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Xie Wannian pointed at Mu Shengsheng, trying to expose her, but her words stumbled out incoherently. “Cousin, listen to me! It’s not like that—it’s this woman, she’s acting! Don’t believe her!”
Mu Shengsheng bit her lip and said nothing, only staring straight into Lan Xun’s eyes, looking fragile and innocent.
Lan Xun knew Xie Wannian’s temperament too well; this wasn’t the first time she’d done something like this.
He trusted only what he had seen with his own eyes.
His gaze fell on Zhenzhu standing nearby. She was the one who had struck Zisu and tried to throw Mu Shengsheng out of the mansion—how could she be allowed?
Immediately, he commanded, “A mere servant—who gave you the courage to misbehave in the Regency Prince’s mansion?
“Guards, take her and give twenty lashes!”
Zhenzhu’s face went pale; trembling, she fell to her knees. “Regency Prince, spare me! Spare me! I know my crime, I won’t dare again. Please, spare me!”
Twenty lashes—she probably wouldn’t survive that.
She clutched Xie Wannian’s clothing and pleaded, “Princess, save me, please…”
Xie Wannian panicked as well, frozen in place, unsure what to do.
Before, Lan Xun had ignored her feelings but had tolerated her antics out of respect for her father and the Empress Dowager.
She hadn’t expected that today he would fly into such a rage over this woman, even punishing her servant.
Before Xie Wannian could react, Zhenzhu had already been dragged out of sight, and one scream after another pierced the air, extremely harsh.
The Regency Prince’s guards were not merciful. Before the twenty lashes were finished, the screams stopped. A steward came forward to report, “She’s passed out.”
“Finish the punishment,” Lan Xun ordered.
His gaze then returned to Xie Wannian. Coldly, he added, “Escort Princess Zhaoyang back to her residence. Without an invitation, she shall never set foot in the Regency Prince’s mansion again!”
With that, he carried Mu Shengsheng away, gradually disappearing from view.
Watching them leave, Xie Wannian felt desolate, her legs weakening as she stepped back two paces, her eyes full of resentment and jealousy.
Tianshu quickly summoned the servants to escort Xie Wannian and her attendants out of the mansion and onto a carriage bound for her father’s residence.
At Lingxi Courtyard, Lan Xun carried Mu Shengsheng into a room.
Mu Shengsheng leaned on his shoulder, crying, but in her heart she felt triumphant—her ploy had worked.
Lan Xun set her on the bed. Knowing that Doctor Luo Qing was busy preparing prescriptions, he didn’t disturb him. Instead, he fetched the medicine kit and tended to her wound himself.
He asked, “Does it hurt?”
Mu Shengsheng was about to shake her head when Lan Xun suddenly poured medicinal alcohol on her wound. The pain made her cry out “Ah!” and tremble, nearly fainting.
A thin layer of sweat appeared on her forehead as she collapsed against him, breathing heavily. “Your Highness, it hurts so much.”
“Don’t move, or it will scar.”
Lan Xun held her wrist firmly, disinfected her palm, sprinkled it with hemostatic powder, and wrapped it with gauze and bandages.
Once done, he asked, “How is it now?”
Tears rimmed her eyes as she looked up at him, her voice coquettish. “It still hurts… Your Highness, please help me stop the pain, okay?”
They were so close, face to face, pupils reflecting each other, noses nearly touching, sharing breath that mingled, radiating an intimate tension.
Seeing Mu Shengsheng about to kiss him, Lan Xun preemptively blocked her lips with his fingers, almost touching her, and asked, “Didn’t I just tell you not to forget so quickly?”
Just when she was about to revive her courage, her lips pressed against his two fingers instead, leaving her disappointed.
After a brief reminder, she remembered his earlier words…
Instinctively, she pressed her legs together, her face flushed.
If he was serious, another kiss might lead to… the same thing as in that explicit painting?
Mu Shengsheng didn’t know—if that happened, would it prolong her life, or end it faster?
It seemed it would end it faster.
It was still safer to wait until he was asleep to sneak a kiss, provided they could share the bed every day.
So she dared not kiss him and reluctantly withdrew.
Thinking of Princess Zhaoyang, Mu Shengsheng asked Lan Xun, “Is she Your Highness’s betrothed?”
Lan Xun denied it. “We are only cousins. She was spoiled from childhood, arrogant and domineering. Don’t worry, she won’t enter the mansion again.”
Relieved that there was no connection, Mu Shengsheng asked, “Then… does Your Highness have someone in your heart?”
Lan Xun’s gaze involuntarily fell on her face, but when he saw her petal-like lips, he looked away and answered coldly, “No.”
Blushing like a delicate flower reflected in water, Mu Shengsheng tugged at his sleeve. “If that’s so… what about me, Your Highness?”
Lan Xun frowned, tempted to answer that aside from her beauty, there was nothing remarkable.
Ignoring his response, Mu Shengsheng immediately hugged him, eyes shimmering with tears. “Your Highness knows, I have loved you with all my heart. As my only wish before I die, I want to marry you. If I pass away, you may take another wife…
“And if you marry me, I could gain the status of a royal consort, even be enshrined in the royal ancestral hall after my death. Then I could die without regrets.”
The more Lan Xun heard, the more irritating it sounded. This woman was planning for her own death!
Thinking she might even aim for the Regency Princess’s ancestral tablet and enter the royal hall…
Before she could continue, Lan Xun coldly interrupted, “Mu Shengsheng, focus on staying alive first. I do not wish to become a widower.”
It had been eight days since her last episode. If Doctor Luo Qing’s treatment was correct, she might soon have another attack.
However, observing her these past few days, her complexion was rosy and she seemed energetic, far from appearing ill.
But recalling his earlier negligence—almost expelling her despite thinking she wasn’t dying—he couldn’t afford to be careless.
Calmly, he asked, “Have you felt unwell in the past two days? Do you want Doctor Luo to check your pulse?”
Mu Shengsheng thought: if Doctor Luo checked, he’d see her mysterious improvement, revealing her extended life. No, she didn’t want to be exposed.
She cupped her chin. “Doctor Luo is busy preparing medicines, don’t disturb him. I’m fine… I just keep feeling hungry.”
Lan Xun asked, “What do you want to eat? I’ll have someone prepare it.”
“I want to eat…” Mu Shengsheng’s hungry gaze fell on his thin lips as she swallowed.