"You're too heavy, get off me!" Ye Jingchen tried to push Xie Chang'an, but found that he couldn't move him at all.

Although he was not as skilled as Xie Chang'an, Xie Chang'an was heavy enough that he could easily push him, unless Xie Chang'an was deliberately trying to challenge him.

"If you don't get up, I'll call Chenxi!" Ye Jingchen threatened him.

How old are you? How can you still be so shameless!

"Go ahead and shout!" Xie Chang'an remained unmoved.

He was certain that, given Ye Jingchen's personality, it was impossible for him to let Chenxi see the two of them in their current state.

"Why did you call me?" A hand lifted the bed curtain, and Chenxi stood by the bed, looking at them and asking.

Xie Chang'an: !

He had predicted Ye Jingchen's fate, but he hadn't predicted Chen Xi's.

He suddenly stood up, snatched the bed curtain from Chenxi's hand, and lowered it.

"So you still have a sense of shame!" Ye Jingchen took the opportunity to get up from the bed, step past Xie Chang'an, lift the bed curtain, jump off the bed, and straighten his clothes that Xie Chang'an had messed up.

"Your bodyguards are so unruly, they need to be disciplined!" Xie Chang'an glared at Chen Xi, who was still standing there, with dissatisfaction.

If he gets together with Ye Jingchen in the future, will Chenxi still have to stand by their bedside every night?

"The dawn is fine, why bother?" Ye Jingchen asked with a smile.

Although he was also embarrassed to be seen by Chenxi, in this situation, it was clear who was more embarrassed than who showed weakness.

As long as he's not embarrassed, then it's others who are embarrassed!

"So, does that mean that when His Highness the Crown Prince gets married and they consummate their marriage, it's okay for the secret guards to stand by and watch?" Xie Chang'an mocked.

"Speaking of marriage, let's get down to business. Did you already know that my father had chosen another marriage partner for me? Why didn't you tell me? Do you really want me to get married?" Ye Jingchen asked seriously.

Xie Chang'an scoffed, "You're dreaming! You want to enjoy the blessings of having two wives? Dream on!"

Ye Jingchen frowned. "Then why didn't you tell me, leaving me completely unprepared?"

"What does Your Highness intend to prepare? To select consorts? Well, Your Highness will be disappointed. The women the Emperor has chosen for you will not have the chance to appear before Your Highness tomorrow!" Xie Chang'an said with a sneer.

Ye Jingchen had a bad feeling. "What did you do to them?"

After a while, Xie Chang'an said, "Don't worry, I just gave them some medicine to make them develop rashes tomorrow so they won't dare to appear in front of you. I will give them the antidote after tomorrow."

Ye Jingchen's expression changed. "What kind of terrible idea is this? Are you trying to kill them? Besides, my father is already very suspicious. You've pulled this stunt right under his nose. What will he think?"

Xie Chang'an's face also turned cold, and he said irritably, "The emperor's actions this time are very covert. I only received the news yesterday. If I don't do something, am I supposed to just watch you get married?"

“We’re going to the Northern Frontier soon. It’s such a short time, we can just delay it. If I don’t want to marry, my father won’t force me to marry her! Before the palace banquet tomorrow, let’s get rid of the poison on those girls. Don’t let them get hurt!” Ye Jingchen patiently persuaded.

"That's because you don't understand the emperor. He doesn't care about your wishes when it comes to what he really wants to do! You said it yourself, we're going to the northern frontier anyway, so let him be suspicious if he wants to!" Xie Chang'an said coldly.

Ye Jingchen was amused by his words.

The northern frontier is inherently a very dangerous place. If he goes to the northern frontier with the emperor's suspicions, and then is further instigated by someone with ulterior motives after he is no longer in the emperor's sight, will the emperor still trust him in the future?

Having completely lost the emperor's trust, can he still hold onto his position as crown prince securely?

Even if he can secure his position as crown prince because of Xie Chang'an and Ye Jinghe, how many more troubles will arise? How many innocent people will be implicated?

Indeed, love can make people lose their minds!

Right now, there is still a chance to salvage this situation. As long as the poison is neutralized for those girls before the palace banquet, it can be as if nothing ever happened!

Ye Jingchen didn't want to get angry with Xie Chang'an over this matter. Xie Chang'an was easily swayed by gentle persuasion but not by force. Knowing Xie Chang'an as he did, if he got angry, Xie Chang'an would probably be even more unhappy.

He came today to resolve issues, not to create conflict.

"It's my own business if I don't want to get married. I don't want to implicate innocent people because of my situation. After curing their poison, I promise you, I will not marry the Crown Princess!" Ye Jingchen said calmly to Xie Chang'an.

Having known each other for so many years, he had developed a good temper in front of Xie Chang'an.

"How can you guarantee me? Empty words are not enough. Your Highness, you must show your sincerity!" Xie Chang'an said immediately.

"I swear, I will never marry in my life. If I break this vow, may I be pierced through the heart by a thousand arrows—"

Halfway through his vow, Xie Chang'an covered his mouth.

“I believe you really don’t want to get married,” Xie Chang’an said.

Long before he realized his own feelings, Ye Jingchen had stated that he did not want to get married, but Xie Chang'an did not believe him at the time.

Now Xie Chang'an believed it, but at the same time he also understood that Ye Jingchen never wanted to get married in the first place, not because of him!

While I felt relieved, I also felt a sense of loss.

"Then you must cure them of the poison before the palace banquet begins. I don't want to cause any more trouble before we go to the Northern Frontier," Ye Jingchen said quickly, pulling Xie Chang'an's hand away.

"Okay," Xie Chang'an agreed.

"You should have already investigated the information about those girls and their families, right? Give it to me—" Ye Jingchen reached out to Xie Chang'an.

Xie Chang'an was reluctant to give it to Ye Jingchen, but if Ye Jingchen knew nothing about them, it would be even more troublesome to refuse the emperor tomorrow. So after hesitating for a moment, he walked to the desk, took out a stack of papers under the Book of Changes, and handed them to Ye Jingchen.

"Then I'm leaving. See you at the palace banquet tomorrow, no, today." Having gotten what he wanted, Ye Jingchen said to Xie Chang'an.

The delay at Chang'an Residence has now reached its second day.

After he finished speaking, he walked outside, but after only a few steps, Xie Chang'an grabbed his hand from behind. Xie Chang'an pulled him back with a slight force and held him in his arms.

"I should go back now," Ye Jingchen reminded him.

"Happy birthday!" Xie Chang'an whispered in his ear.

"Thank you!" Ye Jingchen hugged Xie Chang'an back and stepped out of his embrace.

"Chenxi, let's go!" He waved to Chenxi, and the two of them walked out of the bedroom together and disappeared into the darkness.

Xie Chang'an stood in the dimly lit room for a long time. Tonight, Ye Jingchen had indulged him in doing many things that crossed the line and even promised never to marry. He should have been very happy.

However, Ye Jingchen was too calm when they were doing those things. His heartbeat and breathing didn't falter at all, which made Xie Chang'an feel suspicious and uneasy. What was Ye Jingchen's mentality when he did these things with him?

Is it because he is useful to Ye Jingchen that Ye Jingchen has always indulged him?

If Ye Jingchen can tolerate him, can he also tolerate others?