"Step aside!"
Outside the door, Xie Yuqing seemed to hear movement inside, his expression darkening.
He had rushed over after hearing rumors, wanting to check on the Princess, only to be blocked by her maid?
Jingxiang was the Princess's personal maid. The noise inside wasn't exactly quiet, and she caught snippets of it. "The Princess is resting; the Young Marquis cannot barge in."
"I'm asking you, what exactly is the Princess doing?" Xie Yuqing scolded with a stern face.
Jingxiang bit her lip. Knowing the Princess was fond of him, she didn't quite dare to defy him. "How can the Young Marquis address the Princess by her name so directly..."
"You know the Princess listens to me most. If you block me, aren't you afraid of her punishment?" Xie Yuqing stood with his hands behind his back, even resorting to threats.
Jingxiang braced herself and refused to budge. "The Princess will surely wake before the Third Princess's Coming-of-Age Ceremony begins. Usually, the Young Marquis doesn't show such concern for my lady. Now that she is resting, she has ordered that no one be allowed to disturb her."
"What on earth has the Princess done that is so shameful?" Xie Yuqing's expression was grim. Before the Third Princess's Coming-of-Age Ceremony started, he had heard people whispering that the Princess had been drugged with an aphrodisiac and was currently in some man's bed.
With Jingxiang being so evasive, could there really be someone hidden in the room?
Xie Yuqing suddenly felt a sense of betrayal.
"I want to see exactly who is in the Princess's room. Step aside!" Xie Yuqing moved to force his way in.
"You can't go in..."
Jingxiang blocked the way outside.
Inside the room, hearing the commotion, Gong Yinghan seemed to become even more malicious, slowly stalling her. "He's here. Is the Princess flustered?"
"Shut up! You might not care about your reputation, but I do!" The Princess grabbed his arm for support and straightened herself up, embracing him face-to-face. "What we do in bed is one thing; letting others see is another."
"Stop it, Gong Yinghan."
Having said that, before Gong Yinghan could react, she bit down on his Adam's apple.
A man's Adam's apple is a sensitive spot.
Gong Yinghan let out a muffled groan and, as expected, surrendered.
The Princess pushed him away gently and stepped onto the floor barefoot, wearily picking up her scattered clothes and putting them on.
She then discovered that her dress was torn.
He had ripped it.
She stood before him so openly, and as he looked at the marks he had left on her soft, delicate body, Gong Yinghan secretly looked away.
"Jingxiang, come in and help me dress," the Princess called out.
Outside, Jingxiang was about to lose her hold against Xie Yuqing. Hearing the voice, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief. "The Princess is dressing. Does the Young Marquis still intend to barge in?"
Xie Yuqing choked on his words.
If he forced his way in now, it would be a breach of etiquette.
After entering, Jingxiang shut the door tightly behind her. "Princess, let me help you dress. Young Marquis Xie is outside, clamoring to see you...ah!"
Suddenly, a man stepped out from behind the screen.
And his clothes were in disarray.
Jingxiang was startled.
Seeing the messy scene, had something really happened between the Princess and this body double?
Jingxiang remained relatively composed, knowing this matter could not be publicized. "Princess, how should we handle this person..."
Gong Yinghan picked up his clothes and gave a cold laugh. "Kicking the benefactor aside once the job is done? How does the Princess plan to silence me?"
He was only wearing his undergarments; he had thrown aside the outer robe he'd picked up.
Because it was also torn.
She had ripped it.
The Princess looked embarrassed; she seemed to have been even more impatient than him just now. "Jingxiang, find some clean clothes for him."
"Yes." After helping her change, Jingxiang said, "The auspicious hour for the Third Princess's Coming-of-Age Ceremony is approaching. Let me help you freshen up first."
"No need." The Princess's eyes were cold. "She's here."
Today was Jiang Beiyuan's Coming-of-Age Ceremony. Before the banquet began, the Imperial Tea Kitchen had sent over some desserts. In front of their father, Jiang Beiyuan had used tea instead of wine to thank her Imperial Elder Sister for her usual care.
The Princess had been suspicious, but in front of their father, refusing to drink would mean sisterly discord.
Jiang Beiyuan had put in a lot of effort; the drug in the tea and snacks didn't take effect immediately.
Instead, it took half an hour for the effects to manifest.
"This official greets Your Majesty and the Third Princess."
Coincidentally, Xie Yuqing's voice could be heard outside.
Jiang Beiyuan had brought their father to watch the show.
"Young Marquis, why are you here at Imperial Elder Sister's place? I heard she wasn't feeling well; I thought you would be in her room."
It was Jiang Beiyuan's voice.
Her words had a double meaning, heavy with implication.
Xie Yuqing naturally understood. He said quite formally, "I also came to visit the Princess. She is unwell and resting; how could I possibly disturb her so abruptly?"
"The Young Marquis is so upright; I'm afraid Imperial Elder Sister will be heartbroken," Jiang Beiyuan said with faint smugness.
She glanced at the tightly shut door and intentionally raised her voice. "Imperial Elder Sister, I heard you're not feeling well, so Father and I have come to see you. Father brought an Imperial Physician; please open the door and let him examine you."
Her mother had said the drug was extremely potent. If she didn't find a man to relieve it, she would die from her body bursting.
With such a good opportunity, Xie Yuqing wasn't in the room. It seemed he really looked down on the Princess.
"Princess, what should we do? His Majesty is here..." Jingxiang looked anxious.
If His Majesty found out that the Hostage Prince was in the Princess's room and had even climbed into her bed, would he be beaten to death?
Gong Yinghan watched all of this mockingly.
In his cold, indifferent eyes, they all seemed like mere clowns.
The Princess unhurriedly turned around, pulled Gong Yinghan over, and pressed him down onto the bed. "Stay here and don't go out. I can protect you."
Gong Yinghan's gaze became even more mocking.
The Princess... protecting him?
Although he didn't know what tricks this Princess was playing now, he didn't need it, nor did he believe her.
Gong Yinghan didn't deign to pay her any mind and was about to get up to face it himself.
He was pressed down again by the Princess. "I know you're very strong-willed, but don't be for now. You are currently in an enemy camp, and your wings have not yet grown. I'll protect you, alright?"
In an enemy camp, wings not yet grown?
She was the Princess of Jiang Kingdom, yet she compared Jiang Kingdom to an enemy camp?
Gong Yinghan's heart stirred slightly. "What does the Princess want to get from me?"
Given his current situation, what was worth the Princess sacrificing her own reputation for?
The Princess's eyes curved into a smile as she whispered in his ear, "Haven't I already had your body?"
Gong Yinghan: "..."
"Wait for me."
Gong Yinghan, what I want to obtain is your heart.
She took Jingxiang and went out alone to deal with Emperor Jiang Wu, Jiang Beiyuan, and the others.
As the door opened and closed, Gong Yinghan couldn't help but think of how she had also whispered in his ear before their passion: "Since I know you suspect me, then test it for yourself and see if I am just trying to curry favor."
Whether she was currying favor or not, he had already verified it personally.
Xie Yuqing really is useless.