After handing the saucy instruction manual to 888, Lan Shuang unscrewed the ointment and squeezed out a little to apply it carefully on her neck. It felt a little cool at first, but after a while it turned into a slight heat until the feeling completely disappeared. Lan Shuang looked down at the lake and found that the marks on her neck were gone.
"Okay, go back."
Lan Shuang handed the ointment to 888 for safekeeping, turned around and went back easily.
She was away from the table for a while, and when she sat down, someone asked her where she had been.
She said a little embarrassedly: "This is my first time in the Chrysanthemum Garden. I wanted to go for some fresh air, but I got lost while walking. It took me a long time to find my way back."
The others smiled knowingly after hearing this, "Yes, it's easy to get lost in such a big garden without a guide. Just come back."
No one took it to heart and continued watching the show.
Seeing the men's chattering and bustling over there, Lan Shuang couldn't help but ask, "What's going on? What are they saying over there?"
A girl in pink beside her said, "Oh, you came back so late, didn't you know? The Crown Princess just vomited. She asked the imperial physician to take a look, and he said she's pregnant."
"Really?" Lan Shuang said with a smile, "That's truly a great event. It coincides with the Crown Prince's birthday, so it's truly a double blessing."
"That's right!" The girls were quite envious. "His Royal Highness was so happy when he found out. This child is obviously blessed. Regardless of whether it's a boy or a girl, he will definitely be doted on in the future."
Lan Shuang's gaze fell on the Crown Princess who was surrounded by people greeting her not far away. Sure enough, she saw that her face was full of smiles, and her hands were constantly stroking her belly. The joy of being a new mother made her look even more beautiful.
"Fortunately, I didn't listen to Lan Ye and try to seduce the prince, otherwise I would have committed a terrible sin."
Lan Shuang thought with lingering fear.
888: "Host, don't think about this. When you return home later, how are you going to explain this to the Imperial Master?"
"We'll just have to take it one step at a time," Lan Shuang said helplessly. "The original owner's wish is so abstract. There's only so much I can do."
"That's true..." 888 touched his chin thoughtfully.
Because the Crown Princess was suddenly found to be pregnant, the birthday banquet ended early. After everyone left, the Crown Prince took the Crown Princess directly into the palace to announce the good news to the Emperor and the Empress.
The Crown Prince is now twenty-five years old, but he still has no children. This is because the Crown Princess is not pregnant and the Queen does not like having children born out of wedlock, so before the Crown Princess becomes pregnant, no one else is allowed to get pregnant.
As a result, not only the Crown Prince was under great pressure, but the Crown Princess was also uncomfortable. The two had been waiting for a child for two years, and finally they had one.
The Emperor and the Empress were extremely happy when they received the news. Not only did they reward the Crown Princess with a large number of gifts, but the Empress also assigned her confidant to serve the Crown Princess and ensure the safety of mother and child.
…
"...That's right, the Crown Prince also benefits from this. He's the Emperor's eldest grandson!"
The confidant reported to Lan Ye, and Lan Ye's eyes darkened after hearing it: "Oh, the eldest grandson."
Whether the baby can be born is still uncertain.
He lowered his eyes, and the white piece in his hand landed on the chessboard with a "clack". "Go down."
"yes."
As soon as the confidant opened the door, he saw Lan Shuang standing at the door. Lan Shuang raised her hand, as if she was about to knock on the door. The two looked at each other, and the confidant hurriedly bowed to Lan Shuang: "Saint Lady."
"Well, are you guys done? Can I come in?"
Lan Ye heard it from inside the house and said loudly, "Come in."
The confidant nodded to Lan Shuang and left quickly. Lan Shuang took a deep breath, walked in, and then closed the door behind her.
It was already evening, the sun was setting, dusk was falling, and the room was dim. When Lan Shuang walked in, she saw Lan Ye sitting on the couch by the window, playing chess with himself.
The black and white pieces on the chessboard are fighting fiercely, neither giving an inch, and have reached a stalemate.
Lan Ye was twisting a black particle in his hand, but he didn't let it drop. Half of his face was hidden in the dark, and the other half was bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, making him look cold and gloomy.
Lan Shuang walked over and bowed to him: "Godfather."
Lan Ye didn't even raise his eyelids and said coldly: "Lan Shuang, you've grown too independent."
Lan Shuang pursed her lips: "Why do you say that, godfather?"
"Oh--"
He chuckled, and the black piece fell, completely trapped in a dead end.
After looking at it for a few moments, he suddenly flicked his sleeve and overturned the chessboard.
Black and white pieces rolled all over the floor, making a crackling sound. One piece landed at Lan Shuang's feet. She lowered her eyes and took a look. "Is foster father so angry because I didn't go to see the Crown Prince?"
Lan Ye's eyes were sharp as knives. "Since you knew that, why didn't you go? You're pretending to obey, but secretly disobeying me. Do you think I can't bear to touch you?"
"I dare not. I don't think I hold such a high position in my adoptive father's heart. How dare I be so arrogant?"
Lan Shuang raised her head and said with a smile.
Lan Ye's breath was slightly heavy, and he just looked at her.
Lan Shuang refused to budge, letting him watch. The two of them faced off in silence for a moment, their swords drawn. It was Lan Ye who spoke first, "So what do you want to do?"
"I don't want to do anything. My life is in my adoptive father's hands. It would be easy for him to kill me. He only keeps me because he is a chess piece that is hard to raise and can't be easily given up. I understand all this."
Lan Shuang picked up a chess piece and looked at it against the light, then said softly, "But what can I do? I can be the knife in your hand, but I don't want to be a plaything in a man's hand."
"I don't think I have the ability to seduce the Crown Prince or any of the other princes and stir up a fight between them. If my adoptive father insists on me doing it, I would rather die."
As she spoke, she exerted force with her hand and crushed the chess piece. With a twist of her thumb, it turned into powder and fell to the ground.
Lan Ye's eyes narrowed: "Your martial arts skills haven't declined at all over these years."
"If a woman wants to make a living in this world, she must have some ability." Lan Shuang smiled indifferently.
Lan Ye laughed meaningfully upon hearing this, and then fell silent again.
Lan Shuang didn't urge him, just stood there.
After a long time, Lan Ye stood up and walked in front of Lan Shuang. The room became increasingly dark, and it was almost impossible to see anyone in it.
Lan Shuang could feel Lan Ye approaching. He reached out and clamped Lan Shuang's chin, forcing her to look directly at him: "So you would rather die than attack the prince?"
"The Crown Princess is already pregnant. I won't do such an immoral thing."
Lan Shuang was firm in her attitude.
Lan Ye sneered, "Alright, then you can go and explain to the Crown Prince yourself. I won't interfere in this matter anymore. Without the protection of the Imperial Master's Mansion, I wonder how you can survive."
After saying that, he let go of Lan Shuang and strode away.
Lan Shuang touched her chin and raised her eyebrows: "Just solve it yourself."
After leaving the room, Lan Ye went to the study and called the maid who served Lan Shuang: "Has the Saint Lady behaved abnormally recently? Has she seen anyone?"
The maid thought about it blankly, shook her head and said, "The Saint hasn't left the house in the past few days, nor has she seen many people. The only thing that can be considered unusual is that she suddenly broke the rules and got drunk a while ago."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com