Chapter Nine, the flowers are faint.

She did not let go, and he did not insist; instead, he changed direction and pressed down towards the ground, one hand groping her chest indiscriminately while the other hand reached down directly into her small garment

Yin Lou crept up behind Xiao Duo, revealing only a pair of timid eyes watching him. The Prince of Fortune was furious, "You bit someone and didn't explain a word, you are so bold!" He reached out to pull her, "Where do you think you're hiding? Can you hide to the ends of the earth? Come here!"

At a time when the imperial throne was vacant, it was indeed inappropriate to focus solely on seducing women. The Prince of Fortune calmed himself, straightened his face with a snort, and turned to walk into the corridor.

Xiao Duo responded, "The cabinet will discuss the matters concerning the new emperor's ascension to the throne this evening, and it is proposed that during the grand funeral of the emperor the day after tomorrow, Prince Rong will preside over the administration of state affairs"

She choked back her sobs, overwhelmed by a mix of sorrow and anger. When she saw Prince Fu coming down the steps, she immediately trembled like a leaf, shaking Xiao Duo's arm in desperation, pleading: "Please save me... save me! This is too frightening, I am scared"

The alley was unlike Dongxi Street, with no lights by the roadside, only two distant watermelon lanterns hanging dimly at the entrance. Prince Fu slowed his pace, the wound on his hand stinging painfully, and he felt extremely uncomfortable inside. He glanced at Xiao Duo and said, "What is it? Speak up!"

What is there to fear? Remembering the reaction in the queen's bedchamber, he coldly curled the corners of his mouth in a sneer, "By the time you understand, you will likely find it hard to resist."

This fiery temperament is quite interesting, he leaned in close to her ear and sniffed, "Calling someone? Are you trying to scare me? Strangely enough, there are many who are more beautiful than you, yet this face has occupied my thoughts for so long!"

A person sat beside the gourd-shaped canopy of a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons, with only a single lamp of mutton tallow lit inside the room, making it difficult to see their face clearly, yet it was felt that they must be a person of exquisite beauty. A eunuch entered to serve tea, and as he lifted the tea cup, a delicate ring was fitted onto his index finger, exuding an air of opulence and grace with every gesture.

The dignified supervisor of the Eastern Depot is standing at the door for someone, speaking of scanning faces. If he were merely a prince, he would certainly lack the enthusiasm to undertake such a thankless task. However, the current prince has limitless prospects, and his attentive service is undoubtedly not without its rewards

If I had known it would be like this, I might as well have followed the funeral rites, which would spare me such humiliation. She truly had no way out; he dragged her onto the bed, and she clung tightly to the bedcover, her ten fingers digging into the carved patterns, causing her pain. He pulled with force, nearly shaking the joints of the bedcover loose. Seeing that she refused to let go, he spat out in anger: "Are you asking for trouble by refusing to take a hint? Do you still prefer to be tied up?"

"Isn't this the time for you to repay your debt of gratitude?" the Prince of Fortune said through gritted teeth, "I gave you your life, what else could you possibly offer in return? Just obediently comply, and if you refuse, I have a hundred ways to make your death even more painful."

He looked down at her from a high position, remaining silent, gesturing with his hand for her to return, and then quickly caught up with the footsteps of Prince Fu

The Prince of Fu nodded, hesitated for a moment, and then stepped forward again, feeling frustrated as he raised his hand to take a look. "How should I deal with that girl? She seems a bit too fiery; she almost bit off a piece of my flesh."

Yin Lou did not expect him to change so suddenly; just a moment ago, everything was fine. How could he suddenly become so aggressive? She was taken aback and struggled to break free, saying, "Your Highness, let us speak calmly. What is the meaning of this?"

The Prince was enveloped in the scent of ambergris, his warm body temperature mingling with the fragrance, causing dizziness. I had long harbored a bad premonition, and now it had indeed come to pass. His hands flailed about uncontrollably, unable to be restrained. The sound tower turned red in the face and threatened, "Your Highness, you hold a noble status; is it amusing to demean others in this way? Please release me at once, or I shall call for help!"

This appearance truly makes one feel uneasy, and Yin Lou forced a smile, "The room is dim, Your Highness, please wait a moment, I will have someone light two more lamps."

I have thought it over, and it is better not to send her to the Tai Mausoleum. A young girl living in a graveyard will lose her vitality. Moreover, there are still the old concubines from previous generations there, who knows how they might meddle with her! If she were to be brought back in a bad state, wouldn't that be a waste of effort?" He pointed with a finger and said, "In that case, think of a way to get her out of the Tai Mausoleum and let her stay temporarily at your residence. I am afraid I will be busy for a while, and after I am done, I will call her back to the palace. You can also remind me, so I don't forget her inadvertently.

Is it not ungrateful to not help? He looked at her with pity, was she really that afraid? The debts keep piling up, repaying them will be a burden.

Yin Lou was momentarily stunned, and when she looked back into the courtyard, Xiao Duo had already headed towards the palace gate. Without any support, she felt a sense of emptiness in her heart. With no other options, she could only turn around and enter the hall.

The Prince of Fu set down the teacup, turned his gaze towards her, his eyes unrestrained, nodding as he looked, murmuring that it was good

The Duke of Fu stepped over the threshold, baring his teeth and glaring at her, "Your bite is truly fierce; are you a dog by any chance?"

The outsider was knocked off balance by her, and the sound tower felt dizzy. Upon supporting her forehead and looking, she saw it was Xiao Duó, and immediately began to sob: "Xiao Factory Minister, you haven't left yet?"

The Prince raised his head to gaze at the moon; tonight it is a waning crescent, so thin by the latter half of the night that it is almost invisible. The more unattainable it is, the more it lingers in the mind. If only the person were before me now, I would swallow them whole, yet it would still not quench my resentment

The Prince was agitated and completely disregarded any sense of decorum, engaging in a scuffle outside the palace gates. Xiao Duo hurriedly stepped forward to dissuade him, smiling as he said: "Your Highness, please calm your anger. There are matters being handled within the palace, and it would not be appropriate to cause a disturbance at this time. In my opinion, there is plenty of time ahead. The Princess may not understand for the moment, but in a couple of days, I will take the opportunity to advise her again. Once she comes around, everything will be clear and bright again. You see, this was originally a joyous occasion; what is the point of sulking? Your Highness should temper your anger first. At this hour, there are other rituals to attend to. I will accompany Your Highness to the Jinshen Hall, where I have some matters to report to you."

Xiao Duo bowed and said, in truth, if he truly had ambition, supporting the Prince of Rong would allow him to control the court. However, this also carries great risks, as eunuchs wielding power have always been a significant taboo; in the end, it could lead to giving others leverage to conspire against him. After all, he does not possess military power; a mere Eastern Depot with tens of thousands of people cannot compete with the Five Armies Command. If the Prince of Fu were to join in, the situation would become even more complicated. Therefore, it is still necessary to have someone at the top, not only to repay the Prince of Fu's kindness but also for his own consideration. After all, he does not possess military power; a mere Eastern Depot with tens of thousands of people cannot compete with the Five Armies Command. If the Prince of Fu were to join in, the situation would become even more complicated. Therefore, it is still necessary to have someone at the top, not only to repay the Prince of Fu's kindness but also for his own consideration. Helping the Prince of Fu achieve his wishes, he could still comfortably serve as the superintendent of the Eastern Depot. More importantly, this would allow him to free himself from the Empress's entanglements, a benefit far more enticing than wielding power over the world.

The two slowly passed through the gate, moving forward into a narrow passage that extended for over ten zhang. The Prince of Fortune paused slightly and whispered, "Taking the life of the Prince of Rong is not a difficult task; what I worry about are the various regional princes. Not to mention Yunnan-Guizhou and Sichuan-Shanxi, even a single Southern Garden in Shengjing should not be underestimated. If they were to enter the capital under the guise of a banner..."

"Don't move, we are all on the same side, why act so distant? I'm just taking a look at your hand, it won't cost you a piece of flesh..." At first, he spoke gently, but she, despite her small stature, had considerable strength and struggled fiercely to break free. He stood up and simply wrapped her tightly in his arms, restraining her while saying: "Listen to me, in common terms, we are like sworn siblings. Sworn siblings marrying each other, isn't that a closer bond? ... What? You are unwilling? Since the Emperor has not taken you, that is even better. ... Be obedient, and I will take care of you."

The Prince of Fu, feeling quite pleased, patted him on the shoulder and said: "With you here, you have indeed relieved me of a great deal of worry. I trust you, so I will entrust all matters to the Minister of the Factory. He will surely reward you handsomely on behalf of this prince."

The Prince of Fu chuckled, "It's not like we're fighting a war against bandits, and you still plan to sacrifice yourself for righteousness? The practice of living people being buried alive is inherently against humanitarian principles. Before the great Emperor ascended the throne, we brothers sat together and discussed this matter. Later, when he ruled the world, he forgot about it, and even at the end of his life, he didn't think to leave a decree of grace. " After saying this, he took a sip of tea, covered the lid, and placed it aside on the incense table. He warmly said to her, "Your Highness, please sit down, don't be so reserved. My saving you is not just a whim. To speak of it, your father was once my benefactor. Initially, when the Zhan Shi Fu assigned personnel to teach the Crown Prince and the various princes, your father was the Grand Scholar of the Right Spring Pavilion, deeply respected for his scholarly pursuits in the mountains. Unfortunately, he later fell ill and resigned from office to live in seclusion. If he had remained in the court, it would have undoubtedly benefited the state. Alas, is Master still in good health these days?"

Yin Lou stood there with his hands hanging down, pondering that being dazed was not a solution. He bowed slightly and said, "I pay my respects to the prince"

He recalled those tear-filled eyes, and his heart stirred slightly. "I believe such matters cannot be rushed. She is terrified at this moment and will likely take a long time to recover. The more pressure we apply, the more counterproductive it will be. In any case, Your Highness has plenty of time. Once the world is at peace, you can take good care of her, and with time, she will surely change her mind. Although I am a eunuch, I understand that love between a man and a woman relies on mutual consent. Fruit that is forcibly picked is not sweet; Your Highness understands this principle better than I do. Let her stay in Tai Ling for three to five months; it will also help prevent gossip. If, by then, Your Highness still thinks of her, you can find an excuse to summon her back. If, however, they gradually let go of each other, then letting her guard the tomb for a lifetime will suffice.

At such times, the more one defies a man, the more interested he becomes. Yin Lou did not know when she had encountered this lecherous fiend, and she trembled as she spoke: "I am a member of the imperial harem of the Great Xing Emperor. Your actions are exceedingly disrespectful. Please let me go, and we can discuss this further. For the sake of my father's reputation, I implore you to release me! In the future, I will repay the prince's kindness with all my heart and soul."

As the Prince of Fu approached closer, Yin Lou felt her entire body tense up, and she blurted out: "If you save me this time, I will listen to whatever you say in the future... I beg you, if you do not save me, it would be a betrayal of your loyalty!"

It can be said that you are truly a thoughtful and considerate person; the previous recklessness is nothing in comparison. Yin Lou expressed gratitude, saying, "Your Highness, with such a compassionate heart, how can I possibly thank you! To be honest, I thought I was destined to die today and had no intention of returning alive. I never expected you to save me, and at this moment, I am still in a daze!"

Xiao Duo and others said, busy with their hands clasped in salute, "Your Highness speaks too highly of me. Without Your Highness, where would a subject like me be today! It is my duty to share Your Highness's burdens, and I will certainly do my utmost. Please rest assured, Your Highness."

Xiao Duo clasped his hands and said: "Your Highness need not worry. The spies of the Eastern Depot are distributed throughout the Great Ye. As long as there is the slightest movement, before they can mobilize their troops, the news will have already reached the Forbidden City. A vassal prince who leaves his fief without an imperial decree is tantamount to treason. At that time, issuing an order to withdraw the vassal will be even more justified."

She spoke gently beside him, her voice not particularly strong, yet her delicate wrist was enough to make one yearn for it. The Prince of Fortune nodded slowly, saying, "As long as it has eased, we will summon him back to serve the court when the opportunity arises. Your father may not be the main pillar, but he is a good support..." Her every movement was keenly observed by him, and the Prince paused for a moment, quickly glancing up, and suddenly seized her hand.

Look at her disheveled appearance. Peering further into the room, he saw Prince Fu standing under the corridor, allowing someone to wrap his hands in white cloth. He had already guessed what was happening. This girl really has some nerve! He lowered his head to look at her and asked, "Your Highness has injured His Majesty; how do you plan to handle this?"

Yin Lou finally breathed a sigh of relief and whispered, "Thank you, Factory Minister. I will remember your kindness and will never forget it."

"Presiding over the great affairs of state? A mere five or six-year-old child presiding over such trivial matters!" The Duke of Fu expressed his disdain, pausing briefly with his hands behind his back in contemplation. "It is not wise to wait any longer. When Emperor Gaozong hesitated for a moment, he allowed the Crown Prince to ascend the throne for a century, only to later wrest the world from his nephew, expending so much effort! The lessons of the past should serve as a warning. Since Prince Rong has entered Kun Ning Palace, now is the opportune moment to act. If we wait until he declares himself emperor and then plot our grand strategy, we will be unable to move against him in the short term. By then, the affairs of state will inevitably fall into the hands of the Empress, and the Zhao family and their relatives will have the opportunity to exert their influence once again." The lessons of the past should serve as a warning. Since Prince Rong has entered Kun Ning Palace, now is the opportune moment to act. If we wait until he declares himself emperor and then plot our grand strategy, we will be unable to move against him in the short term. By then, the affairs of state will inevitably fall into the hands of the Empress, and the Zhao family and their relatives will have the opportunity to exert their influence once again.

She tightly grasped his arm, her teeth chattering. Raising her head to look at him, her eyes were filled with tears, and in the blink of an eye, a long stream fell down, her appearance pitiful to the extreme. He sighed deeply: "Your Highness, this is simply unreasonable. If you do not wish to waste your life in the Tai Mausoleum, you must find a man to rely on. Whose body is not given to someone? Why must it be so rigidly principled? Just go in and soften up to His Highness; he has a good temperament, and everything will be resolved." He sighed deeply: "Your Highness, this is simply unreasonable. If you do not wish to waste your life in the Tai Mausoleum, you must find a man to rely on. Whose body is not given to someone? Why must it be so rigidly principled? Just go in and soften up to His Highness; he has a good temperament, and everything will be resolved."

Indeed, what he said makes sense. If the leader were more flexible, things wouldn't have turned out this way. Why should anyone save her? What can she offer in return? Apart from her own body, she has nothing else to give. Yet she is afraid; in the dead of night, without any reason, and without any preparation, she has allowed him to explore her completely.

This prince is truly lecherous and sentimental Such individuals choose their affections based on preference Today you, tomorrow him, in a fit of passion they can be entangled in various ways Once they let go, they will likely forget everything

The Prince of Fu, however, said it was unnecessary, slightly lifting the corners of his mouth and remarked, "Looking at a beauty under the lamp has its own charm. What fun is there in seeing everything at a glance?" Noticing her expression change slightly, he realized that his lewdness was unseemly, and he turned to smile, "Has the Empress Dowager recovered from her fright today? I see that your throat is still not quite right; you still need to take care of yourself. Tomorrow is the day of mourning; if you are not feeling well, you need not attend. The grand funeral will be the day after tomorrow; it is not too late to go after the coffin is sealed. After all, you have never seen the late Emperor, and I am afraid it might frighten you to guard by the bed."

At this moment, Yin Lou finally felt relieved, as it turned out that he was once a student of her father, which made it understandable for him to reach out and help her. She poured tea for him and replied, "I am grateful for the prince's concern. My father used to suffer from asthma, and whenever it flared up, he would struggle to breathe. Later, he found a remedy and took it every day. He would even get up early to practice martial arts on the mountain, and now he is much better. When I entered the capital, I looked back through the curtain and saw him leading a mule, sending me off for five miles!" Later, he found a remedy and took it every day. He would even get up early to practice martial arts on the mountain, and now he is much better. When I entered the capital, I looked back through the curtain and saw him leading a mule, sending me off for five miles!

Yin Lou was both anxious and angry; upon entering the palace, she had to be prepared for the possibility of being summoned. At this moment, the emperor had died, and she thought there was no need to worry about this anymore. Who would have thought that a Prince of Fortune would suddenly emerge, employing such despicable means? She was terrified, and at this moment, resistance was instinctive. Even if the living emperor were to appear, she could not simply surrender. When pushed to the brink, she fiercely grabbed his hand and bit down at the tiger's mouth. This bite was deep, and one could hear the crisp sound of teeth breaking through the skin. The Prince of Fortune gasped in surprise, and in that moment of distraction, she seized the opportunity to dash out the door.

He is an expert who has emerged from the flower bushes, a royal brother of the emperor, a dignified prince. Any woman he sets his sights on does not require much effort; with just a flick of his finger, he is never short of admirers. This gentleman is likely the same; he is too lazy to go through much trouble. After a lengthy conversation that drained his energy, he naturally seeks some form of compensation now.

The sound of the building echoed as she rushed out, not knowing where to escape, only darting towards the light. The palace gate was slightly ajar; she pulled it open and stepped outside, only to unexpectedly collide with someone outside, a dark cloak coming towards her, and she could not stop in time, crashing right into it.