Chapter 98 : The Crown Prince Spits Blood

This remark was certainly harsh.

Xue Qingyin licked her lips, but didn’t rebut the Crown Prince. She simply followed his words and even increased her intensity.

She smiled and said, “Indeed, for a woman as beautiful as I am, marrying someone as silent and uninterested in romance as you, is truly not easy.”

The servants around them were shocked and looked up at her.

However, they had to admit that the person in front of them was indeed beautiful.

By saying this, she had skillfully turned the Crown Prince’s words into a playful exchange between married couple.

The person inside didn’t seem to expect this. After a moment’s pause, he angrily sneered, “Who is speaking?”

This remark was clearly meant to belittle Xue Qingyin.

However, Xue Qingyin quickly pressed the back of King Xuan’s hand, stopping him from speaking. Then, she tilted her head and asked the servants, “Is the Crown Prince’s hearing not very good? I clearly said who had arrived just now.”

The servants stammered and didn’t dare respond.

The person inside was naturally furious.

There was a sharp “crack” sound.

It was the noise of something being thrown against the wall.

At this moment, King Xuan’s expression darkened.

But still, Xue Qingyin spoke first. She asked with curiosity, “Did the Crown Prince break the teacup? Shouldn’t you go in and clean it up quickly? Lest the Prince cut himself.”

The servants were nearly kneeling in front of her.

Clearly, it was the Crown Prince who was angry!

How did it turn into something else when it came out of her mouth?

She even repeatedly said she was afraid he’d cut his hand.

Such words were typically said to children.

Now, using them on the Crown Prince—wasn’t that exactly hitting on the Prince’s weak point, that he was too ill to take care of himself?

King Xuan’s lips twitched, unable to keep his composure.

Because of the former Empress’s affection, he usually didn’t argue with the Crown Prince. The more ill the Crown Prince became, the more his temperament grew erratic. Only in front of the Emperor would he pretend to be submissive.

Seeing Xue Qingyin handle him so well, King Xuan was quite surprised.

After a long silence, a voice finally came from inside.

The Crown Prince said, “Please come in, King Xuan.”

Now it was Xue Qingyin’s turn to be surprised.

She had expected him to angrily shout, “Get out of here!”

Xue Qingyin followed King Xuan and slowly entered.

The servants entered as well, lighting the lanterns beside the Changxin Palace.

The dim room was suddenly much brighter.

Xue Qingyin could finally see clearly the person sitting in the chair.

He was wearing a dark blue robe, and his figure was thin, so much so that his chin appeared sharp.

He wasn’t wearing a crown or tied-up hair, looking somewhat disheveled.

However, the aura of the royal family still lingered on him, though it was mixed with the ghastly aura of someone who had been sick for a long time.

The man was leaning heavily on the cushion behind him, as if his bones had lost all support.

What surprised Xue Qingyin the most was… he actually looked quite similar to King Xuan.

But their auras were entirely different, so one would never mistake them for the same person at first glance!

Xue Qingyin found it very strange.

Yes!

The original story mentioned that King Xuan was not the Emperor’s biological son!

Could it be that through maternal genes alone, he and the Crown Prince could resemble each other so much?

While Xue Qingyin was boldly studying the Crown Prince, his gaze swept over her face.

Indeed, she was beautiful.

It should not even be said that she was as beautiful as a flower, but rather that she was even more beautiful than a flower.

The Crown Prince’s expression twitched, his eyes darkening.

He deliberately said, “I heard that Father Emperor decided to marry that Lu family girl to you as your principal wife. Is this the Lu family girl?”

Xue Qingyin was not bothered by his provocative remarks.

She directly corrected him, “My surname is Xue. Your Highness, please don’t mistake me for my sister-in-law on the street. People might think you’re being reckless.”

Crown Prince: “…”

“Xue Chengdong’s daughter?” The Crown Prince uttered these words.

Xue Qingyin nodded.

From the Crown Prince’s perspective, she now appeared somewhat submissive, lowering her gaze.

However, after their earlier conversation, no one understood better than the Crown Prince the kind of vexing soul hidden beneath the delicate appearance of the beauty in front of him!

The Crown Prince coldly said, “Xue Chengdong has offended my brothers many times, yet you still dare to marry into King Xuan’s residence?”

This was a threat.

It even subtly implied that King Xuan and Xue Chengdong had enmity and that she would be secretly tormented.

But Xue Qingyin clicked her tongue and thought, the Crown Prince lives deep in the palace, so his news is a bit outdated.

She replied, “It’s no trouble. I have a grudge with my father too. If the Crown Prince wants to deal with him, I will be the first to stand up for justice and break ties with him.”

The Crown Prince: “…………”

What a righteous betrayal of one’s own father.

Not even a man would dare say such a thing, yet this delicate woman dares to disrespect her father?

The Crown Prince could not help but look towards King Xuan.

But he saw King Xuan’s face harden, and his gaze had grown sharper.

Oh.

He’s angry.

The Crown Prince sneered.

So, it’s really your soft spot, after all?

“With her sharp tongue, aren’t you afraid that one day the Emperor will punish her?” the Crown Prince said with mockery.

“No need for the Crown Prince to worry. I will protect her,” King Xuan said coldly.

Xue Qingyin was dissatisfied and interjected, “My father really likes me. How could he punish me? Later, King Xuan and I are going to have a meal with the Emperor.”

The Crown Prince, in disbelief, squeezed out the words, “You, you… what?”

It was probably because he was so jealous of King Xuan’s current “closeness” with the Emperor.

He felt a surge of blood rise in his chest and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Xue Qingyin took a half-step back.

Oh no.

That was too much.

She quickly hid behind King Xuan and quietly asked, “He spat blood, will I be punished?”

King Xuan replied, “No.”

Xue Qingyin glanced at his face and confirmed that, although King Xuan respected the late Empress, he did not intend to blame her.

“Then I’ll rest easy,” Xue Qingyin sighed in relief.

Hearing their conversation, the Crown Prince was so angry that he clutched his chest and pointed at King Xuan, shouting, “Is this the result of the vow you made before my late mother? Turns out, a woman is enough to change your mind?”

Xue Qingyin thought for a moment and responded, “It’s probably because I’m so beautiful, who can resist?”

The Crown Prince opened his mouth wide, gasping.

Xue Qingyin quickly closed her mouth.

Forget it, I won’t say more.

Fortunately, the Crown Prince didn’t spit blood again this time.

King Xuan didn’t want to continue tangling with him either.

Although Xue Qingyin wasn’t losing in front of the Crown Prince and hadn’t suffered at all, King Xuan didn’t want her to keep hearing the Crown Prince’s sharp words.

King Xuan said in a deep voice, “I brought Qingyin here to pay respects to my aunt’s spirit.”

“Take her? No,” the Crown Prince finally managed to catch his breath and immediately rejected.

King Xuan remained expressionless, “It’s fine. I will have someone find it.”

As the atmosphere became tense again, an older palace maid softly advised, “Your Highness, brothers should not let things get to this point. It would be hard for the late Empress to rest in peace.”

At that moment, the Crown Prince seemed to be lost in thought.

Finally, he sighed and said, “Go ahead. Take the Empress’s spirit tablet from the small table by my bedside.”

Xue Qingyin was shocked when she heard this.

What a ruthless person, placing the spirit tablet by his bedside, huh?

The servant responded and went to take the spirit tablet, bringing back the incense burner and other items.

A small altar was set up.

King Xuan lit the incense and knelt in front of the spirit tablet.

He performed three deep bows, then straightened up and placed the incense stick into the incense burner.

Xue Qingyin watched and thought for a moment that she should kneel too, right?

She was very respectful toward kind and gentle elders.

So, Xue Qingyin bent her knees and was about to kneel, but was stopped by King Xuan.

He said softly, “Qingyin doesn’t need to kneel, just bow. My aunt raised me, but to you, she is just a stranger.”

He added, “I brought you here today to let my aunt know that I am married now. I am no longer alone.”