The Crazy Emperor's Pampered Cousin

Shen Tinghe didn't hold back and bit down again, this time with some force, her teeth grinding against the firm flesh.

Like a spoiled, arrogant, and temperamental kitten venting its dissatisfaction.

A slight stinging pain came, but Xie Yanzhao narrowed his eyes, a secret, almost paradoxical sense of enjoyment quietly rising up his spine.

He could clearly feel her soft, moist tongue unconsciously brushing against his skin between her teeth.

The touch was subtle yet distinct, stirring a deeper flame within.

He actually felt comfortable.

A self-deprecating sigh crossed Xie Yanzhao's mind.

They've spoiled her rotten; she can even taste sweetness in being "bullied" like this.

Xie Yanzhao felt that he should perhaps display some of the dignity befitting a crown prince, at least... he shouldn't appear too smug.

He raised his hand and gently patted the top of her soft hair: "Who spoiled you with such a pampered temper?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Tinghe indeed relented, raised her head, blinked her watery eyes, and looked at him with a puzzled expression.

Those eyes clearly said: From childhood to adulthood, haven't they always been you?

She still had the faint red mark of his skin on her chin, her eyes pure yet self-righteous.

Seeing her like this, Xie Yanzhao could no longer hold back and chuckled softly.

"yes,"

He sighed as he acknowledged, then lowered his head and precisely captured her lips, grinding all his unfinished words and boundless affection into this deepening kiss.

As their breaths mingled, he added the answer, vague yet firm:

"It's because my older brother spoils him."

The next day, the night was as dark as ink, and only a dim palace lantern remained in the Cuiyao Palace.

Xie Yanzhao leaned against the spacious brocade couch, holding Shen Tinghe in his arms, gently patting her back to lull her to sleep.

Shen Tinghe nestled quietly in his warm embrace, her breathing shallow. Just when Xie Yanzhao thought she had fallen asleep, she suddenly spoke.

"Brother, are you going out tonight?"

Xie Yanzhao paused for a moment while patting.

He lowered his gaze and met her clear eyes, which reflected a faint light and showed no signs of sleepiness.

"How did Yuan Yuan know?" he asked in a low voice, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear with his fingertips.

Shen Tinghe didn't answer, but instead stretched out her slender fingers and lightly brushed across his chest, which was exposed by his slightly open nightgown, causing a slight shiver of ticklishness.

Her voice held a hint of coquettishness: "You used to pester me for a long time every night."

Tonight, however, he only kissed her briefly before patiently patting her to sleep.

This unusual rule, ironically, revealed his intentions.

He waited for her to fall asleep before leaving.

Xie Yanzhao chuckled softly. He deliberately misinterpreted her meaning, and his warm lips landed on her forehead and the tip of her nose in turn, leaving a light, fleeting touch.

He raised his voice slightly at the end, with a mischievous glint in his eyes: "Oh? So Yuan Yuan is upset that her brother didn't kiss her enough tonight?"

"How annoying." Shen Tinghe's ears burned slightly as she protested in a muffled voice.

Xie Yanzhao stopped joking, tightened his arms around her, and promised, "Sleep. I'll be back soon, and I'll definitely come back to hold Yuan Yuan while she sleeps. I won't keep you waiting long."

Shen Tinghe stirred slightly in his arms and did not ask any further questions.

She could roughly guess what he was going to do.

He must have found clues about who harmed her. Given his nature, when it comes to her safety, he will never be lenient and will be determined to deal with it personally, using the most ruthless means to deter the villains.

She snuggled closer to him, tightening her arms around his waist: "Brother, please don't kill too many people, okay?"

Xie Yanzhao was cold-hearted by nature, and his bones exuded the ruthlessness and decisiveness unique to imperial families.

Over the years, Shen Tinghe has come to realize that, apart from her, it seems that no one and nothing else can truly stir the waves in his heart.

This incident was caused by her, and in his rage, there's likely to be a bloodbath.

She wasn't a soft-hearted saint, but rather someone who believed to some extent in the workings of gods, Buddhas, and karma.

The killing was too excessive, the bloodshed too intense; she feared that the invisible karmic retribution would one day turn against him.

She couldn't bear any possibility of anything happening to him.

Xie Yanzhao understood her concerns.

In the darkness, his eyes flickered, finally settling into a slow, deliberate reply: "Okay."

Receiving the promise brought Shen Tinghe a slight sense of relief, but then she seemed to remember something.

She fumbled and untied the red string from her left wrist.

This rope may seem ordinary, but it was carefully woven from silk threads blessed by forty-nine virtuous and blessed people when she was born. Her parents then offered it and prayed for it before the Buddha at the Jinghui Temple, a place of great religious significance, for three whole days.

She has worn it since she can remember, and it has almost never left her side; it is her most cherished amulet.

She took Xie Yanzhao's hand and gently placed the warm red string in his large palm.

"Take this."

Xie Yanzhao looked at the slender red mark on his palm, and the softest part of his heart was struck hard.

His young wife was trying in her own way to ward off evil and disaster for him, and to share the burden of that illusory "karmic retribution".

"Yuan Yuan, I am the Crown Prince, the future Emperor. I am protected by Heaven's Mandate and have no need to..."

He wanted to say "there's no need for these," but the words caught in his throat the moment he saw her stubborn gaze.

"Take it with me~" she asked softly, drawing out the last syllable—a familiar, irresistible tactic of hers.

Xie Yanzhao finally gave in, sighed helplessly, and clenched the red string tightly in his palm.

He pulled her into a tight embrace again: "Okay, brother will take care of you. Go to sleep, Yuan Yuan."

Xie Yanzhao coaxed her softly, afraid that if she didn't fall asleep soon, she would become so engrossed in this gentle embrace that she would never be able to move again.

Shen Tinghe was finally at ease and obediently closed her eyes.

Gods and Buddhas above the nine heavens, if my beloved incurs sins and bears karmic consequences for protecting me, please do not punish only him.

Whatever the retribution, please give me half.

I am willing to share his burdens.

After Shen Tinghe fell into a deep sleep, Xie Yanzhao slowly withdrew.

He sat on the edge of the couch, gazed at her for a moment, leaned down and kissed her lips and forehead before quietly getting up.

When he turned around, the last trace of tenderness on his face had vanished, his eyes were covered with ice, and his aura was as sharp as a drawn blade.

Underground, in a hidden, dark room.

This place is isolated from all the light and sound of the ground, with only a few torches flickering on the walls.

The air was damp and chilly, filled with dust and an invisible sense of oppression.

About thirty people were blindfolded, their hands tied behind their backs, and they cowered on the ground in various terrified postures.

There were men and women among them, dressed in various ways.

There were imperial concubines dressed in luxurious attire, as well as palace maids and eunuchs dressed in ordinary clothes.

The low sobs and suppressed whimpers echoed in the enclosed space, adding to the eeriness.

An Cairen and Xie Jiaran stood close together.

Xie Jiaran trembled with fear, her face deathly pale: "Mother, Mother, are we going to die? Waaah..."

An Cairen herself was still in shock; she had no idea what had happened.

Just moments before, she was peacefully sleeping in her own palace, but when she opened her eyes again, she found herself trapped in boundless darkness and confinement.

Who is it? How could someone possess such extraordinary abilities to abduct concubines, imperial heirs, and palace servants simultaneously from within the imperial palace?

This is absolutely outrageous!

Not far away, Consort Yu's sharp voice rang out, trying to cover up her fear with a show of bravado.

"I am the Jade Consort, personally appointed by His Majesty! Who are you? How dare you abduct palace women! Do you know that this is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of your family?! Release me now!"