Chapter 153

The Grand Princess originally didn’t want things to go this far. After all, once Tan Hanchi became her husband, she hoped to live a good life with him.

However, not long after she returned from the Zongren Mansion, her mother informed her of some news.

After General Xiao returned from the southern border, the Nanli Kingdom began to stir.

Reports came in saying that Nanli had started gathering troops on a small scale at the border.

This was why her father, the Emperor, was eager to appoint a new Grand Marshal.

When General Guo took over command and went to the southern border, the Nanli Kingdom, knowing of General Guo’s reputation as a formidable warrior, stopped their movements.

Perhaps fearing they had provoked the Emperor, the Nanli Kingdom even proposed sending a delegation to the Longevity Festival to celebrate the Emperor’s thirty-fifth birthday.

For some reason, her father specifically mentioned this to her mother and hinted that the head of the delegation was the unmarried Third Prince of Nanli.

Her mother was immediately alarmed!

After all, she was the only marriageable princess in the palace…

Upon hearing this news, how could she not be anxious?

Throughout history, how many princesses sent to marry into other nations had met good ends?

Look at the second prince’s mother—an ethereal beauty who ended up taking her own life in her prime.

She would never go to Nanli. Since none of the other suitors her father picked pleased her, she had no choice but to bet everything on Tan Hanchi!

Even if he resented her scheming today, once he was favored by the second prince and the second prince became the eventual victor, he would come to appreciate her efforts!

Even in the worst-case scenario, where Tan Hanchi never yielded to her, at least she wouldn’t have to endure a tumultuous life in Nanli.

As for finding another man, she could do that later!

With these thoughts, the Grand Princess grabbed Tan Hanchi’s sleeve, determined to bind him to her today.

“Tan Xiuzhan, turn around.”

She softened her voice, hiding the calculation in her eyes.

Ever since he was drugged at the inn, Tan Hanchi had been wary of any unusual scents.

Now, noticing a sweet, cloying fragrance in the air, he felt a sense of foreboding.

He didn’t care that she was a princess; he quickly pulled back his sleeve and retreated.

However, after only two steps, he found himself unable to move.

A wave of heat surged through his body, settling in his lower abdomen.

Realizing something was wrong, he looked at the Grand Princess in disbelief.

An aphrodisiac?

Such a vile tactic would only lead to mutual destruction!

The Grand Princess was willing to sacrifice her reputation to trap him!

Fury surged in Tan Hanchi’s heart. “Grand Princess, you—”

Seeing Tan Hanchi wavering in front of her, the Grand Princess feigned innocence and concern, stepping closer.

“Tan Xiuzhan, what’s wrong with you all of a sudden?”

As she approached, the sweet scent became overpowering.

He wanted to leave, but he was drawn to the fragrance as if bewitched.

Tan Hanchi, using the last vestiges of his rationality, thought, “This drug is incredibly potent; it must be no ordinary substance!”

“If I lose control and do something foolish, it will ruin Brother Qiao’s wedding and possibly implicate the entire Qiao family!”

“And Miss Zuo… there really won’t be any future for us…”

With this realization, a surge of hatred welled up in Tan Hanchi’s heart, but it was quickly overwhelmed by an even stronger desire.

Everything before him seemed to sway and distort. Tan Hanchi was soon drenched in sweat.

No matter how strong his willpower was, he couldn’t resist the instinctive urge to move closer to the source of the fragrance.

The Grand Princess, seeing Tan Hanchi’s dazed state, knew he had lost his senses and finally allowed herself a triumphant smile.

The people of Nanli are skilled with medicines. Whether for healing or poisoning, their methods are renowned.

It was the arrival of the delegation that drew her attention to Nanli, where she learned that both the royal family and the court officials there had a fondness for a certain new thing called the “Ultimate Pleasure Elixir.”

She went to great lengths to obtain a sample and had Cailan find someone to test it, confirming its remarkable effects.

The “Ultimate Pleasure Elixir” came in two forms: an attracting agent and an arousing agent, one a pill and the other a powder.

As the names imply, the person who takes the attracting agent emits a rich, sweet fragrance that can confuse the senses and arouse those nearby, causing them to lose themselves in desire.

The arousing agent works like an aphrodisiac used in Yong Dynasty, taking effect as soon as it is inhaled, but with much stronger potency.

It’s said that in Nanli, people commonly use both the attracting and arousing agents on themselves, so both parties involved in the act are lost in mutual desire, reaching the so-called “Ultimate Pleasure.”

Even in her scheme against Tan Hanchi, the Grand Princess had left herself a way out.

She used the attracting agent on herself. As long as she didn’t take the arousing agent, she would remain unaffected, while Tan Hanchi would lose control.

Even if it escalated to the point where her father had to intervene, she would be completely innocent, and the fault would lie with the “excessively infatuated” Tan Hanchi!

If her father became furious, she could then seize the opportunity to plead for Tan Hanchi, suggesting making him her consort. If Tan Hanchi was sensible, he would accept his fate and cherish her from then on!

As for the arousing powder…

She had already ordered it to be used on Zuo Anning.

If a young lady was found in a state of disarray, overwhelmed by desire, it would be the talk of the town.

If Zuo Anning had any dignity, she would hang herself with a white silk scarf to preserve the reputation of the Duke of Yan!

The Grand Princess believed she had left nothing to chance. Even if the second prince had orchestrated this, he wouldn’t have done it any better!

At this moment, seeing Tan Hanchi approaching her, the Grand Princess’s eyes sparkled. She stood still, ready for Tan Hanchi to leave some irrefutable marks on her.

Initially, she had regretted not finding someone as stunning as Qiao family’s eldest son.

But now, seeing Tan Hanchi’s flushed face and misty eyes, he was quite impressive.

The “Ultimate Pleasure Elixir” was still available. If it were to be used for their future bedroom pleasures, it wouldn’t be bad…

Thinking of this, the Grand Princess couldn’t help but feel a bit heated.

As long as Tan Hanchi was willing to live well with her, she wouldn’t treat him poorly.

At this moment, Tan Hanchi had completely lost his rationality. Driven by desire, he walked towards the princess…

Qiao Zhongguo was rushing through his own residence using lightness skills, hurrying as fast as he could. As he rounded a rockery, he saw Tan Hanchi reaching out towards the Grand Princess.

The Grand Princess had her eyes slightly closed, her long eyelashes trembling, her face flushed, and she appeared willing to let him take her.

Seeing this, Qiao Jiaojiao felt her scalp tingle with shock!

“Father! Stop Tan Hanchi!”