Yu Zhen chuckled. "Okay, let's go--"

"Yu, Yu Zhen?"

Hearing the familiar female voice, everyone was stunned. Li Xueyue examined Yu Zhen's expression. He got nervous and stood in front of her in the blink of an eye, blocking her and the woman who had just called his name.

Another voice said hesitantly: "Princess, I don't think these people are the second prince's men--"

"But this is the emblem of the Han sword. Even if I were blind, I could recognize the symbol of my country."

Princess? Li Xueyue blinked. Was she one of the candidates sent by Han Jian? An eye for an eye, until the world becomes blind.

“Yu Zhen, is that you?” The princess tried to see through the barrier of people around the commander. As a petite lady, she couldn’t see into their heads.

"Who is that?" Li Xueyue asked, tilting her head, hoping to see the woman clearly.

If she vaguely remembered, one of the candidates was supposed to marry Wen Jinkai. The mere thought of it was enough to give her goosebumps. Not pity or longing for him, but pity and sympathy for the girls who had experienced his wrath.

"No one." Yu Zhen's voice was stern. He grabbed her wrist and said, "Change the plan. I'll take you home."

"Yu Zhen, please, I just want to talk--"

"Quiet!" His roar surprised Li Xueyue, who had never seen this side of him.

Her eyes fell on his face, which was clouded. She frowned as his hands tightened around her wrists, threatening to break the fragile little thing. He trembled, not with fear, but with anger.

"Yu, Yu Zhen—" the woman stammered.

"We are not familiar with each other. To you, he is the second prince." He said angrily.

Princess Yuxiyan took a step back and lowered her head, unsure if he had seen her. How could she have forgotten her etiquette?

The second prince, Yu Zhen, was the coldest son of Emperor Jian of Han. His cruelty was astronomical, and he showed no mercy to those who crossed paths with him. He was known to be cold to everyone except his close friends.

Princess Yu Xiyan swallowed her saliva. Every prince she sought help from must have despised the entire Cold Sword Imperial Family.

"I'm sorry, Second Prince, I was wrong. I just--"

"leave."

Her eyes opened wide. "Please, Second Prince! He, he doesn't want me to—"

Yu Zhen's wrist flicked, and his men immediately grabbed her. "Get her out of my sight."

"Yes, Your Highness." In just a few seconds, she was escorted out of the venue and a new group of guards immediately took over the vacant position.

'What is that? ' Li Xueyue suddenly felt that she had been deceived by him. Who was this man? Was the character he showed her just an illusion? A daydream hiding a nightmare?

"Uh, Yu Zhen——"

"What?!" He shouted, and his eyes widened when he saw the shocked Li Xueyue. Before she could react, he pulled her closer, put one hand behind her head, and pressed her against him.

"I'm sorry." Yu Zhen sighed and hugged her. "Did I scare you?" He stepped back and examined her face.

Yu Zhen hoped that she was an open book. He couldn't read what was going on in her mind.

Her eyes flicked from the guard to the ground, then back to him. "What's that?"

"Duty."

'That's it? ' she thought to herself. All this noise and he brushed it off with just one sentence? She wondered who that woman was. He was obviously familiar with her, and she was Princess Hanjian. A younger sister, perhaps?

"Isn't she your sister?"

"My half sister."

"Aren't you going to help her?"

Yu Zhen analyzed her furrowed brow and thin lips. She didn't seem to be happy with his behavior, but what right did she have to judge him?

"She's a princess. She has a responsibility to her kingdom. This is the price they pay for a life of luxury."

"So what price are you willing to pay to become a prince?"

Yu Zhen didn't respond. He just stared at her for the longest time.

She just liked testing what turned him on, didn't she? Why couldn't she read the mood and understand that he wasn't in the mood for interrogation? Now was not the place or time for her to argue with him.

Then again, it was his fault that he was attracted to a stubborn woman like her. She had come close to crossing his boundaries, but he had never made it clear. He couldn't blame her for not understanding him.

Finally, he sighed. "Let's get you home, Sunshine."

"You did not answer my question."

"I know."

"Why?" she asked.

"I do not want."

"Yu Zhen——"

"You've crossed the line!" He growled, a warning flashing in his eyes.

Li Xueyue opened her mouth, unable to believe that he dared to yell at her at a time like this. She opened her mouth and closed it again, unable to express her emotions in words. She was offended by his tone and his behavior betrayed her trust. Slowly, her impression of him began to shatter. Who exactly was this man?

"You never made it clear what you didn't want me to cross."

"Well, it's all my fault." Yu Zhen sighed. "Are you happy now?"

Li Xueyue's face froze instantly. She took a step back from him, and when he tried to touch her, she slapped his hand away.

"Snow Moon——"

"I'm going home." Not wanting to wait for his answer, she rushed past his guards in the direction of the stables.

It wasn’t until she heard a buzzing sound in the air that Li Xueyue realized she wasn’t wearing a veil. She lowered her head, letting her hair cover her features like a curtain. It wasn’t long before she realized Yu Zhen wasn’t chasing her.

Li Xueyue refused to look back, even though she wished she could see him. If he was going to do that, then she would do the same.

When she arrived at the stables, she tried to hand over the money, but to her horror, she had no more money on her. She had spent all her money on food. And because she had followed Yu Zhen out of the house without any notice, she had not brought any servants or guards with her. She had trapped herself in this situation.

"Twenty silver coins, then, miss."

Li Xueyue reached into her pocket, desperately looking for a way to pay. When her fingers brushed against something, she excitedly took it out. To her disappointment, it was exactly the black opal that Yu Zhen had given her. Just seeing this stone made her angry. It was like looking into his eyes again.

"Hmm..." Her voice trailed off, and she finally found herself empty. "I-I can trade you a hairpin, okay?" She pulled one out of her hair, revealing a five-petal flower made of carved topaz and studded with freshwater pearls.

The stable boy frowned and put his hands on his waist. "What do I need a hairpin for? If you don't have money, you can't have your horse."

In the largest stall closest to them, Heiyue stamped his feet impatiently and snorted angrily. He clearly heard Xueyue's voice. Why didn't she come here to pamper him?

"This is worth more than twenty silver coins—"

"Xueyue?" A familiar voice sounded from behind her.

Li Xueyue suddenly stiffened and cursed herself for her bad luck. Why did she meet Bai Tianai at this time?!

"She's a princess to you." Li Xueyue turned around angrily. When she saw the man next to Bai Tianai, her face turned pale. That man was none other than Zheng Leiyu.

He carefully examined every inch of her skin, his face pale with fear. Is this Bai Xueyue? His eyes suddenly looked at Bai Tianai. How long has she known about this? He knew he should be suspicious of the tournament.

At a close look, this woman really looks like the little girl he played with when he was a child. Even though she has matured and put on the cloak of wealth, she can't change her doe eyes full of cosmic wonders.

"Haha, you're showing your true colors now, right?" Bai Tianai chuckled and grabbed Zheng Leiyu's arm. "What's wrong, princess?" She uttered the last word in disgust.

"Can't afford the stables? You're pathetic."

"You'll be facing a situation like this soon," Li Xueyue commented, throwing her hair over her shoulders.

"You are so rich. It's pitiful that the Li family, who loves to show off their wealth, is so poor." Bai Tianai chuckled and hugged Zheng Leiyu tighter.

"She's so pitiful. Thunderstorm. The stable only costs a few silver coins, and she can't even afford it."

Zheng Leiyu continued to look at Xueyue in astonishment, as if he couldn't believe that she was standing in front of him.

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