambiguous.

Staring at him with wide, beautiful eyes, Yin Quan swallowed hard.

Holy crap, this is blatant flirting!

Xiahou Ying, you weren't like this before...

Could it be that spending too much time with that jerk Gu Lounan these past few days has caused a new personality to be discovered...?

After thinking for a moment, Yin Quan quickly dismissed the idea.

But... when she looked away from his ambiguous smile, she couldn't help but let her mind wander.

Is it possible...

It was myself?!

A thought flashed through Yin Quan's mind, and she suddenly opened her eyes wide to look at Xiahou Ying. After a long while, she moved her lips and slowly spoke: "Me?"

After hearing this, Xiahou Ying did not respond. He slowly swirled the soup in the porcelain bowl with a spoon, then scooped up a spoonful of the rich soup that had been cooked until it was clear and free of any impurities, put it in his mouth, and then held the back of her head and brought his thin lips to hers.

"It was you. You were exceptionally enthusiastic that day..." He released her lips, his words were indifferent, and his gaze was as clear as the cold moonlight, as if he were talking about something extremely ordinary.

Yin Quan felt her cheeks suddenly burn like fire. Her lips were slightly parted as she stared at him without blinking, suddenly feeling a little at a loss.

What does "格、外、热、情" mean?

She knew she had been drugged with an aphrodisiac, but...

Nothing should have happened...

She couldn't possibly bring him to justice in front of so many people...

Damn, how come she has absolutely no recollection of this?!

Remember it!

If she really forced herself on him in front of so many people, how could he have the courage to continue living until now... Shouldn't he have been so ashamed and indignant back then that he wanted to die to prove his point?!

Damn it! Did you have to phrase it so ambiguously?!

From now on, he must never be allowed to associate with Gu Lounan again! If this continues, her sacred and aloof Xiahou Ying will likely be defiled and poisoned!

In the blink of an eye, a warm palm suddenly covered her head. Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and as she looked up, her gaze met Xiahou Ying's deep and shimmering eyes.

Uh……

Her lips parted slightly, and she felt a sudden rush of light in her mind, followed by a complete blank.

"What exactly did I do to you that day?" After a brief silence, she asked cautiously.

Upon hearing this, Xiahou Ying did not answer her immediately. Instead, he stroked her soft black hair, then smiled and said, "Some things are better left unsaid."

As he spoke, he stood up and subtly changed the subject: "This soup is cold. I'll order the kitchen to heat it up."

After speaking, he turned around and strode away.

Staring blankly at his tall, slender back, dazzling with pale white skin, Yin Quan finally snapped out of her daze and let out a wail: "What do you mean, 'It's better if I remember it myself'?! Xiahou Ying, you better explain yourself clearly!"

Hearing the sounds coming from the room behind him, a dark, unreadable expression appeared in Xiahou Ying's eyes. He pursed his lips and walked around the corner at the end of the corridor. His white robes fluttered like snowflakes, casting a dazzling light against the dark red of the pillars, a light that lingered for a long time.

With the Imperial Preceptor on leave, all affairs of the court were entrusted to the Three Dukes.

Although the Three Dukes held high positions, they were outwardly united but inwardly estranged. The Prime Minister, Gao Tai, was upright and honest, with unique political views, but he was also stubborn and self-willed, often speaking disrespectfully even to the Emperor. He repeatedly caused trouble with his words and nearly lost his life on several occasions.

Grand Commandant Li Chengyou is a smooth and worldly man, and has long been won over by the Crown Prince.

However, with the Crown Prince out of favor, Li Chengyou is likely looking for a better patron. As for the Imperial Censor Song Chen, he is extremely shrewd and appears neutral, but in reality, he has his own agenda.

Xiahou Ying mentally reviewed the personalities of the three dukes, then pursed his lips.

Just as he was pondering this, Wei Jun led an elderly man dressed in a dark blue official robe into the front hall.

"I wonder why Your Highness has invited this old minister here?" Song Chen asked in a deep voice after a slight bow.

Without answering him immediately, Xiahou Ying simply sat down in the main seat with his hands behind his back, picked up the teacup brought by the servant, and absentmindedly brushed the tea leaves.

"Sit down." Seeing that Song Chen remained standing in the same spot, he whispered a word. Upon hearing this, the latter did not refuse and sat down gracefully on the rosewood chair next to him.

"I've heard that when Lord Song served as the magistrate of Qinglu County in his early years, he seemed to have lost a daughter?"

Upon hearing this, Song Chen's heart tightened suddenly, but his wrinkled old face did not show any unusual emotion.

Holding the teacup in his hand, he slid the lid and replied, "Your Highness, these are all old stories. My wife and I are certainly heartbroken, but as one gets older, one becomes more accepting of many things."

After hearing this, Xiahou Ying's deep black eyes flickered, but he didn't say anything more.

The subsequent conversation consisted of nothing more than trivial matters.

Song Chen was indeed a seasoned veteran in officialdom. Whether it was his choice of words or his sentence structure, it seemed as if he had already thought it through in his mind beforehand. After this conversation, he neither expressed any opinion nor stated any attitude, but it was not that he was completely indifferent to the country and its people. However, every word he uttered seemed rather vague and universally applicable.

Nevertheless, Xiahou Ying still managed to glean some information from him.

Although Song Chen was shrewd and never easily revealed his true intentions, at least he cared about the people and his words were always concerned about their well-being.

And that's exactly what he wanted to see, and that's all he wanted to see.

Among the three highest officials, it is enough to have just one who cares about the people and puts the people before the country.

As for Gao Tai and Li Chengyou, with Song Chen as a check, they shouldn't encounter any problems in the short term.

It seems that now, there is only one person he needs to worry about...

Thinking of this, he pursed his thin lips and suddenly asked, "I haven't been to the palace for a long time. I wonder if His Majesty's health has improved?"

Although he found Xiahou Ying's question somewhat inexplicable and sudden, Song Chen still responded respectfully, "Your Highness, His Majesty is still unconscious..." As he spoke, the old man paused, as if hesitating, but ultimately did not continue.

Seeing this, Xiahou Ying lowered his gaze to the tea leaves that had sunk to the bottom of the cup. After a long silence, he glanced at Wei Jun, who was standing nearby, and ordered, "Send Lord Song back to his residence."