Lin Huaiyin wanted to say I would dare to do it again next time.

Lin Huaiyin stretched out her arms to block the door, turned her face to urge him on, her gaze pointed to the window, and deep lines appeared between her brows.

She was weak, and her voice was extremely soft and delicate, meant only for Xiao Zhian to hear.

In an instant, Xiao Zhian's pupils trembled, and he stood frozen in place.

He stared at her, unblinking.

She was slender, thin, bloodied, and wretched, severely injured. She was so small that she only reached his chest, but she stood in front of him.

She denied knowing him, but her body craved him, and she would risk her life for him almost instinctively whenever she sensed danger.

Why?

Why exactly?

Why did it come to this?

Lin Huaiyin's small figure passed through Xiao Zhian's bewildered eyes, imprinted on his mind, and etched into his soul.

He couldn't help himself and leaned down to embrace her, whispering in her ear, "Miss Chen—Miss Lin, why are you protecting me? Can you tell me, what's outside the door that makes you feel dangerous?"

What danger?

Of course, it's your own sister—Princess Pingyang!

Lin Huaiyin almost blurted it out, but since there was no evidence, she gritted her teeth and held back.

Xiao Zhian hugged her from behind, her old hen wings hanging in mid-air, unable to come down, a comical posture.

Behind her, Xiao Zhian's heart was pounding wildly, almost bursting out of his chest and hitting her wound.

Why was his heart pounding so hard? Was he afraid of being seen by Princess Pingyang, and then he wouldn't know how to explain it?

Lin Huaiyin calmed down instantly.

In particular, when he called her "Miss Lin the Third," she broke out in a cold sweat.

He recognized her, and there was no way he could just leave; pretending to be dead was useless.

How could he recognize her? Lin Huaiyin couldn't understand it.

She never met him in this lifetime.

However, that's not the problem. The real issue is that her overreaction attracted the other party's attention.

Two assassination attempts had put Lin Huaiyin on edge. She was like a frightened bird at the mere sound of Princess Pingyang's voice. However, even though she didn't know where she was now, Princess Pingyang would never personally lead the assassins to knock on her door.

She must have come to check if His Highness was injured, and to find an opportunity to finish him off or poison him.

She's doomed. If Princess Pingyang finds out, she's doomed. Shen Congyun is so suspicious; he'll definitely skin her alive.

Lin Huaiyin quickly sorted out the situation—she had shielded the Crown Prince from a knife, woke up to find herself in the same bed, and indulged herself, using him to do something embarrassing, and lewdly desecrating the high and mighty Crown Prince.

But why would he lie down next to her when she was perfectly fine? She fainted, so he shouldn't have been. Shouldn't the responsibility be 50/50?

What decent man would climb into the bed of a woman who is unconscious? Isn't that the behavior of a male prostitute?

Lin Huaiyin tried to argue that she bore absolutely no responsibility and was innocent.

But she didn't dare.

She had lived two lives and had never heard of His Highness the Crown Prince having any women; only Old Madam Shen said that he loved Shen Lanyan.

This was the only scandal. Lin Huaiyin was planning to make a big deal out of it and sow discord between Shen Congyun and Shen Lanyan, but she never expected to end up in his bed without even realizing it.

I'm going to die.

The man, who had been proud of his chastity for two lifetimes, had been ruined by her in both this life and the next.

Although his body was exceptionally gifted, both his conscious and unconscious states brought her boundless joy...

Oh no, you're thinking the wrong thing.

Lin Huaiyin bit her tongue hard to stop herself. She felt incredibly guilty and terrified of Xiao Zhian's insistence on holding her tightly.

what?

Your heart is beating so fast, you're furious, you want to run me over to silence me?

Lin Huaiyin was trembling with fear.

Now, two paths lie before her—

First, threaten him that a ruler should not be near his subject's wife, and he will not dare to make a big fuss.

Second: Beg him, deny everything, act pitiful, and use the life-saving grace to beg him to let you off the hook.

The corresponding line should be: "Your Highness, you wouldn't want His Majesty and Princess to know about your secret meeting with my wife, would you?"

No, no, no, no.

This is tantamount to courting death, and it's courting death on both ends.

Lin Huaiyin didn't have the guts to do something so risky. She swallowed hard and answered Xiao Zhian reluctantly, "Someone came suddenly. I was afraid that if things got out of hand, my husband would find out."

She referred to herself as a subject's wife, not a subject's daughter.

She insisted on going against him.

Xiao Zhian understood her subtext—she emphasized Madam Shen, not the identity of a Lin family woman; she wanted to say that she was Shen Congyun's woman.

A woman who sinks into the clouds.

Xiao Zhian sneered. Perhaps he once admired Shen Congyun's talent, disregarded his loyalty to his father, and even considered giving him to Pingyang to assist Pingyang in establishing a new empire.

Xiao Zhian wanted to bestow all the finest men in the world upon Pingyang.

But now, he has changed his mind. Shen Congyun has fallen into depravity and is only fit to be a prostitute in a brothel. She is not worthy of his Pingyang, much less of Miss Lin.

He can grant a marriage, and he can also take it back.

She was his cat, her fluffy tail could only wrap around his wrist.

Xiao Zhian scooped up Lin Huaiyin and placed her on the soft couch, then squatted down in front of her and asked, "Not pretending not to know me now? Hmm?"

A smile bloomed on his face, composed and at ease—the same face that had driven Shen Congyun to his death in the imperial prison of his previous life.

He concealed his sharpness, but he himself was sharpness. Even though Lin Huaiyin had been reborn, was cunning and ruthless, and could kill without hesitation, she was still afraid of him when he looked directly at her silently.

Why did they have to ruin him?

He's probably still a virgin, I'm so angry.

Lin Huaiyin was terrified. She shivered silently, shrank her neck timidly, and whispered, "Your Highness, I was blind and did not recognize you. I had not seen the Crown Prince's face. I only guessed Your Highness's identity when I heard someone calling for my brother outside the door. Please forgive my rudeness and offense."

As she spoke, she slid to the side, intending to slide down and kneel before Xiao Zhian.

Xiao Zhian held her waist tightly, lifting her chin and smiling meaningfully: "How did you offend me?"

He asked, and laughed, and images flashed wildly through Lin Huaiyin's mind.

Oh, that's really offensive!

Of course, the experience was absolutely amazing, and I could come back more often, or rather, never again.

The lost sense of shame grew wildly within her, Lin Huaiyin's ears turned bright red, and her pale face, flushed from blood loss, blushed crimson.

She dared not meet his gaze, but her chin was being held firmly in his hand, and she couldn't escape.

Your Highness's eyelashes are so long and beautiful, I really want to touch them. Lin Huaiyin's thoughts slipped out, but she immediately bit her lip to resist.

Oh no, she's going to be punished. Her heart was pounding. She racked her brains and whispered, "This humble woman is unaware. This humble woman has never met Your Highness before and is ignorant of etiquette. I am also seriously injured and unconscious, and I am in a daze. Perhaps I have made many mistakes and offended many people without realizing it. I beg Your Highness to be merciful and let this humble woman go."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhian couldn't help but smirk, his imperial aura dissipating.

Very good, cunning enough.

Now instead of pretending not to know them, they're feigning amnesia, taking advantage of them and denying everything.

The kitten feigned innocence and stubbornly refused to admit its mistake, as if to say, "I'll do it again next time."

Xiao Zhian was very pleased. With her intelligence, cunning, and resourcefulness, she should not be easily defeated, no matter what she was facing.

All he had to do was gain her trust, coax her into opening her mouth, and make her willingly curl up on his lap and snore.

However, at that moment...

"Clang, clang, clang."

Three knocks on the door.

Princess Pingyang seemed to be scolding Xuan Ge: "Your brother was assassinated, and you blocked the imperial physician from entering? Are you courting death?"

Upon hearing that the imperial physician had arrived.

Xiao Zhian swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

Nothing is more important than her health.

He closed his arms and embraced Lin Huaiyin again, whispering softly in her ear, "Focus on healing. I'll arrange everything and come back to see you tomorrow."

What? Lin Huaiyin's face stiffened, and her small body trembled—you're going to cause me trouble tomorrow? How? At the Shen Mansion? Are you trying to send me on my way? Is it really necessary? I saved your life, and apart from your left hand, your innocence is still intact!

She was trembling all over.

Xiao Zhian thought she was in pain from her wound, so he let go of her and rubbed her head before quickly leaving.

The door opened a crack, and Xiao Zhian stepped out.

"Greetings, Your Highness!"

Xuan Ge, the imperial physician, and dozens of guards all bowed in salute.

"Your Highness," Xuan Ge said, clasping his hands in a fist salute, "Du Yu has already led men to the scene to investigate."

"Hmm." Xiao Zhian nodded, gesturing for the imperial physician to go in.

Princess Pingyang, who was blocking the doorway, saw the blood on his body at a glance, covered her mouth and her eyes reddened.

"Brother!"

She buried her face in Xiao Zhian's arms.

Princess Pingyang hugged Xiao Zhi'an tightly, and Xiao Zhi'an gently patted her back, glancing at the door of the next room without saying a word.

He didn't care whether Shen Congyun was still next door.

But Pingyang's appearance at this time made him vaguely feel uneasy.

Today's Dharma assembly lasted for a full five hours, and Pingyang, being delicate and frail, could not bear the burden.

Afterwards, he accompanied Pingyang to a vegetarian meal, personally escorted her to her carriage, and told her to rest well at home.

Why so suddenly? She was on the ship, and how did she learn of the assassination attempt and rush here?

Upon careful consideration, Xiao Zhian realized that his little cat had bristled and arched its back the moment it heard Pingyang's voice, becoming fully alert and ready to fight to the death.

He captured that moment, without a doubt.

However, he didn't have time to ask. She was afraid of Pingyang, and also afraid that Pingyang would find out that they were together.

What is she afraid of?

Xiao Zhian's fate is currently uncertain.

But a sense of unease arose in his heart, a voice sounded an alarm, and a hesitation prevented him from thinking deeper.

No.

Xiao Zhian composed himself.

Pingyang was his younger sister, his only blood relative in the world. She suffered in her childhood, was a bit stubborn and didn't like to say sweet words, but she cared about him more than anyone else.

Of course, perhaps the little wildcat from the Lin family could rival Pingyang.

Xiao Zhian gently comforted Princess Pingyang, his attention focused on the door, hoping to hear some meows from the kittens.

Princess Pingyang calmed down in his arms, pulled her head out, her eyes red-rimmed, and examined him from head to toe.

Xiao Zhian had blood on his body, but it was only on the surface. He was not injured, his robe was not torn at all, and there was no panic on his face.

We lost.

Utter defeat.

Princess Pingyang confirmed the results—she suffered two defeats in one day, losing nine monks and ten guards, while Xiao Zhian remained unharmed.

He was unharmed, calm and collected, and his expression was quite ordinary. Moreover, Princess Pingyang keenly noticed that Xiao Zhian's eyes showed an unprecedented tenderness, and he was restless, his gaze constantly drifting to the back.

My elder brother seems to be particularly interested in what's behind the door.

Princess Pingyang recalled that in the room just now, she was next to Shen Congyun when she suddenly saw Xiao Zhian closing the window in the next room.

With Xuan Ge present, why would he need to take action himself?

She knocked on the door, but Xuan Ge stubbornly refused to let her in.

This is unprecedented.

Whether it was court politics or the daily life of the Crown Prince's palace, Xiao Zhi'an never hid anything from her, and people like Xuan Ge would never dare to stop her.

All sorts of unusual signs indicate that a mysterious figure, whom Xiao Zhian cares deeply for but does not want to reveal, is hiding behind the door.

Who is this person that he cares about so much, that even she is wary of them?

Princess Pingyang was incredulous. She suddenly realized—her brother had a woman.

And it wasn't just a one-night stand; it was a real, genuine attraction.

This kind of thing is absolutely unacceptable.

Princess Pingyang's eyes instantly reddened. Xiao Zhian was hers, for this life and forever, in life and in death, he belonged only to her.

His fate was in her hands; she would never share him with anyone.

no way.

"Royal brother."

Princess Pingyang released Xiao Zhian's robe, took three steps back, and looked at him coldly, saying in an icy voice, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, you have someone you love."

She exuded a cold aura, and Xiao Zhian felt a pang in his heart upon hearing this. He tried to pull her further, but Pingyang retreated.

"Hehehe." She sneered, her slender shoulders trembling, and she curtsied to congratulate him: "How wonderful, my royal brother and his sweetheart are so affectionate and tender inside. It was Pingyang who was meddling and thought you were frightened by the assassination attempt, so she came to bother you and disturb your mood. Pingyang will take her leave now."

With that, she turned away, leaving behind a solitary and forlorn figure.

Xiao Zhian instinctively chased after him.

Thud thud thud!

The wooden floorboards trembled beneath his feet.