Qian Renxue Blushes! She's Still My Sister After All! Deep Affection!

Lan's pupils constricted slightly.

How could he be here?

Xue Qinghe did not seem to notice Lan's gaze, merely keeping his head lowered with a complex expression on his face.

At his feet, several fresh pieces of willow bark, gouged out forcefully by fingernails, lay scattered on the grass, looking exceptionally jarring.

A trace of doubt rose in Lan's heart.

What had happened to this Crown Prince?

Just as Lan was scrutinizing him, Xue Qinghe seemed to have made up his mind, lifting his head to meet Lan's gaze.

He should have been in the Imperial Palace dealing with mountains of state affairs.

Yet, when the news reached his ears that Lan had been ambushed outside the city, he had almost instinctively abandoned everything and rushed over at top speed.

Coincidentally, he had arrived just in time to see the scene where Dugu Yan agreed to Lan's request.

That "No" had slipped out almost before he could think.

Only after shouting it did he realize his lack of composure.

Why?

Why did his heart feel so uncomfortable, so... stifled, at the sight of that man having intimate physical contact with another woman?

Xue Qinghe did not know.

He only knew that he did not want to see that scene.

Now that he had been discovered, his face felt hot, and he regretted being so impulsive.

But... since he had already stepped out, there was no reason to hide back away.

He took a deep breath, suppressing all his chaotic emotions, and put back on that gentle, composed smile.

He walked slowly from under the tree and came to stand before Lan.

"Brother Lan."

Lan looked at him, his eyes filled with a hint of inquiry, but he remained silent, waiting for what was to follow.

"Your Highness, why have you come here?"

Facing Lan's question, a faint, almost imperceptible blush flashed across Xue Qinghe's cheeks.

He feigned adjusting his collar and gave a light cough.

"Ahem."

A flash of inspiration struck his mind, and an excellent excuse formed instantly.

He lifted his head, looking at Lan with burning eyes, his tone gentle.

"I intend to betroth my younger sister, Princess Xue Ke, to you."

As these words fell, not only Lan, but even Dugu Bo, his granddaughter, and Ye Lingling nearby were stunned.

Xue Qinghe acted as if he did not see their astonishment and continued calmly.

"Since you may become the Imperial family's son-in-law, my brother-in-law, in the future."

"Then, it is somewhat inappropriate for you to be interacting so intimately with other women."

The air became quiet for a moment.

Lan looked at Xue Qinghe, his gaze calm and ripple-free.

He slowly shook his head.

"I have no interest in Princess Xue Ke."

"Hmph!"

Xue Qinghe let out a heavy snort.

His pace was fast and hurried, bordering on a trot.

Lan stood where he was, completely stunned.

What... was this about now?

He felt somewhat bewildered.

Was this Crown Prince's temperament a bit too... volatile?

Watching Xue Qinghe's somewhat disheveled back as he practically fled in a panic, Lan sighed inwardly.

She was his sister, after all.

He couldn't just let her run off in such a fit of anger.

Lan's figure moved, and ignoring the others, he followed after her.

By the lakeside, only Dugu Bo, his granddaughter, and Ye Lingling were left, looking at each other in dismay.

"Lingling, don't you think..." Dugu Yan poked her best friend beside her, lowering her voice, her eyes filled with strangeness.

Ye Lingling nodded solemnly, her expression equally extraordinary.

"This Crown Prince is very strange."

"Just now... was he jealous?"

"But whose jealousy was he feeling?"

"Could it be..."

An incredibly bold, even shocking thought exploded simultaneously in the minds of both girls.

They gasped in unison, and as they looked at each other, their eyes held not only shock but also a hint of "so that's how it is" realization.

In the woods, moonlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled spots of light.

Xue Qinghe ran fast, but how could he be faster than Lan?

In just a few breaths, Lan had caught up behind him, reached out, and grabbed his wrist.

Xue Qinghe's body stiffened abruptly, and he came to a halt.

He did not turn back, leaving Lan with only a rigid back, though his wrist instinctively struggled, trying to pull away.

Lan did not let go.

His palm was warm and powerful.

"What is wrong with you?"

Lan's voice came from behind, carrying a hint of helplessness more than usual.

"Did you misunderstand something?"

Xue Qinghe remained silent, only pressing his lips tightly together, expressionless, as if waiting for Lan's explanation.

Seeing him like this, Lan softened his tone and said earnestly.

"Rest assured."

"I will not leave you."

This sentence was like a thunderclap, exploding in the depths of Xue Qinghe's heart.

He turned around abruptly, those golden eyes that usually carried a gentle smile now contracting violently, emotions surging.

Ecstasy was almost overflowing from his eyes.

But what followed was even greater suspicion and worry.

The joy was that Lan truly had her in his heart! By saying that just now, he was making a promise to her!

The worry was...

Did he... did he realize that I am a woman?!

This thought exploded like a thunderbolt in the heart of Qian Renxue, leaving her entire body frozen.

However, Lan's next words left her completely stunned.

"Senior Dugu Bo is a retainer for Prince Xue Ye. Now that I have agreed to detoxify his granddaughter, did you think that I would therefore defect to Prince Xue Ye's camp?"

Lan's tone was calm, as if stating the simplest of facts.

In his view, this was the only logical explanation for the Crown Prince's loss of composure.

"..."

Qian Renxue opened her mouth, but not a single word came out.

Her mind was a complete mess.

So... he was talking about this?

He hadn't thought of anything else at all?

An inexplicable sense of shame and annoyance welled up in her heart, causing her fair neck to flush a faint pink, accompanied by a subtle, lingering fragrance wafting from her body.

"Ac-actually..."

She wanted to say that she wasn't angry because of this at all!

But with the words on the tip of her tongue, how could she explain?

Should she tell him that she was flustered and jealous because she saw him getting close to another woman?

Wouldn't that expose everything completely!

Lan looked at her with a hint of inquiry in his eyes, seemingly waiting for her to continue.

Under his gaze, Qian Renxue's eyes darted away, not daring to meet his look at all.

Her heart, which had been pounding with a maiden's secret, was now thumping so hard it felt as if it might jump out of her chest.

Qian Renxue wanted to speak but stopped, and after holding it in for a long time, she finally forced a change of subject, stammering out a few words.

"The... the weather is a bit hot today, isn't it."

After saying this, as if to verify her own words, she raised her hand and fanned herself at her collar.

Then, she turned around abruptly, presenting her back to Lan.

In the darkness, no one saw that her handsome face, which was disguised flawlessly, was already red enough to drip blood.