CHAPTER 88 — WHEN THE WOLF CAME KNOCKING
"Do you truly wish me to explain everything?"
The Crown Prince's eyes narrowed, a chill slipping into his voice. "Do you truly want me to place the evidence before you?"
The threat was unmistakable—quiet, refined, and all the more dangerous for its softness.
He was not the man from that night.
And yet… he knew everything.
For him, that was enough.
He wanted this woman.
If before he had merely entertained the idea, then her rejection had ignited something far darker—an obsessive desire that simmered beneath his calm exterior.
He would have her.
No matter the cost.
Her lineage as the Prime Minister's eldest daughter was useful, yes—but it was her mind, her composure, her sharpness that he coveted most. She would be invaluable to him.
Tang Ke Xin understood perfectly what he meant by "evidence."
The wound on her shoulder.
From the way he had touched her earlier—so casually, so precisely—he clearly knew of it.
If he truly were the man from that night, he would have a hundred ways to destroy her.
Fear prickled along her spine, but she forced herself to study his expression.
Cold.
Unmoved.
Impenetrable.
Either he was hiding himself flawlessly…
or he was revealing his true nature.
She could not tell which was worse.
She smiled lightly, as though amused.
"Your Highness speaks in riddles. I do not understand. But if you truly possess this so‑called evidence, I would not mind seeing it."
She knew he would not dare to expose her shoulder here, in broad daylight, outside Kunning Palace.
He was the Crown Prince—bound by propriety, watched by countless eyes.
He was not Ye Lan Jue, who acted as he pleased and feared no scandal.
If Ye Lan Jue had spoken such a threat, she would have believed him instantly.
But the Crown Prince?
He was constrained by his own image.
So she smiled—calm, unbothered, almost radiant.
She did not realise how that smile struck him.
"You are bold, Ke Xin."
His eyes narrowed, studying her with a mixture of irritation and fascination. "Very bold."
She was guilty—yet she stood before him with such poise, such confidence.
He had never met another woman like her.
"I have always been this way," she replied softly, her tone light and natural.
"Since Your Highness is occupied, this humble girl will take her leave."
She bowed gracefully, then slipped past him before he could react, heading toward Kunning Palace.
Guards stood nearby.
He could not act recklessly here.
He watched her retreating figure, a faint smile touching his lips—one that never reached his eyes.
She would not escape him.
He would make certain of it.
---
Inside the palace, Tang Ke Xin composed herself.
She did not mention the Crown Prince, and the Empress did not bring him up. Clearly, he had not spoken to her about this matter.
The Empress looked tired, but her gentle smile remained.
Tang Ke Xin noticed the jade bracelet she had been given the day before—an item of great value, one the Empress had clearly agonised over before gifting.
With palace maids present, she could not mention it.
Their conversation remained light, ordinary.
Then a palace maid entered.
"Your Majesty, a message from Ning He Palace. Imperial Concubine Ning has not awakened since returning yesterday. At first she claimed only fatigue, but this morning she remains half‑conscious. The imperial physician examined her and found nothing amiss."
"Imperial Concubine Ning?"
The Empress frowned, thoughtful. Then her expression eased. "Very well. I shall go and see her."
Tang Ke Xin stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, allow this humble girl to accompany you."
She knew Imperial Concubine Ning.
And she was, after all, a doctor in her previous life—perhaps she could help.
But the Empress suddenly grasped her arm.
"No. You must leave the palace at once. From today onward, do not involve yourself in palace affairs."
Her tone was firm, almost urgent.
Before Tang Ke Xin could protest, the Empress ordered attendants to escort her out.
Tang Ke Xin did not argue.
She understood well enough—the palace was dangerous.
Too dangerous.
---
When she returned to the Prime Minister's estate, Dong'er hurried out to greet her.
"Miss, you're back. The Crown Prince sent someone to invite you to admire the lotus."
Her expression was complicated.
"Admire the lotus?"
Tang Ke Xin's lips curved in a cold, amused smile.
So that was his next move.
"No need to respond," she said lightly, walking inside. After their confrontation, she no longer felt obliged to maintain courtesy.
A lotus viewing?
With him?
She would sooner walk into a wolf's den.
Dong'er stared, stunned.
"Miss… that is the Crown Prince. You cannot simply ignore him."
Tang Ke Xin waved a hand dismissively.
"Do as you like."
Her mind was already elsewhere.
She knew the invitation was a pretext.
He wanted to verify the wound on her shoulder.
If she refused today, he would try again.
He was gentle in manner, but ruthless in truth.
There was only one way to sever his suspicion—
remove the scar.
The bite mark was deep, the scar vivid.
Ordinary medicine would take months, perhaps years.
But there was another method.
Skin grinding.
A painful, delicate process—removing the damaged surface layer to stimulate new skin growth.
In the modern world, machines made it simple.
Here, in ancient times, it would be agony.
But it was possible.
And she had no choice.
She would endure it.
She would remove the scar.
And she would remove the Crown Prince's hold over her.
Tang Ke Xin no longer cared whether the man from that night was the Crown Prince or not.
Regardless of his identity, she wanted nothing to do with him.
And once the scar on her shoulder was gone, the greatest piece of evidence would vanish with it.
Then—even if he were not the culprit—she would no longer need to live in fear of being exposed.
"Dong'er, help me prepare a few things."
Her voice was low, her eyes darkening with resolve.
"Miss… you're not planning to…"
Dong'er's expression tightened, clearly recalling the last time her mistress had "prepared" something—specifically, the night she stole the Mu family's jade pendant.
"Only medicine," Tang Ke Xin replied, casting her a dry, amused glance. "You look as though you've seen a ghost. That incident must have frightened you more than I realised."
Dong'er flushed, but said nothing.
---
Meanwhile, in the Crown Prince's residence, a guard knelt respectfully.
"Your Highness, the Prime Minister's Estate has sent word. Miss Tang is reportedly unwell and unable to attend the lotus viewing."
"Unwell?"
The Crown Prince's eyes narrowed, a cold gleam flickering within them.
"So lively in the palace earlier, yet suddenly too ill to meet me?"
He rose at once, his steps swift and purposeful.
"Very well. I shall go and see for myself what ails her."
His voice was calm, but the air around him tightened.
She had not even bothered to invent a convincing excuse.
She had simply refused him.
Fine.
If she would not come to him, he would go to her.
He would see exactly what was "wrong" with her.
And he would not be turned away.