A gentle township is a hero’s tomb!

Jingrong had naturally heard this saying before. Words that should have been applied to emperors, yet Ji Yinshu had placed them upon himself.

How interesting!

With a smile playing on his thin lips, he leaned close to Ji Yinshu’s ear and said mischievously, “But has the teacher heard this saying—to die beneath a peony blossom, even as a ghost one would be romantic!”

“Scoundrel!”

Ji Yinshu scolded sharply, placing her palm three inches below his shoulder on his scapula and pushing forcefully!

Jingrong felt his left hand go numb, completely devoid of strength.

Taking advantage of this, Ji Yinshu immediately sprang away, standing far off three meters distant, her back pressed against the door frame, watching the frowning, pained Jingrong with a wary expression.

“How can a dignified prince speak such vulgar words?” She was extremely angry in her heart.

Jingrong pressed his numb left hand and complained, “They say a woman’s heart is most venomous—you actually want to cripple this prince’s hand.”

“I merely pressed your scapula. When did I cripple your hand?”

“Oh?” He took two steps toward her, raising an eyebrow. “If you really did cripple it, this prince could pester you for a lifetime.”

“Scoundrel.”

Ji Yinshu wanted to flee, but Jingrong seemed iron-willed in his determination to detain her.

Before her foot could step out, Jingrong blocked her way first, and with a “clang,” he shut the door.

Ji Yinshu’s body was pressed by him, her hands captured, unable to move.

And her gaze happened to meet directly with Jingrong’s upright chest, separated by no more than the distance of a finger.

The scent emanating from the man’s body rampaged wildly around her nose, stirring her heart to beat violently. She could only turn her head away, concealing the panic in her eyes.

She said, “Scoundrel, release me!”

“You dare call this prince a scoundrel—you’re the first.”

“If what Your Highness does isn’t being a scoundrel, what is it?”

Instantly, Jingrong hooked her chin, lifting it, forcing those jade-like eyes to meet his own. With a wicked smile, he said, “Very well, this prince will show you what being a real scoundrel means.”

“You—”

Before the words were finished, he bent down, and as his body pressed forward, his thin lips descended simultaneously, landing on Ji Yinshu’s crimson, delicate lips.

Although this was no longer the first time!

But this kiss, Jingrong demanded with exceptional intensity, as if venting something.

Their lips and teeth intertwined, passionate and fierce, leaving no gap between them.

Ji Yinshu only felt the coolness on her lips gradually being kissed into burning warmth by this man!

Because his demand was too intense, her body was forcefully pressed against the carved wooden door behind her. The coolness against her spine penetrated through her thin garment into her skin, spreading throughout her body. The blood in her veins seemed to gradually come to a halt.

Making her body go numb!

The prolonged struggle was exhausting!

And Jingrong became even more “excessive,” one hand encircling her waist, his palm exerting force, pressing her small body entirely against his chest.

The fire within Ji Yinshu’s body rose until it was about to burst from her throat before she finally felt that suffocating sensation.

Her fists clenched tightly. Furrowing her brow, she bit down hard with her teeth.

“Mm!”

Jingrong felt the pain. His lip was bitten through, immediately bleeding.

Ji Yinshu pushed him away forcefully, raising her sleeve to fiercely wipe her red lips.

Her eyes were rimmed with red.

Jingrong wiped the blood on his lips. That originally wicked face suddenly became serious.

With a trace of sadness, he asked, “Do you detest this prince so much?”

“…”

“Your heart clearly holds this prince within it—why won’t you admit it?”

“…”

“Answer me!” Jingrong’s tone grew heavier.

Ji Yinshu raised those reddened eyes to look at him. Faced with his questioning, her heart tightened.

Unable to answer!

Seeing her remain silent, hope rose in Jingrong’s heart.

The fierce aura in his expression from moments ago receded, a smile overflowing from the corners of his mouth. He said softly, “Yinshu, you’ve admitted it, haven’t you? Your heart actually has held this prince for a long time.”

Eh?

Ji Yinshu’s eyes suddenly widened in shock!

No!

That’s impossible!

She pursed her lips, her eyes panicked, her heartbeat wild. When her mind regained its clarity—

“No!”

She immediately turned to open the door and “fled in panic”!

Behind her, Jingrong smiled brilliantly. Seeing Ji Yinshu like this, he was certain that he had already, bit by bit, moved into that woman’s heart.

Lang Bo happened to be approaching. Seeing Ji Yinshu run from the room, he felt puzzled. When he reached the doorway and saw his prince’s split lip—

He exclaimed in alarm, “Your Highness, your mouth?”

“It’s nothing!”

“It’s bleeding. Should I call for a physician to take a look?”

“I said it’s nothing—just bitten by a cunning little fox.” As he spoke, the smile at the corners of Jingrong’s mouth was simply “overflowing with disaster”!

Lang Bo first wore a confused expression. After Jingrong lifted his foot to enter, he suddenly understood.

Good heavens!

Could it be that His Highness and Teacher Ji have already…

Lang Bo smiled secretly. As a rough fellow, even he felt somewhat embarrassed at this moment.

Meanwhile, after running back to the Eastern Courtyard, Ji Yinshu entered her room and shut the door, her heart beating violently!

Her hands pressed forcefully against her chest, trying to calm that panicked feeling. But the more she did so, the more her heart seemed ready to leap from her throat.

“Ji Yinshu, it’s impossible, impossible! He’s a prince, and you’re just a commoner—absolutely impossible.”

She bit her lip, brainwashing herself!

Ever since learning of Ji Pei’s death, her heart had turned to dead ash.

There was no room in her heart for anyone else!

This so-called romantic love, in her heart, should be nothing more than a wisp of smoke.

Yes, she couldn’t possibly fall in love again!

Zhangqi Palace!

Ever since Ji Yinshu had left with Wei Yi, Jing Xuan had been sitting dazedly in the rear hall, her entire person lost in thought, neither moving nor speaking.

Palace attendants had come several times, asking after her with concern.

But Jing Xuan paid them no heed.

Several hours had passed, and she still hadn’t recovered from the truth that Ji Yinshu was a woman.

Suddenly from outside came a call of “Your Highness”!

After Imperial Consort Xiao had seen off those young ladies from prestigious families, she had made another trip to Emperor Qizhen’s quarters before hurrying over.

Waving her hand, she commanded Sang Lan, “All of you wait outside. Without this consort’s instruction, no one is permitted to enter.”

“Yes!” Sang Lan received the order.

Everyone withdrew. Imperial Consort Xiao entered the hall.

Seeing her daughter sitting there dazedly, Imperial Consort Xiao sighed lightly and walked over.

She called out, “Xuan’er!”

Jing Xuan lifted her eyelids to glance, then immediately turned away, her face full of resentment.

“You brought Teacher Ji away in public, and Mother Consort hasn’t yet expressed her anger at you, yet you’re the one who’s huffing with anger.”

Jing Xuan didn’t answer!

Though Imperial Consort Xiao was also angry in her heart, Jing Xuan was after all her precious daughter. After a few hours of anger, that was enough.

“Xuan’er, Mother Consort still says the same thing—you and that Teacher Ji are absolutely impossible.”

“Yes, impossible, because Mother Consort, you knew all along that she’s a woman.”

Jing Xuan glared at Imperial Consort Xiao with reddened eyes.

Imperial Consort Xiao was not surprised. Instead, her face rose with anger. She swung her sleeve forcefully and rebuked, “Even if she were a man, you two would still be impossible.”

“As I thought, as I thought—Mother Consort knew all along.”