Chapter 5

Chapter 5

I shot Jiang Xingzhou a look.

He nodded, signaling that he understood.

Then he turned around and opened the door for me.

No! I meant for you to climb out the window first!

The door swung open.

When my Imperial Elder Brother saw Jiang Xingzhou, he greeted him naturally.

“Xingzhou, you’re here.”

Jiang Xingzhou gave a grunt of affirmation.

I was bewildered. Was this even my palace anymore?

My Imperial Elder Brother strode inside, looking around as if searching for something.

Jiang Xingzhou followed behind him, poked my brother, and pointed at me.

My Imperial Elder Brother pursed his lips. “Imperial Younger Sister, you aren’t asleep yet?”

I paused to think.

I was sitting right here, staring at him with my eyes wide open. Did he really need to ask?

I widened my eyes even further. “I’m not. What is it?”

My Imperial Elder Brother breathed a sigh of relief. “A guard went missing from the Eastern Palace. I heard Eunuch Li sent him to your quarters.”

He was here for the Crown Prince of Zhou.

But I was the Crown Princess now. Kidnapping and coercing the Crown Prince of Zhou would cause a diplomatic crisis between our two countries if it were exposed.

I chose to deny it. “No, I haven’t seen any guard. There’s no one in my bed, either.”

Jiang Xingzhou lowered his gaze in thought.

He leaned in and whispered into my brother’s ear, “He’s in her bed. If you don’t believe me, go lift the covers.”

Me: “…”

The way my Imperial Elder Brother looked at me changed.

Wait, even when he was being stripped of his position as Crown Prince, I hadn’t seen him look at me like that.

When his fingers reached for the brocade quilt, I spoke up to stop him.

“Imperial Elder Brother, you know the situation. Eunuch Li represents our Imperial Father. By trying to snatch someone from me, are you showing blatant disregard for my status as Crown Princess?”

If anyone could just waltz in and take people from my bed, what was the point of even being the Crown Princess?

My Imperial Elder Brother looked at me in disbelief before turning to Jiang Xingzhou. “Are you useless?”

Jiang Xingzhou remained silent for a moment. “I’ll do it.”

He was actually siding with my brother instead of me.

I tried to block Jiang Xingzhou, but he watched me in silence. He leaned down, closing the distance, and reached his hand past my waist-

His gaze made me feel self-conscious, and I instinctively turned my head away.

Jiang Xingzhou briskly yanked back the quilt.

The Crown Prince of Zhou was tied to the bed, a cloth stuffed in his mouth. His eyes were bloodshot, and his expression was one of utter shame and rage.

My Imperial Elder Brother’s brow furrowed as he froze in place.

Jiang Xingzhou was also stunned. He looked at me and asked, “You like this sort of thing…?”

Without a word, I moved to the side.

My Imperial Elder Brother pulled the cloth out of the Crown Prince of Zhou’s mouth.

The Crown Prince of Zhou could finally speak.

He immediately threatened to send troops to attack me.

My Imperial Elder Brother ignored him. He drew a dagger from his waist, preparing to cut the ropes.

“Imperial Elder Brother, if you let him go and he comes back for revenge, what then?”

My brother didn’t even look up. “It’s fine. I will persuade him.”

The Crown Prince of Zhou sneered, glaring at me. “I will absolutely have my revenge. Once I raze the Palace City to the ground, I’ll sell you to a-”

Slap.

My Imperial Elder Brother slapped him across the face.

Jiang Xingzhou couldn’t believe he had been a step too slow. He withdrew his hand with a look of regret.

The Crown Prince of Zhou was dazed by the strike.

He looked at my Imperial Elder Brother and murmured, “You hit me?”

My brother’s gaze was calm as he nodded. “Yes. Watch your mouth.”

The Crown Prince of Zhou fell silent.

I didn’t quite understand the relationship between these two.

Since my Imperial Elder Brother wanted to take the Crown Prince of Zhou away, I naturally wouldn’t stop him.

However, I did offer a reminder that the Crown Prince of Zhou’s physical condition was a bit unusual, suggesting that once they left the palace, he should be sent to a brothel.

The Crown Prince of Zhou told me to mind my own business.

My Imperial Elder Brother remained silent for a long while. “I understand.”

The two of them left.

I could finally get some good sleep.

I flopped backward onto the bed and rolled over comfortably.

Only to meet a pair of familiar eyes.

“Jiang Xingzhou, you haven’t left yet?”

When did he get into my bed?