Even the crown prince is getting a marriage of convenience? Why are you in such a hurry to stop bein

This emperor wasn't so magnanimous; being shut down like that, he was probably holding a grudge.

Xiao Lie decided to stay home for the next few days to avoid trouble.

But at that moment, a carrier pigeon quietly landed in Qingzhi Courtyard.

When no one was looking, Chunxue took the carrier pigeon back. Lin Wan'er took the note and her face turned pale.

She paced back and forth with the note in her hand, her eyelashes trembling, her eyes unfocused, as if she were hesitant to make a decision.

Seeing her like this, the maid Chunxue couldn't help but feel uneasy.

"Miss, what's wrong?"

Lin Wan'er took a deep breath and quickly persuaded Chunxue to leave.

"It's okay, you go out first, let me think about it by myself."

Chunxue nodded and was about to go out when Lin Wan'er called her back.

"Wait, what has the young master been doing these days?"

Chunxue hesitated, then lowered her head, feeling even more aggrieved for her young mistress.

"These days, the young master has been indulging in pleasure. The dancers and musicians in the manor have changed several times. I heard from the servants in the main courtyard that a dancer named Qinghe is especially favored by the young master and is always by his side. They all say that perhaps one day this Miss Qinghe will enter the manor and become the mistress."

Upon hearing this, Lin Wan'er silently clenched the note in her hand, burning with rage.

This Xiao Lie is truly a womanizer and dissolute; there's absolutely no one you can trust with him.

He forced her into marriage and then abandoned her here. What did he think she was? A pretty ornament that he could summon and dismiss at will?

Thinking of this, Lin Wan'er could no longer suppress the trembling of her fingertips. She silently bit her lip, a deep-seated hatred showing in her eyes.

Since Xiao Lie has been unkind to her, she shouldn't blame him for being unjust.

Lin Wan'er spoke softly, her tone equally cold, causing Chunxue to tremble inexplicably.

"Spring Snow, please invite the young master to my room today."

Chunxue looked up in disbelief, then couldn't help but shrink back slightly, "But what about the Crown Prince..."

I'm afraid they might not be willing. Everyone in the manor knows that Lin Wan'er is disliked by the young master and has already lost favor.

If that's the case, how can she possibly invite the Crown Prince?

Lin Wan'er understood the implication in her words, and her tone became even colder.

"It's alright, just say I'm sick, and the young master will come of his own accord."

"You're sick? Is that really true?"

The maid stammered, unwilling to lie to his face, and finally said, "The Princess Consort has suddenly felt unwell and has already summoned the royal physician several times. She is now hoping that the Prince will come."

Could it be that he's really sick and is afraid I won't help him find a better doctor, so he's come to me to show weakness?

If that's really the case... it wouldn't hurt to go and see her. In this era, getting sick can be fatal. He doesn't want her, a mere woman, to die alone and helpless in the inner quarters. That would be too pitiful.

"In that case, I, the young master, will go and take a look."

The maid was delighted and quickly nodded her thanks, then pointed the way ahead.

When Xiao Lie arrived at Qingzhi Courtyard, he indeed saw Lin Wan'er leaning against the bed.

Her black hair was half-tied up, her face was rosy and she showed no signs of illness. Instead, she had her lips and eyebrows drawn, and she was wearing a crimson gauze dress that was barely visible. She stood behind the curtain, showing off her exquisite figure to the fullest.

If it were the original owner of this body, she would have been completely overwhelmed by this erotic scene. But Xiao Lie is not the original owner.

He swallowed hard, becoming even more cautious, and reached out to lift the gauze curtain, murmuring a question.

"If you're not sick, what illness do you have?"

Lin Wan'er gave him a shy yet reproachful look, seemingly a little annoyed.

"Does Your Highness truly not know what ailment I suffer from?"

"Tell me about it?"

Lin Wan'er smiled and pulled him inside, falling onto the bed with him.

Lin Wan'er clung to his neck, breathing intimately beside him, "My bed is cold and lonely, and I need someone to warm me up. If Your Highness warms me up, perhaps my illness will be cured."

At the same time, the auspicious beast bronze incense burner emitted a faint fragrance, and wisps of white smoke filled the room, enveloping Xiao Lie on the bed.

After waiting a moment, realizing that the person on top of her was unconscious, Lin Wan'er pushed him away with disgust. After thinking for a moment, she took off Xiao Lie's clothes and put him on the bed. She also took off her crimson gauze robe and threw it on the ground, creating an ambiguous scene.

According to His Highness, this incense has aphrodisiac properties, capable of bewitching the mind of those who smell it, allowing them to experience the wonders of lovemaking in their dreams. With a little further suggestion, even if the smeller awakens, they will find it difficult to distinguish between reality and illusion.

While Xiao Lie was unconscious, Lin Wan'er summoned her maid Chunxue and instructed her to slip the letter she had prepared into Xiao Lie's study, making sure it was hidden somewhere.

Chunxue sensed something was wrong. "Miss, what exactly is this thing?"

Lin Wan'er didn't answer, but instead coldly said, "You just need to do it, why ask so many questions?"

Chunxue dared not argue further and had no choice but to obey and leave.

Sixteen, hiding among the treetops, saw this scene and scratched his head in confusion.

Just now, when he saw his master and Lin Wan'er lying on the bed, Sixteen hurriedly left. He originally thought that the two of them should be making love and having sex, but who knew that in just a moment, Lin Wan'er changed her clothes and came out, and was whispering to her maid, as if she had something to say.

Sixteen stroked his chin in puzzlement, unable to resist making a guess.

Could it be that the young master finished in such a short time? Then the young master is truly…

He dared not think any further, so he followed Chunxue away to clear his head.

After following Chunxue through a maze of twists and turns to the study, he finally began to vaguely sense that something was amiss.

This little girl is acting suspiciously, like she's about to do something bad.

……

Xiao Lie woke up feeling utterly exhausted, as if he had just been through a battle. Yet, he was completely clean, and apart from being stripped naked, he seemed to be perfectly normal.

He rubbed his head, feeling somewhat confused.

Was what happened just now real or a dream?

He squinted, thinking carefully, and realized that things had started to go wrong ever since Lin Wan'er pulled him down onto the bed.

Could it be a problem with the incense?

In his childhood, Grandpa Xiao had given him some training to enhance his immunity. Pharmacology was an extremely important part of this training.

He knew that some fragrant medicines could confuse people's minds, making them drowsy and unable to distinguish between truth and falsehood.

Could it be that the incense in front of us has the same purpose?

He put on his clothes, lifted the incense burner, and carefully took a sniff. Sure enough, he smelled a familiar scent.

This Lin Wan'er actually dared to scheme against him...

"Your Highness, are you awake?"

Lin Wan'er slowly pushed open the door, while Xiao Lie stretched, yawned, and pretended to have just woken up.

Upon seeing Lin Wan'er, he walked up to her familiarly, hooked his arm around her waist, and sure enough, the woman in his arms stiffened, feeling uncomfortable all over. She was completely different from the wanton and charming woman in his memory.

Sure enough, everything that just happened was an illusion...