First annul the engagement, then sever ties with the empress; the empress reigns supreme.

"I'm leaving soon, and I just want to be alone with you. Is that so hard?" Mu Lingxuan's tone was full of resentment.

Gu Junxi suddenly felt goosebumps all over her body.

Is it she who has amnesia, or is it Mu Lingxuan who has amnesia?

So much has happened between them; their previous affection had long since been worn away. Now, it seems as if she has betrayed him.

Gu Junxi remained silent and walked directly past Mu Lingxuan, intending to leave the waterside pavilion.

"Xixi, can you please talk to me? I really, really know I was wrong. What do you want me to do?" Mu Lingxuan turned around and roared, opening his arms to hug Gu Junxi.

Fortunately, Gu Junxi was prepared and dodged to the side. She stared at Mu Lingxuan with annoyance: "So what do you want me to do to let me go?"

"Impossible, unless I die." Mu Lingxuan gritted his teeth and stubbornly gave his answer.

Knowing this would be the outcome, Gu Junxi pouted and said, "Fine, then we have nothing to talk about. I'll stay with you unless I die too."

If the other party gives the same answer, the negotiation is like walking into a dead end.

After a brief silence, Gu Junxi lost patience and cautiously backed away from the waterside pavilion.

Just as he was about to leave the waterside pavilion, Mu Lingxuan seemed to suddenly have a change of heart. He picked up the wine pot on the table, poured a cup for Gu Junxi, blocked her way, and handed it to her.

"Fine, drink this glass of wine and I'll let you go!"

Knowing full well that Mu Lingxuan hadn't given up on her and had tricked her into coming here, she still didn't suspect anything and drank the wine he gave her.

You really think she is stupid.

Gu Junxi shook her head and stood still: "I won't drink. I get drunk easily, and His Highness will be angry if he finds out. Prince Xuan, you should drink by yourself."

"Ugh—" Gu Junxi said, feeling inexplicably nauseous.

She couldn't hold it in any longer, clutching her chest and leaning against a nearby pillar as she vomited uncomfortably.

Besides vomiting, she also felt dizzy and lightheaded, like she was seasick.

"Xixi, what's wrong?" Mu Lingxuan frowned anxiously upon seeing this and came over to help support Gu Junxi.

Gu Junxi avoided the question again, her face pale as she wiped the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief.

Mu Lingxuan couldn't get involved, so he just watched helplessly, becoming more and more anxious and angry.

His face darkened as he accused, "Is this how Mu Lingye usually takes care of you? You clearly have a cold, and he's not even there for you?"

“He didn’t catch a cold when he went out this morning, so how can you blame A-Ling? Besides, who told you that vomiting means you have a cold? Even if A-Ling isn’t good, he’s still a hundred times better than you. No one can slander him.” Gu Junxi glared at Mu Lingxuan protectively, still clutching her chest in discomfort.

Previously, only her tastes had changed, but now her body has also changed. Even if Gu Junxi was slow to notice, she had realized something.

She hadn't considered the possibility of pregnancy before because she didn't expect to conceive so quickly.

Gu Junxi knows medicine and could easily take her own pulse. But she didn't want to reveal this in front of Mu Lingxuan. Otherwise, if Mu Lingxuan found out, it would cause further complications.

"You're so protective of him? What's so good about him? Father doesn't like him, the civil and military officials don't like him, even the common people despise him. His relationship with Leng Xuanjue is ambiguous and filthy. Don't you really mind at all when you're with him?!"

Because he was reprimanded by Gu Junxi for criticizing Mu Lingye, Mu Lingxuan completely lost his temper and only continued to slander Mu Lingye.

"Slap." Gu Junxi raised her hand and slapped Mu Lingxuan across the face.

Mu Lingxuan's face was slapped to the side. He turned around, stared angrily at Gu Junxi with wide eyes, and grabbed Gu Junxi's wrist: "You hit me for Mu Lingye?"

"Someone as heartless as you deserves to be beaten, that's too lenient." Gu Junxi sneered, "If Ache hadn't been sent to Yan as a hostage, you would all have died under the iron cavalry of Yan long ago. You wouldn't have the right to look down on Aling here."

"Let go!" Gu Junxi shouted sharply, raising her hand and forcefully shaking off Mu Lingxuan's hand.

As Mu Lingxuan tried to grab her again, she waved the purse she carried with her: "If you keep pushing your luck, I'll make sure you leave the Sixth Prince's residence sideways."

Mu Lingxuan had some experience with Gu Junxi's poisoning techniques, and he was still somewhat wary of confronting her head-on. While Mu Lingxuan hesitated for a moment, Gu Junxi seized the opportunity and quickly left.

She didn't want to get entangled with Mu Lingxuan here; finding Su Li was the priority right now.

Just as Gu Junxi left, Leng Xuanjue, who had been hiding in the shadows, came out.

He stared at the five finger marks on Mu Lingxuan's face with a mocking gaze, maliciously trying to provoke him.

"Your Highness Prince Xuan is truly formidable, being beaten so badly by a woman that he didn't even dare to retaliate. I wonder if Emperor Sheng will still pass the throne to you after he finds out. After all, if you can't even conquer a woman, how can you govern a country?"

Mu Lingxuan could see through Leng Xuanjue's thoughts all too well, but he had indeed lost all his tricks against Gu Junxi. He wiped his face in frustration and looked at Leng Xuanjue.

"Xixi is very wary. She especially doesn't trust me at all. If the Crown Prince has any good ideas, please speak up!"

Leng Xuanjue stood with his hands behind his back, marching in step: "I don't have an idea, but I'm more decisive than you. You give me the medicine, and I'll have Ye Nu personally administer it to Gu Junxi."

"She doesn't trust you, but she should trust Mu Lingye, right? Being betrayed by the person you trust most must feel very interesting."

Leng Xuanjue is truly a monster; he knows how to destroy people's hearts.

Mu Lingxuan increasingly sensed the danger posed by Leng Xuanjue, but this deal left him no room to back down.

He did this entirely for Gu Junxi; he was not despicable, and it had nothing to do with him.

Mu Lingxuan pressed his tongue against the spot on Gu Junxi's face, convincing himself in his heart, "Alright, then I'll trouble you, Your Highness!"

Mu Lingxuan took out a medicine bottle from his sleeve, poured out a pill, and handed it to Leng Xuanjue.

Leng Xuanjue held the pill in his hand, examined it repeatedly against the sunlight, and then put it away with satisfaction.

Mu Lingye also learned that Su Li and Wen Gu had gone missing at the Sixth Prince's residence. He not only sent people to search for them, but also searched for them himself.

Seeing Leng Xuanjue walking towards him, Mu Lingye originally wanted to turn around and pretend not to see him and leave, but suddenly his feet wouldn't obey him and he stood rooted to the spot.

That hazy, controlled feeling from before returned.

"Night Slave, where do you think you can escape to? You have no idea what I like most about you. Every time you see me, you have that stubborn look in your eyes that makes you want to run away but can't."

Leng Xuanjue placed his hand on Mu Lingye's shoulder from behind, then moved to stand in front of Mu Lingye. Seeing Mu Lingye's blank, soulless gaze, Leng Xuanjue's interest waned.

He caught a glimpse of Mu Lingxuan standing not far away, watching them. Losing his playful intent, he took out the pill directly: "Ye Nu, keep this pill safe. Put it in Gu Junxi's tea so that she doesn't realize it. Do you understand?"