Between his lips and teeth, Xiao Cen bit without mercy, and only paused when he tasted the slightest sweetness and fishiness, then he slowly let go of the person in his arms, "Since Ah Huan said so, it is clear that this child cannot be kept."

Even if Lin Chunhuan wasn't very smart, he wouldn't fail to understand such an obvious test. He immediately softened and huddled in Xiao Cen's arms. "The Autumn Examination is approaching. That's the hope of all scholars in the world."

Sometimes you don't have to be too clear.

The tension on Xiao Cen's face finally relaxed, and at the same time, the look he gave Lin Chunuan became more unfriendly.

It’s all this woman’s fault. She mentioned the scholar named He for no reason and almost caused him to misunderstand Ah Huan!

Xiao Cen took a deep breath and had the prepared return gifts delivered to the Lin family. "I am busy with official duties, so I will not stay for dinner. Lord Lin, please take care of yourself."

"Oh, right." Xiao Cen had just taken two steps with Lin Chunhuan when he stopped again. "I heard that the Lin family also sent a portrait to the Crown Prince's selection of a concubine. I'll have someone take special care of it and ensure that the second young lady's portrait will be presented to the Emperor."

The color on Lin Chunuan's face instantly faded away.

At this moment, the clasped hands of Xiao Cen and Lin Chunhuan seemed even more glaring to her. "Your Highness! Lin Chunhuan is a fickle woman. She can secretly marry a scholar, and she might even commit adultery with the guards and grooms in the future. Do you really not care at all?!"

"Someone come."

This time, Xiao Cen didn't even bother to turn around, or even stop. "Lin Chu Nuan has slandered the princess. Her words and actions are outrageous. Fifty lashes are due."

"After all, my second sister is the most beautiful woman in the capital. Your Highness really doesn't know how to be gentle with women." Lin Chunhuan smiled and pursed her lips.

If the gloating in her eyes wasn't so obvious, Xiao Cen would probably have thought that she really wanted to plead for Lin Chunuan.

After all, for a delicate and weak lady like Lin Chu Nuan, fifty lashes would at least take away half her life, even if she didn't die.

Apart from anything else, there would definitely be no place for Lin Chu Nuan when the Crown Prince chooses a concubine.

Until the carriage from Prince Pingyang's Palace left, Lin Chu Nuan didn't think she would really be punished. She was still angrily cursing Xiao Cen for being a brainless coward.

It wasn't until the palace guards held her on both sides that Lin Chunuan came to her senses and asked, "What are you going to do?"

"I am the legitimate daughter of the Lin family, you... you let me go!"

"Daddy, Mommy, please save me!"

More and more people gathered outside the Lin family's gate. The sound of pointing and talking made Lin Chunuan want to scream, but the executioner didn't care what she was thinking and just raised his hand and whipped her.

This time Lin Chunuan really screamed out loud.

She no longer cared about the title of the most beautiful woman in the capital. She was in so much pain with tears and snot streaming down her back as she endured the torn wound.

“It hurts! It hurts so much… ah!”

A shrill cry echoed through the streets. Lin Chunuan tried to struggle, but all that greeted her was the next lash of the whip. "Daddy and Mommy, are you just going to watch me get humiliated by that bitch Lin Chunhuan? You...ah!"

"Stop fighting!"

Wang's face was twisted with heartache, and she was about to rush to Lin Chunuan, shouting, "If you want to hit me, hit me, don't touch my Nuannuan!"

"Nonsense!" Lin's father said gloomily, having Wang held back. "A loving mother often spoils her child. If you hadn't taught Nuannuan to be so ignorant of the world, how could she have the guts to offend Prince Pingyang?"

"Instead of spending your time crying here, why don't you go get a doctor?"

Wang was already somewhat bewildered at this moment, so naturally she did whatever Lin's father said. However, as soon as she turned around, she saw a familiar carriage. She immediately turned around and ran back excitedly, "Stop! Stop now!"

"The prince is here. He must be here to protect my Nuannuan. Stop now!"

"Don't you even listen to the prince's words?"

However, the executioner seemed to be unable to hear the sound outside and had no intention of stopping. The carriage really stopped outside the Lin Mansion.

The next moment, a young man with noble airs came down from above.

Seeing this man, Lin Chunuan, who had been unable to even call out before, suddenly brightened up and whispered with stammering lips, "Crown Prince Brother."

The prince's face turned grim. He stepped forward and hugged the shaky Lin Chu Nuan into his arms. "What are you doing? Executing someone in the street? Who gave you the right?"

"Reporting to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

As if he had already guessed the Crown Prince's arrival, Xiao Cen actually kept Mu Qing. Mu Qing bowed her head and clasped her fists, her words filled with respect. "This woman has behaved rudely, repeatedly sowing discord and slandering the Princess. This execution is ordered by the Prince."

"Uncle Xiao?"

When he saw Mu Qing, the prince was also stunned.

When he heard that Lin Chu Nuan was in trouble, he rushed over immediately. He never expected that the person she offended would be Xiao Cen. For a moment, the prince even wanted to throw Lin Chu Nuan out of his arms.

But he was capable of becoming the crown prince after all, so he didn't do so in the end. He just asked about the whole story with a serious face, and finally pleaded for mercy somewhat uncomfortably.

"Since it is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince who has spoken, there is no reason not to respond."

Mu Qing had a smile on his face. In fact, it didn't matter whether they continued to beat him or not. After all, they had already hit him more than 30 times. It was impossible for them to beat him to death just because of a few provocative words. "Then I will hand this man over to Your Highness."

"Please allow me to return to the palace and report to the prince and princess."

The prince's face was as black as the bottom of a pot, but he still nodded politely, "Give my regards to Uncle Wang and Aunt Wang for me."

The people in the palace evacuated in a flash. The prince did not leave either. Instead, he waited at the Lin residence for Lin Chunuan to wake up. "Nuannuan, tell me, why did you have to offend Xiao Cen when you were fine!"

"Don't you know what kind of person he is? Now that the power of selecting concubines has been completely delegated by my father to the Pingyang Palace, aren't you actually severing your own path?"

"I originally thought that I would reserve a place for you as a concubine no matter what, but now...ah."

The prince sighed deeply, while Lin Chunuan, whose face was extremely pale, looked bewildered. "Your Highness, what do you mean by this?"

When facing the prince, all of Lin Chu Nuan's arrogance and pride disappeared. One hand gently tugged at his sleeve, "So you don't want me anymore?"

"It's not that I don't want you." The prince took a deep breath, his eyes full of affection, "I really have offended Prince Pingyang, I..."

On the way back to the palace.

Lin Chunhuan stared at the carriage that left in the opposite direction for a long time, "That carriage just now, was it from the Eastern Palace?"

"It came really quickly."