Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: Taking Wan'er to the Hot Springs

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As she saw her mother and Lady Mo depart, Lin Qingwan’s mother suddenly twisted her ankle just outside the mansion gate, nearly falling.

Startled, Lin Qingwan wanted to rush out to help her mother up but was stopped by the guards posted at the entrance.

“The princess has not granted permission for the young lady to leave. Blades are blind—please step back. If you need to leave, please wait for the princess’s order.”

Seeing Lady Mo help her mother up and escort her into the carriage, Lin Qingwan felt a slight relief.

“Be careful. If the young lady gets hurt, be wary that the princess might have you all punished.”

The maid Lianqiao put her hands on her hips, puzzled by the guards’ inflexibility. The young lady wasn’t trying to leave—she just wanted to help her mother who had fallen.

“Miss, would you like to take a stroll around the Crown Prince’s residence? You’ve been cooped up inside for so long; it must be stifling.”

A stroll? She was far more familiar with every blade of grass and tree in this estate than this maid.

Leading the maid to a bamboo grove, they sat in a pavilion nestled within. She recalled that in her previous life, Chu Linyuan often came here to practice swordplay.

“Wan’er.”

Chu Linyuan arrived with Qin Tingxian at the bamboo garden.

Seeing Lin Qingwan seated quietly in the courtyard, he hurried over and took off his cloak to cover her.

“How do you feel after seeing Lady Lin today? I heard your elder brother recently excelled in the imperial examinations and will soon come to the capital for the higher-level test?”

Lin Qingwan nodded, her eyes reflecting reverence and nostalgia as she thought of her brother.

In her past life, her brother was equally remarkable—he topped the three rounds of exams, becoming the capital’s most sought-after son-in-law.

Many noble families in the capital wished to marry their daughters to him.

Although she was at the Eastern Palace, when her brother achieved the top rank, Chu Linyuan was also delighted.

He praised her brother’s literary talent and insightful political views, calling him a man of great promise.

After a few rounds of wine, he spent the entire night with her.

“Wan’er, why are your ears so red? What are you thinking about? Missing me? Shall we return to the chambers now?”

Chu Linyuan wrapped his arm around Lin Qingwan’s waist, drawing her close as if to take her back to his room.

“I don’t want to. I’m not thinking about anything. Your Highness and Young Master Qin probably have matters to discuss. I’ll come find you later.”

Qin Tingxian blinked, tilting his head curiously at Lin Qingwan.

“This is our first meeting. How do you know I am Young Master Qin? Could it be that you—?”

About to joke and ask if she had feelings for him, he quickly changed his tone upon seeing the Crown Prince’s stern expression.

“Where did you see me before?”

Luckily, Qin Tingxian reacted swiftly, or the Crown Prince might have dragged him off to train swordplay and given him a beating.

Lin Qingwan blinked. In this life, she shouldn’t have known him, but in the last life, they had met a few times.

“When I first arrived in the capital, I saw Young Master Qin saving someone from a horse. The shopkeeper mentioned your name, so I remembered it.”

Qin Tingxian’s eyes lit up as he clapped his fan.

“That’s true! I’ve done exactly one good deed in my life.”

“Ahem.”

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He feigned a cough, fist at his mouth.

“I mean, it was quite a coincidence that I was caught doing this good deed by the young lady. Truly fate has brought us together.”

Noticing Chu Linyuan’s increasingly dark face, Qin Tingxian quickly bowed and took his leave.

“I will attend to His Highness’s orders immediately. Excuse me.”

He ran off before the Crown Prince’s anger could fully rise.

“Lin Qingwan, I am very angry. I do not like seeing you so happily chatting with other men.”

Thinking about the love potion he was about to give her, binding her to him forever, his surging anger was temporarily suppressed.

“His Highness is so outstanding, why would he be so jealous? Is Wan’er such a fickle woman?”

Holding the man close, Lin Qingwan pondered how to tell him she wished to leave with her mother.

“You seem troubled, Wan’er. Is there something you wish to tell me?”

This woman had been infatuated with Mo Lingxuan just days ago, attempting to climb into his bed.

She changed her heart so quickly; such a wanton woman would make a fine bed warmer by his side.

As for the love potion Qin Tingxian mentioned, he would give it to her when he returned later.

The thought of binding this woman to him for life lifted his spirits.

The man’s eyes smiled warmly, his breath gentle. Lin Qingwan could not help but lean closer.

“Your Highness, Qingwan is worried about her mother and wishes to return to the town with her. When my brother arrives in the capital next month for the provincial exam, I will return here with him.”

Chu Linyuan fixed his gaze on Lin Qingwan’s face, pulled her into his embrace, and pressed a fierce kiss on her lips.

Enveloped in his kiss, Lin Qingwan’s legs weakened, her body weight pressing down on him.

The man removed her cloak, spread it over the stone table, and pinned her beneath him.

“No. Not here.”

Lin Qingwan’s face drained of color in fright. How could he do this to her?

“Don’t be afraid. No one dares spy on my affairs.”

Grasping her firmly against the stone table, seeing her tremble with tears of fear, he kissed her gently.

“Don’t cry. I will be gentle.”

The woman trembled in his arms, gasping, struggling fiercely, and bit his neck.

“Lin Qingwan.”

Chu Linyuan gripped her jaw, forcing her mouth open, applying slow, firm pressure.

Suffocated, Lin Qingwan’s eyes closed as she lost consciousness, her body going limp on the stone table, her awareness fading.

The man stroked her unconscious form, tore off her clothes, and pressed down on her.

If you refuse, I will force you.

…

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Qin Tingxian hurried back to the Eastern Palace after obtaining the love potion from a merchant and learning its purpose.

He had intended to deliver it immediately to theI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.