That twisted face so close at hand made Luo Sheng angry as well.

What kind of person was this, with absolutely no boundaries, treating people like cats and dogs for amusement?

“What about Your Highness? Have you thought about the consequences of keeping me here?” Luo Sheng released her grip and asked in return.

The atmosphere became increasingly tense.

Princess Changle sneered coldly. “Luo Sheng, don’t think too highly of yourself. Your father is merely a blade in my imperial father’s hand, nothing more than a dog.”

Hearing such harsh words, Luo Sheng smiled faintly. “Is this Your Highness’s thought, or His Majesty’s thought?”

Princess Changle was momentarily puzzled. “What do you mean by that?”

“If it’s Your Highness’s thought, Your Highness should reflect on your words and actions. If it’s His Majesty’s thought… I’ve been reading in my leisure time and discovered that only a ruler heading toward ruin would view his subjects as pigs and dogs—”

“Silence!” Princess Changle shouted sharply, her eyes full of disbelief. “You dare speak such treasonous words?”

Luo Sheng raised her hand to smooth back her fallen hair, looking completely casual. “Your Highness is already prepared to take my life. Can I not say a few words?”

Looking at the carefree young woman, Princess Changle raised her eyebrows. “So what if it’s my thought? Even if this princess keeps you here, do you think my imperial father would rebuke me for your father’s sake? I might as well tell you—when I kept Wei Wen here, my imperial father didn’t say a single harsh word to me.”

Luo Sheng smiled. “Wasn’t that because Noble Consort Xiao was pregnant, and the Prince Pingnan’s residence had already become a thorn in His Majesty’s side?”

“You—” Princess Changle never expected Luo Sheng to speak more and more recklessly, but meeting those cold, calm eyes, her heart couldn’t help but stir.

Then she felt unconvinced.

Even if it was because the Prince Pingnan’s residence was a thorn in her imperial father’s side that he didn’t scold her, what about Noble Consort Xiao?

Noble Consort Xiao was her imperial father’s favored consort. So what if she was frightened into premature labor?

She revered her imperial father, relied on her imperial father, and equally understood her imperial father.

Her imperial father wasn’t so easily fooled—he would ultimately harbor some suspicion toward her.

But even so, her imperial father had never said anything.

Luo Sheng seemed to guess what Princess Changle was thinking and said with a smile, “Is Your Highness thinking of saying that you caused Noble Consort Xiao to miscarry from fright, yet His Majesty still indulges and dotes on you?”

Princess Changle’s face changed slightly as she blurted out, “How do you know?”

Looking at the faintly smiling young woman, that feeling of being seen through suddenly gave her a chill.

Luo Sheng’s gaze was piercing. “Your Highness must have secretly gloated as well, what a pity such an important matter couldn’t be shown off to others to flaunt His Majesty’s favoritism toward you.”

“I’m asking you, how do you know!” Having her thoughts exposed, Princess Changle became even more furious.

Luo Sheng smiled slightly. “I guessed. It seems I guessed correctly.”

Princess Changle’s face was covered with frost as she stared coldly at her.

Luo Sheng didn’t avoid that chilling gaze, saying unhurriedly, “Rome wasn’t built in a day. Does Your Highness truly believe that what you did to Noble Consort Xiao won’t leave even a trace in His Majesty’s heart?”

Princess Changle’s eyelashes trembled slightly as her eyes widened a bit.

Luo Sheng smiled gently. “Your Highness can certainly move against me, just as you once did to the young princess. Only don’t forget—once, twice, three times—when dissatisfaction accumulates, people’s hearts will always change.”

Princess Changle’s heart jumped as she said through gritted teeth, “At least it won’t change because of you! I am my imperial father’s most beloved daughter. As long as I behave more obediently from now on, my imperial father will always forgive me.”

Luo Sheng’s lips curved, a mocking smile hanging at the corners of her mouth. “Most beloved—isn’t that because there’s no other choice?”

“Shut up!” Princess Changle was struck at her sore spot, her face turning iron-blue. “Luo Sheng, at death’s door, your mouth is truly stubborn.”

Luo Sheng put away her smile, her tone turning cold. “Has Your Highness considered clearly—you’re determined to keep me here?”

Princess Changle glanced sideways at the statue of the Longevity Immortal Maiden, smiling brightly. “Keeping company with such a beautiful Longevity Immortal Maiden—isn’t that good?”

“No.” Luo Sheng coolly spat out these two words, the tip of her foot flicking upward.

The golden hairpin that had just fallen to the ground flew up.

Princess Changle’s eyes tightened. Before she could react, something sharp was pressed against her neck.

“You dare!” Princess Changle didn’t instinctively scream like ordinary women, but issued a cold warning instead.

Luo Sheng’s hand holding the golden hairpin pushed forward slightly, the hairpin tip breaking the delicate skin and drawing blood. Her other hand moved swift as lightning to cover Princess Changle’s mouth.

The pain came suddenly. Princess Changle cried out uncontrollably, but the sound was blocked in her throat, becoming muffled whimpers.

The meditation room was a forbidden area of the Princess’s residence. Particularly when Princess Changle was inside, no one was allowed to enter at will. Because of this, such small sounds couldn’t reach the outside at all.

The hand covering Princess Changle’s mouth didn’t release. The bloodied golden hairpin slowly moved upward, stopping at that face as beautiful as peach blossoms.

Only then did Luo Sheng speak coldly. “I dare.”

The two were very close. Princess Changle could see the other’s expression crystal clear.

Those eyes calm as water, that unperturbed demeanor—Princess Changle suddenly realized that the person standing before her truly dared to do this.

Then came bewilderment, which she voiced aloud. “Have you forgotten this princess’s identity? Aren’t you afraid my imperial father will execute your nine generations of kin?”

A voice carrying casual mockery responded. “Why is Your Highness using reason to consider the problem again?”

Princess Changle was choked speechless by these words.

“Your Highness is going to kill me anyway. Why should I consider so much? Of course I should have Your Highness keep the Longevity Immortal Maiden company together with me.” Luo Sheng’s eyes turned slightly cold. “Execute nine generations of kin?”

She laughed lightly, finding these words utterly ridiculous. “I would only consider such things while alive. If I’m dead, what do I care if floods engulf the world? For me, taking Your Highness to die together wouldn’t be a loss at all. Don’t you agree, Your Highness?”

These words were spoken too calmly, leaving Princess Changle without the hard-headed courage to gamble.

She remembered when A’Sheng had twisted her aunt’s peacock’s neck, the maid beside her had said in panic that this was serious trouble—the Princess Imperial would surely not let it go lightly.

At that time, A’Sheng had lifted her chin and said expressionlessly, “I don’t care about that. This thing hurt me, so I killed it first.”

A’Sheng had changed, but her lawless nature ultimately hadn’t changed.

As this thought flashed through her mind, the golden hairpin pressed against her cheek lightly poked.

“What are you trying to do?” Princess Changle was alarmed.

Luo Sheng smiled. “I just thought of something. The Longevity Immortal Maiden is so beautiful, she surely also likes beautiful people. Why don’t I ruin Your Highness’s beautiful face? That way Your Highness won’t have the capital to compete with me for favor before the Longevity Immortal Maiden.”

“A’Sheng!”

Luo Sheng tilted her head with a smile. “What is it?”

Princess Changle closed her eyes, then opened them again. “You may go.”

She cherished her life greatly and wanted to live long. There was no need to clash head-on with this madwoman now.

Luo Sheng’s lips curved in a smile.

She might not understand Princess Changle well enough, but one thing she wouldn’t miscalculate: when someone who truly fears death encounters someone unafraid to die, they will always lose.

“Then Your Highness should see me out.”