Surviving In Another World With My Three Cups!-Chapter 168 -

The voice was calm and cold yet it carried power.

Every sound in the camp seemed to pause.

Lin Xu felt it before she saw him.

Footsteps approached from behind her, slow and steady.

She turned.

The Crown Prince stood there.

He was dressed in dark hunting robes, simple but sharp. A jade clasp rested at his waist, and his presence alone made the air feel heavier. Guards followed a few steps behind him, heads lowered.

His eyes moved over the crowd once.

Then they settled on Lin Xu.

"Oh?" he said lightly. "Why she was brought?"

A faint smile touched his lips.

"Because I brought her."

Shock rippled through the crowd.

Mo Lan’s face went pale. "C–Crown Prince..."

Grandmother Mo stiffened. Uncle Mo and Madame Mo quickly bowed.

Mo Ying’s body tensed.

San Na’s breath caught.

Chu Ming stared openly, unable to hide her surprise.

The Crown Prince walked closer until he stood beside Lin Xu.

Not behind her.

Beside her.

"As my guest," he continued calmly. "Is there a problem?"

No one spoke.

The silence stretched.

Mo Ying finally stepped forward and bowed. "Your Highness."

San Na followed, lowering her head.

The others quickly did the same.

Only Lin Xu remained standing straight.

The Crown Prince glanced at her, then looked back at Mo Ying.

"You seem surprised," he said.

Mo Ying’s jaw tightened. "I did not expect to see Miss Lin here."

The Crown Prince hummed softly. "That sounds like your expectation, not my concern."

Mo Ying said nothing.

Mo Lan gathered her courage and spoke, "Your Highness, Lin Xu has no status. Bringing her here—"

The Crown Prince turned his head slowly.

Just one look.

Mo Lan froze.

"No status?" he repeated quietly.

The camp felt colder.

"She is under my invitation," he said. "That alone gives her status here."

Mo Lan’s lips trembled, but she did not dare speak again.

The Crown Prince then looked at Lin Xu.

"Did anyone trouble you?" he asked.

Lin Xu met his eyes. "No."

A lie.

But a calm one.

The Crown Prince smiled faintly. "Good."

His gaze swept over the Mo family once more.

"This is the Royal Hunt," he said evenly. "Guests are here to enjoy it. Not to argue."

"Yes, Your Highness," several voices replied at once.

Satisfied, the Crown Prince turned slightly toward Lin Xu.

"Come," he said. "I will show you the camp."

Yan Mei blinked. "Ah—"

Lin Xu hesitated for just a second.

Then she nodded.

"Alright."

As Lin Xu stepped forward, Mo Ying’s eyes followed her.

He wanted to speak.

He didn’t.

San Na watched them walk away, her fingers slowly curling into her sleeve.

Mo Lan bit her lip, anger and disbelief burning in her eyes.

The Crown Prince walked calmly beside Lin Xu, his pace unhurried.

"You seem very popular," he said lightly.

Lin Xu replied flatly, "I don’t enjoy it."

He chuckled. "Neither do I."

They walked deeper into the camp, away from the stares, away from the whispers.

Behind them, the Royal Hunt had not even begun.. yet the tension was already getting high.

After rlin Xu left, Mo lan turned to Mo Ying, frowning as she folded her hands, "I knew it from day one that that woman is a lsut... Who knows how she got the crown prince wrapped around her little fingers." She scoffed angrily.

"Oh Mo lan. You are thinking to much of these.. she is his guest, he didn’t say she was his woman or anything." Aunt mo commented.

"Oh c’mon mother. We all know that since the crown princess terrible death the crown prince had stayed clear of the female genders, even most of his servants are males.. but now all of a sudden, he’s inviting a woman.. Lin Xu of all persons.. that’s totally not normal."

Mo qing said as their words made Mo Ying’s frown thicken.

Mo qing had a huge point, in the royal hunt most warriors or men from the aristocrats then to bring their most beloved, either wife, concubine or fiancee.. it is said that whoever wins is given a royal reward which they would bestow upon to that special someone.

"Enough! You all talk to much. Let’s get to our tent and relax... It was a long trip and I’m tired." Grandmother mo said shutting them up before he talked any further.

Saying that she made her way out as uncle mo, Madame Mo and the rest followed behind her.. but Mo Ying stayed behind still staring at the path Lin Xu and took.

San na understand and just shoke her head walking away with chu ming behind her.

Fuhan standing not so far from his master just sighed. He ha Denver seen him so quiet and confused before. He was acting like a child choosing between his father and mother.

Meanwhile,

The crown prince took Lin Xu to the main camp site.. there were different camps set up for different families and house holds.

The crown prince got his, it was huge and dark red in color. Lin Xu stepped in with Yan Mei and the crown prince beside her.

It was huge and looked like a chamber with a huge bed . Tables and jats. It looked quite welcome. With a dressing screen and an armor stand at the corner.

The crown prince looked delighted on how she stared at the camp.

Lin Xu’s gaze lingered on the tent for a moment longer before she looked back at the Crown Prince.

"It’s... bigger than I expected," she said honestly.

Yan Mei nodded beside her, eyes shining. "It’s like a room in a palace."

The Crown Prince seemed pleased. "Yan Mountain is not a place to cut corners," he said. "Especially during the Royal Hunt."

Lin Xu hesitated when she heard his next words.

"You will be staying here with me until the hunt ends," he said calmly.

She turned to him at once. "With you?"

"Yes," he replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "The hunt lasts three days. It would be inconvenient to move you around."

Yan Mei opened her mouth. "Your Highness, Lin Xu—"

He lifted a hand slightly, stopping her. "Yan Mei will stay with my sisters’ camp. They have already been informed."

Yan Mei froze. "Your sisters?"

The Crown Prince nodded. "They will take good care of you."

Yan Mei looked at Lin Xu, clearly worried. "Are you sure?"

Lin Xu took a slow breath.

She knew refusing him here would only bring more attention. More questions. More trouble.

"I understand," she said finally.

The Crown Prince studied her for a brief moment, then smiled faintly. "Good."

He turned to a servant waiting nearby. "Prepare tea. And bring light food."

"Yes, Your Highness," the servant replied and hurried off.

Yan Mei stepped closer to Lin Xu and whispered, "Be careful, alright?"

Lin Xu nodded. "You too."

Reluctantly, Yan Mei followed the maid out of the tent.

The moment she left, the space felt quieter.

Too quiet.

Lin Xu stood near the entrance, unsure where to go.

"You may sit," the Crown Prince said, taking off his gloves. "You look tense."

She sat down slowly by the table.

The Crown Prince poured tea himself and placed a cup in front of her.

"Drink," he said. "You’ve been watched all day. Anyone would be uncomfortable."

Lin Xu wrapped her fingers around the cup but didn’t drink yet. "You didn’t have to step in like that earlier."

"I did," he replied. "Once I invited you, you became my responsibility."

She looked up. "Why?"

His movements paused.

"For now," he said, "you don’t need to know."

That answer did not comfort her at all.

Outside the tent, voices passed by. Laughter. Horses. Life continued as normal.

Inside, Lin Xu felt like she had stepped into a place she could no longer leave easily.

"You don’t like the attention," the Crown Prince said, watching her carefully.

"No," she replied. "I don’t like being pulled into things I don’t understand."

He nodded. "That’s fair."

He stood and walked toward the entrance, parting the curtain slightly to look outside.

"The Royal Hunt is not just about hunting," he said quietly. "It’s about power."

Lin Xu frowned. "And where do I fit into that?"

He turned back to her.

"That," he said calmly, "is exactly what many people here are trying to figure out."

Her grip on the cup tightened.

"So they will keep watching," she said.

"Yes," he replied. "And testing."

She met his gaze. "Including you?"

For a moment, he said nothing.

Then he smiled.

"Especially me."

Outside, the wind stirred the banners.

"You look good in that dress but I think you would be better with a more hunting type of attire." Xuan LU said with a smile as he called out to a maid.

Immediately the maid brought a basket of clothes, leaving Lin Xu confused.

"What’s all these?"

"Those are some nice comfortable coughs you would need if you are to go hunting with me." He said with a smirk.

"Hunting? W never signed up for hunting.. in a guest not a competitor as well."

"Hahaha." Her words made him laugh, "Don’t worry it will be fun, on the first day of the hunt. Each participants are to carry along a partner.. and it must be a female."

Saying that he stood up, "Get comfortable.. I gave some things to do, I’ll see you later.. " saying that, he walked out before she could even argue leaving he and the maid all alone.

Sigh!

"I’m in trouble now."