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

Chapter 97 Special People

Yin Quan's eyes widened in shock.

What kind of martial arts can prevent you from even eating...?

It's less about practicing martial arts and more about self-torture...

If this continues, I'll eventually develop anorexia...

As it turned out, her worries were completely unnecessary.

After a month, Xiahou Ying not only didn't become pale and thin, but actually looked even more attractive and delicious than before. His clear and fair skin looked almost flawless, not at all like a man's skin, it was even better than a woman's.

Her thin, blood-red lips became even softer, and her whole being was like a pearl or jade, as if covered by a thin veil invisible to the naked eye, making her exceptionally alluring.

Recalling the subtle changes she seemed to have noticed in him a few months ago, Yin Quan clutched her chest and swallowed hard. Her gaze remained fixed on him, as if hooked, unable to look away.

Although he was always strict with her, it did not prevent her from appreciating him.

Catching a glimpse of her suddenly eager gaze, Xiahou Ying reached out and pinched the tip of her nose: "Once you are fully healed, I will take you out. But before that..."

"I know, so many rules. I'll just have to put up with it." Impatiently brushing away his warm fingers that had landed on her nose, Yin Quan spoke lazily. She then glanced at the tightly closed doorway, pulled up the lake-blue sleeve of her left sleeve, looked at him, and asked, "Do you know what's going on here?"

As she spoke, she held her wrist up to his face, revealing a small section of her fair and smooth arm, which made his gaze dazzle.

Upon hearing this, Xiahou Ying shook his head.

"I discovered this when I rescued you from the water dungeon. My mother never mentioned it, so she probably hasn't encountered this situation before." He held her wrist, his calloused fingers gently caressing her delicate skin, and then pulled down her lake-blue sleeve.

"This ring is indeed quite magical, impervious to water and fire. I have visited many skilled craftsmen throughout the country, but none of them could accurately describe the material of this ring. Their opinions are consistent: the metal used to make this ring is an alloy."

"Alloy?" Yin Quan raised an eyebrow, her tone shifting slightly before quickly adopting a teasing expression: "Is there really something in this world that even you don't know?"

Seeing the sparkling light in her eyes, like twinkling stars, Xiahou Ying smiled and said, "Of course."

"anything else?"

"You," he said, his eyes suddenly darkening as he grabbed her wrist and kissed her.

Hearing him say that, Yin Quan grinned, feeling a mix of emotions.

Her situation is truly unique.

Should we tell him that she is actually just a ghost possessing the general's daughter...?

This is no longer just unbelievable; it's probably heading into the realm of the supernatural and terrifying...

Besides, would he even understand if I explained these things to him...?

Sometimes, it's better to be happier if you don't know.

Suddenly, a profound and intriguing look appeared in her eyes. Xiahou Ying silently took her hand and gently stroked it.

He had always suspected it, but never sought confirmation.

Or rather, while seeking verification, one suddenly gives up seeking verification.

She is truly a very special person.

"Xiahou Ying, it's been over a month..."

Yin Quan's voice slowly rang in my ears, seemingly with a hidden meaning.

Xiahou Ying remained silent.

"I've been waiting obediently in the manor for so long, and you're just going to let me out for a walk?" Ignoring his silence, Yin Quan said, squeezing his fingers as if trying to get a response from him.

"It's cold. What if you catch a cold? Wouldn't that be a loss?" Raising an eyebrow, Xiahou Ying didn't explicitly stop him, but he also didn't agree.

Upon hearing this, Yin Quan pouted and lowered her gaze.

It's not worth the risk...

Damn it, you're losing more than you gain...

It's been over a month already!

Thinking this, Yin Quan kept biting her lip, but in the end she only glared angrily at Xiahou Ying without saying a word.

Xiahou Ying lowered his gaze and glanced at her. He moved his thin lips slightly, then looked away and slowly said, "I will accompany you for a walk in the courtyard."

"Really?!" Yin Quan's eyes lit up and she grinned.

"Really?" As he spoke, he reached out and stroked her cheek with his finger. After he finished speaking, Xiahou Ying stood up and picked her up in his arms.

Uh?

Yin Quan blinked, momentarily stunned, but quickly regained her senses.

Holy crap! Is this what he meant by "walking with her"?!

Suddenly, at that moment, a chilling voice rang in my ears: "You don't want to?"

"No, no, no, I'm willing, I'm really willing!" Yin Quan shook her head vigorously, hugged Xiahou Ying's neck, and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

Noticing the soft, moist touch of her lips, Xiahou Ying pursed his lips and carried her out of the room without saying a word.

Inside the Imperial Preceptor's residence, Gu Lounan stood with his hands behind his back at the entrance of the stone chamber, looking inside. His bright, colorful eyes shone with an unusual light in the flickering orange-red glow of the torches.

The deposed crown prince, Xiahou Jue, stood behind him, followed his gaze, and quickly looked away and turned back.

“I originally thought that you were very close to Yin Quan, but now it seems that I misunderstood you.”

As Xiahou Jue spoke, he stepped outside in his black boots, his sharp, hawk-like eyes glancing at Gu Lounan seemingly unintentionally.

"Your humble servant is ashamed."

Staring at his bowed figure, Xiahou Jue pursed his lips slightly and continued, "Gu Qing, you were originally the minister I valued and trusted the most. Apart from you, I don't think there is anyone else worthy of my trust. Please, do not let me down..." His tone was extremely slow, containing a faint nonchalance, yet revealing a sharpness that could reach to the bone.

Upon hearing this, Gu Lounan lowered his body even further, his hands level with his forehead. Just as he was about to speak, Xiahou Jue grabbed his arm.

"Minister Gu, my position as Crown Prince has been revoked, so these formalities can be dispensed with..." He paused as he spoke, a sharp glint flashing in his handsome black eyes.

"Once this matter is settled, there's something even more important I need you to do..."

Soon, it will be midnight in three quarters of an hour.

Inside the Prince Duan's residence, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Suddenly, at that moment, several dark figures were seen approaching the courtyard wall at a speed that was difficult to detect with the naked eye. These people were extremely fast, like ghosts flying in the dark night.

As soon as the shadowy figures jumped into the courtyard of the Prince's mansion, a series of muffled "thuds" were heard. Immediately afterwards, several torches were lit in all directions, and the Prince's mansion was instantly engulfed in flames, as bright as day, which hurt the eyes of the shadowy figures.

Startled, the shadowy figures huddled together back to back, their eyes darting around as they looked around. They saw a figure, as white as snow, slowly emerge from the darkness like a deity. The person was expressionless, like a ray of light shining through the thick fog of a dark night—cold, aloof, and ruthless.

"Release the arrows..." Before the shadowy figures could react, a cold voice, seemingly emanating from hell, slowly rang out.

"Wait! Your Highness can't kill us!" One of the figures in black, seeing the sudden turn of events, gritted his teeth and ripped off the black cloth covering his face, disregarding the consequences of revealing his identity. At this moment, he had only one thought in his mind: to survive.

They were originally part of the guard corps of Taiji Palace, and were all soldiers registered with the Ministry of War. No matter how bold Prince Duan was, he would never dare to kill them after they had voluntarily exposed their identities.

Even Xiahou Ying, who wantonly killed the palace guards, cannot escape punishment!

This person was gambling, betting that Prince Duan didn't have that much guts, and also betting on Emperor Tianxi's cunning.

Before the man could finish speaking, more than a dozen figures behind him simultaneously ripped off the black cloth covering their faces.

"We are the Dragon Guard Imperial Army..."

"No one has come to the Prince Duan's residence tonight. Fire arrows!" Before he could finish speaking, Xiahou Ying's slow and deliberate voice, like a gleaming knife, slowly pierced the man's throat, chilling him to the bone, rendering him unable to utter another sound.

Their scalps tingled. The dark figures that had gathered together clearly hadn't expected that Prince Duan, Xiahou Ying, would still kill them without hesitation after learning their identities!

Originally, they were only ordered by Emperor Tianxi to create some chaos in order to test Prince Duan's loyalty to the Emperor. But now, it is clear that Xiahou Ying had been waiting here for them to walk into his trap!

A wave of shock and fear washed over them. The Taiji Palace guards were thrown into chaos, forgetting all about resistance. They were like a herd of deer, encircled and hunted for amusement, utterly powerless to fight back.

Above their heads, there were a series of whooshing sounds as the Taiji Palace guards fell one after another. Some were shot in the throat, others in the eye socket. Blood splattered out in an instant, accompanied by the "plop" sound of flesh being pierced. The sound was as if it came from the deepest part of hell, making one's scalp tingle.

Those who reacted quickly drew their swords to fight back, but they were outnumbered and were riddled with arrows in an instant.

Seeing those around him fall one by one, the guard who had revealed his identity was filled with rage and even more grief. He roared to the sky, drew his sword, and charged at Xiahou Ying. An arrow struck his shoulder, and he staggered, but continued charging until an arrow struck his ankle. He collapsed to the ground, his face obscured by blood, his eyes bulging with fury. His hair, shattered by the arrow, lay disheveled and stuck to his blood-soaked face. All that could be seen were his eyes, sparkling with crimson fire in the orange-red flames, like a bloodthirsty demon or ferocious beast, ready to break its chains at any moment.

He kept making "gagging" breathing sounds, lying prostrate on the ground, his fists gripping the longsword not loosening, but rather tightening even more.

Silence fell instantly. A massacre began quickly and ended even faster.

In just a quarter of an hour, more than a dozen lives were lost at Xiahou Ying's hands.

In the small courtyard, the torches crackled and popped, but apart from that, not even a breath could be heard; it was deathly silent. It was as if the carnage that had just occurred had never happened, but was merely a nightmare, a nightmare that rolled endlessly in a torrent of blood.

His gaze swept over the corpses, still bearing traces of their terror or rage in life. Suddenly, the Taiji Palace guard, trapped in a pool of blood, let out a strange laugh. The laugh grew louder and hoarser until it sounded like an old cat howling at its most desperate, almost enough to draw blood from one's eardrums.

Lowering his gaze to the blood-soaked figure, Xiahou Ying pursed his lips expressionlessly and took a step forward.