CHAPTER 95 — WHEN THE FOX TEMPTED THE LITTLE WHITE RABBIT
Ye Lan Jue's eyes narrowed sharply as his gaze fell upon her shoulder. His hand, which had been resting there, tightened instinctively.
There was no scar.
Not even the faintest trace.
Only a slight flush of red upon her skin—nothing more.
But that night…
He had bitten her.
Deliberately.
With all the strength he possessed while immobilised.
A bite like that should have left a deep mark—one that would linger for years, not fade within a month. No medicine, no matter how miraculous, could erase it so completely.
So where was the scar?
He drew back from her lips, both hands gripping her shoulders, his eyes dark and searching.
"Tang Ke Xin," he said quietly, "tell this king—"
Before he could finish, the carriage jolted to a sudden halt.
Tang Ke Xin, already dizzy from his kiss, toppled sideways. He caught her swiftly, pulling her back into his arms.
Outside, a cold voice announced,
"Your Highness, it is the Crown Prince's carriage."
Ye Lan Jue's eyes chilled instantly. He reached out and straightened Tang Ke Xin's clothing with swift, controlled movements.
Tang Ke Xin stiffened.
The Crown Prince.
Of course.
This was no coincidence.
He had stopped the carriage deliberately.
He knew she was inside.
What is he doing? Trying to catch a traitor?
What right does he have?
She was not his woman.
Even if the man from that night had been the Crown Prince, he still had no right to claim her.
Men could sleep with whomever they pleased—no one questioned it.
But a woman?
One mistake, and she lived in fear.
If the Crown Prince wanted to "catch" her, then she would give him something to see.
Her eyes flicked toward Ye Lan Jue's lips.
He had already kissed her once.
Twice.
What was one more?
She inhaled softly, lifted herself, and pressed her lips to his.
Ye Lan Jue froze.
Utterly, completely stunned.
Women had thrown themselves at him before.
Some had even appeared at his door unclothed.
But none—none—had ever dared to seize him and kiss him outright.
For a heartbeat, he simply let her.
Then, slowly, a smile curled at the corner of his mouth—satisfied, wicked, delighted.
But he soon realised she was not kissing him.
Not truly.
She was rubbing against his lips—deliberately, insistently—
as though trying to leave a mark.
Then she pulled back, frowned at his mouth, clearly dissatisfied, and leaned in again.
This time she bit him.
Hard.
Her lips were already swollen from his earlier kiss, flushed and enticing.
Ye Lan Jue understood instantly.
She was marking him.
For the Crown Prince to see.
"What is this?" he murmured, catching her waist as she tried to retreat. "Using this king?"
His tone should have been dangerous.
Instead, it brimmed with amusement.
She was using him to provoke the Crown Prince.
He found it… delightful.
Tang Ke Xin did not deny it.
She had not intended to hide her motives.
And he—unexpectedly—did not seem angry.
In fact, he sounded pleased.
"This king is quite happy to be used by you," he said, voice low and smooth. "I would not mind if you used me every day."
Tang Ke Xin nearly choked.
Every day?
If she bit him daily, his lips would be swollen beyond recognition. How would he show his face in court?
She assumed he was teasing.
But then he added, voice suddenly serious,
"You should consider this king's suggestion."
She blinked.
"What suggestion?"
His eyes cooled.
"I heard the Crown Prince wishes to make you his consort."
Tang Ke Xin's breath caught.
She had suspected it, but hearing it aloud still startled her.
Ye Lan Jue watched her closely.
Her shock pleased him.
He leaned in, voice soft and coaxing.
"Do you wish to marry the Crown Prince? Do you want to become his consort?"
She stared at him, then shook her head firmly.
"I don't want to."
His smile blossomed—slow, foxlike, triumphant.
"If you do not wish to marry the Crown Prince," he said, "then you can only rely on this king."
His mood was unmistakably good.
He had expected her refusal, but her decisiveness—her complete lack of hesitation—thrilled him. Most women would be tempted by the position of Crown Princess. But she had not wavered.
She did not want the Crown Prince.
She did not want anyone else.
This satisfied him deeply.
But he hid it well.
He always hid it well.
Except with her.
"You should know," he continued, voice dipping into a seductive murmur, "that in the Great Yuan Empire, the only one who can oppose the Crown Prince… is this king. If you do not want him, only I can help you."
Tang Ke Xin stared at him, startled.
Help her?
Him?
She could hardly believe it.
He leaned closer, eyes gleaming with something dark and possessive.
"Actually," he said softly, "there is a very simple solution. The most direct one."
She swallowed.
"You can go with this king…"