Chapter 21: The Harmless Princess of Beiyang vs. The Fratricidal Prince of Beiyang 21

Seeing this, Liu Wenyu reached out and pulled her into his arms, sending ripples splashing through the water.

"You... let me go... let me go..." Wen Ruwei struggled feebly.

Liu Wenyu grabbed her by the throat, threatening, "Shut your mouth, or I will make you wish you were dead!"

Seeing this, Wen Ruwei fell silent.

"Heh, very good." Seeing her compliance, Liu Wenyu smiled with satisfaction and began his assault.

Wen Ruwei watched his wandering hands, her gaze flickering away as she bit her lower lip. She knew clearly that if she resisted further, this man would truly kill her, so she dared not struggle. Her body was her greatest weapon; only by seducing him could she obtain what she desired. As the saying goes, effort always yields a reward, and she would certainly get what she wanted.

Liu Wenyu bound her hands and pinned them to the edge of the wooden tub. Wen Ruwei lay naked in the tub, letting him do as he pleased. Her dark eyes, filled with a cold light, stared fixedly at the man.

As time passed, the wooden tub became a bed. The room was filled only with the sound of their breathing and gasping. The air grew thin, as if everything had come to a standstill, leaving only the sound of Liu Wenyu’s heavy, labored breaths. Wen Ruwei’s body gradually grew numb, losing all sensation. She wanted to faint, but found she could not. Her eyes were half-closed, as if her soul had been transfixed by something.

Liu Wenyu lowered his head and bit her neck, his eyes dark and gloomy, as if sinking into an endless abyss, his entire being radiating a dangerous aura. Wen Ruwei’s eyelashes fluttered, and the next moment, she felt him collapse onto her.

She snapped her eyes open. Before her was a pair of teal-colored mandarin duck quilts. The soreness in her body made her frown. She tried to move, only to realize her limbs were bound; there were bruises on her wrists and ankles. A sense of revulsion washed over her as she scanned her surroundings. She was lying on a bed, unable to move.

Memories flooded back. Her face turned pale, and she bit her lips tightly, a deep, intense hatred surfacing in her eyes. She had gone to such great lengths to marry the Crown Prince, yet she ended up with a man like this!

"Still, being unconscious is fine," she thought. "The sooner I get the item, the sooner I can be free. I will marry the Crown Prince."

Wen Ruwei suddenly recalled something. Was the spring hunt actually a scheme by Imperial Concubine Ling? She had no time to ponder further. She dressed, endured the discomfort in her body, climbed out the window, and snuck into the study of the Marquis of Zhenxi.

The study was pitch black. Wen Ruwei struck a fire-starter, lit a candle, and pulled a wooden box from beneath the bookshelf.

She touched the wooden box; there was a thin chain wrapped around it. This must be the box containing the military seal depicted in the small note. Now, if she could just find that map, she could become the Crown Princess and win the Prince’s love! This was her chance! She could not let it slip away!

Just then, a shout echoed from outside, and she panicked. As she scrambled, a voice reached her ears: "Who is in there?"

"Ah—" Wen Ruwei screamed in terror. Hearing her own voice, she found the sound that spilled from her throat jarring and hideous.

Suddenly, someone pushed the door open. She rushed to hide in front of the bookshelf.

"Who are you?!"

Liu Yangjiang stood outside the door, holding a candle, his expression dark and terrifying. He never imagined someone would dare to break into his father’s study. He stepped forward and grabbed the woman.

When he saw her face clearly, his pupils constricted slightly. Why did this face look so much like hers?

"You... why is it you?"

"Heh," Wen Ruwei sneered. She looked up at his strikingly handsome face and said defensively, "Your brother was drunk, and I wanted to go to the kitchen but didn't know the way and ended up here. I'll leave right now..." Having said that, she turned to run toward the door.

The next second, her waist was caught by an iron-like arm. Wen Ruwei gasped as she fell into Liu Yangjiang’s embrace. His large hand clamped onto her shoulder, and his voice was so cold it sent a chill down her spine: "Is that so, Second Young Mistress?"

She could not let her cover be blown, or all her efforts would be in vain. Why was she so unlucky as to run into him? Back at the Wen manor, she had been jealous of Wen Yurou’s close relationship with him, and having mistaken him for the Crown Prince, she had tried every means to seduce him. Once she learned his true identity, she had never had anything to do with him again.

"I really didn't know what this place was," Wen Ruwei said, feigning panic and shaking her head desperately. "I truly lost my way; I didn't mean to come here."

"You are lying!"

Liu Yangjiang suddenly reached out and gripped her chin, glaring at her fiercely. Did she think he would believe her? His gaze made Wen Ruwei feel afraid. She knew that if she didn't admit it now, he wouldn't let her go. Since that was the case, she might as well resort to crying, making a scene, and playing the victim.

"I know I was wrong, please, I beg you to spare me!" Wen Ruwei threw herself into his arms, wrapped her hands around his waist, and burst into tears, sobbing as if her heart were broken.

Liu Yangjiang stared at her, his brows furrowed tightly. He held her even closer, as if he wanted to melt her into his very bones. Seeing her cry, he felt an inexplicable ache in his heart.

Seeing that he hadn't pushed her away, she let out a silent sigh of relief. She held his waist, raised her head, her tear-stained face filled with sorrow, and said weakly and pitifully, "I really lost my way... you have to believe me... wuwu..."

"I... I really didn't know... I didn't know, please believe me..."

Her voice was choked with sobs, and she wept intermittently, as if overcome by grief. The more miserable she appeared, the more constrained Liu Yangjiang felt. She was his brother's concubine now; was it wrong for him to hold her like this?

"Alright, don't cry..."

He lowered his head, released her slightly, and patted her back gently, as if comforting a child. His movements were incredibly tender, and the more he acted this way, the more Wen Ruwei felt relieved.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry," Wen Ruwei wiped her tears, looked up at him, and sobbed, "I didn't know this was the study... If I had known it was Father's study, I never would have dared to enter. It's just that I sent my maid away, and I couldn't find my way... I really didn't do it on purpose..."

"I was afraid of missing the time for the kitchen, so I ran over in a hurry, but I got lost before I could find it, wuwu..."

She grew more sorrowful as she spoke, and finally burst into tears again.

"Stop crying."

Liu Yangjiang said softly, reaching out to wipe the teardrops from her cheeks. Ripples of emotion stirred in his deep, phoenix-like eyes, and he couldn't help but pull her into his arms once more.