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Mu Shengsheng had a special ability—she could see how many days she had left to live.
Ever since she had fainted once, a strange string of numbers appeared before her eyes. Each day, the number would decrease by one. After verifying carefully, she realized these numbers represented her remaining lifespan, counting down to zero at the moment of death.
As her sixteenth birthday approached, the numbers dwindled further. Her illness grew increasingly frequent; she would cough up blood or faint every few days. By today, she only had three days left to live.
Those numbers had always only decreased. If it weren’t for today’s incident, Mu Shengsheng would never have known they could actually increase.
Does that mean… she could live one more day?
Shocked, she stared for a long moment before slowly raising her gaze to the man before her.
He wore a cyan brocade robe embroidered with cloud patterns and a jade crown atop his head. His entire presence radiated authority and dignity, unmistakably noble. His features were remarkably handsome, yet the icy sharpness in his deep phoenix-like eyes sent shivers down one’s spine, making it impossible to admire his face freely.
Astonishingly, whenever Mu Shengsheng came into contact with him, she felt a strange, boundless energy flowing through him, invigorating her body, easing her breathing—more effective than any expensive medicine or tonic.
Though her body was weak, her mind worked quickly. Perhaps, she thought, this man had some mysterious power capable of prolonging her life.
Simply touching him could increase her remaining days?
At that moment, Lan Xun had just exited Xiangman Tower, about to mount his carriage, when the girl carelessly collided with him.
Dressed in red, her vibrant makeup concealed her previously pale and sickly complexion. Her skin looked like smooth jade, her face like a peach blossom—breathtakingly beautiful. Even a man like Lan Xun, who had traveled far and seen countless beauties, found his eyes drawn to her, unable to look away.
They locked eyes, momentarily forgetting everything else.
The wedding attendants, maids, sedan bearers, and guards—over a dozen people in total—had not anticipated that Mu Shengsheng would attempt to flee. Realizing it too late, they dropped the sedan and gave chase, shouting behind her, “That girl dares to run! Catch her! If she gets away, we won’t be able to answer for it!”
“Yes!”
Mu Shengsheng snapped back to reality. This was not the moment to ponder extending her life; if she failed to escape, she wouldn’t even live one more day.
The man before her, judging by his attire, clearly held a high status. Perhaps he could save her.
Panicking, she dove into his embrace, clutching his robe like a lifeline. Her voice trembled as she begged through tears, “Prince… please… save me…”
Her voice was delicate and soft, piercing to the bone.
Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably, and she looked back anxiously, like an injured rabbit cowering at the feet of a predator.
The man’s voice was magnetic, yet his words were cold and distant. “We are strangers. Why should I save you?”
He called himself “I, the Prince”? Perfect!
Mu Shengsheng said, “If Your Highness would help, I would serve you faithfully, willing to be your servant in anything you command!”
He remained unmoved. “I do not need that.”
Mu Shengsheng faltered. This man truly had no compassion.
But she couldn’t blame him. Why would he risk offending the Xuanwu Marquisate or the Duke of Zhenguo’s household for a stranger like her?
She lowered her head in despair, tears sliding down her cheeks, feeling nothing but hopelessness.
Could this be the day of her death?
The pursuers, spotting the flash of her red gown, quickly located her. Over a dozen rushed forward, encircling her, the atmosphere tense and threatening.
A guard stepped forward, shouting, “Where do you think you’re going? Come quietly! Otherwise, the Duke of Zhenguo’s household does not take offenses lightly!”
The Duke of Zhenguo’s household was immensely powerful—the maternal family of the current Empress Dowager. Even the Xuanwu Marquisate dared not provoke them.
Mu Shengsheng’s legs shook uncontrollably. Leaning on the man, she could barely remain standing, unable to run another step.
The pursuers, vicious and determined, tried to push him aside to seize her.
She had no strength to resist and would have been taken easily.
But the man’s expression darkened suddenly. With a sweep of his sleeve, he pushed them all away and bellowed, “Stop!”
The sound was as sharp and chilling as winter wind, radiating authority and fear.
The crowd froze. Before they could react, he lifted Mu Shengsheng effortlessly, placed her in his carriage, and said, “This girl dared to collide with me today. I will bring her to the Regency Prince’s residence for questioning. Anyone who wants her can come to the Regency Prince’s mansion!”
The crowd went pale. Shocked, they scrambled in every direction, some even collapsing to the ground.
He—he was the Regency Prince, Lan Xun! The man whose power surpassed all in the court, controlling life and death!
It was said that five years ago, by imperial edict, the Regency Prince had returned to the capital to assist the young emperor, ruling the court with an iron fist. Even the twelve-year-old emperor was his puppet. Officials in the court dared not speak freely, secretly calling him the “Living Yama King.”
Looking at his carriage, there was no doubt—it was the emblem of the Regency Prince’s household.
No one dared provoke this living yama. They scattered quickly to report the matter.
The carriage rocked forward.
Lan Xun, once inside, carelessly tossed Mu Shengsheng onto the side seat, then settled himself upright, straightening his disheveled clothes.
By the time Mu Shengsheng realized it, she was seated inside the moving carriage.
Learning that the man before her was the Regency Prince nearly made her faint.
Though she seldom went out, she had heard of the Regency Prince, Lan Xun.
Once, she overheard her father in the study shouting, “Lan Xun is a treacherous scoundrel! If not dealt with, he will rebel and ruin our country!”
She later asked, “Who is Lan Xun, that Father would be so angry?”
Her father warned, “A wicked man. If you ever meet him, stay far away. Do not provoke him.”
And today, by fate, it had to be him!