CHAPTER 118 — WHEN RESTRAINT FINALLY SHATTERED
Tang Ke Xin had always been direct with Ye Lan Chen — scolding him, lecturing him, teasing him, and worrying for him with a warmth so natural it seemed instinctive. Her concern for him was genuine, unfiltered, and utterly unrestrained.
And Ye Lan Jue saw every moment of it.
He saw the way she frowned when Ye Lan Chen said something foolish.
He saw the way she softened when he looked lost.
He saw the way she laughed — freely, brightly — in a way she never did in his presence.
And it burned.
Why had she never spoken to him like that?
Why had she never shown him such unguarded emotion?
Why was there such a vast difference between the way she treated him and the way she treated Ye Lan Chen?
When had she ever stood before him so casually?
When had she ever revealed her true thoughts without restraint?
When had she ever allowed herself to be so real?
Never.
Not once.
And that truth gnawed at him like a slow, relentless fire.
---
Meanwhile, Ye Lan Chen was still preoccupied with the question that had been tormenting him since Ning He Palace.
"But Xin'er," he said, frowning deeply, "you said earlier that the man left evidence on Imperial Concubine Ning's body and mine. What kind of evidence was that? Why did Father understand it? And why did the Crown Prince and Third Brother understand it too?"
Tang Ke Xin blinked.
"You… truly don't know?"
Ye Lan Chen looked genuinely confused. "Should I know?"
Tang Ke Xin stared at him for a long moment.
Then she sighed.
"Ye Lan Chen… have you ever actually touched a woman?"
His ears turned scarlet. "W‑what does that have to do with anything?"
Tang Ke Xin burst into laughter — loud, unrestrained, and utterly delighted.
"Oh heavens… Ye Lan Chen, don't tell me—don't tell me you're still a virgin?"
She laughed so hard she nearly doubled over.
Ye Lan Chen's face darkened to a deep crimson. He glared at her, but her laughter only grew louder.
Behind them, Ye Lan Jue's expression turned thunderous.
This woman…
She dared to say such things?
In public?
To a prince?
Still a virgin?
Only a woman's purity was spoken of in such terms. A man's was never discussed so crudely. Yet she tossed the words out as though they were nothing.
His jaw clenched.
He wanted to drag her away and silence her himself.
Tang Ke Xin, oblivious to the storm brewing behind her, continued teasing.
"Someone once said that in wealthy households, the only thing still clean is the stone lion at the gate. Even the cats and dogs aren't innocent. And yet you—Ye Lan Chen—are still untouched?"
Ye Lan Chen sputtered. "Tang Ke Xin! Are you even a woman? What does that mean — the stone lion is clean but nothing else is? What nonsense is that?"
Tang Ke Xin grinned wickedly. "It means exactly what it sounds like."
Ye Lan Jue's eyes narrowed dangerously.
This woman…
She truly had no sense of propriety.
And yet — he could not look away.
Tang Ke Xin finally noticed the oppressive aura behind her. She turned — and froze.
Ye Lan Jue's gaze was fixed on her, dark and sharp enough to cut. His expression was unreadable, but the tension radiating from him was unmistakable.
Had she offended him again?
"Third Brother, you're here!" Ye Lan Chen exclaimed, oblivious to the danger. "What did Mother say to you?"
Tang Ke Xin immediately straightened and bowed deeply.
"This humble girl greets Your Highness."
Ye Lan Jue's jaw tightened.
Just moments ago, she had been laughing freely, teasing Ye Lan Chen without restraint. Now, in front of him, she became formal, distant, polite.
He hated it.
"Tang Ke Xin," he said, his voice low and edged with irritation.
She looked up, startled by the sharpness in his tone.
Ye Lan Chen blinked. "Third Brother, what's wrong? Why are you angry? Xin'er didn't do anything."
Ye Lan Jue ignored him.
He looked only at her.
And she looked utterly bewildered.
---
Ye Lan Chen, desperate to change the subject, asked, "Third Brother, what did Mother say to you?"
Ye Lan Jue's eyes flickered.
"The Empress said she wishes to choose a consort for this prince," he lied.
Tang Ke Xin's head snapped up.
"What? The Empress wants to choose you a consort?"
Her shock was genuine — and immediate.
Ye Lan Jue's gaze sharpened.
Her reaction…
Was that concern?
Jealousy?
Or simply surprise?
He could not tell.
Ye Lan Chen was equally stunned. "Mother has never interfered in your marriage before. Why now?"
Ye Lan Jue did not answer him.
He watched Tang Ke Xin instead.
She frowned, deep in thought, her expression unreadable.
Ye Lan Jue's heart tightened.
What was she thinking?
Was she relieved?
Worried?
Indifferent?
He could not guess — and that infuriated him.
Ye Lan Chen, oblivious as always, continued, "Third Brother, who do you think Mother will choose? Feng Qingyan?"
Ye Lan Jue's expression turned cold.
Tang Ke Xin's eyes flickered. She remembered Feng Qingyan's behaviour earlier — the jealousy, the hostility, the scheming. Her impression of the girl had plummeted.
"Third Prince," she said slowly, "you don't want to marry Feng Qingyan, do you?"
Ye Lan Jue's gaze locked onto hers.
She understood him.
She saw through him.
She knew exactly what he did not want.
And yet—
She still did not see what he did want.
Tang Ke Xin continued, "But since the Empress is choosing your consort, it means all the noble girls will participate. You'll be able to choose someone you like."
Ye Lan Jue's expression darkened.
Choose someone I liked, huh!
There was only one woman he wanted.
And she was standing right in front of him — completely unaware.
Ye Lan Chen suddenly asked, "So Xin xin, what are your thoughts about this?"
Tang Ke Xin blinked, returning from her thoughts.
"What does the Third Prince choosing a consort have to do with me?"
Silence.
Ye Lan Chen froze.
Ye Lan Jue's eyes turned black.
Tang Ke Xin continued, completely oblivious, "I'm not marrying him, so why would I have a say on this?"
Ye Lan Chen stared at her, stunned.
Ye Lan Jue moved.
In one swift motion, he stepped forward, seized Tang Ke Xin's wrist, and pulled her away.
"Your Highness—!" she gasped, stumbling after him.
But Ye Lan Jue did not stop.
His chest burned.
His blood roared.
His restraint snapped.
This damned woman.
She dared to say it had nothing to do with her?
She dared to distance herself from him?
She dared to speak so casually of him marrying someone else?
He dragged her straight to his carriage.
"Your Highness—what are you—"
Before she could finish, he pushed her inside.
The door slammed shut.
And then—
He kissed her.
Fiercely.
Desperately.
Madly.
His lips crashed against hers with a force that stole her breath. His hand cupped the back of her head, holding her in place as though afraid she would vanish if he let go.
Tang Ke Xin froze.
Her mind went blank.
Was he—
Was he insane?
Ye Lan Jue's kiss was not gentle. It was not controlled. It was not the calculated restraint he always showed.
It was raw.
Wild.
Possessive.
A man who had lost control.
A man who had been pushed too far.
A man who could no longer endure her obliviousness.
Tang Ke Xin's heart pounded wildly.
This was madness.
Pure, unrestrained madness.
And Ye Lan Jue — the cold, composed, terrifying Third Prince — was utterly consumed by it.