Chapter Twenty-Three: The Love Potion

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“How about it? Pick one.” The princess was pleased with herself. She had gone to great lengths to find these men, and anyone who saw them was sure to be tempted.

“Princess, you aren’t planning to use them to make the Crown Prince take the antidote, are you?” Song Qingcheng felt as though she had reached a dead end. If this were discovered, she would surely die.

“Of course. I’ve sent beautiful women to my imperial brother, but he rejected every one of them. So I suspect he prefers men instead—though no one else knows.” The princess covered her lips mysteriously and whispered into Song Qingcheng’s ear.

“Besides, a few years ago he suddenly sent away all the women who served him in his residence. Wasn’t that because he had switched to men?”

The princess swung the teapot in her hand, lifting her little face. “This is what will make my imperial brother reveal his true nature. Once Father finds out, he’ll lose his position as Crown Prince. Then how could he possibly marry you?”

So that was how she intended to help her? Absolutely not. If the matter were traced back to her, she would lose her life.

Song Qingcheng’s eyes flickered. She smiled and took the teapot from her. “I’ll hold this for you, Princess. See whether there is anything else you need to arrange.”

Her words reminded the princess of something. “There is, actually. Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

Gathering up her skirts, the princess hurried away. Song Qingcheng lowered the curtain, went outside, and sat down. She opened the teapot, mixed in the antidote, and poured it inside.

“Oh no, the princess’s medicine hasn’t been neutralized yet.” Song Qingcheng suddenly stood up, then slowly sat back down. “One little sip shouldn’t matter.”

Clutching at her collar, Song Qingcheng wondered why her entire body had grown so hot. Waves of heat surged upward from her abdomen, and she could not control the urge to tear off her clothes.

Gripping her garments, she braced one hand against the table and looked toward the censer, from which a delicate fragrance had begun to rise. She staggered toward it. The scent of the lust-inducing incense inside was terrifyingly strong.

Song Qingcheng fumbled for the antidote, only to realize that she had poured the entire amount into the teapot. Not a drop remained on her.

Struggling to maintain control of her mind, she poured the tea into the censer and extinguished it. Narrowing her eyes, she hurried toward the exit. A voice sounded behind her.

“Qingcheng, where are you going?”

The Crown Prince emerged from behind the curtain. As it fell, the handsome men disappeared, leaving only him. He advanced step by step.

Song Qingcheng tried to open the door, but it would not budge. Someone had locked it from the outside. She pulled hard several times, and the rattling lock seemed to mock her futile struggle.

Remembering that Shen Runzhi was waiting outside, Song Qingcheng pounded on the door and shouted, “Cousin! Cousin!”

The Crown Prince approached. His massive figure loomed over her, his high bridge of a nose and deeply carved features strikingly handsome. With his foreign blood, he resembled a vicious wolf pinning down its prey, waiting to tear it apart and swallow it whole.

“Qingcheng, stop struggling. Behave and become my Crown Princess. You’ll suffer far less.” One hand settled on her shoulder, its strength nearly crushing the bone.

Shen Runzhi had already been lured away on some pretext. Calling out to anyone would be useless. Unhurried, the Crown Prince savored the sight of her helpless beauty.

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Song Qingcheng lowered her hand and leaned against the door. Her vision blurred, and she panted through half-parted crimson lips. Her mind went blank for a moment, but she dug her fingers into her palm and forced herself to remain conscious. Her heart ached with anxiety.

Struggling to control herself, she suddenly flung the sedative into the Crown Prince’s face. He covered his mouth and turned away. Song Qingcheng gathered all her strength, shoved him aside, and ran.

The Crown Prince staggered back several steps. He braced himself against the door and steadied himself, then lifted the sachet at his waist and sniffed it beneath his nose.

“I realized during the last hunting expedition that you were clever and carried something to defend yourself. So I specially prepared an antidote to your sedative. As luck would have it, I had a chance to use it.”

After Shen Runzhi had carried Song Qingcheng away, the Crown Prince had taken the powder from the floor and had someone prepare an antidote specifically for it, lest anything go wrong again.

Song Qingcheng had to become his Crown Princess. If she remained unwilling to see reason, he could always make her an unseen concubine hidden away from the world.

Song Qingcheng’s legs were weak as she staggered toward a stool. She seized the porcelain vase beside her and hurled it at him. Unfortunately, because she had entered the palace, she had been unable to bring in most of the weapons she normally carried for protection.

The Crown Prince leisurely turned aside and dodged it.

“Why struggle again? Would marrying me truly wrong you, an adopted daughter raised in the Shen household? If you refuse me, do you intend to marry Shen Runzhi? He will soon marry my younger sister. I’m afraid he won’t be able to marry you as well.”

Panting, Song Qingcheng said, “I’m an orphan… My status, my status is unsuitable. Why does the Crown Prince insist on marrying me, time and again?”

Fine sweat beaded her face, which had flushed a delicate pink. The drug was beginning to course through every part of her body, eroding her consciousness.

The Crown Prince crouched down and lifted her chin.

“Several years ago, I fell in love with you at first sight, Qingcheng. Unfortunately, you left. To wait for you, I dismissed everyone around me. Yet the moment you returned, you broke my heart. You rejected me every time, so I had no choice but to use this method to make you mine.”

“But I’ll give you one more chance. Become my Crown Princess, and I’ll preserve at least some of your reputation.” The Crown Prince extended a hand before her, waiting for her to take the initiative.

Song Qingcheng lowered her head, the hand supporting her on the floor tightening again and again. At that moment, a commotion arose outside.

“I’ve come to see Miss Song. There is no need to announce me.” The Empress’s voice rang out.

“Why is this door locked?”

“Could someone be committing an indecent act inside?”

“How bold. Find the key and open the door. I want to see who has cast aside all shame and dared to do such a thing in the palace.”

The Crown Prince curled his lips and beckoned to her as though teasing a dog.

“Qingcheng.”

Through the curtain of her hair, Song Qingcheng’s eyes slid toward the stool. Her fingers moved ever so slightly. Then, with swift precision, she swung it at him and struck the Crown Prince on the head.

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A wound opened at his temple. Holding his head, the Crown Prince glared furiously at Song Qingcheng.

“You dare injure me?”

Song Qingcheng ignored him. In the next instant, she pulled out a handkerchief, pressed it against him, and covered his nose and mouth. The man beneath her struggled twice before his eyes closed and he fell unconscious.

“Your Majesty, we’ve found the key.”

Song Qingcheng abruptly raised her head. One hand clenched into a fist while the other supported her as she rose. She pushed open the window, climbed out, and dropped to the ground. A flowerpot toppled beneath her feet with a sharp crash.

“Who’s there?” Someone beside the Empress noticed that something was wrong and ran over.

Song Qingcheng knelt on the ground, biting the tip of her tongue against the pain. Suddenly, a red silk ribbon appeared around her waist. Her entire body was lifted into the tree and landed in the arms of someone warm.

“Yao Yao, Yao Yao.” Shen Runzhi was frantic. He held her protectively against his chest, his heart aching at the sight of her. How had she ended up like this after he had been gone for only a short while?

Song Qingcheng clenched her fists until blood dripped from her fingertips. With her eyes closed, she rubbed weakly against Shen Runzhi.

“So hot…”

People searched beneath the tree. Shen Runzhi tightened one arm around her and silently left, intending to settle matters with those inside later.

Through the window, a eunuch saw the unconscious Crown Prince and pointed at him, shrieking, “Assassin! There’s an assassin!”

The door was slammed open. The Empress’s gaze swept across the room as though searching for someone. The palace maids beside her helped the Crown Prince onto the bed, while the others searched the entire chamber. Not a single person was found.

“Your Majesty, there’s no one here.”

The Empress’s eyes fell upon the drops of blood on the floor.

“Send for the imperial physician. Then have the palace gates sealed. The person who attacked the Crown Prince must be found. The assassin is injured. Bring in everyone who has suffered an injury and have the Crown Prince identify the culprit once he awakens.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Empress’s orders were carried out immediately. Before long, every palace gate through which anyone might escape had been closed, and the guards began searching the entire palace.

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