Xu Yu'er's facial injuries hadn't fully healed yet. Though she couldn't compare to Xu Bao'er's beauty, her features were still delicate and lovely, making her quite attractive.
The purple and blue bruises on her face hadn't faded, yet they oddly added a touch of pitiful charm to her appearance.
Despite it being summer, Xu Yu'er wore a black cloak that concealed her entire figure beneath it.
"Wangye." Her voice was melodious yet sorrowful as she gazed timidly at Zhou Jin, countless emotions swirling in her eyes.
"May I ask why the Crown Princess has come to my study?"
Zhou Jin's tone carried a hint of impatience. Were all the women from the Xu Family this shameless?
They were supposed to be from a scholarly family, yet they seemed to have no sense of propriety.
Xu Yu'er closed the door behind her, anxious about being seen and filled with guilt.
After all, if anyone discovered her visiting Duan Wang's study late at night, it would be a serious crime.
Whether Duan Wang would face consequences, she didn't know, but she would certainly be doomed.
"I never had the chance to properly explain the matter of the substituted marriage," Xu Yu'er took a few steps closer, her eyes speaking volumes though her words remained unspoken.
"That matter was settled long ago. The Crown Princess need not dwell on it."
Zhou Jin was no fool; Xu Yu'er clearly hadn't come to discuss past events. She was merely using it as an excuse to get close to him.
Hearing Zhou Jin's complete indifference to what happened back then, Xu Yu'er bit her lip in frustration.
"Originally, I was the one destined to be with Wangye. If Bao'er hadn't interfered, perhaps we would already be a loving couple by now."
Bao'er. Zhou Jin's brow furrowed slightly as he murmured the name.
Bao'er, Xu Bao'er?
Zhou Jin didn't register a single word of Xu Yu'er's lengthy confession. He rubbed his temples, thinking he might be overthinking things.
The name Bao'er was so common. How could his Bao'er possibly be that scheming woman from the Xu family?
"Wangye."
With an affected, coquettish voice, Xu Yu'er had somehow moved right in front of Zhou Jin without him noticing.
"My heart belongs to Wangye."
"Maintain your dignity."
Zhou Jin retreated two steps immediately, looking at Xu Yu'er with disbelief. Was this woman out of her mind? If she wanted to die, she didn't need to choose such a disgusting method.
Xu Yu'er untied the strings of her black cloak, letting it slip away to reveal her pale shoulders.
She was remarkably bold, wearing only a red Mandarin Duck Doudu on her upper body, her attractive figure clearly visible.
She missed Zhou Jin too much.
Such an ethereally handsome man should have been hers.
Seriously disturbed. Zhou Jin couldn't even be bothered to lift his eyelids. The surprise in his eyes quickly turned to disgust.
"Wangye, please have mercy on me."
As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Yu'er lunged toward Zhou Jin.
Zhou Jin agilely dodged, and Xu Yu'er, unable to stop her momentum, crashed into a chair and tumbled to the floor.
"Wangye."
Xu Yu'er couldn't understand. Weren't men supposed to never push away women who offered themselves? Why wouldn't Zhou Jin even give her a glance?
She had humbled herself to such an extent.
"Wangye, if you fear the Crown Prince, I can help you eliminate him."
Xu Yu'er tried to grab Zhou Jin's robe but grasped nothing but air.
"If you wish to die, I can grant your wish. There's no need to degrade yourself to the level of a Goulan Courtyard prostitute."
Xu Yu'er jerked her head up, staring at Zhou Jin in disbelief as she saw the mocking smile curling at the corners of his lips.
"You!"
Xu Yu'er was nearly enraged to death. Zhou Jin actually compared her, the Crown Princess, to a prostitute from the Goulan Courtyard—this was simply beyond insulting.
Zhou Jin couldn't be bothered to deal with Xu Yu'er and turned to leave with a flick of his sleeve.
He left behind only the thinly dressed Xu Yu'er, collapsed on the ground.
"Ah!" Xu Yu'er screamed in frustration. She was going to kill them!
Such humiliation—she, Xu Yu'er, would make them pay it back twofold.
"Behave yourself."
Song Xingzhi tied up Luo Qiang and dragged him over to Xu Bao'er.
"A-San, you need to be careful. This Luo Qiang is a mountain bandit. You're as weak as a kitten—don't get hurt."
Luo Qiang sighed inwardly, thinking, "What kind of act are you people putting on in front of me? So annoying."
If he was "as weak as a kitten," then what would real strength be—divine power?
"Just kill me or cut me to pieces, do whatever you want, you brat."
"Why did you tie me up and bring me out? What are you planning?"
Luo Qiang already knew about the siege on Jiu Lan Mountain. Countless of his brothers had died or been injured, and now that he had fallen into these people's hands, he would take each day as it came.
From the very first day he became a mountain bandit, Luo Qiang had lived each day as if it were his last—spending money recklessly and living freely.
"I plan to take you out for a walk. I still remember how you harassed me that day."
"Dammit, you damned sissy! Your heart is smaller than a needle's eye."
Hearing Xu Bao'er's words, Luo Qiang spat fiercely and started cursing.
Song Xingzhi couldn't stand anyone insulting his friend and gave Luo Qiang a hard knock on the head.
"Behave! If my brother says he's taking you for a walk, then you're going for a walk."
Luo Qiang had always been pragmatic. After being hit by Song Xingzhi, he quieted down considerably.
This bastard really packed a punch.
"A-San, I have things to attend to, so I'll take off now. You take this guy for a good walk. If there's any trouble, send a signal flare to call for help."
As planned, Song Xingzhi left first, leaving Xu Bao'er alone.
"Let's go. Today, I'll show you what a real man is like."
Xu Bao'er pulled Luo Qiang's rope, planning to take him out for some drinking and entertainment.
Luo Qiang had no idea where Xu Bao'er was taking him and followed reluctantly.
As they walked through the streets, people around them pointed and stared—all because the emblem of the Jiu Lan Mountain bandits on his clothes was far too conspicuous.
What was once a symbol of pride now made Luo Qiang wish he could go shirtless rather than display that emblem.
"Now you realize being a mountain bandit is shameful? What were you thinking back then?"
Luo Qiang couldn't be bothered to respond to Xu Bao'er. These pampered young masters would never understand someone like him.
If he ever got the chance, he would definitely kill this sissy.
At first, the madam of the Goulan Courtyard wanted to turn them away when she saw the Jiu Lan Mountain bandit emblem, but Xu Bao'er's silver was simply too tempting.
Gritting her teeth, the madam finally agreed.
Xu Bao'er tied Luo Qiang to a pillar and indulged himself, embracing beauties on both sides. He drank wine fed to him by one beauty while busy eating grapes offered by another.
He had taken the system's Alcohol-avoidance Pill in advance. Though he would still get drunk after drinking, it wouldn't harm his body.
Only by getting drunk could he logically release Luo Qiang and proceed with the next phase of the plan.
Tied up, Luo Qiang burned with rage and envy.
This damned sissy actually had such a twisted preference—tying him to a pillar and putting on a show of frolicking with beauties right in front of him.
It was truly frustrating—unable to taste it with his mouth, but itching with desire in his heart.
Luo Qiang was inwardly fuming, terrified that the sissy might later frolic with the beauty in bed and drag him along to watch.
"Damn sissy, damn pervert."
He kept muttering curses under his breath when suddenly he noticed the ropes binding his hands seemed somewhat loose.
"Perfect, you sissy, keep indulging in your pleasures."
"Just wait until I slip away—you'll be in deep trouble when everyone sees you let me escape."
After struggling a few times, Luo Qiang found the ropes on his wrists had loosened. He crept stealthily toward the door to make his escape.
Meanwhile, Xu Bao'er, who had been drinking, let out a soft chuckle. She glanced at Luo Qiang's fleeing figure before resuming her drink.