The Dark Moonlight returns to the capital, and the mad prince is accused of forcing love.

Xu Qianhui twisted her fingertip and pulled the thin strap, then darted back to the foot of the bed.

She stopped, her voice soft and gentle: "Lord Lin, you've crossed the line."

Ignoring his newly dislocated left arm, Lin Zuoqing used his right hand to grab her wrist and forcefully dragged her back in front of him.

The two were extremely close, their breaths mingling silently.

Lin Zuoqing's voice was terribly hoarse.

"You like playing ball with him, huh?"

Xu Qianhui raised her head and met his eyes, which were not clearly visible in the dim light of the tent.

"Didn't you give me to him?" Her breath was sweet and warm, brushing against his chin. "What, now that you've got what you wanted, you don't want it anymore?"

Lin Zuoqing's Adam's apple bobbed heavily.

He leaned forward, almost bumping his nose against hers, his tone full of undisguised mockery.

"Did you fall for him at first sight? Plum tea, you really put thought into it. Want me to give you a hand and get you into his bed?"

"Thank you, Lord Lin." Xu Qianhui tilted her head and smiled, "But there's no rush now. Wait for me to go to the alley in the south of the city and finish it again."

Lin Zuoqing's gaze suddenly turned icy.

"You dare?"

Even though he was injured, his appearance still sent out an extremely dangerous signal.

If Lin Zhiwei were here, she would surely serve him gently and attentively, and would occasionally shed a few tears of heartache.

But Xu Qianhui is a heartless person.

They love to bully people with injuries or illnesses.

She used her fingertips to pull open the front of his shirt, placed her hand on his firm chest, and gently pressed her face against it, listening to his increasingly rapid heartbeat.

"He may be a widower, but who knows if he'll mind? To be on the safe side, we can't not go."

Lin Zuoqing's body tensed, and his breathing suddenly became heavy.

He grabbed her flailing hand and pressed it down, guiding it downwards.

The heat was scorching even through the fabric.

Lin Zuoqing lowered his head and bit her earlobe, his voice hoarse and unrecognizable.

"Then you still need to practice more."

......

About half an hour later.

Xu Qianhui rubbed her sore and red wrists, her eyes filled with sorrow.

"No, if I practice a third time, my hand will break."

Lin Zuoqing leaned back on the pillow, his long legs stretched out casually, and scoffed, "With this much skill, who could possibly use it?"

Xu Qianhui glanced at him sideways: "Go and test Lin Zhiwei's abilities, and you'll know if I'm enough for you."

Lin Zuoqing wiped his hands gently, his voice very calm.

"She's from a wealthy and noble family. What about you?"

Xu Qianhui got up and walked to the purple bamboo screen to put on her clothes. Her fair back was exposed to him without reservation, and her shoulder blades looked like a pair of butterflies that were about to take flight at any moment.

"I'll probably be the future general's wife."

She turned to look at Lin Zuoqing, her voice carrying a light laugh.

"Or you could tell the young general the truth about our relationship, and prevent me from entering the general's mansion."

A long, deathly silence fell inside the tent.

Even after Xu Qianhui had changed her clothes, Lin Zuoqing remained silent.

He didn't speak, so Xu Qianhui stopped talking.

She neatly folded the light blue riding clothes she had changed out of and put them into her bundle. Finding there was no cabinet to put them in, she simply stuffed the bundle under Lin Zuoqing's bed.

After doing all that, she climbed onto the bed fully clothed and unceremoniously squeezed Lin Zuoqing into the bed.

"Lord Lin, please move aside, I'm sleepy."

Lin Zuoqing remained motionless, letting her press against him.

"Aren't you afraid I'll strangle you in your sleep?"

Xu Qianhui paused.

Without a second thought, she sat up and quickly got out of bed.

"Okay, then I'll sleep on the other side."

Opposite them was Lin Zuo'an's bed.

She hadn't taken two steps when Lin Zuoqing pulled her back.

"Stop making noise, go to sleep."

He pulled the thin blanket over them and covered them both up. Xu Qianhui stopped struggling and closed her eyes with her back to him.

She had been carefully maneuvering around the Duke's mansion these past few days, and had just finished a physically demanding polo match; she was truly exhausted.

Before long, steady breathing could be heard inside the tent.

Xu Qianhui entered a bizarre and fantastical dream.

Crabapple petals fluttered down in a flurry.

Lin Zuoqing was emaciated, dressed in white, standing under a tree, his eyes filled with a terrifying gloom and sickness.

He held a sharp dagger in his hand, cutting his own flesh again and again.

"Xu Qianhui, I'm returning it to you."

"I'll pay you back everything I owe you."

"If only you would forgive me..."

"Please, forgive me..."

He knelt on the ground, looking up at her, his hands covered in blood.

The delicate pink crabapple petals fell into the pool of blood, turning it a glaring red.

Xu Qianhui stood frozen in place, unable to move an inch.

Fear and an indescribable bitterness gripped her heart.

Large tears fell down.

She opened her mouth and murmured unconsciously.

"Mother... Mother..."

Save him, save him.

He did not deserve to die.

......

"Brother! Brother!"

A hurried shout suddenly pierced through the mist of the dream.

"Why did Auntie set up so many tents? Which one is she going to sleep in...?"

It was Lin Zuo'an's voice.

Xu Qianhui suddenly opened her eyes, waking up from a nightmare.

Before she could fully recover and see her surroundings clearly, a large hand gripped her shoulder.

Press down without any mercy.

A sudden dizziness.

Xu Qianhui was pushed directly into the shadows under the bed.

Her back slammed against the hard floor, and she gasped in pain.

Feng Shui turns.

Last time she shoved him under the bed, finally giving him a chance to get revenge.

Xu Qianhui wiped the fine beads of cold sweat from her forehead, gritted her teeth, and muttered a curse under her breath.

Above the bed, Lin Zuoqing cleared his throat and called out, "Here."

The curtain was lifted from the outside, and Lin Zuo'an strode in.

"Brother, how are you? What did the imperial physician say?"

Lin Zuoqing leaned against the pillow, his face now regaining its usual aloofness.

"It's alright, she'll be fine after some rest." His voice was calm, showing no sign of anything amiss. "Why did you come here by yourself? Where did Miss Qin go?"

"Madam Qin called her away, saying she wanted to discuss tomorrow's arrangements."

Lin Zuoan pulled over the low stool and plopped down on it.

He looked around and asked, puzzled, "Why are you here all alone? Qing Shu and Qing Yan aren't here to serve you. You've injured your hand, and no one has even poured you a cup of tea."

He was purely curious, his eyes were clear, and he didn't mean to test anyone.

Lin Zuoqing lowered his eyelids, concealing the darkness in his eyes.

"Let them take care of the horses."

"oh."

Lin Zuo'an nodded, not giving it much thought.

He shifted his position on the low stool and lowered his voice.

"Brother, has Ah Hui come by? She just finished playing ball and then disappeared."

"What is she doing here?" Lin Zuoqing asked in return.

Lin Zuo'an scratched his hair, looking somewhat irritated.

"I haven't contacted her these past few days because I was afraid of upsetting her. I was thinking she might be back to rest, so I came to check on her." He sighed. "She can be quite stubborn sometimes. I told her it was just an act, but judging from her expression, she was clearly genuinely unhappy."

Lin Zuoqing looked at Lin Zuoan and suddenly laughed.

"What's wrong? You're thinking about her again?"