As the medicine entered his mouth, the Second Prince gradually regained his senses, feeling as if his body was on fire.
He suddenly raised his hand and stroked Liu Xiaolan's waist, recklessly releasing his desire.
A deep, magnetic male voice came through.
"Xue'er? Why did you change your scent recently? Hmm?"
Liu Xiaolan's heart skipped a beat, and her cheeks flushed red. "Your...Your Highness, I am Xiaolan."
Upon hearing this, the Second Prince's eyes darkened. He reached out and pushed Liu Xiaolan away, his tone cold and sharp.
"Is it Granny Liu's young daughter?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Xiaolan exclaimed in surprise, overjoyed.
"I didn't expect Your Highness to actually remember me?"
The second prince remained silent, slowly stood up, and rubbed his large hand as he searched for his undergarments by the bedside.
Suddenly, a warm feeling spread through his body. Someone had already dressed him in his undergarments and said softly,
"Your Highness is not available, so let me serve you instead."
"Were you sent by the Empress?"
"Your Highness, Her Majesty the Empress saw that Consort Gu was overworked, so she specially sent me to help take care of Your Highness."
Upon hearing this, the Second Prince's eyes darkened. He stretched out his limbs, letting her do as she pleased, and asked indifferently,
"Where is Consort Gu? Why haven't I seen her serving me?"
"Consort Gu is preparing bathwater for Your Highness. If Your Highness is worried, I will go and call her back now."
The second prince slowly replied, "Go and call her back."
From now on, you don't need to come over when she's not around.
Upon hearing this, Liu Xiaolan's eyes welled up with tears. Her first experience with intimacy was met with such a frustrating and disheartening experience of being persuaded to leave.
She was resentful and thought to herself, "Next time, I'll make sure the Second Prince keeps me here."
Once the room quieted down, the Second Prince leaned lazily against the bed, his expression gradually darkening as he recalled what seemed like only recently had happened.
The Second Prince remembered that a month ago, on a snowy night, he was holding a woman's cold body, leaning against a stone bench in the Cold Palace, slitting his wrists and letting the blood drain from his body, thus painfully ending his life.
Just when he thought he was free, he opened his eyes and found himself back in the back garden where he first met the woman.
However, this time, unlike the previous life, their first encounter took place in the water.
"Second Prince, I can't breathe! Help me! It's me, Qianxue!"
"Qianqian? It really is you. You're not dead yet, are you? Where are you? I... this prince has come to save you."
Realizing he had returned to the past and was still the Second Prince, Li Zhiyan quickly swallowed the word "朕" (zhen, meaning "I, the emperor") back down his throat.
“I am here, Second Prince. I am right in front of you. You only need to reach out your hand to me to save me.”
The woman pleaded in a hoarse voice.
Hearing the sound, the second prince groped his way toward the lotus pond.
The woman's voice grew weaker and weaker, and he anxiously knelt on the ground, frantically clawing at the water.
"Qianqian, quick! Hold on to me!"
Finally, he grasped a slender hand from the water, and with a slight pull, he scooped the beauty out of the water, held her in his arms, and comforted her.
"Qianqian, are you alright? Don't be afraid. I promise you, I will never let you down again."
Gu Qianxue's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of jealousy flashing through her mind.
"Qianqian? Hehe! Gu Qianluo, the Second Prince is truly deeply in love with you! It's just a pity that from now on, I am the Qianqian in his heart."
"Your Highness, thank you for saving her. Qianqian is alright."
After saying that, she slowly withdrew from the man's arms and asked with concern.
"Oh dear, it's all Qianqian's fault for getting your clothes wet. The Second Prince is weak, you should go back to your room to change your clothes right away."
Upon hearing this, the Second Prince's eyes sparkled with joy. "Since Qianqian cares so much about me, why don't you stay in the manor tonight and take care of me?"
Gu Qianxue was startled, her eyes lighting up with delight, and she shyly agreed.
"As long as Your Highness doesn't mind, Qianqian will always stay by Your Highness's side and take care of you."
"Very well. My palace is just ahead, and there's a large banyan tree in front of it, under which..."
Guided by the Second Prince, Gu Qianxue helped him to his bedchamber.
A faint scent of sandalwood wafted into his nostrils, and the familiar greeting of a servant reached his ears. The Second Prince smiled slightly and gave his orders.
"Qianqian, there are some clean clothes in the wardrobe. Go and get them for me to change into."
Also... I don't have any women's clothes here, so you'll have to make do with mine tonight.
Tomorrow, I will send someone to deliver the woman's clothes.
Gu Qianxue's brow twitched slightly, and she replied softly, "I will do as Your Highness commands."
Gu Qianxue spread her sleeves and slipped under the Second Prince's arm. Just as her slender hand was about to cover his collar, her wrist was grabbed. The man pulled back his hand and pressed her body down. She cried out in surprise, "Your Highness... I am not yet married."
Upon hearing this, the Second Prince's expression brightened. He reached out and stroked her cheek, saying in a deep voice,
"It's alright, you'll soon be mine."
Gu Qianxue's heart skipped a beat, her expression one of surprise, and she asked in a low voice, "What does Your Highness mean by this?"
"Qianqian, I told you when we were little that I would marry you once I recovered from my illness. Have you forgotten?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Qianxue felt as if she had fallen into an abyss. It turned out that the Second Prince was mistaking her for Gu Qianluo.
Perhaps this is fate. As long as she can enjoy a lifetime of honor, what does it matter if she is used as a substitute?
Let's just go with the flow!
"Your Highness is joking with my daughter again. You are the Second Prince, how could you possibly marry a merchant's daughter?"
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