Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Zhao Heche was seated in the third position to my right.

Lin Feizhi sat a bit further away, in the eighth position on the right.

I had originally intended to sneak a few glances at Lin Feizhi.

But as my gaze drifted across the room, it kept lingering on Zhao Heche’s elegant and exceptionally beautiful face.

He seemed to have had a few drinks; his lips were red, his teeth white, and the corners of his eyes were tinged with a decadent, gorgeous flush.

My heart began to itch again.

Irritated, I downed the wine in my cup in one go.

Get a grip! Do you want to spend another eight hours in a cell?!

I steadied my nerves. When I looked up again, I saw Lin Feizhi rise and leave the banquet.

The best way to forget one man is to go after another.

Using the excuse of needing some fresh air, I followed him out.

I found Lin Feizhi by the pond in the rear garden.

Though he had been drinking, it didn’t show on his face-except for his eyes. They were shimmering like water, suddenly revealing a hint of passion that was even more vibrant than the nearby plum blossoms.

I have to take him down. I must take him down today.

After a few pleasantries, I cut straight to the chase:

“Lin Feizhi, what do you think about following this princess?”

“This princess can grant you high office and great wealth.”

I watched his expression. Although he looked somewhat shocked, at least it wasn’t the look of someone who wanted to send me to prison.

I breathed a sigh of relief and continued, “I am the legitimate Eldest Princess, born of the same mother as the Crown Prince. My maternal grandfather is Grand Secretary Gao.”

Lin Feizhi didn’t answer for a long while, and I didn’t rush him.

If he didn’t have a bit of backbone and self-respect, it would be boring, wouldn’t it?

After a long time, he finally spoke. “Does Her Highness mean… for me to become a Prince Consort?”

Huh?

“Not exactly…”

Having a Prince Consort would make it inconvenient to start a harem.

“You just need to occasionally do some… lovey-dovey things with me.”

Lin Feizhi seemed to understand, yet also seemed not to.

His face turned beet red. Just as he was about to speak, a chilled voice rang out:

“The Princess certainly has an elegant interest.”

It was Zhao Heche.

He stood about ten paces away. A gentle breeze blew, causing the plum blossoms beside him to rustle and fall around him.

Normally, I would be drooling over such a sight.

But right now, my scalp just felt numb.

He couldn’t have heard what I just said, could he?

It’s over. I feel like this is a ten-year sentence at minimum.

I’m a dead woman.

Seeing Zhao Heche arrive, Lin Feizhi acted as if he’d seen a savior. He cupped his hands in a salute, turned, and hurried away.

He moved so fast it was as if a ghost were chasing him.

Only Zhao Heche and I remained by the pond.

He stood a few steps away, his expression unreadable.

“I sought out the Princess originally to apologize for the misunderstanding the other day. I did not expect to disturb the Princess’s elegant interest.”

A misunderstanding?

He hadn’t misunderstood at all.

But he said he was apologizing.

I immediately put on a serious face. “That’s right. You certainly did misunderstand that day. Hurry up and apologize, this princess is listening.”

Zhao Heche looked at me with dark eyes. After a long pause, he suddenly gave a light laugh. “Princess, is today a misunderstanding as well?”

“I suppose so. Otherwise, surely you wouldn’t go and provoke Young Master Lin right after provoking me.”

“You are of noble birth, of exalted status, but I beg of you to stop making sport of me.”

Perhaps because of the wine, his face was slightly flushed, and a crimson plum blossom rested on his shoulder.

Sigh, with a face like that, how could he think I was making sport of him instead of actually wanting to kiss him?

But making sport of him shouldn’t lead to prison.

So, let’s go with him thinking I’m making sport of him…

I nodded solemnly. “Fine.”