Tao Ti was still a little confused and wondered whether she should go and visit Qiong Qi.

But she soon discovered that this was a great opportunity with the right time, right place and right people.

First, most people were at the bonfire party, and there were only two teams of guards patrolling the tent.

Secondly, the way she took back to her own tent would pass by Qiongqi's tent.

Last but not least, when they arrived near Qiongqi's tent, Linglong suddenly discovered that one of Taoti's earrings had fallen off. Without saying a word, she bent down and looked around with two eunuchs.

Seeing Linglong and the others searching diligently in the dark, Taoti clenched her fists and made up her mind:

She went in to take a look and came out quickly!

Tao Ti held her breath, mustered up her courage, and walked quickly towards Qiong Qi's tent.

She was too nervous to think about how unusual it was that there was no guard at the door of the tent.

She didn't even notice that when she lifted the curtain and walked in, Linglong stopped looking for her earrings, turned her head and stared at the tent with a complicated look.

Inside the tent, candlelight was dimming and Qiong Qi was lying on the bed sleeping.

"Aqi, Aqi!" Tao Ti walked quickly to the bed and called in a low voice.

Qiongqi opened her eyes dazedly and saw her friend's face. She was surprised and delighted, "Ati!"

She tried to sit up. "Shouldn't you be at some bonfire party right now? Why are you here? Aren't you afraid of being discovered?"

"I heard that you broke your leg, and I'm worried about you." Taoti lifted her blanket and took a look. She saw that her legs were wrapped in bandages, like a mummy. She frowned and asked softly, "Does it hurt?"

Qiong Qi's eyes were filled with tears and she pouted, "Yes, it hurts!"

Tao Ti didn't care about her whimpering and showing off her macho face, so she whispered, "You can ask your subordinates to make some bone soup for you to replenish your body... After all, you are such a good rider, how could you fall off the horse?"

At this point, Qiong Qi immediately put away her aggrieved expression, took Tao Ti's hand and sat down, her expression serious, "I was ambushed. I was riding a horse at the time, and I clearly felt the sound of a hidden weapon breaking through the wind. It must have been the slingshot that hit the horse's belly, so the horse suddenly went crazy."

"A plot?!" Tao Ti stared in astonishment. "Dayuan and Rongdi have been on good terms for years. Are they plotting against you at this critical moment to stir up a dispute between the two countries? Who is so bold!"

Qiong Qi said nothing, and looked deeply at Tao Ti with her light eyes.

Taoti, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Qiong Qi, "Maybe it has something to do with you."

Taoti, "???"

Qiong Qi raised her eyebrows lazily, "Your dear husband."

Tao Ti was surprised, Pei Yan?

Her face wrinkled like a bun, and she retorted without hesitation, "Impossible, how could he do such a thing? He is so good, so kind, so..."

"Stop, stop!" Qiong Qi rolled her eyes. "Do you know that the line you just said is exactly like the description of the scumbag in the Qiong Yao drama about the little white flower?"

"...It's impossible anyway. He's a very nice person. And he has no grudge against you. Why would he want to harm you?"

"You always say I'm stupid, but I think you're the stupidest one!" Qiong Qi sat up straight and tapped Tao Ti's forehead with her hand. "Based on my experience of reading countless men, your prince is not as innocent as you think."

Tao Ti was stunned.

Qiong Qi raised her eyebrows, "Maybe, have you heard of white cutting black?"

Tao Ti was stunned for a long time. After coming to her senses, she still didn't quite believe it. "You said his gentleness and good temper were all fake?"

Qiong Qi pursed her lips and said, "I have only met him twice, so I can't say to what extent he is a traitor. But he is a very possessive person. You see, I just got a little closer to you, and he pointed his bow and arrow at me in the forest, and secretly injured my horse... I think if he didn't care about my identity, he wouldn't have killed me directly, otherwise I would have been dead long ago."

Tao Ti's heart skipped a beat when she heard Qiong Qi's words.

She naturally believed her friend, there was no need for her to make up these things to scare herself.

"Anyway, don't be so stupid. You're being sold out and still asking people to pay you back!" Qiong Qi sighed as she saw that she was in a daze.

Alas, little A'ti was so unlucky that she met such a scheming man in her first love and was completely dominated by him.

She patted her shoulder and suggested softly, "Ati, why don't you come back to Rongdi with me? My father, the Khan, dotes on me very much. If nothing unexpected happens, the Khanship should be mine. Then you will be my princess, and we will live together in the world, galloping on horseback, and sharing the prosperity of the world—"

Tao Ti said depressedly, "Don't be ridiculous. I'm the Crown Princess now. How can I just leave like that?"

Qiong Qi put away her smile, with worry in her eyes, "Anyway, when you are with the prince, be more careful... If he hides something from you, don't give your heart to him without reservation, otherwise I'm afraid you will get hurt."

Tao Ti lowered her eyes, her mind was complicated, but she pretended to be calm and said, "Aqi, if he really hurt you, I apologize to you on his behalf."

Qiong Qi waved her hands and said, "Well, who are we going to follow?"

The two of them exchanged a few words, and Qiong Qi rubbed her hair, like an older sister, "Okay, hurry up and leave before anyone finds you."

Tao Ti nodded, "Take good care of yourself."

She stood up and walked quickly out of the house.

He carefully lifted the felt curtain and looked outside. When he was sure that there was no one outside, he swiftly went in.

But before she could breathe a sigh of relief, suddenly, a tall and straight figure emerged from the darkness.

Before she could react, she was lifted onto his shoulders like a sack.

Tao Ti was shocked and just as she was about to scream, she smelled a familiar scent of cold pine.

She was stunned. "Your Highness?"

The man said nothing, but walked forward with big strides.

When they walked into the light, Tao Ti saw his clothes, which were exactly Pei Yan's bamboo green brocade robe.

It's really him!

She struggled and said in panic, "Your Highness, what are you doing? Put me down."

Pei Yan held her legs tightly. Seeing her moving around, he tightened his strong arms a little, raised his hand and patted her buttocks, and said in a low voice, "Don't move."

His actions and tone made Tao Ti feel shy and scared. She felt like she was walking on tightrope, with her heart hanging in the air and wavering.

She was confused, why was he here? Did he hear what she and Qiongqi said? He must have, otherwise he wouldn't have picked her up. He must have misunderstood.

But why is it such a coincidence? Where are Linglong and the others? Why is everyone missing?

For a moment, Qiong Qi's earnest words surged up like a tide -

"Your prince is not as innocent as you think...

Maybe, have you heard of white cut black? "

Could it be that Pei Yan's gentleness, kindness, tolerance and generosity were all fake?

Tao Ti's face turned pale.

…

Tao Ti's tent was not far away, so Pei Yan carried her back to the tent.

The palace servants stood guard outside the tent, with their heads lowered and not daring to look any further.

Linglong stamped her feet, muttering anxiously, "How could it turn out like this? What should I do? Will the prince hurt the princess..."

Fu Xirui also frowned, shook his head and sighed, "I think His Highness is very angry this time."

Linglong felt guilty and tormented. In her heart, she sided with the Crown Princess, but the prince was her master and she had to obey his orders.

She clasped her hands together and bowed towards the dark sky in the distance, hoping that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess could resolve the misunderstanding and not let this matter hurt their relationship.

Inside the tent, Tao Ti was thrown on the bed.

Although the bed was covered with a thick quilt, my coccyx still ached slightly after I was thrown down rudely.

However, she didn't care about the pain at the moment and just stepped back instinctively. Her dark eyes were filled with fear as she stared at the man who was approaching step by step.

He was still as handsome as ever, not twisted with anger, his deep face was expressionless, no joy or anger could be seen. But his black eyes were blazing, and the anger in them was like a dark cloud rolling, cold and gloomy.

Pei Yan like this seemed like a different person, making Tao Ti feel strange and scared.

She moved slowly towards the bed, and he approached her step by step with an expressionless face, gently unbuttoning her robe with his slender hands.

Until her back hit the bed rail, there was no way to retreat. Pei Yan's tall body blocked most of the candlelight, and the shadow shrouded her.

Tao Ti's face turned pale, like a frightened deer, and her voice trembled, "Your Highness..."

Pei Yan's shirt was open, and his strong chest muscles could be vaguely seen. He leaned over and stretched out his hand to her.

Tao Ti subconsciously turned her head away.

Pei Yan's pupils shrank, as if he was angered by her action. His cold hand passed through her fair and slender neck and pinched the back of her neck with his backhand.

He moved closer slowly, using force in his hands so that she had to look him in the eye.

There was a layer of mist in Tao Ti's eyes, her long eyelashes were a little wet, and she looked at him timidly.

Pei Yan gently stroked the back of her neck, his warm lips pressed against her earlobe, his eyes dark, his thin lips curled up in a cold smile, "If I had known you liked wild things, I wouldn't have pretended."

His hot breath penetrated into her ears, and the next moment, he held her earlobe in his mouth.

Tao Ti's body trembled violently, and he repeated his words in his mind.

He stopped pretending.

No more pretending.

So he was just pretending before?

What Qiongqi said is true!

Pei Yan's kisses went from the ears to the cheeks, eyebrows, and lips, hot and with an irresistible dominance.

When he kissed her lips and tried to pry open her teeth, she suddenly came to her senses and put her hands between them, "No, no!"

Her refusal made Pei Yan's eyes even colder. "You are my Crown Princess, why not?"

Tao Ti held back tears and begged in a low voice, "Your Highness, please don't be like this."

Pei Yan pinched her jaw, and pressed down on her. His Adam's apple moved slightly, and he said in a hoarse voice, "Do you like him so much?"

Obviously, before this, she was not opposed to having sex with him, but after Ashina Qi came, things changed.

Tao Ti was stunned, tears welling up in her eyes, "Like? Who?"

Pei Yan had a complicated expression and sneered, "Going to the tent to look for another man late at night, I didn't know you were so brave."

Tao Ti also reacted now and said hurriedly, "No, Your Highness, there is a misunderstanding here. She and I are not what you think."

Pei Yan curled his lips and said, "I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears. How could there be any misunderstanding?"

His voice was low and his cold fingers stroked her cheek, making her hair stand on end.

Tao Ti suddenly understood and looked at him with wide eyes, "You, you knew I would go find her?"

Pei Yan hummed solemnly.

Perhaps he had set up a trap to test her.

And she disappointed him.

Tao Ti was a little angry. He actually tricked her?

Her eyes were red, and the anger and grievance of being deceived surged into her heart. She pushed him away with force, "You asked me to trust you, but you don't trust me."

Seeing that she was still making a fuss, Pei Yan felt a dull pain in his chest. He immediately grasped her slender wrist with his big hand, lifted it above his head, and held it firmly.

He gritted his teeth and said, "How can I trust you? Look at his eyes, they are so intimate, he smiled so happily at him, he wanted to rush over to care for him when he was injured, and he even ignored the status and rules and went to visit him late at night without telling me! Ha, he also wanted to take you back to Rongdi... If I really died, you would probably let him go, right?"

Tao Ti didn't like this controlled posture, as it felt like her whole body was exposed and she felt extremely insecure.

She was also very angry and wanted to argue with him, but as soon as the words of rebuttal came to her throat, tears of grievance fell uncontrollably and she cried out "wow".

She cried like a child, her tears falling like beads from a broken string.

Pei Yan was stunned.

Panic, heartache, sadness, and complex emotions spread to every part of my body.

He should have been angry and punished her severely, but when he saw her tears, he became flustered and confused.

He frowned and said fiercely, "Don't cry."

Tao Ti continued to cry even harder, "I feel sad. You bullied me, lied to me, and didn't let me cry... I don't want to like you anymore..."

Pei Yan's head was throbbing with pain, and his heart was heavy. In a state of confusion, he fiercely blocked her lips.

The crying turned into a muffled groan.

He kissed her hard, and he would accept it even if she bit him.

At first Tao Ti was still struggling, but later she was kissed until she had no strength left, and his chest and back were stiff. After hammering for so long, he didn't feel any pain, but her hands did.

She felt even more aggrieved and sour, thinking that he was using his power to suppress her and that it was unfair.

After a long time, Pei Yan left her lips.

The corner of his mouth was bitten by her, and it felt stinging when it touched the air.

He gently touched the wound with his fingers, lowered his eyes, and stared at her calmly, "Are you still crying?"

Tao Ti stared at him with wet eyes and hiccuped.

Pei Yan's voice was hoarse. "If you cry again, I will continue to kiss you until you can't cry anymore."

He used a threatening tone to say these explicit and ambiguous words, making Tao Ti unsure whether to be angry or shy.

Pei Yan was calmer now, but he still pressed her down, pinching her fair cheeks with his rough fingertips, and said in a low, hoarse voice, "Don't say 'you don't like me' anymore. You can only like me. As for others, if you dare to like them, you can give it a try."

Seeing the murderous intent in his eyes, Tao Ti immediately thought of Qiong Qi falling off the horse, and asked tentatively, "A-Ashina Qi falling off the horse, was it you who arranged it?"

Pei Yan narrowed his eyes, "So what? Are you going to blame me for him?"

It turned out that he really did it.

How many terrible things has he been hiding from himself?

Tao Ti's eyes narrowed and she stepped back.

Pei Yan held her shoulders firmly and stared at her deeply. "Little girl, now it's your turn to explain. What is the relationship between you and him?"

Tao Ti choked. She had a premonition that if she didn't answer this question well, Qiong Qi's life might be in danger and she herself would be in trouble.

But should they tell him the truth? No, they cannot reveal their identities to mortals.

After thinking for a while, she stammered and explained, "She and I are just friends, not romantic! She, she doesn't like women, she likes men!"

Hearing the second half of the sentence, Pei Yan's eyes froze.

Tao Ti said hurriedly, "She is a traitor, really. If you don't believe me, you can go ask her. She has no interest in women! She and I really have a sisterly relationship."

Pei Yan pursed her lips and looked down at the little person under her. Her eyes were clear and frank, without any flaws.

Could it be that Ashina Qi was really a traitor?

"It's not enough for you to be friends with Xu Wenchan and Qinghe, why do you have to find a man of a different race? You two have only met a few times, but you are so familiar with each other, as if you have been friends for many years."

Pei Yan pinched her waist punitively, his eyes dark, "Tell the truth."

Taoti, "..."

He is indeed not that easy to fool.

Forget it, just go for it.

It's better to be punished by God or burned to death as a monster than to continue this misunderstanding.

She bit her lip and met his gaze, her eyes full of seriousness, "I'll say it, but I have two things to make clear; first, you are the only man I like; second, Ashina Qi and I are innocent and have no private relationship. As for the reason why I know her well..."

She paused, "Your Highness, even if I knew the truth, I might die and leave you, do you still want to know?"

Pei Yan froze.

He had never thought that she would leave him, let alone imagine her death.

Seeing that he didn't say anything, Tao Ti just thought he agreed, so he closed his eyes and spoke harshly, "Okay, I'll tell you. Actually, I'm not the same Tao Ti as before. I'm..."

Before she could finish her words, Pei Yan held her tightly in his arms.

His tall nose was deeply buried in her shoulder, his breathing was rapid, and his voice was extremely hoarse, "Don't say it, I don't want to know."

Tao Ti felt a pang in her heart and her nose was also sour, "Have you guessed something a long time ago..."

Pei Yan's pupils trembled. He did have some doubts about her identity.

It's just that he has been deceiving himself and doesn't want to ask further.

Growing up in the palace, he knew very well that sometimes knowing too much was not a good thing.

He let her go, put his forehead against hers, his nose against hers, and whispered, "I won't ask you anything, just stay with me, and let the past be the past..."

Tao Ti saw the redness in the corners of his eyes, and her eye sockets also turned red, with big tears falling down.

Just for a moment, she wanted to tell everything, let go of this relationship, leave with Qiong Qi, and return to her original life.

She thought she could give it up, but in fact, she couldn't -

She really likes him.

No matter if he was gentle before or crazy and stubborn as he is now, she couldn't leave him.

Pei Yan saw her crying so sadly and patted her back gently. "As long as you are still you, I don't care about anything else."

Tao Ti nodded and buried her face tightly in his arms, "Yeah."

Linglong and Fu Xirui looked at each other outside the tent: "My God, why are you crying so hard? What did the prince do to the princess?"