"As for what Your Highness said, I don't understand it at all. I've been out for too long, it's really time to go back."

Li Shiyue didn't want to get entangled any longer. If she sat and waited for her death, it would only make it more difficult for her to escape today. After saying that, she tried to go around to the other side and walked quickly towards Chonghua Palace.

Unexpectedly, as she passed by Qin Ying, he moved swiftly, intending to grab her wrist, but she wasn't stupid and withdrew her hand to avoid him. Qin Ying's gaze was deep as he grabbed Li Shiyue's wide sleeve with his other hand, using the leverage to climb up her forearm.

The young master's strength was indeed greater. Li Shiyue felt his body turn around and then stand facing Qin Ying, his hands pressing tightly against his shoulders.

With bloodshot eyes, Qin Ying couldn't believe it. He had made his thoughts so clear, promising the position of Empress, and yet someone still refused.

He didn't believe it. He reasoned that no woman in the world coveted the position of Empress as much as he coveted the Crown Prince's throne. He was certain Li Shiyue was playing hard to get; he wasn't willing to let her go. The opportunity he'd waited over a decade for was now presented with a shortcut, and he didn't want to miss it.

Even if someone like Meng Zhuo wanted to get close, Li Shiyue was always prepared. But today, suddenly, her shoulders were pressed down tightly, and the hairpin in her hair did not move at all.

She couldn't even lift her arms, let alone quickly pull out the hairpin to put her mind at ease. The unfamiliar presence was right before her eyes. Li Shiyue tried to break free, but how could Qin Ying let go?

A sharp pain shot through her shoulders. Li Shiyue was both angry and anxious, her eyes reddening as she reached out to shove him.

If someone were to arrive now, her reputation would be ruined. She might even be seen arguing with her lover in public, which would make her worse off than in her previous life.

Qin Ying's eyes were bloodshot. As long as Li Shiyue nodded, he would let go and nod. It was just a small nod.

As the two drew closer, Li Shiyue's pupils widened in a mixture of anger and shock. She even used her leg, kicking Qin Ying's calf with her embroidered shoe. The hard, fleshy feel of his calf, hardened by martial arts training, made her foot ache more.

But she ignored the pain; she refused!

Qin Ying pulled hard, and Li Shiyue's outermost robe slipped off her shoulder. He became even more anxious, and his eyes reddened with tears.

"Let go, let go... let go!"

"Bang!"

Before Li Shiyue could react, the vicious force on her body vanished instantly, and she was completely covered by an outer robe.

Surrounded by darkness, only the light from outside could be seen beneath one's feet.

"Princess!"

Shou Dong's anxious and worried voice followed, and he reached out to support her through her robes. Before Li Shiyue could speak, the owner of the robes said, almost through gritted teeth, "Take the young lady back first."

Li Shiyue let out a long breath, and her legs, as if emerging from a clear lake, instantly went limp, like the water plants at the bottom of the lake.

"Princess!" Shou Dong exclaimed anxiously, steadily pulling her into his arms.

Xu Yunci looked at the footprint on Qin Ying's chest; it was left by his own kick. He had used all his strength. As a martial artist himself, even Qin Ying, who was skilled in martial arts, couldn't withstand Xu Yunci's powerful kick.

He rubbed his chest, but Qin Ying didn't regret it. He figured Li Shiyue would tell Xu Yunci those words. His eyes were bloodshot. He looked past Xu Yunci, still trying to find Li Shiyue, before his gaze fell on Xu Yunci's robes. Xu Yunci stepped forward and used his body to shield Li Shiyue perfectly behind him.

"I will seek an explanation from Your Highness regarding this matter."

After saying that, Xu Yunci turned around, wrapped his robe around Li Shiyue's entire body, and carried her horizontally all the way back to Chonghua Palace.

Fortunately, this was the outer city, not the inner city; otherwise, rumors about Li Shiyue and Qin Ying would have been flying all over the capital by now. Xu Yunci looked at Shou Dong, who understood and took the purse from Xu Yunci, hurrying directly to where they had just been.

When she turned around, her childishness was nowhere to be seen; the ruthlessness on her face finally revealed the demeanor of a trusted palace maid.

No word of this must be uttered today, otherwise the Xu family will lose face, and the Crown Princess will lose even more face. If their masters lose face, it is a sign of their incompetence as servants.

Li Shiyue was completely wrapped up. She had only heard Qin Ying groan, which meant that Xu Yunci had probably made a move, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to escape.

She closed her eyes, and those scarlet eyes made her tremble with fear.

Xu Yunci stopped abruptly, looked at the Chonghua Palace before him, and sighed. He couldn't leave the palace like this. He didn't care about Qin Ying, but his cousin was different.

My little cousin's delicate and sweet mother, because Qin Ying has ruined her reputation, if she doesn't use him, her grandmother will probably be so angry that she'll storm into the palace.

Just as she was about to take a step, she suddenly felt a movement in her arms. Li Shiyue's ten fingers gripped the collar of her robe, and she slowly pulled it down, revealing only her forehead and eyes.

Her movements were somewhat cautious, her eyes were red and tears still clung to her fluttering eyelashes. Her eyes held the fear of being startled, and her nose was red, clearly indicating that she had been secretly crying under her robes.

She sniffed, her voice choked with sobs, so soft it seemed as if it would dissipate with the breeze: "Cousin, put me down."

Xu Yunci remained expressionless, glanced at her, and then carried her into Chonghua Palace. Inside the main hall, the Crown Prince's face was gloomy. He was about to lead his men out when he saw the two of them return, and his expression darkened terribly.

Not to mention the Crown Princess, who was already anxious and worried, but when she saw the little girl crying pitifully, her face immediately fell.

Xu Lingyu was extremely well-mannered; when she was enraged, she couldn't think of anything to say, only able to vent her emotions by speaking out. After a long while, Xu Lingyu's chest heaved: "This is outrageous! Even if he is a prince, how is he any different from those lecherous rogues!"

She lifted her skirt and was about to walk out of the hall when Li Shiyue struggled to get out of Xu Yunci's arms and reached out to grab Xu Lingyu: "Cousin came quickly, I'm fine, it was just quite scary."

How could it not be terrifying? Those bloodshot eyes were like those of a hungry wolf. Just thinking about it now makes Li Shiyue shudder.

Xu Lingyu's expression was not friendly. The Crown Prince walked over and said in a gentle tone, "Don't worry, I'll handle this. I won't let my cousin suffer any injustice."

After calming the Crown Princess down, the Crown Prince looked at Xu Yunci and said, "You should first escort Yichang back to the Duke's mansion, and then wait for me at the Jingzhao Prefecture later."

This matter eventually needs to be resolved, and he also wanted to talk to his younger brother.

"Wait."

Li Shiyue's voice was not steady, clearly due to fright. She met the questioning gazes of the three people. Since everyone in the hall was a trusted confidante, she simply repeated everything Qin Ying had told her.