CHAPTER 73 — PUNISHED BY HIS LIPS
"Still not coming out?"
The cold voice sliced through the darkness, carrying with it a dangerous undercurrent—quiet, lethal, and unmistakably intentional.
He had come with purpose.
And not a benevolent one.
In truth, Ye Lan Jue had noticed her the moment he entered. He had remained silent only because he wanted her to reveal herself. But she had stayed hidden, motionless, breath held tight.
Guarding against him.
Suspecting him.
If she trusted him—truly trusted him—she would have stepped out the instant he appeared.
Damn woman.
"This humble girl greets the Third Prince," Tang Ke Xin said at last, knowing she could no longer hide. She rose from behind the cabinet.
But the space was narrow.
The cabinet behind her, the wall beside her—she had nowhere to retreat. She stood barely a metre from him, trapped between wood and danger.
"Tang Ke Xin," he said softly, stepping forward until he was almost upon her, "it seems you have not taken this king's words to heart."
His voice dropped, colder still, threaded with a quiet fury. His eyes glinted with something sharp, something dark.
"What… what do you mean?" Tang Ke Xin whispered.
He was too close.
Far too close.
His aura—arrogant, domineering, intoxicating—wrapped around her, muddling her thoughts and scattering her composure.
Did she truly not remember?
The warning he had given her earlier?
Ye Lan Jue's eyes narrowed, a storm gathering in their depths. In the next instant, he reached out, seized her waist, and pulled her hard against him.
Her breath caught.
Before she could react, he lowered his head
and kissed her.
It happened so swiftly, so fiercely, that her mind went blank. His lips were firm, almost ruthless, yet beneath the force there was a startling gentleness, a warmth that stole her breath.
Her eyes flew open, wide with shock.
He was too close—so close she could see nothing but the blurred outline of his face.
Her eyelashes brushed his skin.
Heat flared where they touched.
This was her first kiss.
In her previous life—nearly thirty years—she had never even had a boyfriend. She had never kissed anyone. And now, in this ancient palace, the Third Prince had stolen her first kiss without warning.
Her breath grew shallow, unsteady.
Sensing her struggle, Ye Lan Jue finally released her lips, though his arm remained firmly around her waist. Even he was breathing unevenly.
Tang Ke Xin stared at him, eyes wide, a storm of emotion swirling within them.
The storeroom was dimly lit by a small Night Pearl, enough for them to see each other clearly. Enough for her to see the faint flush on his usually cold face.
"This king said," he murmured, voice low and unhurried, "that if you dared to doubt me, you would bear the consequences."
He saw the fury rising in her eyes.
He saw the shock, the indignation, the disbelief.
And he found it… adorable.
He loosened his grip—reluctantly. He knew if he pushed her further now, she might very well explode.
"Didn't you say you would accept the consequences yourself?" he added.
Tang Ke Xin blinked, stunned.
She finally remembered.
But that wasn't what he had said earlier.
He had twisted her words.
Her mind was still reeling, her thoughts scattered. She was too shaken to argue properly.
"Yes, that is what this king said," he continued smoothly. "Is it not the same thing? Is there any difference?"
There was a difference.
A very big difference.
But he was a prince.
He decided what words meant.
And apparently, the "consequence" for doubting him…
was being kissed.
What kind of punishment was that?
Then a thought struck her—
He had warned her to stay away from Nangong Yi earlier.
Her body stiffened.
In the next moment, she raised her hand and wiped her lips—hard.
Ye Lan Jue's eyes darkened instantly.
The temperature in the room seemed to plummet.
She had wiped her lips.
Wiped away his kiss.
This woman was growing bolder by the day.
"Try wiping again," he said softly.
The threat in his voice was unmistakable—cold enough to freeze, hot enough to burn.
Tang Ke Xin, stubborn as ever, wiped again.
His eyes narrowed further.
"Tang Ke Xin," he said, each word slow and deliberate, "from now on, every time you wipe… this king will kiss you."
He leaned closer, his breath brushing her cheek.
"How many times do you want this king to kiss you?"
Tang Ke Xin froze mid‑motion, glaring at him with all the fury she could muster.
He smiled—slowly, wickedly.
She was becoming more and more delightful to tease.
But he knew when to stop.
If he pushed too far, she would retaliate—and he would suffer for it.
"What are you doing here in the middle of the night?" he asked, shifting the topic deliberately.
Tang Ke Xin's eyes narrowed. "Then what is the Third Prince doing here in the middle of the night?"
"To meet you in private," he replied without hesitation, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
She nearly choked.
"Do you remember what this king said earlier today?" he asked, leaning in again.
Tang Ke Xin frowned. He had said many things. She didn't want to remember any of them.
"This king said," he whispered, "that I would deal with you tonight."
His hands slid around her waist again, pulling her closer. His aura wrapped around her like a net.
He lowered his head—
"I'm protecting the evidence," Tang Ke Xin blurted out.
He froze.
His lips hovered a breath away from hers.
His eyes flickered with something complicated.
He had only wanted to kiss her again.
Nothing more.
But she thought he had ulterior motives.
He exhaled slowly, trying to steady himself. His self‑control—usually impeccable—was fraying in her presence.
"What evidence?" he asked, voice rougher than before.
"The dagger," she said quickly. "The murderer's fingerprint is on it."
His eyes narrowed. "Is that so? Show it to this king."
Danger glinted in his gaze.
She had forgotten—
just moments ago, she had wiped away his kiss.
And now she was doubting him again.
Clearly, his "punishment" had not been enough.