The moment the waiter pushed open the door, he was struck speechless by the scene before him.
It took him a long while to stammer out a sentence: “H-honored guests… what is this…”
The diners in the restaurant had all been drawn by the noise, but had refrained from approaching out of propriety. Now that the waiter had opened the door, how could they resist watching such a spectacle?
A crowd gathered three layers deep at the doorway, yet the people inside remained oblivious.
Their clothes were disheveled, their upper garments still intact, but their trousers were nowhere to be seen.
The filthy and chaotic scene made many frown.
Especially Ye Junyi, who continued his thrusting motions under the direct gaze of so many onlookers, his face alternating between pale and flushed, carrying an almost sickly aura.
Gu Xu, having not eaten much and thus inhaling little of the incense, had already relieved the effects of the drug through the earlier encounters. She was gradually regaining consciousness when she saw countless eyes fixed on her, momentarily unable to distinguish reality from a dream.
Until a noblewoman she was friendly with exclaimed in disbelief, “Isn’t that Gu Xu from the Gu family?” As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized her mistake and quickly covered it.
Gu Xu now understood the situation. A flood of information overwhelmed her mind, and she couldn’t bear it, fainting on the spot.
Before losing consciousness, the thought crossed her mind: now that she and the Grand Prince had consummated their relationship, wasn’t the position of imperial consort already within her grasp?
The people at the doorway whispered among themselves, murmuring quietly.
“The one lying over there seems to be a Westerner. How did a Westerner get mixed up with our people?”
“The young lady from the Gu family behaves so…”
“Which young lady of the Gu family is that?”
“From what that noblewoman just said, it seems to be Gu Xu.”
“Gu Xu? Isn’t she the famous talented lady, Gu Qinghan’s closest sister?”
“Yes, relying on Gu Qinghan, she holds an esteemed position in the capital…”
“The man beside her looks familiar too…”
“Let me tell you quietly, that’s the Grand Prince!”
“The Grand Prince?”
Those who heard this explosive news let out exaggerated exclamations. Everyone around now knew that the man still moving atop her was none other than the Grand Prince of the royal family.
The prince known for his lack of learning and frequent oppression of the common people.
This Grand Prince was infamous in the capital as a scoundrel.
One year, when Ji County suffered a famine, people starved to death or died of illness. Complaints filled the air, and many refugees entered the capital to seize grain, committing rape, murder, and theft.
When the Emperor asked him in court what should be done, he actually suggested killing all the refugees, claiming it would solve all the problems.
The Emperor was so enraged he fainted on the spot. In the end, it was the Crown Prince, then the Fourth Prince, Ye Muyan, who stepped forward to resolve the crisis. He opened the national granaries to distribute grain, strengthened patrols in the capital at night, and personally went to Ji County to investigate the cause, saving countless lives. During that time, the people noticed how much thinner the Crown Prince had become.
Some of the onlookers at the doorway today were among those saved by the Crown Prince back then. Thinking of this, one of them couldn’t help but tear up and sigh, “Having the Crown Prince is truly a blessing for our Qi Kingdom. The true Son of Heaven is indeed different.”
Gu Qinghan happened to overhear this remark as she approached, and she thought to herself that it was indeed true.
Ye Muyan was a born ruler—compassionate toward the people, wise, and decisive.
In her previous life, even getting slightly close to him would frighten her due to his imposing aura and stern presence, causing Ye Muyan to never dare approach him, and she herself failed to realize his feelings earlier.
“Hah~” Thinking of this, she let out a sigh tinged with melancholy, wondering when she would be able to see him again in this life.
Meanwhile, the disoriented Ye Junyi, hearing the crowd’s praises for the Crown Prince, abruptly stopped his lewd movements. A terrifying expression spread across his face, his eyes bloodshot like a demon’s.
He staggered to his feet, exposed from the waist down, and lunged toward the door.
The crowd at the entrance was startled and quickly scattered.
But as they scattered, they revealed Gu Qinghan standing behind them.
Ye Junyi fixed his gaze on Gu Qinghan’s delicate, beautiful face, excitement surging through his entire body. He actually charged toward her in large strides.
Gu Qinghan was still lost in her thoughts of regret and failed to notice his approach.
Only when Ye Junyi was almost upon her did she see a greasy and repulsive man closing in. She was startled by his face and his exposed lower body.
Before she could react, Chun Tao and the guards had already stepped in front of her.
The guards held their swords against Ye Junyi, but he continued to shout arrogantly, “Beauty, beauty, come play with me! Stop pretending to be pure! I am the eldest prince—follow me and you’ll enjoy endless wealth and luxury… Come on, come on!”
Gu Qinghan curled her lips into a faint, emotionless smile.
She remembered how Ye Junyi had constantly caused trouble for the Crown Prince in her previous life and fabricated many scandals about Ye Muyan.
Old grudges and new grievances—today, she would settle them all.
“Let him come.”
Seeing Gu Qinghan’s expression, Ye Junyi charged forward without a second thought.
Just as he came within an inch of her, he felt a sharp pain in his lower body. Looking down, he saw a wooden hairpin piercing through his manhood.
His mouth fell open, unable to utter a word, his face rapidly paling.
Beads of sweat the size of beans dripped from his forehead, and his body swayed unsteadily.
Seeing this, Gu Qinghan kicked him away and turned to leave.
She had only taken a few steps when she heard Ye Junyi’s roar and the sound of footsteps pounding against the floor as he charged toward her.
She had no time to dodge. Just as Ye Junyi was about to touch her, a hand intercepted him. At the same time, Gu Qinghan faintly heard the sound of something cutting through the air.
“Get away! Don’t touch her!”