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

Exhausted, Lin Shuang returned to the courtyard.

"Where did you go? Why are you so late?"

The sudden sound startled Lin Shuang so much that the key in her hand fell to the ground. It was caught steadily in mid-air by a hand. The moonlight shone down, and the man stood tall and elegant. His well-defined profile was as cold and hard as if it had been sculpted. Who else could it be but Huo Shi'an?

Lin Shuang was already feeling resentful for not receiving her new household registration today, and now that the culprit had appeared in front of her again, her face darkened even more, and she snatched the keys back.

"Where I go is none of your business, Your Highness."

Huo Shi'an, who had been busy all day, should have gone home to rest, but he couldn't stop worrying about her, so he came to look for Lin Shuang first. Not only was she not there, but after waiting for her for so long, the moment he saw her, this little ingrate's words had already annoyed him again.

His gaze fell on her constantly opening and closing lips, where he could still vaguely see the faint teeth marks left from yesterday. Huo Shi'an felt that the soft moans that escaped from her lips during sex were more pleasing to the ear.

Huo Shi'an lowered his eyes, forcibly suppressing the surging thoughts in his mind. He rubbed his fingertips together and said in a slightly cool tone, "If it has nothing to do with me, then who does it have to do with? Could it be Wen Zheng?"

"That's right. Young Master, don't forget that I am now Young Master Wen's mistress. Where I go and when I return are all matters for Young Master Wen to concern himself with."

Lin Shuang raised her eyes and stared at Huo Shi'an, her tone icy, "Young Master, you have overstepped your bounds!"

Upon hearing this, Huo Shi'an's expression instantly turned cold and grim. He gripped Lin Shuang's wrist, forcing her step by step against the wall. His burning gaze was fixed on her, his voice filled with anger.

"What's wrong with you now, hmm?"

"Your Highness is joking."

Lin Shuang turned her head away from his breath, "What I said is the truth. The young master and Young Master Wen are close friends. Now that you have given me to Young Master Wen, you should not entangle yourself with me in the future. Otherwise, how will you explain it to Young Master Wen?"

"What, are you still blaming me for giving you away?"

Huo Shi'an laughed in anger, but seeing Lin Shuang's distant and resentful gaze, he pressed his thin lips together, finally suppressing his anger, and carefully explained:

"Actually, that day..."

"Your Highness has misunderstood. I do not blame you; on the contrary, I would like to thank you."

Lin Shuangjing interrupted him, looking up directly into his eyes. Her words caused Huo Shi'an to frown, "Thank you?"

"Um."

Lin Shuang nodded gently in response, a hint of moisture flashing in her dark eyes. "Today I went shopping with Young Master Wen and learned that he is not only outstanding in appearance, but also of noble character. He is humble, polite, and knows how to behave appropriately. Such a person... naturally I like him."

At this point, she lowered her eyes slightly, her hair cascading down her sides, feigning shyness as she bowed her head, seemingly finding it difficult to speak, "If it weren't for the young master, how could this servant have had the opportunity to meet Young Master Wen?"

"So this servant is grateful to the young master, how could I possibly blame him?"

"Lin Shuang—!"

Upon hearing this, Huo Shi'an's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. He stared intently at Lin Shuang, his tone icy, "Do you know what you're saying?"

"Every word I have spoken comes from the bottom of my heart; there is not a single falsehood in it!"

Lin Shuang seemed oblivious to Huo Shi'an's murderous gaze, every word striking at his sore spot, "Young Master, could you please plead with Young Master Wen to allow me to come to the Wen residence, considering my three years of devoted service to you?"

"Let alone a concubine, at least... at least let Young Master Wen take me as a maidservant, so that I have a proper status and won't be treated as an illegitimate mistress."

"You're dreaming!"

Huo Shi'an almost ground his teeth to powder, squeezing out each word through his teeth. In just half a month, not only had she fallen for someone else, but she was even thinking of becoming Wen Zheng's concubine.

I don't think about it!

Don't even think about it!

"Looks like I didn't feed you enough yesterday, so you're already thinking about other men!"

As he spoke, he stretched out his long arm, picked up Lin Shuang horizontally, and walked into the inner room.

Today he was determined to teach this arrogant brat a lesson. To say such things, it seemed he had been too lenient with her!

Lin Shuang, who was in his arms, suddenly raised her hand and pulled out a silver hairpin from her hair. Huo Shi'an glanced at her coldly, unconcerned, and instead said sarcastically:

"What, are you trying to assassinate me, the young master?"

"How dare I assassinate the Crown Prince?"

Lin Shuang curled her lips. She wasn't stupid. Huo Shi'an was not only highly skilled in martial arts, but he also had guards by his side. He could easily capture her with a single move.

She gripped the silver hairpin tightly, pressing it against her neck, gritting her teeth and applying more force. The hairpin cut through her skin, oozing a glaring red.

"Lin Shuang, what are you doing? Are you crazy?!"

Almost instantly, without thinking, Huo Shi'an grabbed the silver hairpin and snatched it away. Lin Shuang landed on the ground, regaining her freedom, and quickly took a few steps back to distance herself from him.

"The young master is of noble birth, and this servant cannot do anything to him. But now I am already Young Master Wen's woman. If I continue to be humiliated by the young master, I will have no face to see Young Master Wen. I would rather die!"

Huo Shi'an stared at the silver hairpin in his hand, his palm still stained with Lin Shuang's blood. His heart clenched painfully, and his voice, cold and filled with disbelief, broke into a deep ache as he asked with almost difficulty:

"You're going to remain chaste for him?"

"yes!"

Lin Shuang's gaze was resolute. "If the young master were to humiliate me, I would die right now!"

Huo Shi'an threw the silver hairpin in his hand to the ground, his eyes blazing with anger. "I want to see if you really want to die."

As he spoke, he raised Lin Shuang's hands above her head, tightened his grip on her waist, and pulled her up onto the bed.

"You will always belong to me, the young master. It's too late to change your mind now!"

Huo Shi'an braced himself on either side of Lin Shuang's body, trapping her in his arms, while his other hand caressed the soft flesh of her waist a few times, causing Lin Shuang's fair face to flush instantly.

Huo Shi'an's eyes grew increasingly lustful. He lowered his head and easily captured her cherry-pink lips, forcefully prying open her pearly teeth and penetrating deeply, entwining and drawing them in.

"Hmm... Your Highness..."

Lin Shuang was dazed by the kisses. She tried to push and hit him, but it was all in vain. Another hand was messing around her waist, making her unable to defend herself.

By the time she realized what was happening, her clothes had been completely removed, leaving only a pale pink bodice covering her smooth, rounded figure, like a fragrant orchid in a mountain stream, waiting to be plucked, making one's heart itch with desire.

"Let go, let go of me..."

Huo Shi'an unconsciously brushed his lips against her fair neck, then looked at Lin Shuang's tear-filled eyes, but suddenly stopped in a hurry and quietly looked at her.

"Lin Shuang, you really don't want it?"

Lin Shuang's eyes gleamed with a peach-like light as she instinctively turned her head away from Huo Shi'an's gaze. "Your...Your Highness!"

This person is absolutely despicable and shameless!

"What are you hiding from?"

Huo Shi'an turned Lin Shuang's face back again, his originally angry eyes now filled with smiles, and his hand on her waist gently pressed on her sensitive spot.

Lin Shuang couldn't help but let out a soft moan and hurriedly bit her lip.

"Stubborn!"

Huo Shi'an raised his hand and touched her crimson lips, his breath slightly ragged. "My dear Shuangshuang, beg me, hmm?"

"..."

Lin Shuang's cheeks were burning hot, and she subconsciously grabbed Huo Shi'an's rough hand, her voice trembling with tears.

"Your Highness... Your Highness, I know I was wrong, please... please!"

Huo Shi'an kissed away the teardrop at the corner of her eye. "Good girl!"

As the night grew colder, the spring breeze rustled against the windowpanes. Lin Shuang, lying on the bed, trembled, feeling incredibly sticky all over.

She struggled to get out of bed, only to be pulled into Huo Shi'an's arms by the waist, who then kissed her hair.

"Where are you going?"