Chapter 52-Part 1

Thinking along these lines, Feng Liwu felt that he couldn’t get angry at such a woman, probably because he had vented all his anger in the military camp with that lash of the whip.

Looking at this woman, smiling and flattering, it was hard to associate her with the youth who had been so eloquent and spirited on the platform earlier.

Feng Liwu didn’t speak for a while, just watching Jiang Xiurun.

Jiang Xiurun felt a bit guilty.

She hadn’t expected Feng Liwu to witness her scolding Ziyu earlier. She didn’t know if His Highness thought she was too petty and unfit to be used for important tasks.

So when Feng Liwu turned to leave, she followed closely behind.

Back at the Crown Prince’s residence, she diligently served in the study. While the prince wrote, she ground the ink by his side.

The study was quiet for a while. While grinding the ink, she couldn’t help but be distracted, her eyes looking out the window, lost in thought…

Feng Liwu slowly raised his head and looked out the window without moving. Apart from the lazy afternoon sunlight, there was nothing else.

He suddenly spoke, “Do you and Qin Zhao have a good relationship?”

Jiang Xiurun was actually feeling sleepy; the afternoon debate had exhausted her.

People really shouldn’t be lazy or complacent.

In her previous life, she had been washing clothes in the laundry bureau all day long, never getting a moment’s rest.

But in this life, after arriving in Luo’an City, she quickly entered the Crown Prince’s residence. Although she was an aide, Feng Liwu rarely used people, so she developed the habit of taking a nap in the afternoon.

When she first entered the academy, every afternoon during self-study, she would struggle to stay awake, wanting to take a nap. Fortunately, Master Mufeng didn’t mind the students’ daily routines during self-study. She and Qian’er could sneak into the small study room of the academy for a sweet nap.

This habit came back today. At the right time, she seemed to freeze, sitting there but extremely sleepy.

When the prince suddenly spoke, she opened her eyes but didn’t react immediately, just staring blankly at Feng Liwu.

That drowsy look… was indescribably cute.

Feng Liwu couldn’t help it, reached out, and pulled her into his arms, slowly moving his face closer.

As Feng Liwu’s handsome face got closer, Jiang Xiurun’s drowsiness was completely scared away. She pushed against his chin with her hand, stammering, “Your… Your Highness, what are you doing?”

Feng Liwu calmly replied, “You haven’t answered my question yet. Why are you so close with General Qin?”

Hearing the prince mention Qin Zhao, Jiang Xiurun tensed up. She suspected that Qin Zhao had said something to the prince today.

But if Qin Zhao had told the truth, why had Feng Liwu been so calm at the academy earlier? It didn’t seem like he was suppressing anger.

So she quickly defended herself, “How could I be close with Qin Zhao? He’s so annoying, it would be best if I never saw him again!”

Feng Liwu’s long eyelashes flickered as he coldly said, “Really? But General Qin seems quite fond of you. He asked about you several times today, worried that you’re not being well fed or clothed in the Crown Prince’s residence…”

Jiang Xiurun was also puzzled. What was wrong with Qin Zhao? Why had he been so persistent with her in both past and present lives?

She gloomily said, “I’m not close with him at all. I’ve never had a deep conversation with him. How could we be close? If anything, he’s annoying… Has the prince been led astray by General Qin and started to look down on me?”

Feng Liwu looked at Jiang Xiurun’s flushed face and seriously thought for a moment before answering, “I wasn’t led astray by him. It’s because you’ve provoked me. I always want to kiss you…”

The Crown Prince of the Great Qi always spoke with a serious tone, his face strikingly beautiful like a woman yet stern, talking about wanting to kiss someone.

This strangeness always made people blink in discomfort, doubting if they understood his words correctly.

Jiang Xiurun was the same, her mouth slightly open, puzzled by what the crown prince was saying when his lips pressed down, not deeply but just touching hers like a mischievous child…

Jiang Xiurun deeply understood that this was the heir to the throne of the Great Qi who held her and her brother’s lives in his hands. But why did he repeatedly act so frivolously towards her? Did he… know something?

Thinking of this, her anger at being taken advantage of was overshadowed by a hint of fear. She could only push him away and cautiously asked, “Does Your Highness treat me this way because you think I look like a girl?”

Feng Liwu paused and asked in return, “Do you think you look like a girl?”

Jiang Xiurun didn’t dare look at Feng Liwu’s expression, just lowered her head and said, “I’m just grateful that I’m not a girl. If I were, I’d be a piece of meat presented by my father, tasting sweet and enticing at first, but once tired of it, even the most delicious meat loses its appeal. As I grow old and lose my looks, no one will care anymore. Such a life is terrifying to even think about.”

Feng Liwu lifted her chin and was surprised to find that the ‘boy’ who had been so arrogant and eloquent on the platform earlier now had tears welling up in her eyes.

Those intelligent eyes, soaked with tears, made her look like a helpless lamb awaiting slaughter, stirring a deep sense of pity in him.