The palace banquet dispersed as twilight descended. Crimson Nine politely declined the Imperial sedan chair, opting to walk toward the Shenwu Gate to retrieve her horse. Her snow-white combat gear stood out sharply against the narrow palace corridors—naturally drawing two uninvited guests.
"Zhaoning! Wait!"
An urgent voice broke the silence of the palace path. Xiao Yu, the Second Prince, strode forward, cutting off her path. His expression was stripped of its usual arrogance and disdain, replaced by a feverish, almost delusional obsession.
He stared into her indifferent eyes, his voice hurried. "Zhaoning, I was blind before. I never realized you possessed such spirit. That night at the General's Manor... I was a fool, blinded by those common, vulgar women. If you just nod, I will go to my mother immediately. I'll make Father retract the decree to marry you to Xiao Zhan. You will still be my primary consort... No, I will treat you better than anyone else!"
Crimson Nine stopped. She looked at this face full of self-indulgent "sincerity" as if she were looking at a complete idiot.
[System Prompt: Detecting speech patterns of a High-Level Narcissist. Suggestion: Ignore completely or apply physical cooling.]
"Your Highness," Crimson Nine let out a cold laugh, pointing a finger at his head. "If your brain is broken, see a royal physician sooner rather than later. In this world, the 'grass' you try to graze on a second time isn't just bitter—it tastes like crap. Now move. You're blocking my way."
"Second Brother... what are you doing?"
A voice, weak yet laced with suppressed "indignation," drifted from behind.
Xiao Zhan approached slowly, leaning "heavily" on Shadow Blade. His face was as pale as thin parchment, draped in a massive white fox-fur cloak that made him look incredibly fragile, as if a single gust of wind might scatter him to the dust.
He reached Crimson Nine's side, his body swaying slightly as if his strength had failed him. His long, jade-like hand—chillingly cold—rested "weakly" on her shoulder.
Xiao Zhan leaned into her, a sickly sorrow clouding his brow as his voice dropped to a low murmur:
"Second Brother, Father's decree has been issued. Ning'er is now my fiancée. For you to intercept your younger brother's bride in public... I fear even Noble Consort Zhao won't be able to protect your reputation if this gets out."
He finished by pressing a hand to his lips and letting out a series of violent, hacking coughs. The image of a wronged yet steadfast husband protecting his wife was "Green Tea" acting at its absolute peak.
"Xiao Zhan! You sickly weakling with no clan to back you, how dare you—" Xiao Yu's eyes blazed with fury. He swung a fist and lunged.
"Oops."
Before the punch could connect, Crimson Nine's eyes sharpened. She pivoted her body with a speed invisible to the naked eye, grabbing Xiao Yu's wrist. With a simple pull-and-push maneuver, she redirected his own momentum.
To any onlooker, it appeared as though Xiao Zhan had "risked his life" to shield Chu Zhaoning and was almost hit. In reality, Crimson Nine had precisely guided Xiao Yu's force.
THUD!
Xiao Yu, having lunged with too much power, flew forward like a broken kite and slammed face-first into a freshly watered, muddy flowerbed. Mud splashed everywhere; he looked utterly pathetic.
"Your Highness, are you alright?" Crimson Nine reached out to steady the "tottering" Xiao Zhan, her tone dripping with the amusement of someone who saw through the whole act.
Xiao Zhan took the opportunity to lean the majority of his weight against her. His cold breath brushed against her ear, his voice clear as ice yet his words burning with ambiguity:
"Ning'er, your Senior Brother just 'risked his life' to protect you. How do you plan to repay this debt of gratitude?"
[System Analysis: Close-range scan. Target Xiao Zhan. Heart rate: 110.]
[Conclusion: Non-pathological. Identified as high arousal and massive dopamine secretion.]
[Note: This individual's acting score: 99/100. Danger Level: SSS.]
Feeling the body heat on her shoulder and the man's deliberate "weakling" act, Crimson Nine whispered back, "Your Highness, your pulse is racing faster than the Second Prince's was just now. What play are you staging? The 'Sickly Beauty' saves the hero?"
A flash of startled wonder crossed Xiao Zhan's eyes, quickly dissolving into a deeper smile. Though he appeared weak, his gaze at that moment held a calm, terrifyingly firm resolve—a "protective" instinct that no one could break.
"Second Brother, it seems you really should listen to Ning'er and get your head checked." Xiao Zhan straightened his back slightly. Though his face remained pale, his eyes were full of condescending contempt as he looked at Xiao Yu in the mud.
Xiao Yu crawled out of the dirt, half his face covered in black sludge. He looked ashamed and resentful, like a stray dog kicked into a ditch.
"Ning'er." Xiao Zhan's voice was very low now.
"Your Senior Brother took a punch for you." He tilted his head, his breath hovering close. "This debt... how do you intend to settle it?"
Crimson Nine shot him a side-glance. "Xiao Zhan, act all you want, but don't play your games on me."
She lowered her voice, threatening him word by word: "The next time you dare to lean on me for no reason, I will snap those 'fragile' bones of yours piece by piece!"
"Snap my bones?" Xiao Zhan murmured to himself. He watched Crimson Nine vault onto her horse, his eyes hiding a trace of morbid craving. "Ning'er... I'll be waiting."
Crimson Nine didn't bother watching the rest of the "dog-eat-dog" drama. She flicked the reins, her white gear flashing like lightning through the night, leaving the two Princes on the palace path, each harboring their own dark designs.