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Silence fell, akin to the playful antics of a mischievous child. By the time it was nearing the end, it was already close to midnight.
Xiang Wang Lingfeng once again faced failure; this time, he lay on the ground, barely able to get up.
His body, which had just recovered, was now drained of energy after such a life-threatening ordeal.
Ling Yuxuan noticed that he was sweating profusely and seemed unwell. She quickly reached out to half-support and half-pull Ling Feng up.
"I'm fine, really. Tonight was just exhilarating! It felt like we were back in our childhood days. What a thrill—" Ling Feng continued to put on a brave front, stubbornly insisting he was okay.
"Enough with the bravado; it's annoying," Ling Yuxuan said as she helped him onto the bed and decided to ignore him. She then took decisive action—
With a slap to the back of his head, she watched as he fainted, then promptly stuffed a vitality-replenishing pill into his mouth. Finally, she pressed on his sleep acupoint.
Afterward, this esteemed Xiang Wang Ye fell into a deep sleep under the strong care of his cousin Ling Yuxuan.
Once everything was done, Ling Yuxuan looked at her noble cousin with a slightly complex expression.
Who would have thought that her childhood self would witness such a transformation in their circumstances?
Many years ago, her Grandfather Emperor had lovingly held her in his arms and whispered when no one was around that one day she too would wear the yellow robe and inherit the throne.
But who could have imagined that just a few years after that conversation, her Second Uncle would use such cruel means to overturn everything and seize the throne?
It even led to her becoming an orphan overnight, devoid of both paternal and maternal love, while also dragging her master Qin Ming into years of secluded living in the deep mountains. For years, she had been accompanied by endless loneliness and wild beasts, coexisting with the mountains and dense forests.
As these memories surfaced, Ling Yuxuan's mind immediately recalled her gentle and beautiful mother, who had once showered her with love, as well as her father, who had been willing to take her on adventures almost every day and had once been her idol.
At that time, he was a very happy child, but the joy of family that belonged to him was abruptly ended due to a scheme by Second Uncle.
Thinking of this, a cold glint flashed in Ling Yuxuan's eyes, and his hands clenched into fists, faint creaking sounds emanating from them.
Other matters could be overlooked, but how could a son not seek revenge for the grudge of forcing his mother to kill his father?
As he pondered this, for some reason, another face suddenly surfaced in his mind—his most beloved one, Ziyan.
In an instant, Ling Yuxuan's mood gradually softened, and soon after, a faint smile of happiness and sweetness appeared on his face.
If it weren't for the twists of fate earlier, he might never have met her in this lifetime.
Slowly, Ling Yuxuan's mood improved significantly from the initial resentment—
Gradually, the night deepened, and Ling Yuxuan felt drowsy. He lay down beside Ling Feng and slowly drifted into sleep.
The next morning.
Two carriages ready for a long journey were all set and waiting to depart.
Wu Xiang had finished breakfast and was already waiting by the carriage with several subordinates.
At this time, the street was bustling with people. Among the crowd, some curious onlookers occasionally glanced at the two carriages.
On the third floor, Xiang Wang Ye Ling Feng was still soundly asleep. Ziyan and Ling Yuxuan did not disturb him again; after all, his injuries had just begun to heal, and he had exhausted so much energy last night.
Ziyan and Ling Yuxuan, not wanting him to drag his weary body down to see them off, hurriedly finished their breakfast and instructed everyone to set off on time.
Outside the city, in a certain pavilion beside the Official Road, this was a necessary route leading south towards Hengfeng County. A noble young man dressed in luxurious garments was waiting there with a group of people.
At that moment, he elegantly sipped his tea while keeping his gaze fixed intently on the direction of the city gate.
As soon as Ziyan and her companions' carriage exited the city and passed by the pavilion along the Official Road, suddenly, a sword-bearing guard who had been serving by the side of the noble young man swiftly blocked their carriage.
With a shout, "Halt—"
The leader, Wu Xiang, immediately yanked on the reins of his horse. Then, while cautiously observing the newcomer, he asked, "Who are you, brave sir? Why do you block our way?"
"I am a man of His Highness the Crown Prince. His Highness has ordered me to invite Miss Ziyan for a discussion at the Pavilion," replied the sword-bearing guard with a slight bow.
"Uh? It's Ling Xianjun again! He's become quite persistent; what is he planning this time?" Ziyan and Ling Yuxuan naturally overheard the conversation outside. Unable to help herself, Ziyan complained to Ling Yuxuan.
"It's fine; I'll go down with you to take a look. With me here, I don't believe he would dare to forcefully seize a commoner in broad daylight again."
Ling Yuxuan spoke lightly as if it were nothing, but in the next moment, her eyes narrowed slightly, filled with a fierce glint.
"No need; I can handle it. Just wait for me in the carriage. If anything happens, I'll shout for you. At that time, just act accordingly."
Ziyan naturally did not want Ling Yuxuan to reveal herself. While Ling Feng was trustworthy, she had no good feelings towards this scheming Crown Prince—she had no trust in him whatsoever.
Thus, feeling assured after explaining everything to Ling Yuxuan, Ziyan did not wait for any further response. She slipped out of his embrace and directly got down from the carriage. Then she walked gracefully to the pavilion and slowly sat down opposite Crown Prince Ling Xianjun.
"May I ask what the Crown Prince wishes to discuss with me?" Ziyan asked, neither servile nor arrogant, looking at the Crown Prince across from her, her demeanor calm and composed.
"Come, Miss Zi, have a cup of tea. This is fine black tea from a distant land, perfect for a lady," Ling Xianjun said, gazing at Ziyan, who was dressed simply and without makeup. He smiled gently at her while pouring a cup of fragrant foreign black tea.
Ziyan did not take it, nor did she dare to! Remembering how he had sent someone to knock her out and bind her last time, she feared that this cup of tea might be another trap.
Such a person was not to be trusted!
With this thought in mind, Ziyan continued, "If the Crown Prince has something to say, please speak plainly! As for such precious tea, it would be inappropriate for someone of my status to waste it. As you can see, I am in a hurry."
"My lady? Shouldn't Miss Zi refer to herself as your servant in front of the Crown Prince?" Ling Xianjun found it increasingly difficult to understand this young woman. She was half proud and half arrogant.
"Apologies, Your Highness. I was born and raised in the countryside and truly do not understand the complex etiquette of your capital, especially among your royal nobility," Ziyan replied calmly while internally scoffing. Servant? No way—who on earth is your servant?
"Hahaha—country girl, huh! Very well. The Crown Prince will allow you to refer to yourself that way from now on. But are you really not going to take a sip of this tea?"
After laughing heartily, Ling Xianjun returned to his normal expression and stared at her with his dark and sharp peach blossom eyes, asking with a smile that was not quite a smile.
"Ziyan truly cannot accept it; I have elderly parents at home who are worried about me. Right now, Ziyan is eager to return home. I hope the Crown Prince can grant me safe passage back; I would be immensely grateful."
"Cannot accept? Hmph! Are you worried that the Crown Prince will drug you? I didn't realize that the Crown Prince appeared so untrustworthy in your eyes!" A hint of disappointment flashed in Ling Xianjun's eyes, mixed with a sense of unwillingness.
"Time is pressing and the journey is long; Ziyan only wishes to set off as soon as possible and return home early. I hope the Crown Prince will fulfill this request!" Ziyan reiterated her stance. She thought: I just want to get away from this place of trouble; who has extra time to chat with you?
"Very well, since you are determined to leave, I wish you a smooth journey!" Ling Xianjun quietly observed her for a moment before finally relenting and no longer being so aggressive.
"What? Damn, did you really have to say that? You scared me into a cold sweat."
Ziyan's heart warmed slightly, and she immediately stood up and gave a slight bow to Ling Xianjun. Then she turned to leave.
"Wait—" As Crown Prince Ling Xianjun's voice came again, Ziyan abruptly stopped in her tracks.
"Do you really think that the day the Crown Prince took you back to the palace was just to take advantage of you and do something to you?"
Hearing Ling Xianjun bring up the past, Ziyan did not turn around but simply asked calmly, "Then what does His Highness the Crown Prince mean?"
"Ha—" Ling Xianjun let out a long sigh and continued, "The Crown Prince is certainly not someone who would act recklessly. The Crown Prince admits that from the first moment he saw Miss Zi, he was moved by you. It was because of this feeling that he couldn't help but send someone to bring you back to the palace, just to have a chance to speak with you alone. However, no matter what, the Crown Prince would never do something that only a lowly person would do. You... you really misunderstood the Crown Prince."
"Oh! Then let's forget about this trivial matter from now on. I wish His Highness the Crown Prince finds his perfect match soon and finds his happiness. Ziyan takes her leave! Farewell."
Ziyan bowed once more and did not linger, quickly making her way toward the carriage.
"Does Miss Ziyan really not want to give the Crown Prince even a little chance?" Ling Xianjun asked reluctantly from behind.
"Sorry—" Ziyan left behind her final words and quickly got into the carriage with Wu Xiang's help.
...
The carriage finally set off safely once again.
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