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Hey there, amazing readers! ? Big apologies for leaving this gem of a novel on the back burner for so long—winter decided to throw snowballs at my plans, and then life turned into a whirlwind. But fear not! I’m back, and updates will be rolling in slowly but surely. A HUGE thank you for your endless patience and sticking with me—you’re the absolute best! Let’s get back to it together! ?✨?

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Chapter 48: Only One

Wen Renlin, that bastard, actually deceived her!

Zhao Yan took a deep breath to suppress her emotions, and first asked Liu Baiwei with concern, “Are you okay? Where are you injured?”

Wen Renlin focused on staring at the hint of moisture in Zhao Yan’s eyes, and chuckled lightly at her words.

Facing Zhao Yan’s anxious and concerned face, Liu Baiwei lowered her head and consciously softened her voice, “It’s nothing serious, just injured two fingers.”

Zhao Yan’s gaze fell down and indeed saw several bruises on Liu Baiwei’s right fingertips, which looked quite serious.

Was he tortured?

Unable to resist, Zhao Yan glanced sideways again, seeing Wen Renlin sitting in the sandalwood palace chair, his arm resting on the armrest, tapping lightly with his fingers.

Liu Baiwei was skilled in calligraphy and painting. If his right hand developed any problems because of this, Zhao Yan would be partly to blame.

Although she was filled with emotions, she had to deal with the situation in front of her first and asked, “How did you get injured?”

“Someone set me up.” Liu Baiwei gritted his teeth in hatred.

That day in the Yuquan Palace, when he learned of what Wen Renlin had done to the little prince, it was truly hard to accept. He spent the whole night brooding over the chessboard.

Fortunately, he still bore the identity of “Concubine Liu” for now. Even if he had to sleep outside the prince’s sleeping quarters and stand guard day and night, he might still be able to protect the prince from the dangers posed by Prince Su.

Thinking of this, Liu Baiwei felt a little relieved in his heart. Just as he was about to go out to find Zhao Yan, he was knocked unconscious from behind.

When he woke up, he found himself in a strange dungeon.

A rough-faced man claiming to be “Zhang Cang” threw him a set of men’s Confucian robes and told him that “Concubine Liu” had fallen to her death from a cliff. He was instructed to go and collect the body in the identity of Concubine Liu’s elder brother.

Only then did Liu Baiwei realize that his identity as “Concubine Liu” had been wiped out during the few hours he was unconscious, and he was forcibly restored to his male identity! From then on, not to mention protecting the prince day and night, it would be difficult to even enter the palace to see her…

Cunning, truly cunning!

In a fit of anger, Liu Baiwei punched the stone door. The door was fine, but his hand was almost crippled, and his face turned pale with pain.

Upon hearing how badly injured Liu Baiwei’s hand was, Zhao Yan finally let go of her worries completely and said, “You should go back and apply medicine first, and never rush into danger impulsively.”

Liu Baiwei suddenly looked up, seeming incredulous.

He glanced at the person sitting in the chair with his arm resting on it, as if understanding something, and said with a stern face, “Please, Your Highness, come with me.”

Zhao Yan was surprised, but even without turning back, she knew the expression on Wen Renlin’s face.

“Don’t be afraid, although I’m just a scholar, I understand the principles of loyalty and filial piety.”

Liu Baiwei took a step forward, resolutely saying, “Even if it means lying dead together, we will go forward together.”

If they didn’t leave now, they might really end up lying dead together.

“Liu Baiwei!”

Zhao Yan’s expression was solemn. “Keep the lamp in Mingde Hall lit.”

Her voice was soft yet urgent, and Liu Baiwei’s expression was complicated. After clenching his fist for a while, he finally said in a low voice, “Your Highness, take care of yourself. I will find a way.”

Liu Baiwei was taken away, and Zhao Yan knew that his life had been temporarily saved.

Cai Tian silently closed the door of the study. In the spacious hall, only the faint crackling of the candle wick burning could be heard.

Zhao Yan slowly turned around, but Wen Renlin’s figure was no longer visible on the sandalwood palace chair. His tall, cold, and imposing figure passed through the long landscape screen and disappeared behind the pearl curtain in the inner room.

People like Wen Renlin, with his status, would not be terrifying when angry like a storm, but rather gentle, with an elegant smile, making troubles disappear with a snap of his fingers. The calmer he appeared, the more intense Zhao Yan’s emotions became, echoing emptily in her chest.

After giving it some thought, she pursed her lips and followed.

Today’s matter had to be clarified.

Drawing aside the pearl curtain, inside was a spacious tea room for resting, with an antique shelf displaying various rare treasures extending inside. Against the wall were placed long tables and chairs, and Wen Renlin was sitting in a chair, pouring wine from a warm jade jug.

He didn’t raise his head from start to finish.

There were no extra chairs inside, so Zhao Yan sat on the long couch by herself, cleared her throat, and said, “It’s hot in midsummer, why is the Prince still drinking hot wine?”

Wen Renlin didn’t speak, only the sound of pouring wine could be heard in his ears.

“Give me a cup of wine too.”

There was still a hint of moisture in Zhao Yan’s eyes, and she pressed her lips, saying, “I’ve been scared out of my wits and feel cold.”

As she spoke, her voice trembled slightly.

Although Zhao Yan knew that Wen Renlin was always scheming, she had been frightened by him more than once or twice. But this time, amidst her confusion, there seemed to be a trace of grievances, even she herself had not noticed.

It was strange. She had always been strong, not a delicate person. But recently, in front of Wen Renlin, the number of times she felt wronged seemed to be increasing, as if he always had the ability to break through all her disguises and reveal her vulnerable side.

This was not a good sign.

Wen Renlin finally raised his eyes slightly. It was unknown whether it was because of the lighting, but Zhao Yan always felt that his eyes were different from usual, as if they were a bit… familiarly charming.

He held the jade wine cup with one hand, not giving it to her as requested, his gaze following the slight blush at the corner of Zhao Yan’s eyes, then down to her fingertips clasped in her sleeve.

“I’m curious, Your Highness, when will the dagger in your sleeve be drawn?” he said.

Zhao Yan detected his faint sarcasm and couldn’t help but pause, instinctively replying, “The Grand Tutor’s skills are outstanding. I was defeated once, but I won’t be foolish enough to try again.”

Wen Renlin understood, his voice calm as he said, “If it’s not to assassinate me, then is it to put pressure on me, forcing me to release someone?”

The flash of surprise in Zhao Yan’s beautiful eyes did not escape Wen Renlin’s gaze.

A man like him had long mastered the ability to read people’s minds, yet despite knowing this, there was still a strange melancholy in his heart, blood boiling.

Even the proud and stubborn girl, whom he couldn’t bear to harm, was willing to gamble with her life for another man?

Was someone with the surname Liu worthy?

“The Princess of the Realm is willing to go to such lengths for him?” Wen Renlin chuckled, placing the half-filled wine cup gently on the table. “Normally, when the Princess sees me, it’s like a rabbit meeting a wolf, unwilling even to smile sincerely, yet she’s willing to confide in others.”

He continued, his tone becoming softer, “The world is full of purity and goodness, only I am treacherous and evil. It’s difficult for the Princess to associate with someone like me, a stain she will find hard to face her whole life. Do you regret it, Your Highness? If on the day of the banquet you had met not me, this ‘shameless scoundrel,’ but a righteous gentleman like Zhou Wanlan, or a unique young man like Liu, perhaps you would be happier…”

Wen Renlin’s deep voice suddenly stopped.

He stared at the crystal tear that fell without warning, dampening the edge of Zhao Yan’s tightly clenched sleeve.

Zhao Yan didn’t want to cry.

Since she could remember, she had only cried once, in Wen Renlin’s arms on the night she learned the truth about Zhao Yan’s death. Just now, upon hearing the “news of Liu Ji’s death,” her eyes reddened with urgency but she didn’t shed a tear. It was only after Wen Renlin’s words that she couldn’t bear it anymore.

She felt embarrassed, her vision blurred, unable to see Wen Renlin’s expression at this moment.

He remained silent for a long time.

“If the Prince is willing to discuss this matter with me and not deceive me with Liu Baiwei’s death, how could I be kept in the dark and resort to such a plan!”

Zhao Yan’s jaw trembled slightly, but she still stubbornly stared with watery eyes, her thin back straight, “It was clearly the Prince who threatened first, without any explanation or comfort, let alone such arrogance…”

For a long time, a faint shadow was vaguely seen in the blurry field of vision.

Then Wen Renlin stood up in front of her. Then, the shadow loomed over her, Wen Renlin raised his finger to gently wipe away the wetness from her eyelashes.

Zhao Yan tilted her head slightly, avoiding his touch with dignity.

“Why won’t the Prince discuss this with me? Are you afraid that if I know your plan, I won’t be willing to let go of Liu Baiwei?”

Seizing the moment of anger, Zhao Yan poured out her thoughts, “The second time I met the Prince under Changqing Gate, he was killing someone. And now, taking matters into his own hands regarding Liu Ji, without properly explaining the situation to me, how can people not feel anxious and afraid.”

As the words left her mouth, both she and Wen Renlin fell silent.

Indeed, compared to going through all the trouble to restore Liu Baiwei’s apprearance, wouldn’t killing him be simpler and more straightforward?

“Your Highness is right, killing Liu Baiwei is the prince’s style.”

Wen Renlin gently turned Zhao Yan’s stunned face, nodding slightly, “There’s no need for such trouble. It’s not too late to kill him now…”

He stood up to leave, but Zhao Yan bit her lip, subconsciously grabbing his shoulders and pressing down with force, causing his tall figure to bend forward.

Then, just like that night in the Guanyun Pavilion, she closed her eyes and kissed him.

The world fell silent.

The pearl curtain swayed, the brilliant light falling on their faces as they leaned close, sometimes bright, sometimes dim.

But as soon as Zhao Yan breathed slightly away, Wen Renlin lowered his eyelids, smiling softly and hoarsely, “Using the same move twice, Your Highness overestimates yourself.”

Zhao Yan didn’t say anything, holding back her anger and blocking it up again.

This time it wasn’t the same move.

Wen Renlin just let her hang on him, lowering his eyes to admire her face up close, the blush on her cheeks deepening like a lotus in bloom. It wasn’t until the little princess’s arm could hardly hold on any longer that he reached out to support her slender waist.

“Do you want me to be a submissive servant? I wonder if Your Highness is naive or bold.”

Between the lips of Wen Renlin, there was a lazy and tender whisper, “One day when I die, I will take Your Highness with me to accompany me.”

How did he have the time to say such annoying words?

Zhao Yan furrowed her eyebrows, and simply bit his lips, murmuring angrily, “Disaster may last for a thousand years, but the Grand Tutor won’t die so easily.”

Wen Renlin’s laughter choked in his throat, dissipating between his lips.

Little Highness didn’t know that he was originally a demon crawling out of the dead, destined to return to the purgatory sooner or later, which wasn’t far away.

And she knew nothing.

He should be angry, should tie the disobedient little princess to his side and lock her up. However, as anger surged to his mouth, it turned into twists and turns, and the hand raised only lightly pressed down on her wrists.

Wen Renlin closed his eyes attentively. As the frustrated Little Highness prepared to retreat, he grasped the back of her head with one hand and opened her lips and kissed her more forcefully.

Zhao Yan’s tongue tingled, feeling her breath stagnate, as if her soul was being seized.

With his slightly cold thin lips, Wen Renlin taught her a true kiss. Both of them were filled with emotions, wishing they could determine each other’s status. Zhao Yan’s cheeks soon flushed with embarrassment. She tried to fight back, trying to turn the situation back to how it was at the hairpin banquet…

But to no avail. In a daze, she saw Wen Renlin’s dense eyelashes gently drooping, the gorgeous dark color in his eyes shimmering faintly.

“Your eyes…”

Zhao Yan struggled to squeeze out a few words from the gap in her breath, only to be swallowed by a sob.

Strictly speaking, tonight was not a good time. Wen Renlin obviously didn’t want her to see his pale and eerie appearance. With a gentle turn of her shoulder, Zhao Yan fell face down on the couch.

A sound of tearing silk, the apricot-colored silk ribbons suddenly scattered, Zhao Yan instinctively propped herself up, but was pressed down by a large hand with distinct knuckles on her lower back.

“This is the ‘Tiger Step,’ Your Highness should contemplate it well.”

The excellent texture of the unfamiliar fabric adhered to her back, while Wen Renlin’s deep and mellow voice sounded in her ear.

Just the “first choice” was not enough, what he wanted was the only one, and it could only be the only one.

…

The sound of pouring water came from the next room, followed by Wen Renlin’s footsteps approaching.

Zhao Yan’s cheeks were flushed, her breath unsteady. She turned her face inward and closed her eyes, not wanting to see him—

Although after such a commotion, she had already forgotten what she was mad at Wen Renlin for. Her emotions seemed to have been emptied out, leaving a strange sense of peace.

Wen Renlin looked at the slender and graceful figure, unconcerned. He bent down, lifted her and the thin blanket together, and walked towards the adjacent clean room, stripping her completely and placing her in the bathtub.

Steam filled the air, making Zhao Yan’s originally flushed cheeks even redder, and even her delicate neck showed a faint blush.

Wen Renlin couldn’t help but glance at her a few more times, took off his outer robe and hung it on the sandalwood clothes rack, wearing only a thin snow-white inner garment. He rolled up his sleeves and approached her, scooping water bit by bit to wet her beautiful long hair.

Zhao Yan looked at his neat appearance, feeling unwilling and a little resentful.

Wen Renlin calmly accepted her resentful gaze, lightly wiping away the water droplets on her earlobe with his knuckles, and said with a smile that was not quite a smile, “I have already exposed myself to Your Highness and begged for forgiveness, what else is Your Highness angry about?”

The exposing wasn’t that kind of exposing, and the kneeling wasn’t that kind of kneeling!

In terms of shamelessness, Zhao Yan naturally admitted defeat.

She simply turned her back to Wen Renlin and changed to a kneeling position, frowning as she leaned against the edge of the bathtub, causing a splash of water.

Wen Renlin looked at the slender figure with ink-black hair, adhered to by the thin robe, and said in a low voice, “Why are you still kneeling?”

Although there was a small stool placed in the bathtub for bathing, at this moment…

“Sitting isn’t very comfortable,” Zhao Yan turned her head and whispered softly, her voice still hoarse.

Wen Renlin’s actions of pouring water paused slightly, then he quickly understood, nodding, “Your Highness is too small.”

Small?

Zhao Yan was puzzled. She was sixteen, and ordinarily, princesses of her age would already be handed over to the Empress to select a consort.

“I didn’t mean it in terms of age,” Wen Renlin reached out to massage her arm, adding another sentence.

He remained composed, but Zhao Yan turned her head and glared at him, pushing away his hand. Wen Renlin tilted his head slightly, avoiding the splashing water, his eyelashes lifting to reveal a hint of a smile in his eyes.

It seemed like his anger had also dissipated, and the ebony irises returned to their usual calmness. Zhao Yan turned her body away, too tired to even bother with him.

After the bath, Wen Renlin carried her back to the long couch, dried her hair, and temporarily found a clean inner garment for her to wear.

The clothes were a bit big, with long sleeves hanging down, making Zhao Yan look even more delicate.

After a busy moment, Wen Renlin’s own clothes were soaked through. He loosened his inner garment and went to the adjacent room to bathe. Zhao Yan hugged her knees, listening to the sound of water from the next room, her cheeks slightly flushed, her thoughts becoming increasingly vague.

This time was different from the hairpin banquet; there was no dizziness from the drug, everything was so clear, not very uncomfortable, on the contrary…

She stopped herself from thinking further, wondering if there was still residual poison in her system, otherwise, why would she feel so strange?

Zhao Yan was uncertain if she had taken the right step, but she had to admit that besides the bodyguards, Wen Renlin was the only one who had ever protected her.

He didn’t kill Liu Baiwei but instead proved once again that he had drawn a line for her.

Zhao Yan pondered for a long time before realizing belatedly the discomfort on her knees. She quietly lifted the hem of her long clothes and saw that her knees were indeed red.

When she returned to the Eastern Palace, she was afraid that Liu Ying would notice something unusual, so she thought of finding some medicine to apply. There was an unlocked low cabinet by the bedside. She opened it and glanced inside, finding several bottles of medicine and a palm-sized red lacquered wooden box.

The box was exquisitely made, resembling the style of the palace. When shaken, it made the sound of pills rolling, but she didn’t know what medicine was inside.

Curious, Zhao Yan picked up the medicine box and examined it.

Just as she opened it, a large hand moistened with water reached out from behind and clicked the box shut.

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