Zhao Zhi stiffened slightly, barely suppressing the urge to kick him aside. With a cold face, she gritted her teeth and said, "Tell me."
Yun Zhang's hands slowly ran through her hair, combing it gently, sending a tingling sensation through Zhao Zhi's heart. Just then, she heard him say, "Your Highness, this humble subject wishes to offer you comfort with my lowly body. Is that permissible?"
Zhao Zhi shoved him aside abruptly, suppressing her discomfort, and said coldly, "Prince Yi is renowned for his romantic talent and charm, and the women around him are naturally of all shapes and sizes. Why bother to humiliate me?"
Yun Zhang paused briefly, then crossed his arms and looked at her with a faint smile on his lips. He slowly said, "Your Highness, I have been thinking of you ever since I met you. So, Your Highness can consider this condition carefully. I am not in a hurry and can wait patiently."
As he spoke, he slowly sat down on the armchair beside him, deliberately emphasizing the words "wait slowly," but to Zhao Zhi, they sounded extremely grating.
"Yunzhang, don't push your luck!" Zhao Zhi called out his name angrily.
"Your Highness, please don't put it so harshly! We're just mutually benefiting. Besides, even if I had the antidote, it would only alleviate His Majesty's condition, allowing him to prolong his life—oh, that's a rather disrespectful word, but please pretend you didn't hear it. His Majesty has no brothers or heirs, and he's unable to rule in his own right. Your Highness will become Empress sooner or later. I'm merely trying to find a way to survive for myself sooner."
Zhao Zhi glared angrily, but listening to his analysis, she couldn't find a single fault in it.
She pondered for a moment, suppressed the coldness in her eyes, and raised her voice to ask, "Since Prince Yi sees the situation so clearly, aren't you afraid that when I become emperor, the first person I'll kill is you?"
Yun Zhang smiled and said, "Of course I'm afraid. But Your Highness won't." As he spoke, he reached for a small porcelain cup on the coffee table, lifted the lid, and pulled out a dagger from somewhere. He cut his finger, dripped a few drops of blood into the cup, shook it gently, and handed it to Zhao Zhi.
"Antidote?" Zhao Zhi was filled with suspicion. She stared at the blood in the porcelain bowl, her mind racing. What exactly was Prince Yi up to? Did he really have an antidote? But why was blood dripped into the porcelain bowl? Her gaze towards Yun Zhang grew increasingly wary.
Yun Zhang seemed to sense her doubt and explained with a smile, "Your Highness, rest assured, this is not poison. I simply want to prove to Your Highness that I am utterly loyal to you and have no other intentions. As long as Your Highness ascends the throne one day, I will certainly do my utmost to assist you."
After saying that, he handed the porcelain cup to Zhao Zhi. Zhao Zhi hesitated for a moment, but still accepted the porcelain cup.
She carefully examined the blood and found nothing unusual. She felt slightly relieved, but still dared not let her guard down. After all, the thoughts of this Prince Yi were truly unfathomable.
"Antidote?"
"As you see, Your Highness. Indeed." Yun Zhang yawned lazily, stretched, and said in a languid and casual tone, "Your Highness, I am truly exhausted today. Why don't we retire for the night?"
Seeing his smug look, Zhao Zhi frowned slightly, a hint of dissatisfaction rising in her heart, but she still tried her best to control her emotions and swallowed back the question that was already on the tip of her tongue.
She lifted her leg, turned and walked towards the door, saying, "I need to go back to take care of my elder brother."
However, before she could reach the door, she suddenly heard a slight noise behind her.
Immediately afterward, a hand reached out and grabbed her arm tightly. Zhao Zhi turned around in surprise and saw Yun Zhang looking at her with a mischievous grin.
With a little effort, Yun Zhang made Zhao Zhi sit back on his lap without even realizing it.
Her body trembled slightly, and a blush rose to her cheeks. Yun Zhang's lips curled into a playful smile as he said softly, "Your Highness is destined to be the Empress; it wouldn't be right for you to go back on your word, would it?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhi's face darkened further. She glared fiercely at Yun Zhang, her eyes flashing with anger. She retorted through gritted teeth, "I did not agree to your conditions just now!"
Just then, Zhao Zhi's hand suddenly loosened, and with a crisp sound, the porcelain cup fell to the ground and shattered. In the candlelight, crimson liquid flowed out, looking somewhat eerie.
"Yunzhang, you—"
Zhao Zhi was held tightly in Yun Zhang's arms, unable to move.
"It was Your Highness who went back on your word first, so please don't blame this humble subject," Yun Zhang said softly, a hint of teasing in his tone. After speaking, he lowered his head and gently nuzzled Zhao Zhi's neck.
Zhao Zhi's body trembled slightly as she felt Yun Zhang's lips caressing her skin, bringing a strange sensation.
"Yunzhang, how dare you!" she cursed through gritted teeth.
"Your Highness, I really like it when Your Highness calls my name." Yun Zhang's actions became increasingly bold. Zhao Zhi felt a mixture of humiliation and anger, and in a fit of rage, she fainted.
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