CHAPTER 197 — WHAT DOES HE WANT TO DO?
Tang Kexin shot upright so quickly she nearly made herself dizzy. Her heart hammered against her ribs, breath catching in her throat.
Her clothes were still on.
Intact.
Buttoned.
Perfectly in place.
She stared down at herself, blinking rapidly. The creases on her sleeves and collar were normal — the kind anyone would get from sleeping fully dressed.
So… was last night really just a dream?
But her lips—
She touched them again. They tingled faintly, as if someone had kissed her senseless. Her mouth felt swollen, tender, wrong.
She needed a mirror. Immediately.
But this was a servant's room — a male servant's room. There was no dressing table, no polished bronze, not even a shard of reflective metal. Nothing.
She pressed her fingertips to her lips again.
This is not normal.
Before she could spiral further, a soft knock came at the door.
"Brother Tang, His Highness has ordered you to accompany him into the palace."
Qing Feng's gentle voice drifted through the wood like a breeze.
Tang Kexin froze.
Into the palace? With him? Why?
Her mind raced.
Was he planning to expose her?
Reveal her identity in front of the Empress?
Punish her publicly?
"Brother Tang, are you awake?" Qing Feng called again, still polite, still impossibly calm. "His Highness is already waiting. Please hurry."
Tang Kexin swallowed hard.
She had no choice. She was in Prince Rui's Mansion — refusing an order was impossible. Whatever Ye Lanjue intended, she would have to face it.
"I'll be out shortly," she replied, deepening her voice into the hoarse masculine tone she'd crafted with special medicine.
Outside, Qing Feng's lips twitched.
The princess consort had truly gone all‑out to escape — even altering her voice.
Tang Kexin straightened her clothes, checked her disguise twice, then opened the door.
Qing Feng greeted her with a warm smile, eyes soft and friendly. "His Highness is waiting in the courtyard. Please follow me."
Tang Kexin narrowed her eyes. "Why does His Highness want me to enter the palace with him?"
She wanted to see what excuse this smiling tiger would give. She was a newly recruited "servant" with no special skills. There was no reason she should accompany a prince into the palace.
Qing Feng sighed dramatically. "Brother Tang, you don't know. His Highness has been searching for the princess consort day and night. He's exhausted himself. He fears something may happen to him, so he wishes to bring someone knowledgeable in medicine."
Tang Kexin's mouth twitched violently.
So now Ye Lanjue is a fragile invalid who needs a doctor at all times?
With his martial arts?
With his terrifying strength?
With the way he'd practically devoured her that night—
No. Absolutely not.
Qing Feng continued earnestly, "His Highness may appear strong, but his health has always been poor. He's pushed himself too hard these past days."
Tang Kexin nearly rolled her eyes.
Poor health? That man? The one who could probably wrestle a tiger and win?
She said nothing, but her expression must have betrayed something, because Qing Feng's gaze flickered — a brief, subtle shift she didn't notice.
Ahead of them, Ye Lanjue stood waiting.
He didn't look at her.
Didn't acknowledge her.
Didn't even blink in her direction.
He simply turned and walked out of the mansion.
Qing Feng followed.
Tang Kexin had no choice but to trail behind.
Normally, Ye Lanjue would bring Ming Xun or other trusted guards into the palace. Today, none of them were present.
It was just her.
Her stomach tightened.
Ye Lanjue climbed into the carriage without a word. Tang Kexin watched him, lips pressed into a thin line.
He had woken her at dawn.
Ordered her to follow him.
Dragged her into the palace.
Is this revenge? Is he doing this on purpose?
She still couldn't understand what he wanted.
The carriage moved slowly enough for her to keep up, but the journey was long. By the time they reached the palace gates, she was breathless, her legs aching.
Ye Lanjue stepped down and strode toward the main hall without looking back.
The palace guards and attendants stared openly. The Third Prince never brought unfamiliar servants with him. Their curious gazes prickled against her skin.
In a blink, Ye Lanjue vanished into the palace corridors.
Tang Kexin stood frozen.
What is happening?
Was she meant to follow?
Was she meant to wait?
Was she meant to be invisible?
Qing Feng remained beside her, silent and unreadable.
Tang Kexin didn't bother asking. She knew he wouldn't answer. He was even more tight‑lipped than his master.
Time crawled.
The morning chill seeped into her bones.
Her fingers went numb.
Her face felt stiff beneath the disguise.
Just when she thought she might freeze solid, Ye Lanjue reappeared.
His gaze flicked toward her — a brief, almost imperceptible glance — and he saw her pale, cold‑stiffened face.
His eyes darkened.
His hands clenched beneath his sleeves.
But he said nothing.
He simply turned and walked toward the inner palace — toward the Empress's quarters.
Tang Kexin's breath caught.
He was going to pay respects to the Empress.
Surely she didn't need to follow him for that?
She stayed where she was.
"Hurry and catch up," Ye Lanjue's voice called back — cool, distant, but unmistakably directed at her.
Tang Kexin stared at his back, stunned.
He wants me to follow him… to the Empress?
Her heart lurched.
What is he trying to do?
———————————————-
CHAPTER 198 — TRY TRUE OR FALSE
If she had truly been a pageboy, she would never — ever — have been allowed to follow the Third Prince into the Empress's courtyard.
Tang Kexin was so stunned she forgot to move. She simply stood there, frozen, staring at Ye Lanjue's retreating back.
"Brother Tang, His Highness called you," Qing Feng reminded her gently, his voice warm… and laced with unmistakable amusement.
Tang Kexin clenched her teeth. She didn't trust that smile for a second. But she lowered her head and followed Ye Lanjue anyway — because what else could she do?
Qing Feng didn't follow.
He stayed behind, hands clasped behind his back, watching her go. Tang Kexin's lips twitched. Even Ye Lanjue's personal guard wasn't allowed to accompany him — but she was.
If that wasn't suspicious, nothing was.
Ye Lanjue didn't speak as they walked. He didn't look at her. He didn't even adjust his pace. He simply walked, silent and steady, as if he were alone.
Tang Kexin kept her head down and matched his steps. She didn't dare say a word.
Ahead of her, Ye Lanjue's lips curved ever so slightly.
He had known her for so long, but this was the first time he'd seen her behave so obediently. No arguing. No glaring. No running. Just quiet, cautious compliance.
He had brought her into the palace for one reason: she was safest by his side. Whoever had been searching for her in the shadows would not dare act openly here. And if they did… he would see their reaction with his own eyes.
Her disguise was impressive — even Ming Xun hadn't recognised her yesterday. If not for that familiar pull in his chest, Ye Lanjue might have missed her too.
As for Qing Feng, he had only guessed because of Ye Lanjue's behaviour. The others merely suspected — none were certain.
But as they approached the Empress's courtyard, Tang Kexin's anxiety spiked.
The Empress had always treated her kindly. If she discovered Tang Kexin had run away on her wedding night… she would be furious. Disappointed. Hurt.
Tang Kexin swallowed hard.
He won't bring me directly to her, she told herself. He'll make me wait outside. He wouldn't be that cruel.
But fate had other plans.
A group of attendants approached from the opposite direction — and at the front was the Empress herself.
Tang Kexin's heart plummeted.
Of course. Of course this would happen.
Ye Lanjue stepped forward and bowed. "This son greets the Empress."
Tang Kexin scrambled to bow as well, mind racing for the correct etiquette.
Before she could speak, a sharp, honey‑poisoned voice cut through the air.
"Eh? Who is this? Why has someone like him followed the Third Prince into the harem?"
Imperial Concubine Ming.
Of course.
Her gaze locked onto Tang Kexin, eyes narrowing with deliberate suspicion.
The Empress glanced at Tang Kexin as well, but her expression remained calm. She saw nothing unusual — just a plain, unremarkable servant. She looked away without comment.
But Imperial Concubine Ming wasn't finished.
"How could an ordinary person enter the palace? What is the Third Prince's intention in bringing such a person here today?"
Her tone was sweet, but her words were knives.
The Empress's brows lifted slightly. "Third Prince, who is this? Why have you brought him into the harem?"
Ye Lanjue's eyes chilled.
So. She couldn't hold back any longer. She had come to test him openly.
"My health has been poor recently," he said smoothly. "General Gu recommended this man. His medical skills are said to be reliable. I brought him as a precaution."
Tang Kexin nearly choked.
Poor health? You? You absolute demon — you're healthier than a warhorse!
Imperial Concubine Ming's lips twitched. "His Highness is unwell? I see no sign of it."
Ye Lanjue ignored her completely.
Imperial Concubine Ming turned her attention to Tang Kexin, eyes sharp. "Does he truly know medicine? He doesn't look the part."
Her voice dripped with doubt — and malice.
Tang Kexin felt the hostility immediately. Imperial Concubine Ming wasn't just suspicious — she was targeting her.
The Empress's gaze cooled. "Is medical skill written on one's face? The Third Prince would not be careless. If he truly needed help, he would have chosen wisely."
Imperial Concubine Ming's smile tightened. She and the Empress had always been at odds. Today's encounter was merely another battlefield.
"The Third Prince said General Gu recommended him," the Empress continued. "That should be enough."
"Logically, yes," Imperial Concubine Ming said sweetly. "But I still doubt this person's abilities. If something happens at a crucial moment, the Third Prince's health cannot be risked."
Her eyes raked over Tang Kexin again, searching for flaws.
She found none.
So she smiled — a thin, sharp smile.
"Why don't we test his medical skills?"
Tang Kexin's stomach dropped.
Oh no. Oh no, no, no — she's trying to expose me.
Imperial Concubine Ming's gaze glittered with triumph.
Let's see if you're real… or fake.