Chapter 31: Scoundrel Versus Lian Jing

“Miss?” Yin Susu called out again from outside, feeling puzzled. Le Qianxue had clearly been here just moments ago—there were traces of her presence—so how could she have vanished without a trace?

“These are likely Miss Le’s footprints. Let’s go inside and take a look,” Haoyue suggested.

Inside, Le Qianxue was about to answer, but then thought of her soaked clothes—and the fact that Zhan Lianjing was also in the pond. If she revealed herself like this, misunderstandings would surely arise. Helpless, she shot Zhan Lianjing a glare and whispered, “Prince Zhan, hide yourself for now.”

He glanced at her, unmoved. “Did you forget my legs are crippled? How do you expect me to hide?”

His meaning was obvious: he had no intention of hiding. Le Qianxue’s anger flared—this was all his fault for dragging her down, and now he wanted to shirk all responsibility!

“You’re utterly irresponsible!” she accused.

Le Qianxue swam closer, pressing near Zhan Lianjing and murmured, “Prince Zhan, dive underwater!”

Zhan Lianjing replied languidly, “No.”

She gritted her teeth, nearly ready to strangle him. This man was infuriating!

She waited a moment, and sure enough, Yin Susu entered. Le Qianxue was upset but unwilling to risk misunderstanding, so she herself dove beneath the water.

Zhan Lianjing, seeing her actions, let a smile curve his lips.

Yin Susu and Haoyue approached, spotting Zhan Lianjing and stopping short. “Prince Zhan?!”

How could he be here? Could the footprints belong to him? Impossible—the prints were too small, nothing like a man’s.

Haoyue, both startled and delighted, immediately knelt. “Your Highness, as long as you’re safe! I was so worried!”

Yin Susu, meanwhile, kept glancing—deliberately or not—at the pond, trying to discern what was beneath the surface.

But Zhan Lianjing’s sharp gaze locked onto her, his tone unfriendly. “Have you seen enough? Why aren’t you leaving?”

Yin Susu knew well how he was. She stepped back, about to depart, but cast one last look at the water.

Zhan Lianjing waved his hand, sending a spray of water in her direction—an aggressive one.

Yin Susu retreated at once, not daring to approach again.

Haoyue quickly pulled her away. “Your Highness, we’re leaving at once.”

Zhan Lianjing added, “Keep your distance.”

Haoyue found it odd but didn’t question it, hurrying out.

Le Qianxue, seeing everyone leave, wanted to surface, only to find Zhan Lianjing suddenly diving as well, holding her head down with his hand.

She struggled and accidentally swallowed a mouthful of water.

In a haze, Zhan Lianjing’s face drew close and pressed a kiss to her lips!

Her limbs went stiff; she nearly forgot her own predicament.

Zhan Lianjing’s gaze was deep, and he gently bit her lower lip.

Le Qianxue winced at the pain, snapping back to herself—damn it! This cripple dared to take liberties with her!

She pushed him away at once, but his hand was quicker, grabbing her wrist and pressing her head down. She felt like a fish on a chopping board, at his mercy.

Zhan Lianjing, sensing her innocence, seemed possessed, endlessly plundering.

Her waist was supple, her eyes angry but beautiful, and her lips were incomparably soft.

The more Zhan Lianjing indulged, the harder Le Qianxue struggled; she had no feelings for him at all, and being molested like this made her want to cripple him!

Suddenly inspired, Le Qianxue jabbed a pressure point on his chest. He frowned and released her!

She finally surfaced, gaining her freedom.

Her lips were swollen and red, fury boiling within her. Seeing Zhan Lianjing also surface, she immediately cursed, “You bastard! What do you take me for? How dare you molest me! Do you think being a prince makes you so great?!”

Zhan Lianjing acted as if nothing had happened, running his hand through his wet hair. “I saw you about to drown, so I gave you breath underwater. What, was that wrong?”

Le Qianxue stared wide-eyed—what twisted logic was this!

She steadied her breath, glaring at him once, twice, never satisfied.

“You clearly took advantage of me!” she said.

“So what if I did? If you feel wronged, I’ll marry you,” Zhan Lianjing replied.

Le Qianxue’s fury exploded; her eyes nearly spat fire. “It was only a kiss—I’ll treat it as being bitten by a dog! I don’t need Prince Zhan to condescend to marry me!”

Zhan Lianjing looked at her with a deep gaze. “Are you calling me a dog?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Le Qianxue struck his face with a palm. “Taking advantage! Isn’t that just a dog in human guise?!”

Her movements were swift; she climbed ashore in an instant, eyes red with anger, and strode out of the cave.

Zhan Lianjing called after her, “Le Qianxue! Stop right there!”

But with her anger burning, she had no intention of obeying him.

He might be a prince, but Le Qianxue wasn’t afraid of him.

Outside the cave, her clothes were soaked—she couldn’t possibly return to Monkey Head Village just yet.

She headed toward the creek, growing ever more annoyed.

In her past life, she’d been the head of the Tang family, devoted to medicine and alchemy, rarely interacting with men. Any man who took advantage of her would inevitably be poisoned.

But now, she felt she’d been too soft—only giving Zhan Lianjing a slap!

“He really got off easy,” Le Qianxue grumbled, searching for a way to dry her clothes.

Inside the cave, after circulating his internal energy for a while, Zhan Lianjing finally regained enough strength in his legs to climb ashore.

She had left; he couldn’t pursue her immediately.

Zhan Lianjing dressed, still feeling the sting on his face. Le Qianxue truly didn’t hold back.

His gaze grew dark.

He slowly walked to the cave’s entrance and called out with his internal energy, “Haoyue.”

Haoyue, hearing him, rushed over.

“Where is everyone?” Zhan Lianjing asked.

He’d sensed through his internal energy that Haoyue and Zhuixing had brought many men.

Haoyue answered, “Everyone’s in Monkey Head Village.”

“Let’s return,” Zhan Lianjing ordered.

Haoyue hesitated before daring to ask, “Your Highness, may I ask—did your illness flare up two days ago, which is why you abandoned Miss Le?”

Zhan Lianjing replied, “Yes.”

Haoyue had suspected as much, but this couldn’t be revealed to outsiders, so proper explanation to Le Qianxue was impossible.

Back in the village, Zhan Lianjing found Le Qianxue hadn’t returned, so he waited.

Zhuixing had already sent word, summoning the Prince Zhan’s household to hurry over and escort Zhan Lianjing back to the capital.

But as night fell, Le Qianxue still hadn’t come back.

Even Yin Susu was worried—could Le Qianxue have run into trouble?

Zhan Lianjing’s expression was grim. “Find her.”

Haoyue and Zhuixing quickly sent men to search. They’d just found Zhan Lianjing, but now Le Qianxue had disappeared—truly exhausting.

After a while, Yin Susu saw Le Qianxue approaching from outside.

Le Qianxue walked slowly, her gaze empty, as though utterly worn out.

Yin Susu hurried over. “Miss, where have you been?”

Le Qianxue, seeing Yin Susu, replied instinctively, “I went to gather herbs.”

“It’s already dark—how could you gather herbs now?” Yin Susu was suspicious; Le Qianxue seemed to be lying.

Le Qianxue could only say, “I wandered too far, so it took longer to return.”

Yin Susu nodded. As long as Le Qianxue was safe, nothing else mattered.

Haoyue, hearing of Le Qianxue’s return, came out with a joyful smile. “Miss Le, you’re back—His Highness has been worried about you all day.”

Le Qianxue frowned. “Who asked him to worry?”

Haoyue was taken aback—why was Le Qianxue so abrasive?

She went straight to untie her horse’s reins, saying to Yin Susu, “Let’s go.”

Yin Susu protested, “It’s already dark—it’s not safe to travel.”

Le Qianxue’s sudden urge to leave was odd.

“I have something to do,” Le Qianxue insisted. “Hurry up.”

Yin Susu, loyal to her mistress, complied, untying her own horse and mounting alongside Le Qianxue.

“Le Qianxue! You dare leave just like this?!” Zhan Lianjing appeared at the door, his gaze icy.

Haoyue tried to persuade her. “Miss Le, best to leave with us in the morning.”

Le Qianxue didn’t even look back. “No, I don’t want to return with a dog.”

With that, she dug her heels in, and her horse shot off.

Yin Susu hurried after, wondering—dog? Who did she mean?

Zhan Lianjing heard her words, and the doorframe bore the imprints of his fingers.

Haoyue sensed the chill radiating from him but had no idea what was wrong.

After a long silence, Zhan Lianjing snorted. “Calling me a dog—she’ll regret it one day.”

He returned to his room and slammed the door.

Haoyue tilted her head, unable to fathom what was going on.

She sighed—how strange both of them were today.

Le Qianxue rode through the night, returning to the capital. But that very evening, she developed a fever.

Yin Susu knew her mistress was a physician and wanted to ask what medicine to take.

But Le Qianxue’s illness left her in a constant slumber, barely waking.

With no choice, Yin Susu summoned a doctor.

Le Qianxue, half-conscious, felt someone feeding her bitter decoctions, so foul she wanted to vomit everything.

Sweat broke out on her brow as she finally roused herself.

“You’re finally awake,” Yin Susu said, brow furrowed. “Hurry—drink your medicine.”

Le Qianxue understood her condition, her voice hoarse. “It’s so bitter—forcing myself to drink it will shave years off my life.”

“You complain about everything! Do you know that after you fell ill, that Aunt Xu from your manor came around flaunting her power, wishing for your death?” Yin Susu exclaimed. “Drink up and get well soon—Uncle Zeng told me the Emperor returns to the capital tomorrow, and your father is coming with him. How can you face them while sick?”

Le Qianxue listened, then said, “Fetch the pills from the red box in my medicine chest. I guarantee I’ll be cured by tomorrow.”