While Ye Ling'er's attention was entirely captured by the piece of enriched uranium, Xiao Feng suddenly pressed a kiss against her tender, rosy lips.
Before she could react, Xiao Feng turned and walked away, waving without looking back.
"Consider that interest. Once you break through to the Grandmaster realm, I'll come back to collect the principal!"
(ω)
Watching Xiao Feng's dashing figure disappear into the distance, Ye Ling'er's delicate face flushed slightly, revealing a rare, girlish shyness.
Meanwhile, the lawsuit between Fan Xian and Guo Baokun had drawn the attention of the Crown Prince and the Second Prince. News of this soon reached Emperor Qing's ears.
Originally, Emperor Qing had intended to shield Fan Xian. However, upon learning that Xiao Feng had personally gone to treat Lin Wan'er's illness, he abruptly changed his plans.
Compared to matters of the heart, Emperor Qing valued his own power far more.
His decision to betroth Lin Wan'er to Fan Xian was not out of compensation but rather to have Fan Xian take over the Imperial Treasury, balancing the power struggle between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince to stabilize the court.
If Emperor Qing truly cared for Fan Xian, he would never have dragged him into the perilous battle for succession.
Now, with the appearance of Xiao Feng, the Sacred Son of the Divine Temple, Emperor Qing's perspective had shifted significantly.
If Emperor Qing could truly break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, extending his lifespan to three hundred years, the need for an heir would become trivial.
Thus, Emperor Qing's current priority was to help Xiao Feng overcome his trial and obtain the cultivation techniques for the Foundation Establishment stage.
According to Dian Wei and the others, when Xiao Feng encountered those tied to his Mortal Tribulation, he typically only had two approaches: subjugation or suppression.
Since Xiao Feng was willing to treat Lin Wan'er, it meant he intended to subjugate her.
In that case, the betrothal between Fan Xian and Lin Wan'er became a hindrance. Emperor Qing decided to seize the opportunity to annul their engagement.
Soon, Emperor Qing drafted a new edict and sent it to the Capital Prefecture.
The edict roughly stated: Fan Xian, lacking virtue, plagiarized poetry and later assaulted a court official. His reckless and defiant actions have betrayed Our favor. Hence, his marriage to Princess Chen is hereby dissolved, and he is ordered to reflect upon his mistakes within the Fan residence for one month.
Fan Xian, who had never even met Lin Wan'er, had always resented the imperial marriage arrangement. This edict, ironically, aligned with his wishes.
As for the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, while they pretended to lament Fan Xian's misfortune, inwardly, they were overjoyed.
The Crown Prince's stance was obvious—everyone knew the Grand Princess was aligned with him. The Imperial Treasury, managed by her, was effectively under his control. Naturally, he had no desire to see Fan Xian take over.
The Second Prince's delight stemmed from the fact that while the Grand Princess publicly supported the Crown Prince, she had secretly been backing him all along. He, too, had no wish for Fan Xian to inherit the Imperial Treasury.
---
Moonlight and Lanterns
Beneath a bright moon and sparse stars, lanterns illuminated the night.
Lin Wan'er, clad in a pink nightgown, sat by candlelight flipping through the newly published Selected Anthology of Tang and Song Poetry from the Capital Publishing House.
Though it was late, Lin Wan'er, having slept for hours during the day, felt no drowsiness.
She idly browsed the book, her gaze distant and distracted.
Her mind was preoccupied with the dream she'd had earlier—the boldest dream of her life.
She had dreamed that Xiao Feng had sneaked into her bedchamber under cover of night and engaged in thorough and profound exchanges with her for hours.
The dream had felt so real that even now, she could recall the sensation of Xiao Feng's palm caressing her cheek.
Upon waking, her first act had been to bathe and change—otherwise, the sticky discomfort would have been unbearable.
"Creak—"
Just as Lin Wan'er absentmindedly turned a page, a faint sound of a window opening reached her ears.
To her shock and fluster, Xiao Feng, dressed in sleek black martial attire, soundlessly slipped into her chamber through the window.
"Y-Your Highness…?"
Her face flushed as she gazed at Xiao Feng's striking features. "What are you doing here?"
"After returning, I consulted medical texts and discovered a new treatment method that complements the massage therapy," Xiao Feng said, stepping closer. "I came specifically to help alleviate your condition."
Taking her small hand, he proceeded to administer a more intensive treatment.
In truth, Lin Wan'er's dream that morning hadn't been an ordinary one—Xiao Feng had used Dreamweaver Art to invade her subconscious.
Having already thoroughly acquainted himself with her in the dream, and knowing of her secret affection for him, he had seized the night to strike while the iron was hot.
[30,000 words omitted…]
---
The Next Morning
When Lin Wan'er's two personal maids gently pushed open the door, carrying washing supplies to wake her, they nearly fainted at the sight before them, their mouths agape.
There, on the bed of the unmarried princess, lay a man—and the two were entwined like conjoined twins.
If this scandal were to spread, the consequences for others were uncertain, but as Lin Wan'er's personal attendants, they would undoubtedly face a gruesome end.
Just as the maids were on the verge of tears, Xiao Feng's dark, sword-like eyes suddenly opened.
"Pop—"
Carefully extricating himself to avoid waking the still-sleeping Lin Wan'er, he leisurely dressed.
"Wan'er had a tiring night. Take good care of her," Xiao Feng said, then patted the maids' rounded backsides before striding out without a care.
Once he was gone, the two maids exchanged glances—a mix of lingering fear and excitement in their eyes.
Xiao Feng was Emperor Qing's personally titled carefree king, a fitting match for a princess like Lin Wan'er.
If Lin Wan'er were to marry him, she would become his princess consort—and as her personal maids, they might even secure positions as concubines in the future.
At this thought, their prospects seemed dazzlingly bright. Even the faint scent of hawthorn flowers lingering in the air smelled sweet to them now.
Glancing at the still-sleeping Lin Wan'er, the maids quickly devised a plan.
One stayed to tend to her, while the other hurried to prepare bathwater—ensuring she could cleanse herself upon waking and avoid raising suspicions among the elder maids and palace officials.
(End of Chapter)