Shen Yuling was forcibly seated on Quan Minghe’s lap.
She was both embarrassed and furious, her face flushed crimson as she glared angrily at the mysterious and domineering man before her.
“Three months.”
Quan Minghe’s voice was pleasant, slightly hoarse and low.
Shen Yuling didn’t react immediately, frowning in confusion.
“What?”
“You will stay in the prince’s residence for another three months.”
Three months?!
Shen Yuling’s heart skipped a beat as she instantly understood.
Indeed, as the emperor, Quan Minghe possessed a terrifyingly strong sense of possessiveness. How could he tolerate a woman he desired becoming someone else’s wife?
However, she couldn’t fathom what means Quan Minghe would employ to make her leave the prince’s residence after three months.
Surely, he wouldn’t simply take her away directly—if that were his intention, he wouldn’t wait these three months.
“What are you planning?”
“The prince and I were personally betrothed by His Majesty. There is no possibility between you and me—why can’t you understand that?”
“What happened that night was merely an accident. Why must you persist in pursuing me?”
“I carry the bloodlines of the Shen clan of Cangwu and the Ye clan of Lingxi. The reputation of my family weighs as heavily as Mount Tai to me. I absolutely cannot allow my family to be shamed because of me.”
“If you expose the fact that I lost my chastity before marriage, you would be forcing me onto a path of no return. How is that any different from killing me outright?”
Quan Minghe simply reached out and forcefully gripped her chin.
Forcing her to look up and meet his gaze.
“If not for the sake of preserving your reputation, there would be no need to wait these three months.”
Quan Minghe’s eyes were deep and unfathomable like a pool.
It was undeniable that ever since the accident that night, Quan Minghe had entertained the thought of bringing her into the inner palace.
After all, her face was so exquisitely beautiful, her figure graceful and alluring, with skin like ice and bones like jade.
To simply kill her would be a true waste.
Thus, Quan Minghe was relieved that she had not consummated her relationship with Feng Moheng.
Otherwise, the one visiting her today might not have been him, but Zhao Cong bearing poisoned wine.
“The Shen and Ye families will not be affected in any way.”
Quan Minghe seemed to have sensed her worries and added this statement.
Shen Yuling tightened her expression, choosing to remain silent as she glared coldly at Quan Minghe.
“What? Even the Prince of Lingyang is unwilling to touch you. Are you still hoping for a harmonious marriage with him?”
“Then should I hope for a harmonious marriage with someone whose identity is unclear and whose appearance is unknown?”
Shen Yuling did not back down, immediately retorting with a gaze full of stubbornness and disdain.
Upon hearing this, Quan Minghe let out a soft snort.
“Sharp-tongued.”
Yet a flicker of interest flashed in his eyes.
“It’s getting late. I must return.”
As Shen Yuling spoke, she struggled with all her might, determined to get off his lap.
But Quan Minghe had no intention of letting her go easily, tightening his grip around her waist.
Her strength was nothing in his eyes.
“Don’t move.”
“If you move again, I will carry you from the Drunken Poetry Pavilion straight to the prince’s residence.”
Shen Yuling’s body instantly stiffened.
She dared not move again.
Yet Quan Minghe tore open her robe, and before Shen Yuling could react, he bit down hard on the area above her chest.
“Ah…”
Shen Yuling cried out in pain.
“It hurts! What are you doing?!”
Quan Minghe acted as if he hadn’t heard, merely admiring the mark he had left.
He said leisurely, “With this mark, I imagine you won’t dare let Feng Moheng get too close to you, lest he see something he shouldn’t.”
“You shameless scoundrel!”
Shen Yuling trembled with rage, her delicate face flushed crimson.
Not one to be outdone, she immediately retaliated by reaching out and pulling open Quan Minghe’s collar.
Then, aiming at his chest, she bit down hard.
Yet Quan Minghe showed no anger. Instead, he extended a large hand to cradle the back of her head, allowing her to bite him freely.
His eyes even held a hint of indulgence.
He lowered his head slightly, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Warm breath brushed against Shen Yuling’s ear.
“I’ve always liked flowers with a bit of thorns.”
Shen Yuling paused, her heart tightening, and she released her bite.
Hah, a masochist.
She lifted her head, blood staining her lips.
Seeing this, Quan Minghe calmly retrieved a handkerchief from her person.
He gently wiped away the bloodstain.
But Shen Yuling was filled with disgust and instinctively turned her head away, unwilling to have such intimate contact with him.
Quan Minghe reached out, pinched her chin, and turned her face back toward him, his gaze intense as he looked at her.
“Go back now.”
Shen Yuling felt as if granted a reprieve and immediately scrambled off his lap.
She hurried to the door, about to reach out and open it, but hesitated.
Taking a deep breath, she straightened her clothes, restoring the dignified posture befitting a young lady of a noble family.
Only then did she reach out to open the door and quickly walked away without looking back.
Quan Minghe remained seated, watching her retreating figure, and couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle.
Such an interesting experience was truly something he had never had before.
He had never concealed his identity when interacting with women, and he wondered if she would be frightened by her boldness today if she learned who he was.
After all, her courage was indeed a bit lacking.
In the inner palace, only Beauty Wang occasionally allowed herself some liberties in his presence. The others were all strictly bound by rules, not daring to overstep in the slightest.
Quan Minghe lowered his head, lightly touching the wound on his chest, and narrowed his eyes slightly.
A wildcat with claws—if locked inside the imperial palace and properly tamed, she could surely become a docile little kitten.
Obediently seeking to please him.
Shen Yuling hurried back to the Prince’s mansion and made her way toward the Ninglan Courtyard where she resided.
Along the way, she looked somewhat weary. Although Quan Minghe’s possessiveness was within her expectations, she hadn’t imagined it would be so extreme.
Three months—how could she possibly complete the conquest of Feng Moheng in just three months?
Returning to her room, Xi Tong locked the door behind them.
“Master, what did Quan Minghe say to you?”
Shen Yuling’s gaze drifted, vaguely fixed on the distance.
“Three months… Xi Tong, it seems we must speed things up.”
She frowned slightly, already forming plans in her mind, though the situation was growing increasingly complex, requiring caution with every step.
Especially Quan Minghe—he was indeed more difficult to manipulate than she had imagined.
“Give the order: have the kitchen prepare some specialty dishes from the northwest tonight. I brought Xifeng wine from the northwest and will invite His Highness to taste it.”
Xi Tong nodded.
As a system, although she possessed considerable stored knowledge, she was rather inept at scheming and reading people’s hearts.
Fortunately, having stayed by Shen Yuling’s side for so long, she had learned to simply carry out her master’s orders obediently without questioning the reasons behind them.
“By the way, Master, many maids and servants came to Ninglan Courtyard today. I will assign them positions based on each person’s characteristics.”
“Mmm, remember to keep them under surveillance.”
Shen Yuling responded softly.
“Rest assured, Master.”
Night gradually fell.
The kitchen had already meticulously prepared the dishes Shen Yuling requested and brought them over.
It was now the pleasant season of April, with all manner of flowers in the estate vying for beauty and blooming in full splendor.
The Ninglan Courtyard where Shen Yuling resided was also adorned with a riot of blossoms, their faint, delicate fragrance wafting through the night air.
Inside the Ziwei Pavilion.
On the stone table were arrayed a series of exquisite northwestern delicacies, along with that bottle of Xifeng wine brought from the northwest.
Shen Yuling sat within the pavilion.
Her gaze fell upon the dishes and wine before her.
Not long after, a young servant hurried back.
“Princess Consort, just after the Prince returned to the estate, a maid from Liu Jingyi’s side summoned him away. The Prince also said he would not be dining with you today.”
Shen Yuling waved her hand, her voice slightly hoarse as she replied, “Very well, you may go.”
She dined alone in the pavilion, appearing quite solitary and forlorn.
In the courtyard, a maid tending to the flowers and plants occasionally glanced toward the Princess Consort, only to quickly avert her gaze and continue tending to the plants in her hands as if nothing were amiss.