Li Jiancheng was not in any hurry, speaking indifferently: “Didn’t we already agree to cooperate well and each get what we need? Why are you changing your mind at the last moment, Princess?”

“It’s not that I’m changing my mind, but that you’re being too recklessly bold to actually dare to even…” The words that followed, Xin’an dared not speak aloud. After a pause, she said: “In any case, everything else is fine, but this one thing absolutely cannot be done.”

“Why? Don’t tell me it’s because you can’t bring yourself to do it. From what I know, you and His Majesty can hardly be called close, while Jinyang is much closer to him. Now he’s helping Princess Jinyang lavishly arrange her wedding while reducing your allowances here—aren’t you angry about that?”

“Of course I’m angry, but…” Xin’an said with a complex expression: “But he is still His Majesty after all. How can we commit such a treasonous act? You’re simply mad.”

Li Jiancheng’s eyes turned cold, speaking slowly: “So the Princess is unwilling to help me?”

Xin’an trembled in her heart under his stare, turning her head away and not daring to meet his gaze. “It’s not that I’m unwilling, but that I have no way to help.”

Li Jiancheng suddenly smiled, speaking coolly: “If His Majesty knew that from the day you returned to the palace, you’ve harbored ill intentions and wanted to harm his seventh aunt, do you think His Majesty would still be so courteous to you?”

Xin’an turned her head abruptly, anger flashing in her eyes. “Are you threatening me?”

Li Jiancheng rose and walked behind her, leaning down to whisper in her ear: “Even if His Majesty shows mercy and allows you to continue staying in this Shuangyue Palace, what about me? Do you think I would continue to keep a chess piece that’s of no use?”

The words “chess piece” struck Xin’an’s heart strangely, making her clench her sleeves tightly. With outward bravado masking inner fear, she said: “I am a princess after all—surely you wouldn’t dare kill me?”

“Princess?” The low laughter was like a sharp awl, pressing hard into Xin’an’s ears, making her wish she could cover them. The next moment, Li Jiancheng had already grasped her smooth chin, speaking coldly: “Do you really think you’re still a lofty princess? Father can make Jinyang unable to step foot in the Tang Prince’s mansion with just one word, and I have plenty of ways to make you die in this imperial harem.”

Xin’an couldn’t see her own face, but she knew it must be whiter than paper at this moment. Her heart pounded violently in her chest, as if it might burst out at any moment. A ray of dim sunset light filtered through the window paper—without realizing it, evening had already arrived.

She remembered something Li Jiancheng had said before: he could lift her up and also trample her down. From the day she agreed to cooperate with Li Jiancheng, her life had already been placed in his hands, no longer her own.

Seeking skin from a tiger—this was probably what it meant.

“Well, has the Princess thought it through?” Li Jiancheng’s words forcibly dragged Xin’an’s thoughts back. She struggled to steady her trembling hands, speaking hoarsely: “What benefit would this bring you?”

Li Jiancheng pressed on her shoulders, speaking coolly: “That’s not for you to worry about. You only need to answer me: yes or no?”

Xin’an looked sideways at the hand pressed on her shoulder. After a long while, she spoke: “After the deed is done, what happens to me? Or are you planning to go all the way, Young Master Li, and kill me as well?”

Li Jiancheng chuckled lightly: “Where are the Princess’s thoughts going? You’re wholeheartedly helping me—how could I repay kindness with enmity? I can promise you that regardless of what ultimately happens to the Yang family, as long as I live, I will ensure your wealth and honor. How about it?”

Xin’an gradually stopped the trembling in her body, looking up: “Truly?”

Li Jiancheng curved his lips into a seductive smile: “Of course. I never mistreat those who help me.”

“Good!” Xin’an picked up the untouched tea from across the table and handed it to Li Jiancheng. “Drink this cup of tea, and you and I will be people in the same boat. I hope Young Master will keep his promise and not do anything treacherous.”

“Rest assured.” After saying these two words, Li Jiancheng took the tea from her hands and drank it all in one gulp. After setting down the empty teacup, he said: “After I make the arrangements, I’ll come tell the Princess the specific date.”

Just as Li Jiancheng’s hand was about to touch the door latch, Xin’an’s voice suddenly came from behind: “Aren’t you worried that after you leave, I’ll tell His Majesty and the Tang Prince about this matter?”

Li Jiancheng’s brow furrowed sharply. What was wrong with this Xin’an? They had clearly reached an agreement, so why was she suddenly saying such things?

When he turned around, he was startled to find that Xin’an was standing right behind him, so close he could feel each other’s breath. He leaned back slightly: “What do you mean by this?”

Xin’an toyed with the hair hanging down his chest, chuckling softly: “I’m merely giving Young Master a friendly reminder. Any oath or promise can be broken—it only depends on whether one has the heart to do so.”

“You want to betray me?” As Li Jiancheng spoke these five words, his expression had completely darkened.

“Of course not, it’s just that…” Xin’an leaned closer to Li Jiancheng’s body, speaking coquettishly: “I thought of a way to make our relationship more solid.”

The fragrance from Xin’an’s body entered Li Jiancheng’s nostrils, making his lower abdomen surge with desire and giving rise to an impulse to embrace her. Strange—how could he develop such thoughts toward this shameless woman who had been with countless men?

Li Jiancheng stepped back, creating some distance from Xin’an: “What way?”

Xin’an smiled charmingly and pressed against his body again, her eyes like silk as she said: “Naturally, it’s for you to be in me and me to be in you.”

Although Li Jiancheng said he wouldn’t repay kindness with enmity and would grant her lifelong wealth and honor, unfortunately she didn’t entirely believe him. So she decided to use her own method to bind Li Jiancheng and ensure he wouldn’t break his word to her.

When she approached him again, Li Jiancheng felt his whole body burning with heat, the desire in his lower abdomen growing stronger, and his mind beginning to blur. This wasn’t right—something was wrong!

He bit down hard on his tongue, using the sharp pain to restore his clarity. With a sinister expression, he stared at Xin’an: “What did you do to me?”

Xin’an extended her slender finger to slowly trace circles on his chest, smiling ambiguously: “What could I have done? I just invited you to drink a cup of tea.”

“Tea… tea…” Li Jiancheng muttered several times, his gaze cold enough to devour someone: “You put an aphrodisiac in the tea?” Only such a thing could explain his current abnormal state.

“Correct!” Before Xin’an’s words finished, her face had already received a slap. Li Jiancheng’s face flushed red as he said: “You mad woman, what possessed you to drug me with an aphrodisiac? You… you’re seeking death!”

Xin’an’s heart clenched painfully, an indescribable ache spreading through her limbs. She touched her stinging cheek and looked up: “Don’t you want me to obey you? With this relationship, I will never betray you. What’s wrong with that?”

Li Jiancheng retreated while gritting his teeth: “But I never wanted to have that kind of relationship with you!” The evil fire rampaged through his body, making it extremely difficult for him to maintain control.

His words of disgust and contempt made Xin’an surge with anger. She rushed forward: “In terms of figure and appearance, what do I lack compared to those concubines in your mansion? Why do you refuse to give me even a second glance? Is it just because I’ve been married and kept male favorites?”