The Demon Prince

Upon hearing that Xiao Xingyue had twisted his waist, Zhao Yuanbao's eyes widened instantly: "Ninth Princess, the Prince was practicing martial arts with us. You barged in unexpectedly, which almost injured you. He didn't mean to... Prince! I'll go find the royal physician right away!"

Chen Manfu panicked: "Young Master, you are the last of the Xiao family's heirs! If you pass away, the Xiao family will be extinct! Six generations of only sons, and the Imperial Physician! Where is the Imperial Physician! Drag the Imperial Physician here!"

After understanding the whole story, Li Wangshu looked guilty and quickly helped Xiao Xingyue up, stubbornly saying, "Then, then you rest first... I won't hold it against you for now..."

"You're not going to hold it against me? I was just about to..." Xiao Xingyue raised his hand to stop Manfu and Yuanbao, "Stop, there's no need to call the physician."

Zhao Yuanbao stamped his feet anxiously, "Young Master, what time is it? Why are you still being stubborn? If you break your back, the Ninth Princess will be left a widow!"

"I said no need." Xiao Xingyue gritted his teeth, his voice low. "If outsiders find out that the Ninth Princess and I are newly married, and she has injured me like this, it will be terrible for her reputation. A girl's reputation is the most important thing. I can't hurt her. Yuanbao, Manfu, you may leave now."

After these heartfelt words were spoken, everyone in the courtyard fell silent.

Li Wangshu also stood there, stunned, staring at Xiao Xingyue.

Even at this point, he's still concerned about my reputation?

I designed him like that yesterday... Compared to that, I'm practically inhuman...

A different kind of inexplicable guilt welled up in Li Wangshu's heart.

Zhao Yuanbao and Chen Manfu exchanged a glance, and could only walk out, looking back every few steps.

Chen Manfu pleaded with Li Wangshu in a low voice, "Ninth Princess, please be lenient with the Crown Prince. He truly cares for you..."

Seeing this, Qingque and the others also withdrew.

Soon, only Xiao Xingyue and Li Wangshu remained in the backyard.

Li Wangshu stood there, looking somewhat bewildered. She bit her lip and took Xiao Xingyue's arm, saying, "Xiao Xingyue, even if... even if I'm the one who wronged you, this princess will escort you inside!"

Li Wangshu helped him walk into the house, but she was very stiff in her support. Perhaps she felt that Xiao Xingyue was too heavy, so in the end she simply carried Xiao Xingyue on her back.

This was the first time Xiao Xingyue had ever been carried on a woman's back. He was shocked and even forgot to pretend to be injured.

Once inside, Li Wangshu helped Xiao Xingyue to sit on the couch: "You should rest first. You should be... you should be better by tomorrow, right?"

Just as she was about to get up, she immediately heard Xiao Xingyue's voice, "Hiss—"

Li Wangshu's pretty face paled in surprise: "Wha...what's wrong?"

"It hurts..." Xiao Xingyue said.

"Where does it hurt?" Li Wangshu asked, at a loss.

"Where else could it be? Alright, you can go now. A princess like you who can't do anything can't be of any help." Xiao Xingyue waved her hand.

"..." Li Wangshu looked unconvinced. "Who said that? Your back, huh? Fine, you lie down!"

Before Li Wangshu could finish speaking, Xiao Xingyue had already sprawled out on the bed.

"You, you're too fast."

Li Wangshu was speechless. She sat down on the edge of the couch, her hand still a little awkward as she reached out.

After all, Xiao Xingyue wasn't wearing a shirt.

But upon closer reflection, she realized that she had seen it before, and if she continued to be coy, she would lose the demeanor of a royal woman.

So Li Wangshu skillfully placed her hands on Xiao Xingyue's waist and gently massaged it.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Xingyue soon started complaining, "Use more force! Are you even capable?"

"You! I, this princess, have never served anyone before! Don't make such demands!"

"Oh, if you really can't take it, then leave. As a woman, you've hurt your husband, and you can't even take care of him. What a useless princess you are, always idling around and doing nothing."

Xiao Xingyue said this not only to avenge the scheming on their wedding night, but also as a form of psychological warfare.

Li Wangshu, a woman who was pampered since childhood, had many people who fawned over her and few who suppressed her.

The more respect you give her, the less she'll respect you.

On the contrary, appropriately suppressing her, making her angry or afraid, can create a suspension bridge effect, making her mistakenly believe that she has fallen in love with Xiao Xingyue.

After this series of maneuvers, a month later, Li Wangshu's vote was practically secured.

But after listening to Xiao Xingyue's words...

"Shut up!"

Li Wangshu immediately increased the pressure on his hand.

Although her fingers ached, she endured it so as not to be looked down upon by Xiao Xingyue. She used all her strength to gently knead the stiff muscles in Xiao Xingyue's back.

Xiao Xingyue didn't say anything more, which gradually quieted down the room.

The wind blew through the window, and the shadows of trees, flowers, and something else seemed to sway.

Li Wangshu, who was originally full of anger, was now somewhat uneasy because of the silence.

She looked at Xiao Xingyue's waist and recalled the scene of Xiao Xingyue forcibly stopping his move earlier.

If Xiao Xingyue really lost control and that stick hit her in the face, Li Wangshu would never be able to face anyone again.

Later, Xiao Xingyue even stopped calling the family physician in order to prevent the matter from getting out.

That bastard may have a sharp tongue, but he's not a bad person.

But as soon as the thought popped into her head, she immediately cut it off.

No, I can't let him fool me. He even provoked Eighth Sister today!

Thinking of this, Li Wangshu tightened her grip, and Xiao Xingyue immediately felt a sharp pain: "Ouch! Are you trying to murder your husband?"

Li Wangshu retorted coquettishly, "Ha, with your old back, you dare to say you want to marry all nine of us princesses? You probably got a scolding from my eighth sister today, didn't you?"

Finally, unable to hold back any longer, she asked, "I've been waiting for you to take the bait..." Xiao Xingyue remained serious: "Who said I was lectured by her? You've got it backwards. It's because I behaved so well today that your eighth sister is looking at me with new respect. Maybe she's already starting to like me."

Li Wangshu's fingers suddenly stopped: "What did you say? Eighth Sister likes you? Stop flattering yourself!"

Xiao Xingyue turned to look at her: "You don't believe me? She even left her sidearm as a token of their love, can't you see?"

Xiao Xingyue raised his chin, and Li Wangshu followed his chin to look at the coffee table, where he indeed saw a red-tasseled spear standing next to it!

"This..." Li Wangshu was completely stunned. "I don't believe it!"

Xiao Xingyue said indifferently, "Believe it or not, but Li Shunhua left my palace today with a flushed face. Your informants told you that, didn't they?"

Li Wangshu was so angry that her teeth itched. "That must be because you made me angry."

"That's shyness. What do you know? Have you ever been in a relationship?" Xiao Xingyue said dismissively.

Li Wangshu was so angry she wanted to bite her teeth. She was afraid that her eighth sister would be bullied by Xiao Xingyue, so she came to avenge her.

But Xiao Xingyue told her that Eighth Sister had secretly fallen in love with someone else?

Li Wangshu quickly realized something, "So you were practicing your martial arts just now for my eighth sister? You used to be known for being frail and sickly, unable even to go to the battlefield..."

Good grief, she even had her own imagination... Xiao Xingyue nodded frankly: "Since you figured it out, I'll lay my cards on the table. Yes! Your eighth sister likes martial arts experts! I will work hard to become that kind of person!"

Li Wangshu's heart suddenly felt like it was going to drop weight.

Yesterday, she tried to force Xiao Xingyue to break off the engagement, but after Xiao Xingyue humiliated Gu Linyuan, Li Wangshu began to think more highly of Xiao Xingyue.

Even his mother said that Xiao Xingyue has a bright future.

Li Wangshu was preparing for the next step, waiting for Xiao Xingyue to perform well and prove that he was worthy of her.

Now, Xiao Xingyue doesn't care about her anymore, and instead wants to fawn over Eighth Sister?

Li Wangshu slapped Xiao Xingyue on the waist and said coldly, "Xiao Xingyue! You trained yourself like this for her sake?"

"Yes, you don't understand. Love arises without warning and deepens with time," Xiao Xingyue said affectionately.

Li Wangshu was completely dumbfounded. "Love arises without warning, and deepens with time... Deep my ass! I, the princess, am the one you're betrothed to!"

"It's only temporary," Xiao Xingyue waved his hand. "Once Shunhua enters the family, you two will be equal wives."

"A concubine? Concubine my foot!"

Li Wangshu flipped Xiao Xingyue over, so the two were face to face. Li Wangshu pinched Xiao Xingyue's chin, a sickly yet charming smile appearing on her delicate face. "You want to improve your health to please my sister? I'll make sure you don't get your way!"

Before Xiao Xingyue could react, she pressed her hands against his chest. "Hey? What are you doing!"

Xiao Xingyue immediately grabbed the blanket to cover himself: "Dude, my back is injured, don't do anything rash!"

Li Wangshu's eyes were filled with barely suppressed anger. As she loosened her belt, she forcefully declared, "I don't care! We're not allowed to share a room after marriage? Do you think I'm some kind of lapdog?!"