Qi Rong cast a disdainful glance at the people who had surrounded him. His thin lips curled slightly as he regarded them with utter contempt.
"Cornering someone like a turtle in a jar?"
Qi Rong arched his eyebrows, his eyes flashing with coldness.
"This phrase suits you better!"
As he spoke, he whipped his long whip through the air. His figure moved like a ghost. Before the others could even get close, several of them were already knocked down.
Lin Kang, who had thought he had the upper hand just a moment ago, turned pale at the sight and stepped back repeatedly.
"Attack! All of you, attack!!"
However, the remaining people didn't last long. In a flash, Qi Rong stood before Lin Kang like a god of death.
"Help!"
Lin Kang was terrified. It was too late for him to escape!
Qi Rong punched Lin Kang in the face. Instantly, his nose bone was broken and his teeth flew out. Qi Rong grabbed his collar and said in a chilling voice,
"Where is she!"
Inside the study of the Lin Mansion
Prince Qi Yu and Lin Hai, the Minister of the Supreme Court, were playing chess. As the black and white pieces were intertwined and strategically placed on the board, Lin Hai's hand holding a piece froze in mid - air. He could hardly move it any further.
"I've lost."
Lin Hai put down the piece, stroking his beard as he looked at his proud nephew with a gratified expression.
"Although I taught you how to play chess, I never expected you to improve so much in just a few years! Excellent! You're so meticulous and unpredictable. You're bound to achieve great things in the future!"
Qi Yu clasped his fists in salute, showing respect and modesty.
"Uncle, you're overpraising me!"
Although Qi Yu was the crown prince, he had been close to Lin Hai since childhood. Therefore, there was no need for excessive formality between them in private.
Lin Hai had been under investigation for his involvement in the construction of the imperial mausoleum with the Prince of Xiang. While others avoided him like the plague, only the crown prince came to visit him, which made him feel deeply touched.
Looking at the crown prince's elegant and noble appearance, his every move exuding grace and dignity, Lin Hai couldn't help but sigh with a tinge of disappointment.
"If only Kang'er were like you."
His only son, Lin Kang, had been spoiled by his elders since childhood. He was arrogant, domineering, and indulged in all kinds of vices. At the age of twenty - four, he still spent his days on cockfighting and visiting brothels.
It was already time for him to get married. The Lin family had hoped that marriage would make him more responsible, but all the young ladies from families of equal status avoided him.
They had finally arranged a marriage, but the girl tried to hang herself that very night. Fortunately, she was saved, but the marriage fell through.
Qi Yu had long heard of Lin Kang's bad reputation. He pursed his lips but couldn't bring himself to say something insincere.
Just then, a guard rushed into the study.
"My lord, something terrible has happened! The Prince of Xian has broken in! He's holding young master Lin captive!"
"What?!"
Hearing that it was Qi Rong, the Prince of Xian, Lin Hai immediately slapped the table and stood up.
"I haven't even settled the score with him for hurting Kang'er, and now he dares to come to our mansion? This is simply too much!"
Lin Hai and some other ministers had long been aware of Qi Rong's cruelty. Worried that Qi Rong would harm his son again, Lin Hai immediately said to Qi Yu,
"Yu'er, stay here in the study. Don't go out for now. Uncle will go and check it out!"
To prevent Qi Rong from being so domineering that he might accidentally hurt the crown prince, Lin Hai gave careful instructions before quickly walking out.
Hearing that Qi Rong had come to the mansion, Qi Yu frowned in confusion. He reached out and grabbed the injured guard.
"Wait a moment. Did Cousin Kang do something today to anger Uncle Qi Rong?"
In Qi Yu's impression, although Qi Rong was violent, he didn't act without a reason.
Based on what people said about Lin Kang, Qi Yu thought it was very likely that Lin Kang had done something wrong first, which had angered Qi Rong and led to this revenge.
Hearing this, the guard immediately knelt down respectfully and said in a confused voice,
"Reporting to Your Highness the Crown Prince, no! Young master hasn't had any contact with the Prince of Xian in recent days, let alone offended him. It's just..."
Seeing that the guard was hiding something, Qi Yu pressed further. The guard swallowed hard and continued,
"Just that young master went to the Imperial Academy today to seek revenge on the Prince of Xian. Since he didn't find the prince, he abducted the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's mansion from the women's college and brought her to our mansion..."
The guard's voice became softer and softer towards the end. Hearing this, Qi Yu, who always had a gentle face, was instantly filled with anger.
"Nonsense! Kidnapping a civilian girl is already a serious crime! Moreover, she's the daughter of a first - rank prime minister! Why didn't you followers stop him?"
The guard was in a difficult position: the key was that they couldn't stop him!
Qi Yu didn't make things difficult for the guard anymore. He said in a deep voice,
"Where is the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's mansion now?"
Prime Minister Yun was known for his vengeful nature. Even the emperor found him quite a headache.
If the girl hadn't been actually harmed, they might still be able to get the forgiveness of the Prime Minister's mansion. Otherwise, even his uncle might be implicated!
"Reporting to Your Highness the Crown Prince, she's in young master's courtyard."
The guard replied carefully. Qi Yu's face darkened upon hearing this.
"Take me there right now!"
"Yes!"
Since the crown prince had given the order, how could the guard dare to disobey? He immediately led the crown prince through the shortest route to Lin Kang's courtyard.
When Qi Yu rushed into Lin Kang's bedroom and saw the woman lying on the bed, he was instantly stunned. He frowned and said,
"Why is it her?"
Without hesitation, Qi Yu immediately sat down beside the bed. After feeling Yun Xi's pulse and finding that she was not seriously injured, he secretly let out a sigh of relief.
"Miss Yun? Wake up quickly..."
In her coma, Yun Xi felt someone patting her cheek. She frowned tightly, suddenly feeling dizzy. Her head ached as if it was about to split open.
Qi Yu helped Yun Xi sit up and leaned her against his chest. He was just about to pinch her philtrum when...
The next moment, his finger was bitten by Yun Xi!
"Ouch."
Yun Xi used almost all her strength, focusing on her bite. Qi Yu groaned but didn't push Yun Xi away roughly.
Seeing that the other person didn't react, Yun Xi, who had already regained consciousness, took the opportunity to push Qi Yu forward!
Using all her strength, she nimbly straddled Qi Yu's waist and accurately grabbed his neck with her slender white hands.
Then, in her soft voice, she shouted,
"Damn lecher! If you dare to take advantage of me, I'll fight you to the death!"
After being knocked unconscious by a blow to the back of her neck, Yun Xi still felt dizzy and her head was throbbing. However, she clearly remembered what had happened before she lost consciousness.
Therefore, she was able to quickly counterattack while the other person was off - guard.
Knowing the huge strength difference between men and women, this was her only chance.
Yun Xi endured the dizziness and tightly grabbed the other person's neck. She didn't dare to let go for a moment!
Choked by the hands around his neck, Qi Yu couldn't help but cough twice. He looked up at Yun Xi sitting on him. She was so light and delicate.
He could easily knock her away with just one palm, but he couldn't bear to do so.
"Look at who I am?"
Qi Yu placed one warm hand on Yun Xi's fair fingers and used the other to brush away the stray hair in front of her eyes.
His mellow voice was slightly hoarse. The corner of his mouth curled up without any hint of aggression.
When her line of sight was cleared and she met those clear eyes like a beautiful landscape, Yun Xi was slightly stunned. She tilted her head to one side.
"Are you... the osmanthus cake guy?"
No! It was actually the crown prince?
Could it be this much of a coincidence? Could it be that the crown prince and that scoundrel were birds of a feather?!