Chapter 32: The Harmless Princess of Beiyang vs. The Fratricidal Prince of Beiyang

"It was Wen Ming who made you do this, wasn't it?" Wen Yurou repeated.

"Ah—!"

As her words fell, Wen Ruwei suddenly let out a miserable shriek and collapsed at Wen Yurou’s feet, her eyes filled with frantic pleading. "I know I was wrong, sister! Please, spare me! I know I was wrong!"

With that, she raised her hand and slapped herself across the face with a loud smack. The blow left her cheek burning with intense pain, but she did not stop; she continued to strike her own face repeatedly.

Watching this, Wen Yurou sneered, a look of mockery crossing her face. Her voice was cold as she said, "Don't waste your effort. I already said you could leave."

Hardly had the words left her lips when Xiao Zexuan walked in. He pulled Wen Yurou into his embrace, and seeing the bloodstains on her face, he took out a handkerchief to wipe them away. "Rou'er, you've been through a lot."

Wen Yurou smiled faintly. "For the Prince, Rou'er is not tired."

Although this was the first time Xiao Zexuan had seen such a mad, ruthless side of her, he was not shocked; if anything, he found himself even more enamored.

Wen Ruwei, however, turned deathly pale upon hearing this. Her eyes widened in terror as she stared at them. "Your Highness..."

Who... who exactly was she? To think she could even deceive the Prince!

Xiao Zexuan handed the handkerchief to a nearby guard. "Send her back to the Wen estate."

The guard acknowledged the order and stepped forward, grabbing Wen Ruwei’s arm to drag her away. But the moment he moved, he stopped, startled. He cast a horrified look at Xiao Zexuan. "Your Highness..."

Wen Ruwei’s legs were shredded. The skin was long gone, revealing white bone, and her thigh bone was shattered. Some of the wounds had already begun to turn black, and blood was oozing from beneath the skin. She was covered in scars from head to toe.

Wen Yurou glanced at her injuries, showing little reaction. She said calmly, "Chunmei, tend to her simply. Don't put too much effort into it."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The moon hung high in the sky, surrounded by twinkling stars. Wen Yurou was pressed against the pool wall by Xiao Zexuan, his hands burning hot as they rested on her waist.

"I never imagined, Rou'er, that you had such a fierce side. The more I see, the more I love it!"

He felt that if she had shown even a shred of mercy, she would have done herself a disservice. As he spoke, he gripped her fair arms with one hand, while the other pressed against the pool wall, pinning her beneath him. His dark eyes were clouded with a misty, wild heat, mixed with excitement.

"Your Highness—" She called out softly, her delicate face flushed with a crimson glow. She felt as though she could barely catch her breath. "Rou'er wants to see the Prince's mad side, too—"

Pinned down and breathless, she clutched his arms and let out a low gasp. The next second, his scorching lips descended, covering her soft, cherry lips and stifling all her words. His breathing grew heavier with every movement, his gaze turning increasingly wild, as if he longed to tear her apart and swallow her whole.

Soon, the sound of splashing water echoed again, and Wen Yurou was carried back to the shore.

They lay embraced on a soft couch, Xiao Zexuan kissing her again and again before finally stopping. He propped himself up on his arms to look at Wen Yurou, his gaze deepening. "If it comes to the final, critical moment, will you side with the Crown Prince or with me?"

"Cough, cough, cough—" Wen Yurou coughed deliberately.

Xiao Zexuan pursed his lips. "No answer?"

Wen Yurou pouted, then scratched his chest with her finger, her tone coquettish. "Can the Prince not see Rou'er's heart?"

Her eyes darted around, and as she looked at his increasingly handsome face, a sly smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She could feel his breathing hitch. Xiao Zexuan lowered his head, watching her smile with arched brows, his own eyes filled with pleasure. He suddenly reached out to ruffle her hair and let out a low laugh. "I know, of course..."

But he wanted to hear her say it. He wanted to hear it with his own ears.

"Rou'er has pledged her life to the Prince." Her voice was soft and sweet, laced with a trace of huskiness that sent a shiver through him.

Xiao Zexuan looked at her with burning intensity, his voice low and raspy. "Then don't ever think of running away... hmm?"

After saying this, he kissed her eyes, her nose, her cheeks... Wen Yurou, tickled, couldn't help but laugh. She locked her hands around his head, leaned forward, and kissed his thin lips. "I won't run. Even if the Prince doesn't want Rou'er anymore, Rou'er will cling to the Prince for a lifetime—"

A doting curve touched Xiao Zexuan’s lips. He gazed at the woman before him with deep affection, his voice husky. "If I ever don't want you, Rou'er... then kill me..."

Wen Yurou froze, her smile fading slightly. "Your Highness..." She didn't understand why he would say that. Kill him? How could that be! If she killed him, the mission would fail.

But at that moment, Xiao Zexuan pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. "I only wish to spend the rest of my life with you, Rou'er..."

A sudden ache rose in Wen Yurou’s nose, and tears nearly fell. He was actually quite good at saying romantic things. She slowly wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest and rubbing against his broad shoulder, a faint smile gracing her lips.

"Your Highness, Rou'er... promises you, I will stay by your side forever..."

"Good girl." Xiao Zexuan pressed his chin against her hair.

In this life, the moment Xiao Zexuan felt most happy was this very one. He could spend the rest of his life with the woman he loved.

"Your Highness?" Wen Yurou whispered.

"Hmm?"

"Let's sleep..."

"Alright."

He replied softly. Wen Yurou turned her head to look at him, her eyes reflecting a shallow starlight. He had his eyes closed, appearing as if he had already drifted off to sleep. Wen Yurou watched him for a while, then slowly closed her own eyes.

...

The next day.

The first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warmth over the room. The woman on the bed had already awakened. She reached out to drape her arms around the man's lean waist, burying her face in his chest with a soft smile.

*He really is a comfort to hold!*

However, before she could embrace him for long, the man stirred and slowly opened his eyes. He gently pulled her into his arms, murmuring in a voice filled with weariness and doting affection, "Let's lie here a while longer..."

Seeing her gaze at him with bleary, confused eyes, Xiao Zexuan couldn't help but lower his head to kiss her moist, red lips.

Wen Yurou’s eyelashes fluttered, trembling gently...