"The Third Prince seems quite concerned about this servant named Su Yan, to the point where he disregards the death of a palace maid by his side."
Xuanyuan Yonghao looked up and met eyes with Xuanyuan Yonglin.
"Elder brother, with such an incident occurring in the courtyard, I am unable to continue entertaining you. Please forgive me."
Xuanyuan Yonglin smiled, exuding a sense of steady maturity.
"Is the Third Prince certain he doesn’t want my help?"
He paused
"I heard that a few days ago the Prince was bitten by a poisonous snake. Now that snake reappeared and bit a Maid named Qiu Shi, yet did not bite Su Yan, who was entangled with her. It’s conceivable... that the snake lurking in the Third Prince’s courtyard might have been instigated by this Su Yan."
His words were steeped in mockery, laughing at the fact that the residence of a dignified Prince of Xuanyuan Country could be terrorized by a poisonous snake to this day.
After speaking, Xuanyuan Yonglin burst into laughter and turned to leave.
Just as Xuanyuan Yonglin left, from another side, a figure from Nantang suddenly flew out of the side hall and collapsed on the ground.
He held his chest with one hand, his expression one of shock.
The door to the side hall had been smashed to bits by his flying exit.
Xuanyuan Yonghao’s eyes, dark as lacquer, glanced over before he strode towards the side hall.
By the time he got close, Nantang had already stood up from the ground.
All the palace maids in the courtyard had been dispersed by the nanny.
Nantang, clutching his chest, approached Xuanyuan Yonghao with unsteady breath.
"Your Highness, you must not come closer!"
Xuanyuan Yonghao did not reply, but simply asked a question.
"Is she inside?"
"Yes"
As soon as the words were spoken, Nantang tried to stop His Highness again, but he saw that His Highness had already stepped inside.
Inside the side hall, it was pitch-black, barely illuminated by the faint light outside, just enough to make out the furnishings of the room.
Where his gaze settled, in a corner of the room, was a figure curled up into a ball.
Wrapped in a quilt, squatting in the corner.
He walked over, and before he had taken two steps, he heard the girl with her head bowed low speak in a slow and indifferent tone.
"Get away, or I’ll kill you."
The voice was faint, merely stating a fact.
Yet as soon as her words fell, a certain person had already approached her, his voice gentle and smiling.
"Are you going to kill me, your servant?"
Su Yan frowned at the sound, finding it familiar. Compared to the irritating voices of others, this person’s voice seemed not to incite irritation or murderous intent in her.
However, she was not willing to see anyone at this moment.
She raised her head, her gaze fixed on him, just about to speak.
But that person suddenly leaned over and embraced her.
"What happened?"
"Were you bullied?"
"Who did it?"
"Why is your body so cold?"
One sentence after another, he rained down questions, giving her no chance to retort.
Then, someone was holding her tightly.
His eyes were harmless and cool, gazing at her deeply.
As if those eyes could only accommodate her.
Although his rapid-fire words were unbearably annoying, buzzing in her head,
She hadn’t moved to act, merely furrowing her brow.
"Stay away from me," she said.
Xuanyuan Yonghao, as if not understanding her words, clung to her like a vine, his appearance innocent and bright.
"Didn’t you say that you would protect me?"
Following that, he hugged her even tighter.
Su Yan didn’t move, but the frown on her face did not relax.
Suddenly, she felt a warm touch on her lips, the kiss gentle, as soft as water.
Yet, the rain outside was falling heavier.
She bit down hard enough to taste blood in her mouth, struggling to push him down.