When the Fourth Prince heard Lou Kui's true feelings, he almost lost his composure.

What do you mean by saying she's not as clean and efficient as a woman?

She was actually a woman?

His eyes flickered as he looked at Lou Kui and said, "Even after Father Emperor calms down, I might not be able to come back."

"Going to the frontier, I also want to make some plans for myself; perhaps it's a good choice."

Then he sighed, "It's just that I might not be able to make it back in time to see you get married."

Lou Kui was speechless: What kind of wife do I, a woman, need to marry?

He smiled and said to the fourth prince, "I don't have a woman I like. I want to focus on my career. I'll have to wait two years before I can get married. Maybe you'll come back by then."

The Fourth Prince has now confirmed that Lou Kui is a woman.

He really didn't expect Lou Kui to be a woman.

He was so attracted to Lou Kui that he almost thought he was going crazy.

It turns out it wasn't his own problem.

Did the third brother know that Lou Kui was a woman?

I feel like he was also deceived by Lou Kui. Thinking about it this way makes me feel a little better. At least even the shrewd third brother fell for Lou Kui's tricks, so it's more normal for him to be deceived as well.

The two sat down to eat and chat, and the fourth prince seemed as considerate as before.

After the meal, the fourth prince asked, "Do you want to avenge what happened at the literary gathering?"

Lou Kui was taken aback. "I really hadn't read that collection of ancient poems before, but the poems that popped into my head were indeed the same as those in it, so I accepted it."

She sighed, "Now that Princess Ling is the Crown Princess, how can I afford to offend her?"

Thinking to myself: Nonsense, what I want most right now is to deal with Min Qingyou, but there's no use talking to you, you good-for-nothing, since those two have almost made you disappear to the frontier.

Upon hearing her thoughts, the Fourth Prince's eyes flashed with a hint of malice.

This woman is truly remarkable; she's a master of playing one thing to someone's face and another behind their back.

If he hadn't been able to hear her thoughts, he would never have realized how much she looked down on him.

His expression remained unchanged, but he said worriedly, "I'm leaving the capital, and I won't be able to continue protecting you. I'm worried about you."

Then he changed the subject, "However, I have some businesses in the capital, and I want to hand them over to you."

"If Princess Ling bullies you again, you can fight back."

Lou Kui was truly stunned this time. "You want to give me the influence you've built up in the capital over the years?"

Thinking to myself: I really am too charming. This good-for-nothing is so stupid that he would give me this.

The fourth prince nodded with a smile, "Yes!"

Lou Kui pretended to decline, saying, "But I'm afraid I can't manage it well. Why don't you hand it over to someone else?"

In his mind: With this useless person's power, I can better take over my cheap father's power.

The fourth prince sneered inwardly, but his smile remained unchanged on his face.

Her tone was even gentler, "I wouldn't trust anyone else with this, so just keep it for me temporarily and return it to me when I get back."

He then said, as if he were about to get angry, "You can't refuse my kind offer, otherwise I won't be at ease leaving the capital."

Lou Kui then said with a helpless expression, "Alright, I'll hold onto it for you temporarily, and return it to you when you come back."

In her mind: Ha, it's only if you can come back.

Fourth Prince: "..." This woman even cursed him to never return, how despicable!

He looked at Lou Kui and said, "My token is in my room in the prince's residence. Come with me to get it."

"I'm leaving tomorrow, so I won't have time to contact you again."

He added, "I won't feel at ease unless I hand it over to you personally."

Lou Kui wanted the Fourth Prince's power, and because he had always been genuinely good to her, she didn't doubt his intentions.

She nodded: "Okay, I'll keep you company a little longer."

In my mind: I'll endure it for the sake of the token!

The fourth prince sneered inwardly, "You've got to put up with what's to come."

So the two left the restaurant and went to the Fourth Prince's residence.

Qingyou lay on a rocking chair in the courtyard, leisurely eating grapes fed to her by a maid while using her mental power to watch the two of them put on a good show.

Soon, Lou Kui followed the Fourth Prince back to his residence.

During this time, the fourth prince made an excuse to go to the outhouse.

After he returned, he took Lou Kui to his room.

As soon as he entered, the Fourth Prince suddenly grabbed Lou Kui and put his arm around her.

He quickly pulled a porcelain bottle from his pocket, pinched Lou Kui's mouth, and poured the contents down her throat.

Lou Kui was caught off guard and was given a full dose of the drink.

She stared at him, her eyes wide, and asked, "What did you give me to drink?"

The fourth prince curled his lips into a smile. "Of course it's good stuff."

After saying that, he released Lou Kui, walked straight to the table, sat down, and leisurely poured himself a glass of water.

Lou Kui had a bad feeling. "Fourth Prince, what do you mean by this?"

She cursed the Fourth Prince in her mind, calling him a dog of a man and so on.

The more she cursed, the more the Fourth Prince wanted to punish her.

The fourth prince took a sip of tea. "You'll find out in a little while."

He poured another cup for Lou Kui, saying, "Come and have a cup of tea to quench your thirst."

Lou Kui, who has always been flexible and adaptable, walked over, sat down, and took the tea. "What are you up to?"

She simply couldn't figure out what that scoundrel was up to.

The fourth prince smiled faintly and remained silent, continuing to drink his tea.

Although the Fourth Prince was drinking, Lou Kui was very cautious, only pretending to sip the tea without actually taking a sip.

The fourth prince read Lou Kui's thoughts and felt even more that he had been too foolish in the past.

After a while, Lou Kui suddenly felt her body start to heat up.

An impulse arose within me.

Lou Kui immediately realized what the Fourth Prince had just fed her and what he intended to do.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!