"Miss Rong, it's been a while since we last met."
That voice…
Rong Luoge's eyes flickered slightly before she replied, "Is it you?"
"Indeed it is. I must thank you for your kindness in allowing me to stay that night."
Rong Luoge hadn't expected him to be the man who had been recuperating in the old residence that evening—it was truly surprising. Yet, with this connection established, she grew even more cautious in her heart.
Clearly, the other party knew her well, while she remained unaware of his background. After a moment's thought, she said, "It seems your injuries have healed. I'm just curious why you were eavesdropping on our conversation."
"I wasn't deliberately eavesdropping; I just happened to be drinking tea next door today," the man chuckled softly. "Miss Rong saved me—how could I do something so ungrateful?"
Rong Luoge couldn't fathom his true intentions, especially since he knew she was Prince Qi's consort yet still addressed her as "Miss Rong." While this pleased her, it also made her more wary.
Noticing Rong Luoge's skeptical expression, the man fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "To show my sincerity, allow me to introduce myself. I am Han Xinglan."
For a moment, Rong Luoge was stunned. Han Xinglan? The name sounded so familiar. Her mind raced, and suddenly her expression changed. She looked up, fixed her gaze on him, and rose to her feet, bowing respectfully. "So it's Your Highness the Crown Prince. I apologize for my rudeness earlier. Please forgive me."
"There's no need for such formality, Miss Rong. Feel free to be more casual in private," Han Xinglan said gently.
Rong Luoge never imagined her luck would be this good—to have crossed paths with Crown Prince Lingshu, Prince Qi's sworn enemy!
"How could I dare to be disrespectful?" Rong Luoge replied earnestly. "What happened that day was merely a small gesture. Your Highness need not take it to heart."
Not a chance!
He had occupied her residence to recuperate, and she had discovered him but hadn't driven him away. If he truly didn't care, she would naturally keep her distance from him in the future. Someone ungrateful was not worth associating with.
But if this person still remembered even a shred of gratitude, there might be room for cooperation.
Others might not be able to handle Prince Qi, but the Crown Prince could.
The inherent advantage of his status was an unbeatable trump card!
"A life-saving grace cannot be treated as nothing. I will remember this kindness, Miss Rong," Han Xinglan said, his expression growing even gentler. "Forgive my bluntness, but I overheard a few words earlier… I apologize for any intrusion."
Here it comes—the probing begins!
Upon hearing this, Rong Luoge immediately put on a look of helplessness and sorrow. "Since Your Highness has already heard, there's nothing for me to hide. The situation is exactly as you heard. I just want to survive, nothing more."
Han Xinglan didn't believe a single word. He hadn't come here impulsively today; he had thoroughly investigated Rong Luoge's affairs beforehand, especially the circumstances leading up to their encounter that night.
One thing puzzled him: if she was pretending, she was doing it too well. In the years before her marriage, her act had been flawless.
Though doubts lingered in his mind, his expression remained unchanged. He sighed softly. "I deeply sympathize with your plight, Miss Rong. I never imagined you would suffer such hardships. However, the marriage is now finalized, and I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to dissolve the engagement through Miss Ming's intervention."
Listen to how he phrased it—first expressing sympathy and pity, then shifting the conversation to practical considerations. He was clearly trying to lure her into seeking his help.
However, Rong Luoge was not as foolish and easily deceived as the original owner. She showed a hint of sorrow and said softly, "There's nothing to be done about it. I can only take things one step at a time. If it can be resolved, that would be best. If not… I can only accept my fate."
Come on, let's test and hurt each other.
Han Xinglan was taken aback, his usually cold and indifferent expression showing a rare trace of astonishment.
Rong Luoge felt smug inside. Little brat, trying to outsmart me? If I were that easy to fool, I'd have died eight hundred times over.
"I never thought Miss Rong would be someone who accepts fate. I must have misjudged you. I thought you… Never mind. If you have no such intention, then consider this matter as if I never brought it up."
Rong Luoge's smile stiffened slightly. Damn, he turned the tables on me. Han Xinglan is ruthless.
In their first round of sparring, they had each stabbed the other once, ending in a draw.
Han Xinglan stood up, his sleeves hanging down as he stood to the side. His posture was relaxed, tall and straight, with his long sleeves gently resting on the hem of his robe and trailing to the floor. The breeze from the window brushed against the hem of his robe, causing it to sway lightly, like snow falling under clear moonlight. His handsome features resembled the moon over distant mountains—so close yet feeling as distant as a dream, stirring a desire to explore further.
Rong Luoge lowered her head slightly. This man's allure is a bit too overwhelming. I'm afraid I might lose control and surrender to the enemy.
"Your Highness's kindness is appreciated, but this is a family matter. How could I dare trouble Your Highness with it?" Rong Luoge gritted her teeth as she refused. She was truly in a difficult position.
She strongly suspected that the damned prince was deliberately using his charm to tempt her.
Upon hearing this, Han Xinglan looked deeply at Rong Luoge. The smile in his eyes was replaced by a layer of frost, which melted away just as quickly. "If it were anyone else, I naturally wouldn't bother. But you saved my life. Never mind, I don't wish to force anyone. Take this token. If you ever find yourself in danger, show it to me."
A white jade token appeared on the table. The jade was warm, smooth, and translucent—clearly of the highest quality.
After a moment's thought, Rong Luoge decided not to refuse. Their confrontation today wasn't meant to create enmity; it was merely a mutual test. Since the Crown Prince had given her a way out, she naturally took the opportunity and said cheerfully, "In that case, I thank Your Highness for your protection."
Han Xinglan smiled faintly, said nothing more, and turned to leave.
The wall soon returned to normal. Rong Luoge tucked the jade token into her robe, not wanting to stay there any longer. She had other matters to attend to and immediately got up to leave.
She had a feeling that she would cross paths with the Crown Prince again soon.
So, there was no need to rush. When hunters face off, it all comes down to who has more patience.
Next door, as the Crown Prince returned, a tall, thin man immediately spoke up, "Your Highness, I don't think Princess Qi is necessarily a good candidate for cooperation."
"Hu Xi, you're being too one-sided. I know you have a bias against Prince Qi. But since Prince Qi and his wife are at odds, allying with Princess Qi is our best option," another slightly plump man chimed in.
"Zhen Yun, you must remember that Princess Qi encountered His Highness on her wedding night. Although we haven't uncovered exactly what happened that night, the fact that Prince Qi and his wife both appeared at a place like Yuexianglou is suspicious. Aren't you afraid this might be a trap set by Prince Qi and his wife for His Highness?" Hu Xi retorted.
Prince Qi was cunning and ruthless, willing to do whatever it took to achieve his goals. Of course, they had to be extra cautious and avoid any missteps.
The other person who had remained silent, also a strategist of the Crown Prince, Yu Yan, said, "I sense a glimmer of hope from Prince Qi's consort."
Hu Xi and Zhen Yun were both taken aback. Yu Yan had possessed astonishing intuition since birth and had helped His Highness avoid several fatal crises on multiple occasions. If he dared to say this, it must be true.
Seeing a glimmer of hope for His Highness in Prince Qi's consort—what kind of joke was this?
Yet they soberly understood that Yu Yan never joked.