Thinking, she suddenly paused.
Yes.
She knew everyone's ending, but not her own. Would the story's direction change because of her arrival?
"A'Luan, it's getting late, I must go. If you need any help, please don't hesitate to ask."
She liked this woman before her, liked her at first sight.
A'Luan destroying Yun Meng Ze that day was something she could never do in her life.
She envied it greatly.
Ye Luan turned her head, "I actually do have something to ask of you."
"Please speak."
"I've long heard that you are proficient in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Do you happen to have a xiao or a flute, or any other musical instruments?"
She couldn't ask Xiao Chizhan for it. That man was too cautious, too cunning. The moment she showed any hint of abnormality, he would find out.
Lan Murou asked nothing and smiled, "Of course, I have. I'll have someone send it over later."
Ye Luan shook her head, "I heard that the Crown Prince will be bringing a group of young lords and ladies for a hunt tomorrow, and the Prince and the generals will all be going to Lutai."
"Yes."
"Then please have the items delivered when the Prince leaves."
Lan Murou immediately understood Ye Luan's intention. She chuckled, "I will deliver it myself."
"Thank you."
After Lan Murou left, Ye Luan watched the scenery for a while before also departing.
When she returned to Li Palace, a palace maid stepped forward and said, "Miss Ye, the Prince will be having a hot spring bath shortly. Allow me to take you there first."
Yun Meng Ze was followed by the hot spring imperial palace. The spring water erupted from beneath Mount Ziyun, and the opulent Huaqing Pool wound around the entire Li Palace.
Ye Luan was led to a hot spring, shaped like a blooming peony, named the Peony Pool.
White mist swirled around, with pavilions and towers, creating a beautiful landscape.
Six lifelike dragon heads spouted jade water, converging into a spring pool built of jade, releasing white steam.
She, clad in white gauze, slowly entered the pool.
Layers of white vapor floated on the surface of the pool.
Spring blossoms and autumn pools, green smoke winding, a beauty like a painting.
Ye Luan leaned on the jade stone in the hot spring and closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of the spring water. Her entire skin felt comfortably relaxed.
The ointment Xiao Chizhan had given her was very potent, and the whip marks on her body had already disappeared, leaving her skin as lustrous as jade.
Her mind involuntarily connected the events of the past few days, carefully thinking them over.
But within those layers of hell-like black mist, that man with white hair and red eyes stared directly at her, his handsome and demonic face filled with bloodthirsty killing intent.
Her body trembled uncontrollably, as if all her nerves were being eroded.
Even in her dreams, it was this terrifying man.
Ye Luan woke up with a start.
She panted to calm herself and leaned against the edge of the bath, closing her eyes.
Not far away.
Xiao Chizhan stood quietly in the corridor, bowing. He watched her, pure yet alluring like a lotus emerging from water, his red eyes filled with desire that seemed about to erupt.
He walked over, took off his outer robe, and slowly stepped into the water barefoot.
"Does the Prince not make a sound when he walks?"
Ye Luan slowly opened her eyes and glanced at the approaching man.
Xiao Chizhan lifted her chin, looked at her tender pink lips, and chuckled, "Why aren't you wearing it today?"
Damn it.
The man reeked of rouge and powder, which disgusted her to no end.
Ye Luan couldn't help but slap his hand away.
Xiao Chizhan looked at her, bewildered. A displeasure surfaced in his bloodthirsty eyes, and he gripped her chin more forcefully.
"You dislike me?"
Ye Luan spoke directly, "If you've touched someone else, don't touch me."
As the words fell, Xiao Chizhan suddenly laughed.
This was the first time Ye Luan had seen him laugh so… playfully.
Yes.
Playful.
His usually terrifying eyes sparkled with a smug smile, making Ye Luan feel awkward.
"You pervert, you're smiling so flirtatiously. Who knows what wicked things you're thinking."
He suddenly leaned closer, tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, his voice softer than usual, "What, are you jealous?"
Jealous of you, my foot.
Ye Luan disdained in her heart and placed her hand on his chest, saying coldly, "I'm done bathing. Please continue on your own, Your Highness."
Xiao Chizhan grabbed her hand and began to knead it. With his other hand, he reached around her back, pulled her in forcefully, and embraced her.
He then leaned against the edge of the hot spring, quietly closing his eyes.
Ye Luan sniffed and felt even more disgusted, as if she had swallowed a fly.
She couldn't help but struggle, but he held her tightly, making it impossible to break free. Frustration brought tears to her eyes.
"Don't move."
Sensing something was wrong, Ye Luan dared not move.
She saw his eyes were slightly closed, his gaze cast outside towards the large cloak on the rack. She saw the sachet tied to the white sash and smiled faintly, a hint of the eerie in her expression.
"The Crown Prince's autumn hunt is tomorrow, and there will be a grand banquet. You will accompany me."
Suddenly, his voice rang out.
Ye Luan turned back, saying coldly, "Does Your Highness want everyone in the capital to laugh at me?"
She didn't fear her reputation being ruined, but she didn't want to stand there and be humiliated, nor did she want to watch their performance, which was utterly boring.
She had other things to do.
"An unmarried man and an unmarried woman, what's wrong with that?"
His tone was so matter-of-fact.
Ye Luan wished she could slap his shameless face.
"I don't want our relationship to be known by everyone."
In this era, for an unmarried young lady to be intimate with the reigning prince in private was considered mere gossip for a man, but for a woman, it was a matter of life and death.
The surrounding aura was terrifying and gloomy, making the entire Peony Pool feel chillingly cold.
He suddenly opened his eyes, his red pupils filled with malevolence.
"Can't I be seen by people?"
His thought process was truly abnormal.
Ye Luan didn't want to provoke him and bring trouble upon herself.
She directly said in a calm tone, "Your Highness, please don't forget that all those attending are powerful figures of the court. With so many people, rumors will spread. This humble woman truly doesn't wish to be pointed at and gossiped about."
"Isn't this something you brought upon yourself? If you were willing to be my concubine, would you be humiliated?"
Was becoming a concubine not humiliation?
Ye Luan finally understood. This lunatic just wanted to see her embarrassed in public.
"Does Your Highness insist on making it known to everyone?"
Xiao Chizhan smiled thinly, "Yes."
"To ruin a minister's daughter, isn't Your Highness afraid of ruining your own reputation?"
"Anyone who dares to gossip in front of me will go to hell."
Ye Luan looked at him coldly, "So Your Highness wants to see me humiliated?"
"You can think of it that way."
His eyes grew colder. Although he had fox-like eyes, when he looked at her, they were filled with indifference, showing none of the coquettishness from their intimate moments.
Xiao Chizhan couldn't help but grip her neck, his fingers tightening.
Ye Luan struggled to breathe, her face turning somewhat ashen. She looked up at the terror in his eyes, knowing he wanted to force her to submit, to yield, to please him.
This pervert only knew how to threaten.
But she had no choice but to comply.
Despite her dislike, her eyes welled up with tears, and teardrops fell one by one. They were cool, yet they burned Xiao Chizhan, making him loosen his grip.
"Heh, weren't you stubborn? Why are you crying?"
His voice sounded awkward.
Ye Luan coughed a few times. Wrapped in her white gauze, she swayed gracefully in the water.
"From now on, in front of me, wear red."
Fiery, like a blaze, scorching the heart.
Ye Luan nodded, remaining silent.