Yu Jiao didn’t look at his blood-red eyes and ignored the hand pinching her chin. She slowly reached out both hands and hooked them around his neck, rising onto her tiptoes.
Her lips were soft and tender. Chu Yin looked slightly dazed, staring blankly at the lashes so close in front of him.
Their eyes met. Yu Jiao bit down hard, her eyelashes fluttering and casting a faint shadow.
His breath intertwined with hers, a mix of citrus fragrance and the faint coolness of plum.
The hand pinching her chin suddenly relaxed, sliding downward until it rested on her waist. With a sharp tug, he pressed her against him.
In an instant, she counterattacked, leaving a series of light, scattered kisses on his lips.
Chu Yin seemed almost possessed, constantly nibbling, his rapid breaths filling Yu Jiao’s ears.
Yu Jiao’s eyelashes trembled lightly, brushing against his face.
“Hiss—”
Chu Yin stiffened for a moment and suddenly lifted his head.
His blood-red eyes gradually cleared. He blinked at her, once, twice.
Yu Jiao’s lips curved slowly, revealing the bite mark. She instinctively frowned, yet a stubborn smile lingered in her eyes as she looked at him.
He stared at her swollen lips, then downward. The pinch marks on her chin and the corners of her mouth were glaringly red.
The hand on her waist suddenly pulled back, hiding behind him, trembling uncontrollably.
He… what had he just… done?
In front of her, he had indulged in killing… in front of her, he had gone blood-crazed…
He had even… wanted to crush her lips so he would no longer hear words he didn’t want to hear. Disregarding her struggles, ignoring her gaze, crushing them with his own hands.
Chu Yin snapped fully back to reality and staggered back a step, laughing bitterly to himself.
It seemed like that filthy side of him could no longer be hidden.
What would the little rabbit do?
Was he afraid? Or… like them, would he retreat as if seeing a ghost?
“Prince, what’s wrong?” Yu Jiao took a step forward, reaching out to pull him.
Chu Yin swished his sleeve, sending her aside, his gaze icy.
No! Even if it were destroyed by his own hand, what was his could not escape.
Yu Jiao looked at him with a wronged expression, unwilling to give up, reaching again for his sleeve. Everyone said he was unpredictable, cruel, and heartless, but she knew that every time she tugged on his sleeve, he would relent.
But Chu Yin, full of hostility, looked at her with eyes devoid of warmth: “Go!”
Yu Jiao’s hand froze mid-air, staring at his broad back as he strode away. She didn’t know why, but her face suddenly felt wet.
By the time she stepped out of the door, Chu Yin was already nowhere in sight.
Ying Feng bowed while holding his sword, his lips moving.
Yu Jiao raised a hand to stop him: “Don’t worry, I won’t hold it against you.”
There was another sentence she didn’t say—she would neither call him a monster nor despise him.
She smiled heartlessly. Everyone said Chu Yin was heartless and cold, but he was good to her—always caring about food and clothing, even anxious if she choked. He was so good. How could he be abandoned like her?
Yu Jiao lifted her foot, intending to return to Prince’s Mansion, but Ying Feng called after her.
She turned her back and raised her hand again: “Ying Feng, stop talking. I’m not sad.”
She thought her back must look incredibly handsome right now.
If Chu Yin saw, he would surely be moved.
“Princess Consort! Prince ordered me to escort you back!” Ying Feng shouted anxiously.
Yu Jiao: “……”
In a few steps, she jumped onto the carriage and glared at him: “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
“???”
Behind her, Ying Feng’s hand froze mid-nose scratch.
……
When Yu Jiao returned to Prince’s Mansion, the residence was unusually quiet. Everything seemed unchanged. The servants and maids went about their tasks, but their heads were lowered lower than usual, moving cautiously.
She grabbed a maid and asked, “Where is the Prince?”
The maid answered nervously, “Princess Consort, I haven’t seen the Prince.”
Yu Jiao dashed back to the backyard. From afar, she thought she saw a figure inside the room and felt a flicker of hope. But as she pushed the door open, her heart sank.
Xiu’er turned and saw her, stunned for a moment before joyfully calling out, “Miss, you’re back!”
“Where’s the Prince?”
Xiu’er shook her head. “Wasn’t the Prince out with you?”
Yu Jiao’s interest waned. She waved dismissively; he wasn’t in the academy either.
Standing in the middle of the corridor, she softly called, “Ying Feng.”
Ying Feng suddenly appeared behind her. Yu Jiao stared at him. He averted his eyes guiltily. “Princess Consort, don’t worry. The Prince will return a bit later.”
Yu Jiao silently nodded. Just as Ying Feng relaxed, she said, “Then I’ll wait for him at the main gate.”
After taking a couple of steps, she suddenly turned: “Don’t follow me.”
Ying Feng paused, considered for a moment, then turned and left.
Night fell.
A shadow suddenly passed over the back wall, landing steadily.
“Has the Prince returned?”
The figure staggered slightly and turned. Yu Jiao was sitting on the back door threshold, her hands supporting her head on her knees.
Chu Yin squinted, glancing at the door behind Yu Jiao—it was indeed the back door.
If he was right, Ying Feng had still been slacking in practice.
At this moment, Ying Feng, who had been standing atop the study room keeping a close watch on the front gate, suddenly sneezed.
Yu Jiao sat on the threshold, eyes fixed on him, afraid that he might disappear in a blink. She murmured softly, “Where did the Prince go?”
“Mind your own business?”
Yu Jiao shook her head, whispering, “I’m worried about the Prince.”
Chu Yin paused. Something seemed to surge into his heart, disturbing the calm that had lasted all afternoon.
He smirked: “You’d better worry about yourself first. Today you saw me kill. The graves of those who’ve seen me kill are now over a yard high.”
His tone was cold and disdainful, yet his eyes remained fixed on her.
Her heart jumped without reason—she must be scared.
If she was scared, she should keep her distance.
Yu Jiao tilted her head, stating matter-of-factly, “That’s because they deserved it.”
“They dared to rebel. Killing a few of them is nothing. The Prince also has to protect himself.”
Chu Yin stopped in his tracks, the mocking curve of his lips freezing.
“Mm… the Second Prince also deserved death, but if the Prince killed him openly, it would cause a lot of trouble. Those people were targeting you. If something went wrong and I couldn’t protect the Prince…?”
Her words hit him like a thunderbolt, striking his heart and exploding inside him.
He felt both uncontrollable and secretly delighted. She had pushed Chu Ming away out of concern for his safety.
The annoyance he had felt earlier vanished into smoke.
So foolish, so naive. When had she been protecting him?
Worrying about that, what a waste.
“Annoying.” Chu Yin scowled at her, frowning. At this late hour, she should wear more clothes.
He had clearly instructed Ying Feng to bring clothes to her room. This must be his fault again. His ability to handle things was getting worse.
“Why are you sitting there? Aren’t you going back? If anyone sees you, they’ll think my Yan Wang’s Residence has no place to sit.”
Chu Yin took a few steps forward. Hearing no movement behind him, he turned.
Yu Jiao still sat without moving, eyes fixed on him, saying nothing.
“Throwing a tantrum?”
“No, my legs are numb from sitting too long. I can’t walk.”
“Tsk, truly delicate.” Chu Yin looked at her with disdain as he walked over.