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Shen Yuling had never been good with alcohol. After just a few cups of Xifeng wine, her head spun, and she felt as if she were treading on cotton, her steps unsteady.
Seeing this, Xi Tong quickly reached out to support her and helped her into the room.
When Shen Yuling woke up again, her throat was unbearably dry, as if a fire were burning within.
“Water…”
Still drowsy, Shen Yuling reached out from beneath the blanket without opening her eyes.
Before long, a cup was placed in her hand, but as she grasped it, her fingers accidentally brushed against the hand of the person holding it.
The texture…
Rough, calloused—nothing like Xi Tong’s smooth and delicate hands.
A jolt ran through Shen Yuling’s heart. Her eyes flew open.
A man.
A very handsome man.
Sharp brows, piercing eyes, a high-bridged nose, and well-defined features—his face was flawless, like a noble deity descending to the mortal realm.
But what drew the most attention were his eyes—deep, dark, like a bottomless abyss.
Instinctively, Shen Yuling opened her mouth, ready to scream.
Before she could make a sound, the man spoke coldly.
“Shut up.”
Her mouth hung open, but no sound escaped. She could only stare in horror at the man before her.
“It’s you!”
As soon as she heard his voice, Shen Yuling recognized him.
She quickly glanced around the room, then anxiously looked down at her own clothing. Seeing that she was still dressed in her original garments, she let out a quiet sigh of relief.
“Why am I here?”
Steadying herself, Shen Yuling lifted her gaze to the man, her eyes filled with wariness and confusion.
“You met with me this morning, and by evening, you were inviting Feng Moheng to dinner? Did you not hear a single word I said to you today?”
Quan Minghe’s expression was cold and severe.
News had come from the Residence of Prince Lingyang—Shen Yuling had invited Feng Moheng to dine and drink with her that night.
When Quan Minghe received this information, his face darkened instantly.
Could it be that she planned to get Feng Moheng drunk so that he would consummate their engagement in his intoxicated state?
That way, Feng Moheng wouldn’t notice any possible traces on her body… nor realize that she had already lost her purity.
When Quan Minghe received the news, a cold thought crossed his mind.
If she had truly ignored his warning from this morning, then there was no need to spare that cup of poisoned wine—he might as well make her drink it outright.
Unfortunately for her, Feng Moheng had not played along.
Instead of accepting her invitation, he had gone to one of his concubines’ courtyards, completely ignoring her.
Feng Moheng’s absence was one thing, but she had gone ahead and drunk herself into a stupor, looking utterly heartbroken.
Seeing this, Quan Minghe no longer saw the need to conceal his identity.
The eldest daughter of the Shen family was bold—bold enough to think that without a show of force, she could still obediently settle into her role as the future Princess of Lingyang.
As this thought crossed his mind, the cold glint in Quan Minghe’s eyes grew even sharper, exuding an aura of intimidation.
Meanwhile, Shen Yuling harbored her own suspicions. She wanted to find out whether Quan Minghe had already planted spies within the Residence of Prince Lingyang.
After all, that morning, he had spoken with absolute certainty—claiming he knew everything about her.
Truly worthy of an emperor—his methods were formidable.
She had only been in the Residence of Prince Lingyang for two days, yet he already had people spying on her in secret.
Ignoring Quan Minghe’s aggressive questioning, Shen Yuling simply studied the man before her with her captivating eyes.
Today, he looked completely different from their previous encounters.
He wore a robe of the finest ice-blue silk, shimmering like the surface of a deep, tranquil lake—both pure and regal.
Embroidered on the fabric was a striking dragon motif, its imposing design radiating authority and power, a clear symbol of his noble status.
Shen Yuling couldn’t help but murmur, “You are the current Emperor…”
As the words left her lips, realization suddenly struck her.
She quickly sat up in bed, then stood upon it, making herself nearly the same height as Quan Minghe.
A surge of anger rushed through her, and without thinking, she raised her hand and swung it fiercely toward Quan Minghe’s face.
That slap carried all the grievances and fury pent up inside her, as if she wanted to pour everything into this single strike.
But Quan Minghe was faster. Without even moving his body, he caught her wrist mid-air with ease.
His left hand, firm as an iron clamp, gripped her right wrist tightly.
His deep, narrow eyes darkened, radiating an ominous and dangerous aura.
Quan Minghe spat out two cold words, “Seeking death?”
Shen Yuling struggled desperately, trying to break free from his grip, but no matter how hard she fought, his hold remained unyielding.
Frustration and anger swelled within her. Her pearly teeth bit down on her lower lip so hard that the soft pink flesh turned pale under the pressure.
Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears, yet she stubbornly refused to let them fall.
She looked like a trapped little beast—both furious and helpless.
“Do you have any idea,” she choked out, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion, “how much torment and fear I endured in the days between having my innocence taken by you and my wedding?”
“You know that the warnings you gave me this morning have left me restless, unable to eat or sleep?”
“So it was you who made me marry another, and you who destroyed my innocence!”
Quan Minghe frowned.
Indeed, both of these things were his doing.
He had even considered killing her to cover up his mistake.
Yet, the image of her tear-streaked face that night surfaced in his mind, and for the first time—he hesitated.
Just moments ago, he had been ready to kill her.
But now, seeing her like this—aggrieved, furious, yet utterly fearless in her accusations—he found himself hesitating.
There was a trace of reluctance.
As soon as Shen Yuling finished speaking, it was as if all the strength had been drained from her body.
Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the bed, kneeling weakly.
Like a delicate flower that had lost its vitality, she looked pitiful and fragile.
Seeing this, Quan Minghe finally loosened his grip on her wrist.
Her fate had taken an ironic twist—by a cruel stroke of fate, she had become his woman, only to then be married off as the wife of Prince Lingyang.
“Your Majesty… Have you always intended to kill me?”
Shen Yuling lifted her head, her gaze lost and uncertain.
“This morning, did I not already tell you?” Quan Minghe’s voice was cold, unwavering. “In three months, I will take you out of the Prince’s residence.”
“If you cannot even wait for these three months, then after tonight… don’t go back at all.”
Shen Yuling’s expression instantly turned to panic. Fear and desperation flickered in her eyes.
“Did Your Majesty not say this morning that we must wait three months to protect my reputation?”
“No… Not tonight, please…”
Shen Yuling clutched his sleeve, her voice soft with pleading.
“Will you still invite Feng Moheng to drink with you?”
Quan Minghe’s fingers brushed against the corner of her reddened eyes.
Tears threatened to fall, making her look all the more alluring.
“Your Majesty did not reveal his identity this morning, so I was afraid… I wanted the Prince of Lingyang to like me, even just a little. That way, as his wife, he would protect me…”
Shen Yuling blinked her beautiful fox-like eyes as she explained.
“Do you still need his protection?”
Shen Yuling shook her head.
She reached out her small hand, timidly attempting to hold Quan Minghe’s hand.
A pair of fox-like eyes, soaked in tears, glistened with innocence yet carried a hint of allure, as if capable of ensnaring one’s soul.
As an actress, she knew exactly how to cry in the most captivating way.
Quan Minghe had seen countless beauties, yet he found himself unable to look away.
“Will Your Majesty protect me?”
Her voice was soft and gentle, laced with anticipation, yet tinged with unease.
“If you behave, I will naturally protect you,” he replied.
“Even if I’m disobedient, will you still want to protect me?”
Quan Minghe let out a soft scoff—how greedy.
Instead of answering her, he changed the subject. “Do you still resent me?”
As he bent down, Shen Yuling happened to be looking up at him.
At this moment, their flawless faces were mere inches apart, their breaths intermingling.
Quan Minghe recalled her earlier words: “So it was you who made me marry another, and you who destroyed my innocence!”—filled with nothing but resentment.
“I wouldn’t dare,” Shen Yuling murmured, turning her head away.
Wouldn’t dare?
Then that meant she still harbored resentment in her heart.
But so what?
A little cat, even if full of grievances, could only rely on him—silently retracting its once-sharp claws.
Obedient and well-behaved.