Lan's pupils contracted slightly.
What was he doing here?
Xue Qinghe seemed not to notice Lan's gaze. He merely lowered his head, his expression complicated.
At his feet, several fresh scraps of willow bark, torn off with fingernails, lay scattered across the grass, looking especially out of place.
A flicker of doubt rose in Lan's heart.
What was wrong with the Crown Prince?
Just as Lan was studying him, Xue Qinghe seemed to make up his mind. He raised his head and met Lan's gaze.
He should have been in the palace, dealing with a mountain of official business.
But when news reached him that Lan had been attacked outside the city, he had almost instinctively dropped everything and rushed over as fast as he could.
As it happened, he had arrived just in time to see Dugu Yan agreeing to Lan's request.
That "No!" had nearly burst out of him before he could stop it.
Only after shouting did he realize how badly he had lost control.
Why?
Why did seeing that man about to share such intimate contact with another woman make his heart ache so much, make him feel so... stifled?
Xue Qinghe didn't know.
He only knew that he didn't want to see that happen.
Now that he had been caught, his face felt a little hot. He regretted acting so impulsively.
But... having already stepped forward, he couldn't just slink back into hiding.
He took a deep breath and suppressed the jumble of emotions. Then he put on his usual warm, elegant smile, calm and composed.
He walked out from beneath the tree and came to stand in front of Lan.
"Brother Lan."
Lan looked at him, a hint of curiosity in his eyes, but said nothing, waiting for him to continue.
"Your Highness, what brings you here?"
At Lan's question, a nearly imperceptible blush flickered across Xue Qinghe's cheeks.
He pretended to straighten his collar and gave a light cough.
"Ahem."
A flash of inspiration struck him, and the perfect excuse immediately took shape.
He raised his head and looked intently at Lan, his tone gentle.
"I intend to betroth my younger sister, Princess Xue Ke, to you."
As soon as the words fell, not only Lan but even Dugu Bo, his granddaughter, and Ye Lingling, standing not far away, were stunned.
Xue Qinghe seemed not to notice their shock and continued calmly.
"Since you may become the imperial family's son-in-law—my brother-in-law—in the future,"
"then it would be improper for you to be so intimate with other women."
For a moment, the air fell silent.
Lan looked at Xue Qinghe, his gaze calm and unreadable.
He slowly shook his head.
"I'm not interested in Princess Xue Ke."
"Hmph!"
Xue Qinghe gave a heavy snort.
His steps were quick and hurried, almost a jog.
Lan stood rooted to the spot, completely dumbfounded.
What... was that about?
He was baffled.
Was the Crown Prince's mood really so... changeable?
Watching Xue Qinghe's awkward figure as he practically fled, Lan sighed inwardly.
After all, she was his older sister.
He couldn't just let her run off in a huff.
Lan moved in a flash. Ignoring everyone else, he followed after him.
Only Dugu Bo, his granddaughter, and Ye Lingling remained by the lakeside, staring at one another.
"Lingling, don't you think..." Dugu Yan poked her best friend and lowered her voice, her eyes full of bewilderment.
Ye Lingling nodded solemnly, her expression just as remarkable.
"There's something very wrong with His Highness the Crown Prince."
"He was just now... jealous, wasn't he?"
"But who was he jealous of?"
"Could it be..."
An incredibly bold, even shocking thought exploded in both girls' minds at once.
They drew in sharp breaths and looked at each other. Along with their shock, their eyes held a dawning understanding: So that's what it was.
In the woods, moonlight filtered through gaps in the branches, scattering dappled patches of light across the ground.
Xue Qinghe ran fast, but Lan was faster.
In just a few breaths, Lan caught up with him and reached out, grabbing him by the wrist.
Xue Qinghe's body stiffened, and he stopped.
He didn't turn around. He left Lan with only his rigid back, while his wrist instinctively twisted, trying to break free.
Lan didn't let go.
His palm was warm and strong.
"What's wrong?"
Lan's voice came from behind him, carrying a touch more helplessness than usual.
"Did you misunderstand something?"
Xue Qinghe still didn't speak. He only pressed his lips tightly together, his face expressionless, as if waiting for Lan to explain.
Seeing him like this, Lan softened his tone and spoke earnestly.
"Don't worry."
"I won't leave you."
Those words rang out like thunder in Xue Qinghe's heart.
He spun around. His golden eyes, usually filled with a gentle smile, contracted sharply, his emotions churning.
Joy nearly spilled from her eyes.
She was overjoyed that Lan really did care for her! What he had just said was his promise to her!
But what followed was even greater doubt and worry.
Had... had he figured out that she was a woman?!
The thought exploded like thunder in Qian Renxue's heart, leaving her completely frozen.
Yet Lan's next words left her utterly stunned.
"Senior Dugu Bo is one of Prince Xue Ye's consecrated elders. I've agreed to cure his granddaughter's poison. Did you think that meant I'd switch my allegiance to Prince Xue Ye?"
Lan's tone was calm, as if he were stating the simplest of facts.
As far as he was concerned, this was the only reasonable explanation for the Crown Prince's loss of control.
"..."
Qian Renxue opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Her mind had turned to mush.
So... that was what he meant?
He hadn't even considered anything else?
A nameless flush of embarrassment and vexation welled up in her. A faint pink tint spread across her fair neck, and a subtle fragrance seemed to waft from her.
"A-actually..."
She wanted to say that she hadn't been angry about that at all!
But how could she explain?
Should she tell him that seeing him so close to another woman had made her heart restless and jealousy flare?
Wouldn't that expose everything?
Lan looked at her with a questioning expression, seemingly waiting for her to continue.
Under his gaze, Qian Renxue's eyes darted away even more. She didn't dare meet his eyes.
Her heart, pounding wildly with a young woman's secret feelings, thudded as if it would leap right out of her chest.
Qian Renxue hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping herself. After holding it in for a long while, she could only force herself to change the subject, stammering out a few words.
"T-this... the weather's... a little hot today."
As if to prove her point, she raised a hand and fanned herself at the collar.
Then she spun around, turning her back to Lan.
In the darkness, no one could see that her handsome face, disguised to perfection, had turned so red it looked ready to drip blood.
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