After failing the imperial examination, he began to wield immense power after entering the palace!

"Buzz!"

Princess Anle's body trembled violently.

Ugly monster.

These three words were like three knives, piercing her heart.

What she is most proud of in her life is her face.

If this face is ruined, and then branded with an ugly scar...

She didn't dare to think about what happened next.

Or should we beg him for mercy?

"However..."

Li Fan's voice rang out again, this time with a hint of perverse pleasure in his tone.

"I know that a princess as proud as she is would never beg for mercy from a eunuch."

"Then let's get it burned."

"Anyway, I'm just a worthless person. I'd be happy to see the princess turn into an ugly monster before I die."

"So, Princess, you mustn't beg for mercy."

"If you beg for mercy, our family will look down on you."

As he said this, the soldering iron was pushed forward another inch.

This time, the heatwave hit Princess Anle's face directly.

She felt her skin burning, as if it were being scorched by the sun.

The burning sensation spread from her cheeks to her entire body, making every nerve in her body scream.

The burnt smell was stronger.

Another stray strand of hair on her forehead was curled by the heat, making a sizzling sound.

fear!

An unprecedented fear!

Princess Anle lived for eighteen years and was never afraid of anything.

She dared to whip people in the street, dared to cut off the head of a eunuch and feed it to a leopard, and dared to talk back to her father, the emperor.

But now, facing this red-hot branding iron, facing this smiling, mad eunuch...

She was afraid.

It's not that I'm afraid of dying.

It's because I'm afraid of looking ugly.

She feared that the face she was so proud of would become an ugly, scarred face.

"No...don't..."

Her voice finally changed.

From his previous arrogance and domineering attitude, he turned into trembling and pleading.

"You...you mustn't..."

"Princess, what did you say?"

Li Fan tilted his head, looking completely innocent.

"We can't hear you clearly."

The soldering iron came half an inch closer.

Princess Anle closed her eyes.

Two lines of tears slid down her tightly closed eyes and streamed down her cheeks.

At that moment, her pride, her stubbornness, and all the arrogance she had displayed over the past eighteen years shattered.

"sorry."

Her voice was very soft, like a cat cornered in a desperate situation.

"Grandpa Gao, I'm sorry, I was wrong."

"Please, take this branding iron away."

Please.

Her voice was trembling, and tears mixed with sweat streaked her face.

Li Fan looked at her tear-streaked face and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

But he did not stop immediately.

"Princess."

His voice suddenly changed, becoming more playful.

"Have you forgotten something?"

Princess Anle opened her eyes and looked at him through teary eyes.

"Wh...what?"

Li Fan lowered his head and whispered in her ear, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe.

"Our first request to you."

"What do you call me when we're alone?"

Princess Anle's pupils suddenly contracted.

She remembered.

That day in the corridor of the Imperial Garden, the bet of blindfolded throwing knives was made.

He won.

She granted his three requests.

The first requirement is that, in private, you should call him master.

Princess Anle felt a surge of humiliation.

She was a member of the imperial family, the most favored princess of the time.

His Majesty's most beloved daughter!

Now, should I call a lowly eunuch... master?

This is worse than killing her.

But when she looked down at the branding iron so close to her, the red-hot tip was still emitting blue smoke.

Fear, like an invisible hand, gripped her throat.

and……

Amidst the overwhelming fear and humiliation, Princess Anle suddenly sensed something extremely subtle.

That thing was indescribable, like a wisp of dark fire hidden beneath a layer of ice.

It's not hot, but it's there.

Amidst the humiliation, there was even a hint of...excitement?

She was startled by her own thought and quickly suppressed the strange feeling.

But the roots of her ears turned even redder.

"explain."

Li Fan's voice drifted over my ear, carrying an air of command that brooked no refusal.

Princess Anle gritted her teeth, making a grinding sound.

Her lips trembled twice, and her throat felt like it was blocked by something.

Those two words were too shameful.

She was so ashamed that she, a princess of a nation, could not bring herself to say it.

But the branding iron was still in front of her, and her tears were still flowing.

"Master...Master..."

The sound was so faint it was like a mosquito's buzz, and it was immediately carried away by the wind in the corridor.

Li Fan raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.

Princess Anle closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face. She gritted her teeth and forced out those words from deep in her throat...

"Master, I was wrong."

Her voice was still soft, trembling, filled with shame and resentment.

But Li Fan heard it clearly.

At that moment, the joy in his heart exploded like a volcano.

The princess of the current dynasty.

His Majesty's most beloved daughter.

A ruthless woman who kills without blinking an eye.

At that moment, she called him "master" with tears streaming down her face.

"Um."

Li Fan nodded, his smile as bright as if he had secretly eaten honey.

He moved the branding iron away from Princess Anle's face and casually tossed it back into the brazier.

"clang!"

The soldering iron fell into the charcoal fire, sending up a string of sparks.

Princess Anle felt the scorching heat finally disappear, and she collapsed onto the torture table as if all her strength had been drained.

She was breathing heavily, her chest heaving, and tears were still streaming silently down her face.

Li Fan released his grip on her hand and took two steps back.

He looked down at Princess Anle, who was slumped on the torture table, her face streaked with tears, and spoke in a very calm tone.

"Be more obedient in front of us next time."

Otherwise, you'll always be the one who suffers.

Princess Anle remained silent.

She lay on the torture table, her head turned to the side, refusing to look at Li Fan.

Her bright red skirt was disheveled, her jeweled head was askew, and a few strands of hair were charred by a hot iron, giving off a burnt smell.

But in those peach blossom eyes, besides anger and humiliation, there was something else she couldn't quite describe.

Like a flame suppressed deep within.

It's not hot, but it's burning.

After a while.

Princess Anle slowly sat up from the torture table.

She reached out and wiped away the tears on her face, then tidied her disheveled hair and clothes.

The movements were slow, as if giving myself time to sort out those messy emotions.

Then, she stood up, turned her head, and looked at Li Fan.

The tear stains in those peach blossom eyes hadn't dried yet, but the stubborn light returned.

"Gao Jin, I'm warning you, your aunt has really gone to see the Emperor. You're going to be in big trouble soon."

Are you sure you don't want to beg me?

She raised her chin, and despite the tear stains on her face, she still maintained a condescending demeanor.

"This princess still owes you two requests."

"If you use just one of them, I, the princess, will help you."

"How about I put in a good word for you with your aunt and father?"