Dead?
Xiao Li leaned closer, wanting to check but afraid the corpse might suddenly revive, so she timidly hid behind the newcomer.
"Is it completely dead now?"
Lou Yan sheathed his blade, looking down at the hands tightly gripping his belt: "It's completely dead, Princess. You can let go now."
Xiao Li patted her chest with a relieved expression: "That was truly terrifying, it scared this princess to death. Fortunately, Eunuch Lou Yan arrived in time, otherwise I would have been done for. Cough, cough…"
Ah, she almost forgot her throat was sore.
Suddenly choked, she spat out a mouthful of saliva mixed entirely with blood foam.
But even in such a miserable state, Xiao Li didn't forget to praise Lou Yan: "Eunuch Lou Yan eliminated the assassin and saved this princess from dire straits. When I return, I will definitely tell Emperor Brother to record a great merit for you. Cough, cough…"
Lu Yanzhi finally entered and brought tea for Xiao Li: "Princess, have some tea."
Not only could Xiao Li not speak due to her throat condition, but her neck was also swollen and covered in dark, frightening bruises.
Gu Ling had never left the capital; kidnapping her only brought them to a remote residence in the city.
An assassination attempt? Who knew if it was fabricated and staged by her?
So, were they unaware that the princess had become both mad and ruthless, and even hit people? They knew, but she was the princess, and the Emperor valued her, so they had to carry her with respect.
More importantly, Xuan Yang also represented his dignity. He was the Emperor—how could he face others if his own sister was bullied to such an extent? Exile for the Gu family? Hah, death penalty! All of them shall be put to death!
His gaze was icy and intimidating, deep as an abyss.
Lan Yue was attending to Xiao Li as she took her medicine when a maid announced at the door: "Princess, the Imperial son-in-law is here." Xiao Li couldn't speak, but that didn't stop her from using hand gestures: Kick him out!
When leaving, Xiao Li saw two corpses outside—they must have been Gu Ling's men.
There wasn't much bleeding, but her throat was injured. She could still speak at the time, yet after fainting and waking up, her throat felt blocked, and she couldn't utter a single word.
Tsk, still quite alluring.
But after all, the princess was kidnapped while shopping with him. If he showed no concern, the Emperor would likely trouble the Lu family again.
Xiao Li's attitude could be described as very poor, but because she couldn't speak, its impact was greatly reduced, like a tiger with its teeth pulled out, all bluster.
Xiao Li leaned against the doorframe and slowly left the courtyard. This Master of Fragrance was quite interesting.
Gifts and medicines of all sizes were sent to the Princess Manor, all accompanied by words of concern and wishes for her speedy recovery.
Xiao Li: "…" Was this heaven's punishment for her sharp tongue? To take away her ability to speak.
Fortunately, Xiao Li didn't know his thoughts, or she would have surely cursed: Dream on!
Two subordinates leading horses over saw the murderous demon king holding the princess steadily in his arms. They exchanged a glance—this… was truly strange. —Although Gu Ling was killed, Xiao Li had indeed suffered this time.
It wasn't strange for Xiao Jingyi to send gifts and visit, nor was it odd for Chen Wang to send a gift, but why did Chen Wangfei personally deliver a gift?
Pingnan Marquis Manor was stripped of its title, exiled, and now even sentenced to death—all because Gu Ling had spoken a few disrespectful words about her.
Still receiving no response, he looked at Xiao Li: "Princess, why aren't you speaking? Is your throat still hurting?"
So arrogant and overbearing, treating human life as worthless—she deserved to suffer.
I thought Gu Ling had escaped, but I never expected him to come rushing back to seek death. How perfect. As these thoughts crossed her mind, the world suddenly spun, and before her consciousness faded, she saw a pair of narrow, sinister dark eyes.
When he arrived, she was still tied to the rack, relentlessly provoking Gu Ling’s sore spots, driving him to madness.
"Princess, don’t be angry. It’s not good for your health. Would you like some water?"
The act had to go on. He had to take advantage of her weakness to lower her guard.
Her wrist, hanging limply at her side, was swollen and bruised from being bound, with trails of fresh blood where she had injured herself struggling against the ropes. Xiao Li yanked the blanket over herself, turned away, and ignored everyone.
Her soft, delicate frame was light, just enough for him to hold securely in his arms.
The Princess had been injured in an assassination attempt—surely someone ought to send gifts to express sympathy? Though Xiao Li wasn’t much, she was still a Princess recorded under the Empress Dowager’s name and of the Emperor’s bloodline. Moreover, the Emperor seemed to care about her now, so those below, judging by the situation, dared not treat her lightly.
Lu Yanzhi stared at the lump under the blanket. This was the weakest Xiao Li had been in many days.
Lou Yan glanced at her with half-lowered eyes, his emotions unreadable, and did not respond.
Lou Yan looked at the woman collapsed on the ground. Struggling between life and death had left her disheveled, with messy hair and torn clothes revealing snow-white, jade-like skin. The purplish-red handprints on her neck were particularly glaring.
Lan Yue handed over paper and brush. Xiao Li angrily wrote: What exactly do you want? Lu Yanzhi read it, ignoring her furious gaze: "I’ve only come to visit the Princess."
Gu Ling had been stabbed in the heart, yet no one came to help, proving that those people were already dead before that.
She wanted to make Lu Yanzhi suffer, not let him see her in pain.
The Emperor sent an Imperial Physician. After hearing the physician’s description, he came to see for himself and was furious.
A Princess who couldn’t even protect herself was useless, not worth a second glance. But a Princess who was both mad and ruthless—that was dazzling.
Gu Ling was dead, the Pingnan Hou’s family had been wiped out, and even the child in Xue Yin’s womb had died because of her.
A visit? More like coming to watch the show.
How long had Lou Yan been here, and how much had he seen?
Seeing this, he did not rush to save her. An ignorant, arrogant Princess bringing about her own destruction wasn’t worth saving.
Noticing Xiao Li hadn’t moved for a long time, he set down his teacup: "Has the Princess taken her medicine? Are you feeling better?"
Right now, she just wanted to kill him—immediately! At once!
Lou Yan had split up with the others to search. To find someone, he used qinggong—no carriage, not even a horse.
Xiao Li hadn’t expected she’d have to walk back in the end, but it didn’t matter. Who asked her to be in such a good mood?
Lu Yanzhi was persistent, single-mindedly determined to see Xiao Li.
Finally, he slowly bent his strong, resilient waist, reached out with long, powerful arms, and steadily lifted her into his embrace.
If looks could kill, Lu Yanzhi would have been sliced to pieces.
Xiao Li blinked her eyes—this had nothing to do with her.
But so what? Even if Xiao Li had been kidnapped and injured, it didn’t change the fact that she was malicious.
Lu Yanzhi actually found her like this rather pleasing to the eye.
Xiao Li hatefully wrote a single, bold character: Scram!
Xiao Li: "…" If only this Princess could speak, I wouldn’t let you annoy me like this.
He had little affection for this younger sister, yet she was still his sister after all. Among all his siblings, Xuan Yang could be considered the closest to him.
Especially in her current unconscious state—covered in wounds, broken and disheveled—she became the most dazzling colors his eyes could perceive.
Yet in the blink of an eye, she staged a stunning counterattack against all odds, truly breathtaking.
Xiao Li didn't speak, merely let out a cold laugh as he wrote a note and slapped it on Yang Jun's face: "If Chen Wangfei dares take one step inside, all guards shall be dismissed from my service!"
Without even thinking, she knew Liu Xueyin had come because of Gu Ling's death.
How dare she repeatedly come to provoke at her doorstep, as if she were dead? If this Princess Manor's gates couldn't stop just anyone, then all these people might as well be dismissed!