Chapter 52-Part 2

Feng Liwu’s usually cold and hard heart unknowingly softened. The initial thought of stripping her clothes off and mercilessly humiliating and questioning her had vanished.

He gently wiped away a tear that had slid down her cheek with his fingertip, then pinched her cheek and said, “You don’t seem like a girl. Instead, you seem like a child, crying at the drop of a hat. Should I get you a nanny?”

Jiang Xiurun carefully observed the Crown Prince’s expression and saw that he genuinely didn’t seem to have discovered anything. She let out a huge sigh of relief.

Earlier, she had been terrified, worried that Qin Zhao had revealed the truth to the Crown Prince and that the Crown Prince had come to question her.

If that had happened, she would have been completely exposed. Who knows, Feng Liwu might have developed a dislike for her and sent her back to the laundry bureau, dragging her brother down with her.

Everything would then replay as it had in her previous life… such humiliation was something she never wanted to endure again!

As she sighed in relief, she realized her whole body felt weak and limp, collapsing into the Crown Prince’s arms.

She struggled to get up, but Feng Liwu didn’t let go.

He said casually, “You seem tired. Take a nap with me.”

Saying that, he actually picked her up and laid down with her on the couch in the study.

Even the biggest sleepiness would have been scared away by now. Jiang Xiurun couldn’t sleep at all and told the Crown Prince she wasn’t tired, asking him to sleep alone.

But the Crown Prince, with his eyes half-closed, said, “If you are not sleepy, you can look at some of my collection of paintings to cheer you up, so as not to be bored…”

Jiang Xiurun had seen the Crown Prince’s collection before. Though the paintings were exquisite, they were far from enjoyable. She quickly said that she was indeed sleepy, and soon she was lying quietly in the Crown Prince’s arms, sharing the warm and lazy afternoon.

However, neither of them had any sleepiness, just listening to each other’s shallow breathing and each thinking about their own concerns…

Finally, the afternoon nap time passed. When Jiang Xiurun got up, she felt sore all over.

She felt bitter in her heart, wishing that Feng Liwu would get married tomorrow. She didn’t want to pretend to be a fake Phoenix anymore, just to satisfy his cravings with an aide!

But the Crown Prince seemed refreshed, got up to continue reviewing documents, and instructed that he wanted the roasted lamb leg made from her recipe for dinner.

When Jiang Xiurun left the study, she didn’t walk far before she saw several other aides from the same residence strolling in the garden.

Having just woken up, her clothes were wrinkled, her hair a bit messy, and she hadn’t had time to tidy up.

Seeing Jiang Xiurun come out of the Crown Prince’s study in such a state, Li Quan seemed to have figured something out, his eyes full of contempt.

He spat harshly and then said in a sarcastic tone, “No wonder you’re favored. Compared to those of us who rely on our talents, selling your ass certainly seems faster!”

Li Quan’s words were vicious, but the other aides didn’t say anything.

It wasn’t that they hadn’t noticed, but if Young Master Jiang truly had a special relationship with the Crown Prince, it wasn’t their place to offend the prince’s new favorite.

In these times, male homosexuality was quite prevalent. Especially among scholars and elites, keeping a beautiful boy by their side was not hidden.

As long as it didn’t interfere with their duties, it was considered harmless fun.

But His Highness has never shown such a hobby before, and no one knows that he is an expert in this field!

For a moment, everyone had different thoughts. Only the stubborn Li Quan continued to curse.

Jiang Xiurun didn’t want to argue with such an old fool but couldn’t let him tarnish her reputation. She grabbed his sleeve and tried to drag him towards the Crown Prince’s study.

Li Quan, taken by surprise, angrily asked, “What are you doing?”

Jiang Xiurun, raising her chin, said, “Let’s go to the Crown Prince and ask who sold his ass between me and His Highness!”

This made the others’ expressions change.

These words made the listener’s expression change.

Thinking about the prince’s feminine appearance that resembled a woman, who was on top and who was on the bottom might indeed be up for discussion…

But the details of the Crown Prince’s bedchamber were not for aides to discuss.

Li Quan realized he had spoken too much and angrily snatched his sleeves back, storming off.

Jiang Xiurun felt that His Highness’s reputation was almost tarnished by his ambiguous words, so she felt much calmer and could easily cook roasted lamb legs for His Highness.

The other aides looked on, their thoughts deepening…

In just a few days, the rumor that the Crown Prince liked men spread secretly in Luo’an City.

Feng Liwu noticed more people being sent to him, but they varied greatly in style, from delicate, slender youths to robust, bearded men. The diverse tastes amazed people.

The Crown Prince acted swiftly, ordering a few of the senders to be beaten to death, immediately stopping this trend.

He didn’t investigate where the rumors started, but a few aides were inexplicably dismissed, including Li Quan.

However, the equally outspoken Young Master Jiang still stayed in the residence, which made people think deeply: It turns out that His Royal Highness is still loyal to male beauty!