Volume One, Chapter Seven: Ling Zhu Prepares the Horse and Sets Off for the Regent Prince's Mansion

“Your Highness, the Prince Regent requests an audience!”

Xiao Qingyu, who was seated at the table leafing through a book, revealed a trace of displeasure upon hearing the announcement.

What could he want?

Yet, she waved her hand lightly and said indifferently, “Let him in.”

Soon after, Li Chaoyang strode in with purposeful steps, his deep and piercing eyes fixed unwaveringly on Xiao Qingyu.

“Your Highness, may I ask the reason for your visit today?” Xiao Qingyu asked, forcing herself to remain calm.

Li Chaoyang did not answer immediately. Instead, his gaze swept over Ling Zhu, who stood quietly by.

Xiao Qingyu felt a flicker of annoyance but turned her head to Ling Zhu and instructed, “Ling Zhu, go to the kitchen and have a bowl of camellia soup prepared for me.”

Ling Zhu bowed slightly, responded with a soft “Yes,” and left promptly.

Throughout the encounter, Li Chaoyang neither bowed nor averted his gaze; he simply stared at her intently.

As Ling Zhu departed, Xiao Qingyu asked again, “Prince, if you have business, please speak plainly.”

Unexpectedly, Li Chaoyang did not respond with words but advanced steadily, closing the distance between them.

As he came closer, Xiao Qingyu’s heart began to race, forcing her to retreat step by step until her back pressed against the cold wall, leaving no way to escape.

Li Chaoyang finally halted, the space between them so narrow they could almost feel each other’s breath.

He leaned in slightly, his lips brushing close to Xiao Qingyu’s ear, and whispered in a voice meant only for them, “Princess, after five years apart, you have certainly become quite the silver-tongued one.”

Xiao Qingyu’s heart burned with anger at his words.

How dare anyone treat the princess of the realm so disrespectfully?

Her eyes blazed as she snapped, “Five years without seeing the Prince Regent, yet you have grown even more unruly. This Chengfeng Hall shall not tolerate your wanton behavior!”

She raised her delicate hand to push him away, but Li Chaoyang was quick; he clasped her wrist firmly, his grip so strong that she could not break free.

With a slight exertion of his arm, he pulled her even closer. Taken by surprise, Xiao Qingyu stumbled and fell into his warm, broad embrace.

“Let me go!” she struggled, her face flushed with both shame and fury, but her strength seemed insignificant against the man before her.

Li Chaoyang tightened his hold, drawing her firmly into his arms once more.

He lowered his head slightly, his breathtakingly handsome face close to her ear. His lips parted as he spoke in a low, magnetic tone, “Princess, it’s best you don’t move about recklessly. You might stumble and hurt yourself.”

His words, followed by the gentle brush of his lips against her earlobe, sent a jolt through her body, causing an involuntary shiver.

The sudden sensation weakened her knees and made her head swim.

Their posture was dangerously intimate, so much so that any onlooker might mistake them for secret lovers caught in a clandestine meeting.

“What is it you want to say? There’s no need to come this close!” Xiao Qingyu forced herself to remain composed, striving not to dwell on the distracting contact.

“If not closer, how else could I ensure the princess hears me clearly?” Li Chaoyang’s lips curled into a half-smile, teasing and inscrutable.

Xiao Qingyu dared not raise her eyes to meet his, nor lock gazes with those swirling, magnetic eyes.

“What… what do you want? If you don’t let me go, I’ll call for help,” her voice trembled slightly.

“There is nothing urgent. I only came to inform Your Highness that before leaving the capital, I visited His Majesty’s study and saw an imperial edict...” Li Chaoyang paused deliberately.

“What?” Xiao Qingyu’s heart jolted, leaving her momentarily stunned. Her resistance softened as she dared not oppose him.

“The edict that proclaimed Xiao Qingshan’s ascension—I have never seen it before. Conveniently, I happen to possess another edict here. So I thought I’d ask the princess to examine both and help determine which is genuine and which is forged.”

A mysterious smile played on Li Chaoyang’s lips as he spoke.

Xiao Qingyu’s heart shook violently; she had never imagined that the edict was truly in his possession.

No wonder it had been nowhere to be found throughout the palace.

“What edict?” she asked, forcing calm into her voice.

“Is the Prince Regent questioning His Majesty? I advise you not to speak recklessly or make baseless accusations,” Xiao Qingyu retorted boldly, though her tone faltered and grew faint toward the end.

“In that case, it seems the only way is to make the edict public. Then everyone can help discern its authenticity,” Li Chaoyang said leisurely, as if watching a drama unfold.

Panic surged within Xiao Qingyu.

She cut straight to the point, “What do you want, Prince?”

“I want—”

“Knock, knock, knock!”

Suddenly, a sharp, clear knock sounded at the door.

“Your Highness, the camellia soup is ready. Shall I bring it in?”

Hearing Ling Zhu’s voice, Xiao Qingyu felt as if a drowning person had grasped a lifeline, her heart leaping with joy.

She pushed Li Chaoyang away with all her might and eagerly called out, “Come in quickly.”

“I shall not disturb the princess’s meal any longer. I take my leave!” Li Chaoyang bowed, a meaningful smile lingering on his lips as he turned and left.

Once his figure completely vanished from sight, Xiao Qingyu felt as though all her strength had been drained; she collapsed weakly into her chair.

A fine sheen of sweat beaded her forehead, and her eyes were filled with fear.

Ling Zhu hurried over, concern etched across her face. “Your Highness, what has happened? Why do you look so pale?”

“The edict is in Li Chaoyang’s hands.”

“The edict?”

“Are you referring to—?”

Xiao Qingyu nodded.

Ling Zhu gasped, “If that’s the case, what are we to do? Should he reveal the edict publicly, not only His Majesty will be in danger, but Your Highness may not escape unscathed!”

Xiao Qingyu took a deep breath, striving to steady herself, then rose and paced anxiously within Chengfeng Hall.

Stopping, she turned to Ling Zhu with instructions, “For now, do not inform Qingshan of this matter to avoid unnecessary panic. I must carefully devise a plan.”

“Ling Zhu, prepare a horse. We are going to the Prince Regent’s residence.”

“Your Highness...” Ling Zhu’s face was filled with worry.

“There is no immediate threat. He dares not make a move against me yet. He has just returned to the capital and will not sacrifice his political career.”

“I want to see exactly what he intends to do.”