Your Kiss Wasn't Deep Enough

Meanwhile, inside the carriage.

"Hey, Qian Renxue, aren't you being a little too eager?"

"Hmph! What do you think?"

Xue Qinghe pinned Bing Jiu onto the seat, his little face full of anger.

Bing Jiu was unconcerned and merely chuckled.

At such close range, her pair of blood-red pupils lent her an additional air of seduction and elegance.

Xue Qinghe was slightly stunned by the sight. He shook his head before finally releasing his hands.

Yet he still looked at Bing Jiu with evident dissatisfaction.

"I know everything you've done for Spirit Hall. You've done well, but do you really think teasing me like this has a greater impact than me carrying you all the way from the gates into the palace for everyone to see?"

"I'm not some delicate wife in your hands. I don't know whether it's big enough, but the effect was achieved long ago."

Bing Jiu pulled open the curtain and gestured for Xue Qinghe to look outside.

Xue Qinghe lowered his gaze slightly and reluctantly glanced out the window. Then...

A suddenly hurled rose smacked him right in the face.

"Wow! I saw Crown Prince Xue Qinghe! He's so handsome! He and the Saintess are such a perfect match—I'm dying of envy!"

"They've drawn the curtains. They must be kissing inside! Wow! I can't even imagine how many people a heavenly couple like them will make jealous!"

"Hiss..."

Xue Qinghe touched the red mark on his face. "What exactly is going on?"

"It's very simple."

Bing Jiu lifted Xue Qinghe's chin, her small hand continuously tracing circles over his cheek.

"Did you really think this Saintess was just sitting around doing nothing? All along the way here, my people were spreading the news nonstop. Naturally, that included the part where I forcibly dragged you into the carriage just now."

"Think about it. In those letters, you and I were already madly in love, inseparable and sweet as honey. Now that the two of us are alone in this space, dry wood meeting a blazing fire—what do you think would happen?"

"Mm... Aren't you still underage?"

"What are you thinking? That sort of thing is indeed out of the question, but kissing is fine. Come on."

Bing Jiu pointed at her cheek and gave a soft laugh. "Give me one here. At the very least, we need to fool those idiots and Xue Ye, completely confirming the news that you and I are going to form a marriage alliance and thereby shaking up the upper ranks of the two great empires!"

"You... Hmph! Let's make this clear first. I'm not doing this because I like you."

Xue Qinghe took a deep breath and swiftly planted a peck on Bing Jiu's cheek.

Their skin touched and separated in an instant, so quickly that it almost felt unreal.

Bing Jiu picked up a mirror and looked herself over. When she saw the red mark on her face, smaller than even a mosquito bite, her expression immediately darkened.

"Not obvious enough. Do it again."

Xue Qinghe instinctively shrank back. "Hey, doing it once was already embarrassing enough. You want another?"

"It's not like we're kissing on the lips. Why are you resisting so much? Stop babbling! Get over here."

Bing Jiu reached out like an eagle's claw and seized Xue Qinghe by the collar.

"Let go!"

Seeing Bing Jiu acting like a thug before him, Xue Qinghe was both shocked and furious. His face flushed scarlet as he struggled with all his might.

For a time, their violent movements caused the carriage to rock again and again.

The surrounding onlookers immediately put on knowing expressions, and even more roses were thrown toward the carriage.

Tuoba Xi, who was driving the carriage, naturally got pelted all over, yet he couldn't even get angry.

He was going numb...

"Get over here!"

Ignoring Xue Qinghe's resistance, Bing Jiu abruptly hooked an arm around his neck and pulled him closer with her other hand.

Xue Qinghe's head was firmly restrained. Bing Jiu immediately leaned in and pressed him down onto the sofa, making his lips leave a print on her cheek.

Xue Qinghe thrashed desperately, but without letting the public notice, he had no way to break free.

A few seconds later, Bing Jiu finally released him. She picked up the mirror and looked; the red lip print was deep and strikingly obvious.

Only then did she nod in satisfaction. "Mm, not bad at all."

"Hey! Who does something like that?!"

Xue Qinghe wiped his mouth. His face was slightly red as he watched Bing Jiu's smug expression, so angry that he stamped his feet.

But he was not about to let Bing Jiu off so easily. He likewise leaned forward and forcefully pressed Bing Jiu's red lips against his own cheek, successfully leaving a red mark.

It even seemed redder than hers.

Only then did Xue Qinghe shrug in satisfaction.

"You took advantage of me, and I took advantage of you. We're even now."

Bing Jiu looked at him and barely managed not to laugh.

Xue Qinghe's face was full of confusion.

The carriage sped onward. Although Ge Long had sent soldiers after them, they did not dare make a move and could only follow from behind.

Before long, the carriage stopped outside the imperial palace.

At this moment, the palace entrance was already packed with reporters from the major newspapers throughout the royal capital.

Clearly, they had all come to report on Xue Qinghe and Bing Jiu.

As soon as the carriage stopped at the palace gates, the reporters hurriedly surrounded it.

However, the Spirit Hall knights nearby would never allow them to approach, so they could only wait quietly.

"Your Highness."

Ge Long also ran over at that moment, panting heavily.

At the same time, the carriage door opened.

Xue Qinghe stepped out first and elegantly bowed slightly toward the person inside.

"My princess, please step down."

Boom—

It was like plunging ice water into scalding hot oil.

The reporters immediately pulled out their cameras and began snapping wildly at the carriage door.

After all, this was the first public appearance of the Spirit Hall Saintess, whose status was equal to Xue Qinghe's!

The cheers around them grew louder and louder!

Under the gaze of countless people, a slender, jade-like hand with distinct knuckles extended from the carriage.

Xue Qinghe held it in both hands as though it were a fragile treasure.

Only then did Bing Jiu emerge from the carriage.

The instant they saw her face clearly, nearly everyone present held their breath at the same time!

Her clothing was sewn from alternating strands of the continent's most valuable ice silkworm silk and gold thread. It was the exclusive attire of the Saintess, symbolizing her standing below only one person and above all others in Spirit Hall.

Yet compared to Bing Jiu's beauty, even such luxurious clothing was no more than an accessory.

Blood-red eyes, a face seemingly sculpted with care by the gods.

Only now did everyone present understand why—why the Crown Prince of an entire nation would lower himself so much to serve Spirit Hall's Saintess!

This girl was a treasure bestowed from the heavens based on her appearance alone! Not to mention that her strength was also at the very top!

But upon closer inspection, an even more shocking sight appeared: both Xue Qinghe and Bing Jiu had a lip print on their faces!

And they were so red! One look was enough to tell they had been kissing for a long time!

This time, the crowd could no longer hold back!

They kissed! They kissed!

They really kissed! The Crown Prince and Spirit Hall Saintess were forming a marriage alliance! They had actually witnessed this wonderful tale firsthand.

And needless to say, their story was destined to set the entire Douluo Continent ablaze!

They shouted wildly, nearly breaking through the line of Spirit Hall warriors!

Xue Qinghe lifted his cloak to shield Bing Jiu from the glare of the flashbulbs.

"This place does not suit you, my princess. Let's speak inside the palace. Xue Ye is waiting for us."

"Alright."

Bing Jiu nodded cooperatively and entered the palace with her entourage. Even after she disappeared from sight, people continued taking pictures from behind.

Ge Long stood outside the imperial palace. For some reason, he felt as though he had survived a calamity.

"Mm... Good thing I didn't stop that carriage directly just now. Otherwise, my head would probably be separated from my body by now."