After giving away the maidservant, the prince went mad with regret.

Hearing the noise, Lin Shuang quickly reached out to push him away, but Huo Shi'an had broad shoulders and a narrow waist, and she couldn't budge him at all. Instead, she was almost pulled into his arms, her nostrils filled with the scent of cedar. She could only plead in a pleading tone:

"Huo Shi'an, it seems Young Master Wen has arrived! Let me go!"

"What's the panic?"

Huo Shi'an kept his eyes fixed on Lin Shuang, taking in her every reaction. A hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes, and he tightened his grip around her waist, coaxing her:

"Shuangshuang, so what if he sees you? You were originally my concubine. If he dislikes you, I'll just take you back to the manor."

"I don't mind, okay?"

"asshole!"

Without thinking, Lin Shuang stepped on Huo Shi'an's black boots, and taking advantage of his pain, she ducked under his arm and ran straight towards the courtyard gate, lifting her skirt.

bang——

Huo Shi'an's eyes were bloodshot as he looked at Lin Shuang's butterfly-like back. He raised his hand and slammed his fist heavily on the stone table, and drops of blood dripped down the stone table to the ground.

He regretted it.

If I had known she was heartless, I shouldn't have entrusted her to Wen Zheng's care. In just half a month, she has become so estranged from him.

Thinking of this, Huo Shi'an's heart clenched, a subtle pain rising within him. Could it be that she really liked Wen Zheng?

"Lord Wen..."

At the courtyard gate, Lin Shuang had just pushed it open when she saw who was standing in front of her. A thin layer of sweat instantly broke out on her back. Almost instinctively, she glanced quickly at Huo Shi'an inside the courtyard before lowering her voice and saying:

"Why did you choose this time to come?"

The visitor was a middle-aged man with a refined appearance, wearing a faded, worn-out cloth robe. He was the scribe she had asked to process the new household registration documents.

After all, she was in ancient times and was unfamiliar with the regulations of the government and the procedures for household registration. In addition, every time she went out, she could always see Huo Shi'an or Wen Zheng's spies, so it was inconvenient to do such things. She could only spend money to ask someone to do it for her.

Moreover, she specifically instructed the scribe to come to find her either early in the morning or later in the evening, so as not to run into Wen Zheng and cause trouble.

What a coincidence today! I didn't run into Wen Zheng, but I did run into Huo Shi'an!

"Miss, I've come today to tell you that the new household registration has been processed by the government. From 11 PM today until the county government closes tomorrow, you need to go to the county government in person to sign and collect it. Otherwise, it will be invalid."

"Is it done?"

Lin Shuang's eyes couldn't help but flash with surprise. She had thought it would be done soon, but she didn't expect it to be done today.

The scribe nodded. "I wonder when you'll be free, young lady? I'll go with you to collect the documents so we can settle the remaining balance as soon as possible."

"Tomorrow, I'll go to the yamen with you at Chenshi (7-9 AM)."

She suppressed her excitement; if Huo Shi'an hadn't been there, she would have rushed to the county government office immediately, but she could only hold back.

"Then I will come to find you first thing tomorrow morning."

"Why are you looking for her?"

Huo Shi'an appeared behind Lin Shuang without her noticing, stretching out his long arm to pull her into his embrace. Startled, her back stiffened instantly. She didn't know how much Huo Shi'an had overheard, and asked in a trembling voice:

"What...what are you doing out here, Your Highness?"

"If I hadn't come out, how would I have known you were cheating on Wen Zheng and getting entangled with other people?"

Huo Shi'an frowned slightly, his gaze narrowing as he looked the scribe standing at the door up and down. After a long while, he spoke with a disdainful tone:

"Your taste is getting worse and worse. With Wen Zheng and me around, how could you possibly fall for such a vulgar-looking man? And judging by his age, he's probably old enough to be your father!"

The scribe: "..."

No, young master, have you misunderstood something? He's just doing a job for money, processing this young lady's new household registration.

"I……"

He opened his mouth to explain, but Lin Shuang quickly interrupted him, "Your Highness has misunderstood. He is just a neighbor who is short of rice and flour and came to borrow some from me."

Huo Shi'an raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of doubt. "Really?"

"Yes, of course!"

Lin Shuang took a deep breath and said to the scribe, "My family is out of rice too. I'll lend you some money so you can go to the street and buy some yourself."

"Well... that's fine too."

The scribe glanced at the two of them for a moment, then took the loose silver coins Lin Shuang gave him, quickly put them in his pocket, and left.

Huo Shi'an's eyes were filled with a dark glint as he stared at the departing figure of the scribe, his gaze finally settling on Lin Shuang.

Are you hiding something from me?

Lin Shuang's heart tightened, but she feigned composure and replied, "What could I possibly be hiding from the Prince?"

After saying that, she turned and walked into the courtyard. Seeing that Huo Shi'an was still standing there, she tentatively asked, "Does the young master intend to return to the manor, or stay for dinner before leaving?"

She couldn't wait for Huo Shi'an to leave, and hoped he wouldn't keep targeting the scribe!

Half a month ago, after she told Huo Shi'an that she had asked the Lady of the Marquis for a favor and was preparing to leave the mansion, he went crazy, humiliating her wildly at night and barely sleeping. Afterwards, he severely humiliated her and then gave her to Wen Zheng.

She knew that Huo Shi'an had never intended to let her go, so she absolutely couldn't let him know about this, otherwise she would never be able to escape this situation for the rest of her life.

Huo Shi'an was unaware of Lin Shuang's thoughts. He only felt that she had been distant and trying to drive him away before, but now she was taking the initiative to ask him to stay and even said that she didn't have him in her heart.

Thinking this, he suddenly felt much better, strode over to Lin Shuang's side, and tugged at her hair that hung down to her chest, speaking in a flirtatious tone.

"You invited me to dine with you because you wanted to seduce me, huh?"

"...?"

Seduction? When did she seduce anyone?

Lin Shuang was somewhat confused. "I was just asking if the young master was going back to the manor or staying for dinner... um!"

Before she could finish speaking, Huo Shi'an swallowed the last words, then picked Lin Shuang up by the waist and walked steadily into the house.

"I'm skipping dinner tonight, I'm eating you!"

"Huo... Shi'an!"

Lin Shuang was thrown onto the bed, sinking into the soft blankets, watching helplessly as the man leaned down and pressed down on her, almost on the verge of tears.

"I am now Young Master Wen's mistress, Your Highness, please wake up!"

"Then why did you try to seduce me, huh?"

Huo Shi'an removed his outer robe, revealing his muscular chest. Then, his slender fingertips landed on Lin Shuang's fair nape, and in a few quick movements, he untied the bow on her bodice. Her fair skin trembled shyly, further arousing his desire.

"Your Highness, it's still daytime. What if... what if Young Master Wen comes? It'll be hard to explain!"

Lin Shuang hadn't expected Huo Shi'an to actually do this to her in broad daylight. Without thinking, she raised her leg to kick him, but his rough hand grabbed her ankle and pulled her back!

"What are you hiding from?"

Huo Shi'an looked displeased, pinched Lin Shuang's chin, and then kissed her. "See? Even if I take you back, this young master will want you more than once. You really are keeping yourself pure for Wen Zheng?"

As their bodies intertwined, Huo Shi'an, who had been aroused for half a month, could no longer resist and bit her lips.

"Shuangshuang, to be honest, has he ever touched you like this before, hmm?"