A crack finally appeared on the Crown Princess's carefully painted face. She rolled her eyes and said with a fake smile, "Your Highness, please calm down. Miss Lin didn't mean it. The ground... is indeed quite slippery." As she spoke, she secretly glanced at Li Chengqian's soaked robe with the corner of her eye, and a hint of subtle sarcasm appeared at the corner of her mouth.

I cursed in my heart, this woman changes her face faster than turning the pages of a book, just now she looked like she was enjoying the show, and now she is pretending to be a good person. However, her words reminded me, and I rolled my eyes, immediately covered my chest, and my body tilted, and I was about to fall to the ground.

“Oh, Miss Lin!” The Crown Princess cried out in surprise, but she did not reach out to help me up. Instead, she watched me come into close contact with the ground.

Before I knew it, a strong arm grabbed my waist and lifted me up from the ground. I raised my head and met Li Rui's deep eyes, which were filled with worry and a subtle affection.

"Royal brother, Qingya is weak and frightened. Please, for my sake, stop blaming her." Li Rui said as he led me behind him without leaving any traces, as if he was declaring something.

Li Chengqian's face became even uglier, he stared at me intently, as if he was staring a hole in me. I looked back at him without any fear, with a provocative smile on the corner of my mouth.

"Royal brother, are you teaching me how to do things?" Li Chengqian's voice was terribly gloomy.

Li Rui, however, seemed not to have heard the anger in his voice, and remained calm, "I dare not, I am only worried about Qingya's health. My brother also knows that Qingya..."

"Enough!" Li Chengqian slammed the table, interrupting Li Rui's words, "Do all of you think I'm a fool?"

I was secretly happy, but you're just a fool when you come here!

"Your Highness, please calm down," I said softly, but there was a hint of sarcasm in my voice. "You are the crown prince, and you are of noble status. Why do you have to argue with me? I am just an ordinary citizen, how can I understand the struggles in the court? Everything I do is for the Great Zhou, for the emperor!"

I said this with such righteousness that Li Chengqian was stunned. He looked at me suspiciously, as if he was doubting the truth of my words.

I sneered in my heart, you are too naive to play tricks on me!

"Your Highness," I continued, my tone more sincere, "I know that you have always been resentful of me and think that I have ulterior motives in getting close to the prince. But I swear to heaven that I have no improper thoughts about the prince! The reason why I get close to the prince is only because..."

I paused deliberately, looked into Li Chengqian's eyes, and said word by word: "Just because, Prince, he understands me!"

As soon as I said this, Li Chengqian and Li Rui's faces changed.

There was a flash of hurt in Li Chengqian's eyes, and there was an emotion in Li Rui's eyes that I could understand.

I was secretly proud of myself, thinking, you little brat, you’re too young to fight with me!

At this moment, the Crown Princess, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke up, "Ms. Lin, what do you mean by this? Could it be that..."

Before she could finish her words, she was interrupted by Li Chengqian, "Enough!" He stood up suddenly, strode to me, grabbed my wrist, "Come with me!"

I was startled by his sudden action, and before I could react, he dragged me away.

"Your Highness, where are you taking me?" I staggered as he dragged me, unable to help but ask.

"Let's go to a place where there's only you and me." Li Chengqian's voice was low and hoarse, and it made me feel a little creepy.

He dragged me through the garden to a secluded pavilion. He swung me against the pillar of the pavilion. I groaned in pain and looked up at him angrily.

"Li Chengqian, what's wrong with you?" I said unhappily, rubbing my wrist that was hurt by his pinch.

Li Chengqian didn't say anything, he just stared at me intently, his eyes seemed to see through me.

I felt scared when he looked at me, so I stepped back and said, "You..."

Before I could finish my words, Li Chengqian suddenly came forward and pulled me into his arms. His lips pressed hard against mine with a hint of punishment.

My eyes widened and my mind went blank.

What's going on?