Step by step, he drew closer.
Lying on the ground, Wen Shuyu swallowed hard, suddenly feeling a chill creep up the back of her neck.
She forced an awkward laugh. “Crown Prince Brother, no need to come help me up. You’re really too kind, truly. Just stay right there—don’t move!”
She waved her hands wildly, trying to block him from approaching. “Don’t come any closer! Go back!”
But the man before her continued to close the distance.
On the verge of tears, she blurted out, “Since you’ve recovered your spiritual power, you should head back to the Eastern Palace as soon as possible. Actually, what happened today was just a misunderstanding. I heard from the imperial physician that in cases like yours—temporary loss of spiritual power—you just need a bit of stimulation to recover. See? I brought you to a brothel, gave you a proper shock, and now you’re cured!”
“No need to thank me. Helping you is my duty.”
“You can go now. Really, don’t worry about me.”
Only when a cold hand lifted her chin did Wen Shuyu, who had been rambling nonstop, abruptly fall silent, shrinking back slightly.
It should be fine… right? Someone like Xiao Jingchen, with such a gentle temperament, wouldn’t kill her… right?
Sensing those long, well-defined fingers about to settle on the back of her neck—
Before Xiao Jingchen could speak, Wen Shuyu suddenly lunged forward and hugged his leg. “I was wrong, Crown Prince Brother, really! I know I was wrong! I swear I’ll turn over a new leaf and be a better person. Could you please not snap my neck?”
Xiao Jingchen let her cling to him. His thumb slowly brushed along the back of her neck, gently wiping away the tea stains that had splashed onto her during the earlier burst of spiritual energy. Then he softly uttered two words:
“Dirty.”
“What?” Wen Shuyu looked up, only then realizing he had been wiping the tea stains off her.
While she was still stunned, Xiao Jingchen had already released her. Looking directly into her eyes, he spoke each word clearly:
“Wen Shuyu, this is the only time. There will not be a next. Do not provoke me again. Otherwise, next time, I will not let you off so easily. Do you understand?”
His voice was too pleasant, too gentle—soft and mellow, carrying no real sense of threat at all.
Then he left.
As for his warning, Wen Shuyu scratched her ear and let it go in one ear and out the other.
Honestly, how could someone be this saintly? She had gone this far—drugging him, tying him up, even trying to force herself on him—and yet he let her off without a scratch. He had even helped wipe the dirt off her.
Provoke him? Next time, she would definitely provoke him again. And even more boldly.
Over the past three years, the reason she had never given up was precisely because Xiao Jingchen never got angry. His temper was just too good. That was why she had dared to go this far today.
And judging by what had just happened—this still hadn’t crossed his bottom line.
Which meant… he didn’t have one.
Well then, she wouldn’t hold back anymore.
…
Half an hour later, in a teahouse.
The place was in an uproar.
“Have you heard? The whole Yingchun Pavilion is talking about it! That useless pretty face Wen Shuyu—she’s outrageously bold!”
“No one knows what trick she used to get His Highness the Crown Prince into a brothel, but with her character, she was definitely trying to force herself on him!”
Someone nearby chimed in, “I heard! They say the Crown Prince was so furious that he grabbed her by the back of the neck. The doors were blown apart! The madam and the others only caught a glimpse before they got so scared they hid!”
“Three years of her shamelessly pestering His Highness was already bad enough!”
“But this time, she actually dared to defile the Crown Prince—someone as untouchable as the bright moon in the sky. She’s utterly delusional, completely outrageous!”
Others, eager for drama, added, “With how far she went this time, did the Crown Prince strangle her to death in a fit of rage?”
Someone immediately retorted, “What nonsense! His Highness is kind-hearted—how could he take her life?”
“Besides, the current Empress is Wen Shuyu’s own aunt, not the Crown Prince’s birth mother. Of course she’d protect her!”
“Unbelievable. She defiled the Crown Prince and still got away with it? How does she have such good fortune? She was personally granted the title of Yunshu County Princess by the Emperor. Her father is the current Prime Minister and one of the top experts.”
“Her mother died saving the Empress Dowager. The Empress is her aunt, the Emperor her uncle. Even her maids are all at the Golden Core stage—handpicked experts assigned by Prime Minister Wen to protect her.”
Another spoke indignantly, “Exactly! In our Xiao Kingdom, spiritual power reigns supreme. How does someone like Wen Shuyu—with no spiritual power at all, unable even to establish a foundation—have such a blessed life?”
“But to be fair,” someone added, lowering their voice, “have you noticed? Even if she’s useless, she’s genuinely stunning. She’s definitely the most beautiful woman in the capital. Honestly, in this entire city, she’s probably the only one who can stand beside the Crown Prince without being overshadowed—they each have their own kind of beauty.”
“What are you talking about? Comparing someone like her to His Highness? Are you out of your mind?”
Someone else even began to pray, “Heavenly Dao above, I wish for Wen Shuyu to stay far away from the Crown Prince for the rest of her life. Please don’t let her taint such an immortal-like figure again. I’m begging you.”
The crowd chattered endlessly, the noise blending into chaos.
In a corner no one noticed, invisible to ordinary eyes, a small qilin beast glowing with golden light sat on the table, sipping tea. A tiny bundle was slung over its back.
The little creature clenched its small paws, looking troubled. “Lord Heavenly Dao, where are you?”
A thousand years had passed. Ever since the fall of the Heavenly Dao, its soul should have gone through ten reincarnations. In this life, the three souls and seven spirits should finally be whole, and its memories restored—allowing it to return to the heavens.
A thousand years ago, during the great war between gods and demons, both sides had been annihilated. The Heavenly Dao had perished together with the World-Destroying Demon Lord who had broken free from its control. Even this ancient divine beast had been gravely injured and forced into slumber.
The Stairway to Heaven had collapsed. Since then, no one in the world had been able to ascend to godhood.
After awakening, it had immediately descended to the mortal realm to search for the Heavenly Dao. Once its memories returned, it would surely repair the Heavenly Stairway and restore balance to the three realms.
Having just arrived in the mortal world, the little beast scratched its head as it listened to the chatter.
“Wen Shuyu? Is this person really that famous in the capital? She even kidnapped someone to a brothel? Lord Heavenly Dao hates people like that—lustful and despicable.”
“No, I have to find Lord Heavenly Dao as soon as possible.”
The little beast removed its small bundle and dumped its contents onto the table, rummaging through them. After a while, it finally pulled out a compass glowing with spiritual energy.
It bit its finger and let a drop of spiritual blood fall onto it. The compass flared with dazzling light, spun once, and came to a stop—pointing unmistakably toward the imperial palace.
The qilin’s eyes lit up. Found it!
“Lord Heavenly Dao! I’m coming!”
It slung the bundle back over its shoulder and scampered off toward the palace, not forgetting to leave a few high-grade spirit stones on the table as payment for the tea.
Lord Heavenly Dao had said—mortals don’t earn money easily. Never take without paying.
The little beast remembered.
The imperial palace.
Wen Shuyu had just finished being scolded in turn by both the Empress Dowager and the Empress. Only after repeatedly promising never to do it again and to truly reform herself was she finally released.
Now, as she was about to return to the Prime Minister’s residence, she happened to pass by the Hall of Mental Cultivation—and caught sight of Xiao Jingchen in the distance.
What perfect timing.
Their eyes met.
And just like that, Wen Shuyu’s lustful thoughts stirred again. Her fingers itched as her gaze drifted toward his collar, restless and eager…