Forced to Marry the Enemy Prince - Forced to Marry the Enemy Prince - Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Zhan Lue’s gaze was a bit scary, like a puppy that hasn’t gotten its treat. A glint of threat was displayed in his eyes.

Xian Sheng reached over to grab the plum blossom branch. “Since Your Highness isn’t willing, then I won’t go.”

Zhan Lue shifted his hand, however. “Since when can you take back a gift you’ve given to someone already?”

“So you agree to bring me with you?”

“Depends on how well you behave.”

Xian Sheng didn’t get to stay out for too long before he was brought back into the room by Zhan Lue. But considering how he got to see the snow today, Xian Sheng was quite satisfied.

Now that he was in Jin Country, he needed Zhan Lue’s permission for everything. Therefore, he didn’t purposely provoke him. He took his cloak off and hung it on the screen. Zhan Lue went to the study while Xian Sheng leaned against the couch by the window, reading the book he brought over from home.

“Princess.” Ruyi suddenly reported, “Princess Zhan Yin came to visit you. The Crown Prince asked if you want her to come in or not.”

Xian Sheng thought of the nerve-wrecking experience on the horse carriage back then when Zhan Yin was mentioned. He knitted his brows, feeling like Zhan Yin and Zhan Lue were the same. He hated them both.

But even though Zhan Lue let him decide, there was no way Xian Sheng could really refuse to see her. Therefore, he nodded.

Zhan Yin even brought along Zhan Jin and Qing Rong. The three walked in and stomped their feet, taking off their cloaks. They greeted Xian Sheng and said, “Paying respects to the royal sister-in-law. We heard that the royal sister-in-law was sick, so we decided to come and visit… It’s my fault for colliding into you yesterday. Please don’t pay much attention to this.”

“It doesn’t matter. Don’t take it to heart.” Xian Sheng said against his will, let them sit down one after another, and let people serve cakes. Qing Rong said, “Princess, don’t bother. I made some plum blossom cakes myself. It’s still hot. I’ll bring them to you and your Highness for a taste.”

Ruyi received the pastries and placed it in front of Xian Sheng. He looked at it before praising, “Princess’ baking skills are superb.”

Qing Rong smiled shyly and exclaimed, “Crown Princess, you’re flattering me…right? His Highness is in the study. I’ll personally bring some over to him. It’s best to eat the pastry while it’s still warm. It won’t taste as good when it’s cold.”

Ruyi looked at Xian Sheng and the latter said, “Servant, bring princess over.”

Qing Rong was quite shocked, but she still thanked her and left with the servant.

The moment Zhan Yin came in, she had been staring at Xian Sheng. Zhan Jin didn’t make it as obvious as her. While looking at Xian Sheng from the corner of her eyes, she tugged Zhan Yin’s sleeves.

She suddenly thought of something and hurriedly grabbed a box of something from her personal maid. She walked over in large strides and said, “This is top notch solid perfume, offered as tribute from other countries. I heard it’s a complicated process to produce this. That’s why it’s incredibly valuable. I’ve begged my empress mother for a long time before she gave me a box. However, perfumes are for beautiful women. Sister-in-law, please enjoy this!”

The moment she opened the box, Zhan Jin’s expressions slightly changed.

Ruyi’s expression became a bit stiff. Xian Sheng looked down at it, his smile still there. “It is great. It also smells like plum blossoms. Princess, you’re thoughtful.”

Zhan Yin couldn’t contain her excitement. “Let me apply some on for my sister-in-law.”

Xian Sheng subconsciously moved back, but Zhan Yin already applied some. She moved over and wiped it on her wrist. The woman’s fingertips were a bit soft, making Xian Sheng knit his brows and his heart pounded quickly.

Zhan Yin asked eagerly, “Does it smell good?”

“It smells pretty good.” Xian Sheng had Ruyi accept it. He moved his hands back into his sleeves and cupped the hand warmer. “It is quite complicated to create this perfume. In order to guarantee the quality, it had to be filtered many times before the shape was formed. There can’t be any residue at all. While it is solidifying, it also needs to be placed in a room with the right temperature. But even so, of the ten boxes created, there will at least be eight where there are bubbles or cracks. Therefore, extremely few are created.”

Zhan Yin kept on praising it, “Sister-in-law, you’re incredible! You even know this!”

Xian Sheng smiled again. “If my guess is right, this should be the tribute offered by the North Liang after signing the peace treaty.”

The room was silent for two seconds. Zhan Yin was also stunned. She was about to explain when she heard Xian Sheng say, “I like it a lot. Princess, please have a seat and eat some pastries.”

Zhan Yin moved back stiffly. She turned around to look at Zhan Jin, lowering her voice. “It was offered by the North Liang…”

Zhan Jin also clenched her teeth. “You were being mysterious with me, saying that she would definitely like it. How am I supposed to know you chose that?”

“…Would she think I was purposely trying to humiliate her?”

They didn’t know whether Xian Sheng thought they were trying to humiliate him, but he wasn’t that affectionate with the girls.

The atmosphere in the room was a bit awkward. During that time, Qing Rong had already walked to Zhan Lue’s study. The guard, Gao Xuan, paid his respects. “There’s heavy snow today. Why did the princess come over?”

“I made some food. Crown Princess had me personally bring it over. I hope you can tell the Crown Prince that.”

Gao Xuan walked in. The Crown Prince was supporting his chin with his hands as he glanced at the plum blossom branch he just brought back. He seemed to be infatuated. Gao Xuan coughed and brought Qing Rong’s words. Zhan Lue immediately placed his hands down and raised his brows. “The Crown Princess had her bring it over?”

“Yes.”

“Let her come over.”

His expression turned cold. Qing Rong walked in and greeted him. “I personally made plum blossom pastries. I hope Your Highness can taste it while it’s still warm.”

“Xian Sheng had you come over?”

“Yes. She even specially had someone guide me over. Zhan Yin is apologizing to her inside the room. The atmosphere is a bit awkward, and I don’t know what to say either. Therefore, I thought about just coming over to find Your Highness instead.”

Zhan Lue rubbed the white jade ornamental thumb ring used for archery. Fiery blaze sparked in his eyes. Qing Rong delivered the pastries over to him, saying, “Your Highness? What’s the matter?”

Zhan Lue looked coldly at him. Qing Rong slightly held in her breath. But she watched as his expression changed and he slowly said, “The Crown Princess is really considerate. It’s just too sweet. I’m not used to it.”

Qing Rong stayed silent.

She personally made the pastries and brought it over, so why was Xian Sheng the considerate one? He didn’t even taste it before saying that he wasn’t used to it. Didn’t that mean that he disliked her pastries?

“I’m going ahead to take a look.”

He stood up but then walked back, putting away a white jade hairpin.

Qing Rong followed his footsteps and said, “I’ve seen Your Highness playing with that hairpin frequently in the past. I was wondering whose it is. But it seems like it must belong to the Crown Princess?”

Zhan Lue replied honestly, “Yes.”

“It’s just a bit too plain. It doesn’t seem like something belonging to the princess of a country.”

“She disguised as a man that day. I personally took it off her hair.”

He didn’t stop walking. When he finished his words, he arrived at the room. Qing Rong temporarily paused and pinched her fingers before following in.

The atmosphere in the room didn’t seem right. Zhan Jin stood up first and greeted him. Zhan Yin followed along. Xian Sheng was about to get off the bed when Zhan Lue stopped him.

Zhan Lue understood his younger sister. Seeing her guilty expression, he asked, “What did you do this time?”

Zhan Yin didn’t dare to talk. Xian Sheng was about to talk when Zhan Lue stopped him. “Zhan Jin, talk.”

Zhan Jin said in a low and soft voice, respectfully, “A-Yin gave sister-in-law the solid perfume offered as tribute by the North Liang as apology.”

Zhan Lue looked at Zhan Ying. Qing Rong suddenly walked over and said, “This must be a misunderstanding. A-Yin must not mean anything. Crown Princess is very generous and forgiving. She naturally won’t hold a grudge over this.”

Xian Sheng thought: no matter whether I’m angry at Zhan Yin or not, Qing Rong made it seem like I am.

If Zhan Yin was misunderstood and apologized today, people would think he was stingy and he might be targeted in the future.

He felt uncomfortable, but he didn’t open his mouth. Unexpectedly, Zhan Yin fired a gun at Qing Rong: “It’s her business that sister-in-law is tolerant or not. You’re here to put pressure on her!”

Zhan Yin looked at her brother and sister-in-law again and said in a soft voice, “I really don’t mean anything else, sister-in-law. Don’t give me the same opinion.”

Xian Sheng suddenly found this funny. “I’m not angry. You really don’t need to place this in your heart.”

Zhan Yin wanted to say something else, but she was kicked out by her elder brother. She left the room gloomily as Zhan Jin softly comforted. Qing Rong said, “She’s clearly angry at you. Why do you have to stoop down and make yourself gloomy by doing that?”

“What do you know?!” Zhan Yin said, “It was my fault in the first place. It makes sense if she’s angry at me…I feel like you’re acting quite strange today. It seems like you’re purposely targeting my sister-in-law? What’s the matter?”

Qing Rong tried to conceal her motive, smiling. “You’re overthinking. I just feel bad for you.”

“If you’re really saying this for my good, then you should know that I want to give her the world just so she won’t be angry at me!”

“…You’re also a woman. Aren’t you jealous?”

“You’re jealous? Will that do anything? You can’t even compare to one of her fingers.”

Qing Rong was speechless, her expression a little unwell.

Zhan Yin walked towards the horse carriage, simple-minded. When Zhan Jin passed by Qing Rong’s side, she comforted, “She usually speaks what’s on her mind, but she doesn’t mean any bad to you.”

“I know.”

Zhan Jin walked forward when Qing Rong’s gaze flickered. “You’ve grown taller lately.”

Zhan Jin stopped. She appeared weak and frail when facing her, but she stood up straight. Qing Rong couldn’t see her expression, but she knew that she must be wearing an icy look. She said strangely, “Hey, could the princess of Liang Country be the same as you?”

The moment Zhan Yin and the rest left, Ruyi was kicked out. Xian Sheng and Zhan Lue were the only ones left in the room. He subconsciously looked at Zhan Lue, feeling like he was angry.

He was wondering in his heart when Zhan Lue suddenly said, “There are so many maids in the room, so why did you let Qing Rong personally send pastries to me?”

Xian Sheng slowly explained, “The princess requested herself.”

“You just agreed because she asked? Can’t you tell that she has feelings for me?”

Xian Sheng was a little surprised. Zhan Lue could actually tell as well.

He explained, “I have a weak body. You’re going to have to get a few concubines in the future anyway. Princess Qing Rong is beautiful and has feelings for you too. If empress dowager lets her become your concubine…I think that’s pretty good too.”

Zhan Lue curled the corner of his lips up, but he wore a dangerous gaze. “We just had our wedding ceremony, and you’re thinking about getting more concubines for me? You think that because I have concubines, you’ll be able to wear the title as the Crown Princess without worry, and won’t need to serve me either?”

“No!” Xian Sheng knew that coaxing him was better than going against him. Afraid that he might become angry and pounce on him again, he said, feeling wronged, “I just came to the North by myself. If I make it seem like I’m envious of people, I’ll make enemies… After all, it’s your fault for not making things clear with her. Otherwise, why would she actively come look for you? It’s clearly your love debt. How can you blame me for it?”

In the end, his eyes became teary. He even placed the blame on Zhan Lue instead, making the latter knit his brows. “Then you’re just doing this because the situation calls for it? You’re actually not willing to do this?”

Xian Sheng didn’t answer directly, “Which woman would want to share a husband with someone else? Who wouldn’t want their husband to themselves?”

Zhan Lue looked at him for a while before wiping the tears off the corner of Xian Sheng’s eyes. His expression softened as he said, “I just hope the princess can care about me.”

“If you want me to care about you, you should do the same to me.” Xian Sheng pursed his lips. “You’re doing all this just so you can take advantage of me. You don’t genuinely like me.”

Zhan Lue was delighted by Xian Sheng’s delicate expression. He lowered his attitude and said, “It’s because I like you that I want to have you.”

“If you genuinely like me, you should wait until I’m willing.”

Zhan Lue looked at him and slightly pinched his fingers. “Princess, you make it sound like you’re forced to marry me.”

“That’s how it was…originally.”

Zhan Lue paused and tested the waters. “How about now?”

“Now…” Xian Sheng looked at him and suddenly kissed his face. He pretended to be embarrassed and shifted his gaze. In a small voice, “I now like you a little bit. But I still need some more time.”

Zhan Lue looked at him before replying hoarsely, “How long?”

Xian Sheng could tell that he was going to back off, so he calmed down a bit. While doing so, he quickly looked at him and said, “I won’t tell you.”

Zhan Lue’s breath slightly hitched. His mind was blank from his gaze. He still felt the gentle touch on his face. It felt like something was aching to burst out of his heart.

He was thinking that if Xian Sheng had the intention of seducing him, he’d be ruined in his hands.

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